Gentiana cools to calm the spirit and make you cool of course. ;)

Alternative Names

• long dan xie gan tang
• lung tan hsieh kan tang
• long dan xue gan tang
• Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction
• Gentian Liver-Purging Decoction
• ryutan syakan to
• Ryūtan-shakan-tō
• 竜胆瀉肝湯
• りゅうたんしゃかんとう
• TJ76; TJ-76; TJ 76
• lóng dǎn xiè gān wán
• 龍膽瀉肝丸

Benefits

• cools redness in the face
• calms restlessness
• calms rage.
• supports vaginal health
• supports bladder health

• This formula is the “go to” for the signs of heat and is said to have something of a detoxifying benefit.
• It usually is used only for 10 days for the effects to help and then discontinued. After 10 days you can go back on it again.
• It may also cause loose stools or diarrhea if taken too much or too long.

Toxicity in Chinese medicine means evidence of redness such as rashes.  Specifically, it is said to eliminate “damp-heat” from these two channels. Because heat rises and damp is a heavier fluid we often find more damp indications lower in the body and more heat indications higher in the body.

Dampness that descends within the Liver channel often manifests with weeping, oozy sores. Because this damp is warm or hot (we call it “damp-heat”) these weeping sores usually arise on a red base.

Thick coat with optional red dots (indicating heat).

Oozing clear fluids means dampness, redness means heat. These sores can arise anywhere that the Liver channel dominates such as the genitals, the ribs and flank, and the lips. (The Liver channel isn’t just one discrete channel, but it has tributaries, like a river with streams feeding into it.)Because the Liver is particularly sensitive to stress, we find that these symptoms of damp-heat are all aggravated by stress. However, in the absence of a thick yellow tongue coating, one should choose other formulas. A thick tongue coating is defined as one that is so thick, you can’t see through it to the tongue body beneath. Many tongues are only thick in the rear, this would suggest that *maybe* this is a good formula for you.

Ingredients

Long Dan Cao 龍膽草 Chinese gentian root, gentiana root Radix Gentianae Longdancao

Chai Hu 柴胡 hare’s ear root, thorowax root, bupleurum Radix Bupleuri [caution]

Zhi Zi 梔子 cape jasmine fruit, gardenia Gardeniae Fructus

Huang Qin 黃苓 baical skullcap root, scutellaria, scute Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis [supports pregnancy]

• The above four herbs all have one thing in common, they enter the Gallbladder or Liver channels. They’re cool and drying. Cool and dry properties entering the Gallbladder and Liver channels is exactly what we want to treat “damp-heat”. Cool and dry is the opposite of hot and damp, get it?

Dang Gui 當歸 tangkuei, Chinese angelica root Radix Angelicae Sinensis [supports pregnancy]

Sheng Di Huang 生地黃 Chinese foxglove root, rehmannia (fresh),Rehmannia root Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

• These two herbs both nourish the blood. The major function of this formula is to cool and dry. These two herbs prevent too much drying as they both nourish the healthy appropriate moistening elements of the body. Sheng Di also cools the blood, which might be indicated for those with red dots on the tongue such as the tongue picture on this page.

Mu Tong 木通 akebia caulis Caulis Mutong (not included in online version) [don’t use if pregnant]

Che Qian Zi 車前子 plantago seeds Semen Plantaginis

Ze Xie 澤瀉 alisma rhizome, water plantain Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis [supports pregnancy]

• One method by which both damp and heat are removed from the body is through the urinary track. These three ingredients are all diuretics that are cool or cooling in nature.

Gan Cao 甘草 licorice root Radix Glycyrrhizae [caution]

• As it is commonly used, this very sweet herb helps soften the harsh effects of the bitter cold drying herbs in this formula to protect the stomach and prevent side-effects of tummy ache for instance.

This formula has a cooling effect on the “liver”. When the liver is cool, the temper is calmed. However while we’re cooling the emotions, we’re also cooling off other body functions including some reproductive activities. Heat that rises to the heart can induce intense dreams or over-the-top emotions. This can also cause nocturnal emissions or premature ejaculation. Cooling the liver is the first step in this process. The second is to use certain herbs that astringe the ejaculate such that it comes out less easily. These herbs are available as a separate formula to address the symptoms only, or as an add-on component to this formula.

The separate formula that includes these herbs for nocturnal emissions or premature ejaculation is called Metal Lock Pill to Stabilize the Essence (Jin Suo Gu Jing Tang)

Adding a bit to this formula addresses both the root-cause of this condition as well as the branch-symptoms. “Root and branch” are often treated together to address the both symptoms as well as regulate the underlying root disharmony giving rise to wet dreams or premature ejaculation.

• DOSAGE:
• I would suggest capsules for this.
• Long Dan Xie Gan Tang should not be taken for more than a week to 10 days at a time.
• start slow with 1 or two capsules or spoons- take with food or juice. This herb (until you get used to it) tastes Nasty. Bitterness drains heat and this formula is all about bitter. When it tastes good then you know it is working.
• Be aware if it upsets your stomach and/or causes diarrhea. Cut back or stop then.

  Eagle Herbs is now supplying a 2 gram “little spoon”. (Please wash and dry before using.)

  An “average dose” is 10 grams per day of the granules or 20 capsules.

  A Big Dosage for Short-lived but intense issues: 3 little spoons (12 capsules) twice a day.

  A Smaller Dosage for Lingering low-grade concerns: 2 little spoons (8 capsules) twice a day.

  If you are very sensitive to medicines: start out low (1/2 little spoon or 2 capsules) once per day, and raise the dosage each day.

  We find that people find the right dosage for themselves: what feels good for them and they get the results they are looking for.

Your order will last approximately this long:

• 100 grams powder (capsules or powder): 8 to 25 days
• 200 grams powder (powder only): 19 to 56 days