By Eric Brand

Ingredients
Lóng dǎn (龙胆gentian, Gentianae Radix) [wine-fried] 6 g
Huáng qín (黄芩scutellaria, Scutellariae Radix) [stir-fried] 9 g
Zhī zǐ (栀子gardenia, Gardeniae Fructus) [wine-fried] 9 g
Zé xiè (泽泻alisma, Alismatis Rhizoma) 12 g
Mù tōng (木通akebia, Akebiae Caulis) 6 g
Dāng guī (当归Chinese angelica, Angelicae Sinensis Radix)
[wine-fried] 3 g
Shēng dì huáng (生地黄rehmannia, Rehmanniae Radix) [wine-fried]
9 g
Chái hú (柴胡bupleurum, Bupleuri Radix) 6 g
Gān cǎo (甘草licorice, Glycyrrhizae Radix) [raw] 6 g
Chē qián zǐ (车前子plantago seed, Plantaginis Semen) 9 g

...

Method: The dosage of the ingredients was
not provided in the original source text. The
formula is typically taken as a decoction, but it
can also be made into pills, which are taken
with warm water in a dose of 6–9 grams per
dose, 2 times per day.

Actions: Clears and drains repletion heat from
the liver and gallbladder; clears and disinhibits
damp-heat in the liver channel.


Indications: This formula has two major applications:
patterns upward flaming of liver-gallbladder repletion fire, and
patterns of liver channel damp-heat pouring downward.

Upward flaming of liver-gallbladder repletion fire: This may
present with headache and red eyes, rib-side pain, bitter taste
in the mouth, deafness, swelling of the ear, a red tongue with
yellow fur, and a wiry, rapid, and forceful pulse.

Liver channel damp-heat pouring downward: This manifests
in swelling of the genitals, itching of the genitals, wilting of
the sinews, sweating of the genitals, turbid strangury, or
yellow foul-smelling vaginal discharge. The tongue is red
with yellow greasy fur, and the pulse is wiry, rapid, and
forceful.

This formula has several special features. It
combines the use of clearing and draining with
percolating and disinhibiting, and drains liver fire
above while disinhibiting damp-heat below.

Within its draining, it includes supplementing;
although it disinhibits, it also enriches. Within its
downbearing, there is upbearing. It dispels evil
without damaging right. Nonetheless, it is still
considered a bitter, cold formula that easily damages
the spleen and stomach.

Sovereign: Lóng dǎn clears repletion fire
from the liver and gallbladder, and also
treats damp-heat in the liver and
gallbladder.

Ministers: Huáng qín and zhī zǐ drain fire
and dry dampness, assisting lóng dǎn in
its ability to drain liver fire, dry dampness,
and clear heat.

Assistants : Zé xiè , mù tōng, and chē qián zǐ clear heat
and disinhibit dampness, causing damp-heat to move
downward to be eliminated via the waterways. Shēng dì
huáng and dāng guī supplement blood and yin to prevent
liver heat from damaging yin and blood. This provides
supplementing within drainage and prevents the bitterdrying
and percolating-disinhibiting medicinals from
damaging yin. Chái hú courses the liver and clears heat;
by coursing qi, it resolves depressed heat. It also
conducts the medicinals into the liver and gallbladder, so
it has a concurrent role as a courier.

Courier: Gān cǎo harmonizes all the medicinals.
Warning: This formula has many bitter-cold
ingredients, so it easily damages the spleen
and stomach. It is not suitable for spleenstomach
vacuity cold or yin vacuity with yang
hyperactivity.