Da Huang Gan Cao Tang
Star大黄甘草汤 (Rhubarb and Licorice Decoction)
Source: Jin Gui Yao Lue (c. 220)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Da Huang Gan Cao Tang (Rhubarb and Licorice Decoction), from Essentials from the Golden Cabinet (c. 220).
Associated formula of Da Cheng Qi Tang.
Actions: Unblocks the bowels; Purges; Harmonizes the Stomach; Stops vomiting
Usage: Heat clumping in the Intestines with fire rising to disturb the Stomach (constipation with vomiting); guides excess fire downward (facial flushing, red eyes, red prickly tongue, irritability, bitter taste, excessive forceful pulse); not for severe distention or delirium.
Category: Formulas that Purge Heat Accumulation.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 67.
Composition
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net cold (-1.60)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 80%, neutral 20%.
Taste
- sweet 20%
- bitter 80%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 100%
- Spleen 100%
- Large intestine 80%
- Pericardium 80%
- Liver 80%
- Lung 20%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Relationships
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Formula family
Full herb lists
- Jing Xiao San = this formula + Chai Hu, Chi Shao, Dang Gui, Lian Qiao and Shui Niu Jiao
- Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang = this formula + Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Tao Ren, Tian Hua Fen, Chai Hu and Chuan Shan Jia
- Lan Wei Qing Hua Tang = this formula + Chi Shao, Chuan Lian Zi, Jin Yin Hua, Mu Dan Pi, Pu Gong Ying and Tao Ren
- Lan Wei Qing Jie Tang = this formula + Chuan Lian Zi, Jin Yin Hua, Mu Dan Pi, Mu Xiang, Pu Gong Ying and Tao Ren
- Lian Qiao Jie Du Tang = this formula + Bai Mao Gen, Dan Shen, Fang Feng, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao and Lu Dou
- Niu Huang Jie Du Pian = this formula + Jie Geng Tang + Bing Pian, Huang Qin, Niu Huang, Shi Gao and Xiong Huang
- Xi Gan San = this formula + Bo He, Chuan Xiong, Dang Gui, Fang Feng, Qiang Huo and Zhi Zi
- Ba Zheng San = this formula + Liu Yi San + Mu Tong, Bian Xu, Che Qian Zi, Qu Mai, Zhi Zi and Deng Xin Cao
- Liang Ge San = this formula + Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang + Lian Qiao, Bo He, Dan Zhu Ye, Huang Qin, Zhi Zi and Feng Mi
- Nei Shu Huang Lian Tang = this formula + Xie Xin Tang + Bo He, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Zao Jiao Ci and Zhi Zi
- Xiang Sheng Po Di San = this formula + Jie Geng Tang + Bo He, Chuan Xiong, Er Cha, He Zi, Lian Qiao and Sha Ren
- Jin Huang San = this formula + Er Miao San + Bai Zhi, Chen Pi, Hou Po, Jiang Huang, Tian Hua Fen and Tian Nan Xing
- Zi Cao Gen Mu Li Tang = this formula + Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Chuan Xiong, Jin Yin Hua, Mu Li, Sheng Ma and Zi Cao
- Gui Shao Hong Hua San = this formula + Wu Lin San + Bai Zhi, Fang Feng, Hong Hua, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao and Sheng Di Huang
- Jiu Wei Bing Lang Jia Wu Fu Tang = this formula + Fu Ling Gan Cao Tang + Ju Pi Tang + Bing Lang, Hou Po, Mu Xiang, Wu Zhu Yu and Zi Su Ye
- Ren Shen Xie Fei Tang = this formula + Jie Geng Tang + Bo He, Huang Qin, Lian Qiao, Ren Shen, Sang Bai Pi, Xing Ren, Zhi Ke and Zhi Zi
- Feng Yin Tang = this formula + Gui Zhi Gan Cao Long Gu Mu Li Tang + Liu Yi San + Bai Shi Zhi, Chi Shi Zhi, Gan Jiang, Han Shui Shi, Shi Gao and Zi Shi Ying
- Huo Xue Shu Gan Tang = this formula + Bing Lang, Chai Hu, Chen Pi, Chi Shao, Dang Gui, Hong Hua, Hou Po, Huang Qin, Tao Ren and Zhi Ke
- Zheng Gu Zi Jin Dan = this formula + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Dang Gui, Ding Xiang, Er Cha, Fu Ling, Hong Hua, Lian Zi, Mu Dan Pi, Mu Xiang and Xue Jie
- Qing Bi Tang = this formula + Ge Gen Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Chuan Xiong, Rou Gui, Shi Gao, Xin Yi (Hua) and Yi Yi Ren
- Huo Xue Zhi Tong Tang = this formula + Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang + Dang Gui, E Zhu, Er Cha, Fu Ling, Hong Hua, Mu Dan Pi, San Leng, Su Mu, Tao Ren, Xiang Fu and Xue Jie
- You Bi Tang = this formula + Ge Gen Tang + Jie Geng Tang + Bai Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Huang Qin, Shi Gao and Xin Yi (Hua)
- Zhu Ye Xie Jing Tang = this formula + Xie Xin Tang + Chai Hu, Che Qian Zi, Chi Shao, Fu Ling, Jue Ming Zi, Qiang Huo, Sheng Ma, Ze Xie, Zhi Zi and Zhu Ye
- Jia Wei Xiu Gan San = this formula + Xi Gan San + Wu Lin San + Huang Qin, Ji Li, Jing Jie, Ju Hua, Lian Qiao, Ma Huang, Mu Zei and Sang Piao Xiao
- Chai Hu An Shen Tang = this formula + Yi Gan San + Xiao Chai Hu Tang + Gui Zhi, Mu Li, Suan Zao Ren, Xi Yang Shen, Ye Jiao Teng and Zhi Zi
- Xi Tong Fang Yi Hao = this formula + Sheng Hua Tang + Chi Shao, Chuan Niu Xi, Du Huo, Hong Hua, Mu Gua, Niu Xi, San Qi, Sheng Di Huang, Su Mu, Wu Yao, Xiang Fu, Xu Duan, Yan Hu Suo and Ze Lan
- Xiao Er Hui Chun Dan = this formula + Niu Huang, She Xiang, Ban Xia, Chuan Bei Mu, Dan Nan Xing, Gou Teng, Jiang Can, Quan Xie, Tian Ma, Tian Zhu Huang, Bai Dou Kou, Chen Pi, Chen Xiang, Mu Xiang, Tan Xiang, Zhi Ke and Zhu Sha
- Niu Huang Shang Qing Wan = this formula + Qing Xin Liang Ge San + Niu Huang Jie Du Pian + Wu Lin San + Bai Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Fang Feng, Huang Bai, Huang Lian, Jing Jie, Ju Hua and Lian Zi Xin
- Qu Feng Zhi Bao Dan = this formula + Fang Feng Tong Sheng San + Xi Gan San + Wen Qing Yin + Du Huo, Quan Xie, Ren Shen, Tian Ma and Xi Xin
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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