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Cura x Cura

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang龙胆泻肝汤

Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver (Gentiana Combination)

Clearing Heat 清热剂Clear Organ Heat 清脏腑热

Ingredients10 herbs

龙Long Dan Cao龙胆草酒炒6g君 ChiefDrains Liver–Gallbladder fire above and damp-heat below黄Huang Qin黄芩炒9g臣 DeputyBitter cold support that drains fire and dries damp栀Zhi Zi栀子酒炒9g臣 DeputyClears heat from the three burners and leads it out through the urine泽Ze Xie泽泻12g佐 AssistantLeaches damp-heat out through the urine木Mu Tong木通6g佐 AssistantFrees the water passages so damp-heat has a way out below当Dang Gui当归酒炒3g佐 AssistantNourishes Liver blood so the Liver is not left dry生Sheng Di Huang生地黄酒炒9g佐 AssistantCools the blood and replaces the yin that draining costs柴Chai Hu柴胡6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyCourses the Liver and guides the formula into its channel
生Gan Cao生甘草6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyHarmonizes the group and shields the Stomach from the cold herbs
车Che Qian Zi车前子9g佐 AssistantClears heat and promotes urination

Indications

Drains excess fire from the Liver and GallbladderClears damp-heat from the lower burnerNourishes blood and yin so the draining does not injure

Liver–Gallbladder excess fire flaring upward together with Liver-channel damp-heat pouring downward. The two halves of the picture are one excess taking two routes, which is why a single formula addresses both ends.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Splitting headache with red eyes, tinnitus or sudden hearing loss
  • Bitter taste, irritability and hypochondriac pain
  • Burning, urgent, turbid or bloody urination
  • Genital swelling, itching, sweating or foul yellow discharge
  • Damp-heat eruptions along the Liver channel, such as shingles presentations
TongueRed with a yellow or yellow greasy coating
PulseWiry, rapid and forceful

Health Categories

Women's HealthSkin HealthUrinary & Bladder HealthEye & Vision HealthImmune Support

Modern Applications

ConjunctivitisOtitis mediaUrinary tract infectionHerpes zosterVaginitisMigraine

Common adjustments

Contraindications

Strongly bitter and cold — for a confirmed excess pattern only, and only for as long as the excess lasts, since prolonged use injures the middle burner. Not for Spleen–Stomach deficiency with loose stools and poor appetite, and not for the yin-deficiency fire that resembles it but shows a thin rapid pulse and a peeled tongue. One ingredient needs checking: Mu Tong must be the Clematis-derived Chuan Mu Tong, or a substitute such as Tong Cao 通草. The Aristolochia-derived Guan Mu Tong contains aristolochic acid, has caused severe kidney injury, and is banned — practitioners should confirm the botanical source on any product label.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy — the formula is strongly bitter and cold and drives damp-heat downward through the urine, which is not appropriate during pregnancy.

Related Formulas

References

Source Yi Fang Ji Jie 《医方集解》 · Qing dynasty

「治肝胆经实火湿热，胁痛耳聋，胆溢口苦，筋痿阴汗，阴肿阴痛，白浊溲血。」
— 《医方集解》(classical source, public domain)
  1. Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
    2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
    3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.