LONG DAN XIE GAN TANG

Liver-Draining & Heat-Purging • Damp-Clearing & Channel-Unblocking Formula

Symptoms

Liver Fire symptoms: Severe headache (vertex or temporal), red and painful eyes, irritability or sudden outbursts of anger, and a bitter taste in the mouth.

Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner: Painful, dark, or difficult urination; foul-smelling vaginal discharge or scrotal swelling/itching.

Ear symptoms: Sudden tinnitus or deafness (like the sound of rushing water).

Tongue: Red body with a thick, yellow, and greasy coating.

Pulse: Wiry (Xian), rapid (Shuo), and forceful.

Ingredients

Long Dan Cao (Gentiana scabra)
Raw Herbs * Granules 9.4g

Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Ze Xie (Alisma plantago-aq.)
Raw Herbs 12g Granules 12.5g

Tong Cao (Medulla Tetrapanacis)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Che Qian Zi (Plantago asiatica)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa)
Raw Herbs 15g Granules 15.6g

Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Chai Hu (Bupleurum chinense)
Raw Herbs 9g Granules 9.4g

Gan Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
Raw Herbs 6g Granules 6.1g

Posology

Granules
3 to 9g per day after main meals, diluted in hot water.

Raw Herbs
Boil in 1000–1200ml of water and drink 1 to 3 cups per day.

Description

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang is a highly balanced "Purge and Protect" strategy. It clears excess without causing dryness, and it drains dampness without injuring Yin.

Long Dan Cao is the chief; it is intensely bitter and cold, specifically targeting Liver and Gallbladder Fire.

Huang Qin and Zhi Zi assist by clearing heat from the Upper and Middle Burners.

Ze Xie, Mu Tong, and Che Qian Zi form the "drainage team," leaching the Damp-Heat out through the urine.

Sheng Di and Dang Gui protect the Blood and Yin, preventing the bitter/drying herbs from damaging the body's essence.

Chai Hu guides the herbs specifically into the Liver and Gallbladder channels.

Contraindications

STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED for Spleen/Stomach Deficiency (loose stools, poor appetite).

Not for use in cases of Yin Deficiency without significant damp-heat.

Pregnancy: Use with extreme caution and only if absolutely necessary under medical supervision.

Avoid long-term use as the cold nature can eventually damage the Spleen Yang.