Root of Przewalsk Gentian … Classic Formulas
Long Dan Cao · Radix Gentianae
Primary Actions
- Clears Liver and Gallbladder fire ... Long Dan Cao is the classic bitter-cold gentian root for red hot upward patterns with irritability, dizziness, headache, and fire blazing through the upper body.
- Dries damp-heat in the lower burner ... it is used for bitter heat patterns involving the genital or urinary tract, foul discharge, painful urination, or constrained damp-heat below.
- Resolves heat-toxin patterns linked to intense internal fire ... the herb is sometimes extended to mouth sores, inflamed swelling, or fire-driven irritability when the pattern is clearly excessive.
Classic Formulas
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang ... the canonical damp-heat and Liver-Fire formula built around Long Dan Cao.
- Dang Gui Long Hui Wan ... heavy fire-draining formula where Long Dan Cao helps cool raging Liver and Gallbladder heat.
- Lower-burner damp-heat prescriptions paired with Huang Qin, Zhi Zi, and Che Qian Zi ... common formula logic when bitter-cold drainage is needed.
Classical Text References
- Traditional herbology consistently places Long Dan Cao among the strongest bitter-cold roots for clearing Liver and Gallbladder fire.
- The root is classically reserved for real excess heat and damp-heat rather than deficiency, fragility, or cold digestive states.