Long Dan Cao - 龙胆草 - Radix Gentianae

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Radix Gentianae
Common English:	Chinese Gentian Root Gentiana Scabrous Gentian Root

Category

Herbs that Clear Heat: Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry Dampness

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Bitter	Cold	Gallbladder Liver Stomach (Bladder)	3-10g Tincture: 1-3ml

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Drains Damp-Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder channels	Damp-Heat in the upper portion of the Gall Bladder Channel with red, swollen sore throat and eyes; swollen, painful ears or sudden deafness Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder with jaundice, pain, swelling or dampness in the genital area or foul-smelling vaginal discharge and itching
Drains and pacifies Excess Liver Fire	Liver Fire Blazing Upward with headache or red eyes Liver Wind-Heat with fever, spasms, convulsions or flank pain

*Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian	Rx. et Rz. Rhei Da Huang	Rx. Bupleuri Chai Hu Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin (Caul. Akebiae) (Mu Tong)
Red, swollen, painful eyes due to Excess Heat in the Liver channel. (the juice can be used as eye drops)	Rib pain, a bitter taste, red eyes, jaundice, deafness, hot dysenteric disorders, Dampness and swelling of the scrotum, vomiting, epistaxis, fright, mania and constipation due to Liver Fire.	Liver Fire or Liver and Gall Bladder Damp-Heat with eye redness, swelling and pain; stabbing pain in the chest; deafness; bitter taste in the mouth; testicular swelling and pain; and short, dark, or turbid painful urination.
Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae Yin Chen Hao Fr. Gardeniae Zhi Zi (Rx. et Rz. Rhei) (Da Huang)	Rx. Sophorae Flavescentis Ku Shen Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai Sm. Plantaginis Che Qian Zi	Concha Haliotidis Shi Jue Ming
Damp-Heat jaundice with bitter taste in the mouth and fullness and pain in the chest from Liver/Gallbladder Damp-Heat.	Genital itching, vaginal discharge, or eczema due to Damp-Heat in the Liver/Gallbladder channels.	Headache, swollen eyes and vertigo from Liver Fire or Liver Yang Rising with headache, red eyes and vertigo. Extinguishes Liver Wind with tremors, twitches and spasms.
Calculus Bovis Niu Huang Ram. cum Uncis Uncariae Gou Teng (Rz. Coptidis) (Huang Lian)	Flos Chrysanthemi Ju Hua Sm. Cassiae Jue Ming Zi
Convulsions due to Liver Fire, especially in children.	Redness, swelling and pain of the eyes.

Notes

1. Its most common use is for Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao.
2. Although it resembles Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian, Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin, and Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai, it is specific to the Lower Jiao.
3. Its bitterness is so intense that many people cannot drink it as a tea, so pills and extracts are the best way to take it.
4. It is appropriate for Milky Lin.
5. In low doses (less than 1g), it stimulates the Stomach to produce more gastric acid and improves digestion. In large doses, it irritates the Stomach, causing anorexia, vomiting and nausea.
6. It is reported to treat limbs with unbearable pain.
7. Studies have shown that this herb inhibits cancer cell growth.
8. It is described as a "sound herb for Stomach diseases".
9. Hematochezia caused by alcohol poisoning is cured by this herb.
10. This herb is reported to increase the flow of bile.
11. It additionally protects the Liver against chemical damage.
12. Blood pressure is lowered by it.
13. It is reported to be four to seven times as strong as aspirin.
14. Long Dan Cao and Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai both clear Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao. Long Dan Cao is the better choice for draining Excess Liver/Gallbladder Fire, whereas Huang Bai primarily drains ministerial Fire arising from Deficiency.
15. Long Dan Cao and Rx. Gentianae Macrophyllae Qin Jiao both reduce Heat, eliminate Dampness and are used for Damp-Heat jaundice. Qin Jiao expels Wind and Dampness without being excessively drying, and is used mainly for Wind-Damp Bi and Steaming Bone disorder with tidal fever. Long Dan Cao is bitter and very cold, and mainly drains Fire from the Liver channel, Lower Jiao Damp-Heat, and Liver Fire with tinnitus, vertigo and red eyes. It also treats spasms and cramps from Liver Heat generating Wind, as well as vaginal itching and swelling from Lower Jiao Damp-Heat.
16. Raw Gentian Sheng Long Dan is frequently mixed with water and used externally as eye drops for pain, redness and swelling of the eyes.
17. Scorched Gentian Jiao Long Dan enters the Blood Level, where it cools the Blood and stops bleeding. It is less bitter and causes less harm to the Stomach and Spleen. It is also less drying, so it does less damage to Blood and Yin. It is commonly used for hematuria or hemafecia caused by Intestinal Wind or alcohol poisoning.
18. Wine-fried Gentian Jiu Chao Long Dan Cao travels upward to clear toxic Fire in the face or head, and is commonly used for bitter taste, tinnitus, and pain, redness and swelling of the eyes. It is less cold and less prone to causing obstruction. It works best for rib pain due to Liver/Gallbladder Fire.