---
title: "Long Dan Cao"
url: "https://books.drcassone.com/21/traditional-medicines-of-east-asia/533/long-dan-cao"
---

 ![long dan cao, gentianae radix.jpg](/u/long-dan-cao-gentianae-radix-hyF9MN.jpg) 

# Long Dan Cao

### Gentianae Radix

_bitter, cold_

#### PRIMARY FUNCTION:

_**Clear Heat and Dry Dampness**_

CLASSICAL MANIFESTATIONS:
- Sore throat
- Red eyes
- Sore eyes
- Swollen painful ears
- Sudden deafness
- Pain and swelling of the genitals
- Jaundice
- Foul smelling vaginal discharge
- Vaginal itching
- Headache
- Fever
- Spasms
- Flank pain

Long Dan Cao is bitter to drain damp pathologies and detoxify. It
is cold to treat patterns due to heat. Long Dan Cao enters the
liver, gallbladder, and stomach systems.

Long Dan Cao is an important herb for clearing heat in the liver
which in turn clears heat in the blood. It supports liver phase II
filtration mechanisms and has a blood moving effect.

**Channels:** liver, stomach, gallbladder

COMMON APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL
POSSIBILITIES:
- Biliary congestion
- Migraines
- Yeast infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Eczema
- Hypertension
- Jaundice
- Sleep disorders
- Irritability
- Leukorrhea
- High blood pressure
- Eye disorders
- Antimicrobial
- Skin sores
- Ear infections
- Parasitic infections
- Urinary tract infection

**Formulas:**
- Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
- Long Dan Bi Yuan Fang
- Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
- Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang

**Contraindications:** do not prescribe Long Dan Cao to
patients that present with cold from deficiency patterns

**Zoo Image:** a cat with red eyes and head is licking it damp heat vagina while
two liver and gallbladder dogs pull its tail

[Cassone Wellness](https://cassonewellness.com/)