Blue Poppy Gentiana Decoction to Drain the Liver
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Primary Traditional Functions
Benefits the lower burner, calms the Liver and relieves constraint, clears heat and dries dampness from the lower burner, drains Liver and Gallbladder fire
Action
Alleviates excess damp heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, removes damp heat from the lower burner.
Pattern
Damp heat in the Liver and Gallbladder, damp heat from the lower burner.
Tongue
A red tongue with yellow fur
Pulse
A rapid, forceful, bowstring pulse
Description
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is a classical formula that drains excess Liver and Gallbladder fire, clears damp-heat, and relieves Liver constraint. Traditionally, it is indicated for hypochondriac pain, headache, irritability, red eyes, and urinary or vaginal complaints resulting from excess Liver and Gallbladder heat. In modern clinical practice, it is commonly used for hepatitis, conjunctivitis, genitourinary disorders, hypertension, and headaches associated with Liver fire or damp-heat.
Because Liver and Gallbladder fire can affect all three burners, the presentation varies by location. In the upper burner, symptoms may include headache, red eyes, earache or ear infections, irritability, and dizziness. In the middle burner, individuals may experience liver or gallbladder inflammation, hypochondriac distention or pain, and jaundice. In the lower burner, damp-heat may manifest as scanty or difficult urination, urinary tract infections, leukorrhea, vulvar swelling or pruritus, acute prostatitis, or chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. This formula has also been helpful for oral or genital herpes simplex, herpes zoster (shingles), and cases of hypertension or hyperthyroidism associated with Liver fire.
Traditional Indications
Headache caused by Liver function disorder, burning and dry eyes, bitter mouth, rib distention, ear infection or ear swelling, yeast infection, vaginal discharge.
Typical symptoms include:
- Bitter taste in the mouth
- Headache, dizziness, or red eyes
- Hypochondriac damp-heat leading to jaundice, urinary difficulty, or leucorrhea
- Hypochondriac or flank pain
- Irritability or short temper
- Liver and Gallbladder excess heat or damp-heat
- Red tongue with yellow coating; rapid, wiry pulse
Modern Clinical Applications
Hypertension, acne, vegetative nerve functional disturbance, acute conjunctivitis, acute otitis media, acute prostatitis, acute hepatitis, urinary tract or vaginal infections, acute pelvic inflammation, acute eczema, herpes zoster.
Commonly applied in contemporary use for:
- Conjunctivitis or red, itchy eyes
- Genitourinary disorders: urinary tract infections, prostatitis, or vaginal discharge due to damp-heat
- Headache or migraine associated with Liver fire
- Hepatitis or liver inflammation
- Hypertension with irritability or Liver yang/fire signs
Typical Usage
3 capsules per day or as directed by your wellness coach.
Potency 10:1, 120 vegicaps per bottle.
Ingredients:
Sheng Di Huang (uncooked Radix Rehmanniae) 74 mg, Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) 55.5 mg, Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae) 55.5 mg, Ze Xie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 55.5 mg, Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis) 55.5 mg, Dang Gui Wei (Extremitas Radicis Angelicae Sinensis) 55.5 mg, Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri) 55.5 mg, Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae) 37 mg, Mu Tong (Caulis Akebiae) 37 mg, Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 19 mg
Other Ingredients:
Vegetarian capsule (hypromellose-alternative to animal gelatin).