Long Dan Cao

Description:

The root or rhizome of perennial herb Gentiana scabra Bge or Ctriflora pall. It is commonly used for jaundice, leukorrhagia, itching and swollen vagina, stranguria, eczema due to damp-heat, because it has good actions for clearing heat and drying dampness. It can both clear damp-heat and purge excess fire from liver and gallbladder, and is indicated for headache, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, swollen ears due to up-flaming of liver-fire or flank pain and bitter mouth due to excess liver fire. It also can be used to clear heat and remove toxicity, as well as to treat abscess due to heat toxin. For infantile sores and swelling, it is mainly combined with heat-clearing and toxicity-removing herbs such as Huang Lian and Sheng Ma in Long Dan Wan from Yi Zong Jin Jian.