Gentian Decoction to Drain the Liver

醫方集解

Treats excess fire in the Liver channel, Damp-heat, hypochondriac pain, deafness, bitter taste from gallbladder overflow, sinew flaccidity, genital sweating, genital swelling and pain, white turbidity, and blood in urine.

Longdancao (gentian root) 10g, Zhizi (gardenia fruit) 10g, Huangqin (skullcap root) 10g, Chaihu (bupleurum root) 5g, Shengdi (raw rehmannia) 15g, Zexie (alisma rhizome) 10g, Danggui 10g, Cheqianzi (plantain seed) 10g, Mutong (akebia stem) 5g, Gancao 5g.

Decoct in water and take warm.

湯劑

Clears and drains excess fire of the Liver and Gallbladder, clears and disinhibits Liver-Gallbladder Damp-heat.

1. Pattern of Liver-Gallbladder excess fire flaring upward. Symptoms include hypochondriac pain, headache, red eyes, bitter taste in the mouth, deafness, and ear swelling. 2. Pattern of Damp-heat in the Liver channel pouring downward. Bitter taste in the mouth, yellow urine, strangury with turbid urine, genital itching and swelling, yellow foul leukorrhea in women, red tongue, yellow greasy coating, and a wiry, rapid, forceful pulse.

If there is Yang deficiency, with a pale white, enlarged tongue with teeth marks and a wet, slippery coating: add processed Fuzi (aconite): 10, dried ginger: 10.

The medicinals in this formula are mostly bitter and cold, and easily damage the Spleen and Stomach. Use with caution in those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold and loose, watery stools.