Gentiana Drain Fire Formula (Long Dan Xie Gan Tang) is a modification of a classical formula used to drain fire in the liver and gallbladder channels and damp-heat from the lower burner. The formula was modified by adding coptis (huang lian) and tree peony (mu dan pi) for their heat-clearing and antimicrobial effects, and substituting lophatherum (dan zhu ye) for clematis (mu tong). This formula is useful in the treatment of urinary tract infections and vaginal infections with yellowish discharge, as well as ear and sinus infections when the pattern is damp-heat or fire in the gallbladder channel.

TCM Formula Profile

Chinese Medical Actions: Drains fire from the liver and gallbladder, clears and drains damp-heat from the lower burner.

Indications: Bitter taste in mouth, conjunctivitis, dizziness, ear infection with pus, eczema, red and sore eyes, gallbladder inflammation, gallstones, genital itching, swelling, and pain, hangover, headache, herpes simplex or zoster, hyperthyroidism, hypochondriac pain, irritability, jaundice, shortened menstrual cycle, migraine headache, pelvic inflammatory disease, prostatitis, skin rash, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, tonsillitis, urinary tract infection, painful urination, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, vaginal yeast infection, non-specific vaginitis.

Tongue: Red with yellow coating.

Pulse: Wiry, rapid, forceful.

Contraindications: DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY. Not for long-term use. Use with caution in cases with spleen deficiency.