Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Star当归龙荟丸 (Tangkuei, Gentiana, and Aloe Pill)
Source: Dan Xi Xin Fa — Zhu Zhen-Heng (1172)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan (Tangkuei, Gentiana, and Aloe Pill), from the Dan Xi Xin Fa (Teachings of [Zhu] Dan-Xi) by Zhu Zhen-Heng.
Actions: Clears and purges excess fire from the Liver and Gallbladder channels.
Presentation: Excess fire in the Liver and Gallbladder channels: dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, loss of hearing, a sore throat, restlessness, constipation, dark, yellow urine, and dysuria. In severe cases, patients may have convulsions, epilepsy, semi-unconsciousness, delirium, restless shen (spirit), constipation, and mania.
Composition: Batch (pill-making) quantities.
Cautions:
- Very bitter and cold; may injure Spleen/Stomach; contraindicated in middle-jiao deficiency and cold; avoid prolonged or heavy use
- For purely excess conditions only; contraindicated in deficiency
- Contraindicated in pregnancy
- Reported side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, dizziness, fatigue
Source: Chen JK, Chen TT. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications: Pharmacological Effects & Clinical Research. Art of Medicine Press, 2009, p. 379.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long Dan Cao
A variation uses 30g Long Dan plus 15g Qing Dai; as printed: Long Dan (Radix et Rhizoma Gentianae) 15g
|
15g | 7.46% | Jun (Chief) | Sedates Liver/Gallbladder excess fire, clears lower-jiao damp-heat |
|
Dang Gui
as printed: Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 30g
|
30g | 14.93% | Chen (Deputy) | Nourishes and protects yin and blood |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae) 30g
|
30g | 14.93% | Zuo (Assistant) | Disperses fire and damp-heat from the three jiaos |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Huang Lian (Rhizoma Coptidis) 30g
|
30g | 14.93% | Zuo (Assistant) | Disperses fire and damp-heat from the three jiaos |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae) 30g
|
30g | 14.93% | Zuo (Assistant) | Disperses fire and damp-heat from the three jiaos |
|
Lu Hui
as printed: Lu Hui (Aloe) 15g
|
15g | 7.46% | Zuo (Assistant) | Drains downward, eliminates heat through defecation |
|
Da Huang
as printed: Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) 15g
|
15g | 7.46% | Zuo (Assistant) | Drains downward, eliminates heat through defecation |
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis) 30g
|
30g | 14.93% | Disperses fire and damp-heat from the three jiaos | |
|
Mu Xiang
as printed: Mu Xiang (Radix Aucklandiae) 4.5g
|
4.5g | 2.24% | Regulates qi and relieves pain | |
|
She Xiang
as printed: She Xiang (Moschus) 1.5g
|
1.5g | 0.75% | Aromatic; awakens unconscious or semi-conscious patients |
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 cool (-1.46)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 82%, warm 18%.
Small but decisive: Long Dan Cao 15g (cold, 8% of the grams), Lu Hui 15g (cold, 8% of the grams), Da Huang 15g (cold, 8% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 9%
- sweet 8%
- bitter 83%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Large intestine 62%
- Heart 60%
- Spleen 55%
- Liver 53%
- Stomach 47%
- Gallbladder 40%
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.
Preparation
Source: grind to powder, form small honey pills the size of small beans; take 20 pills with a Sheng Jiang decoction. Today: water pills, 6g per dose twice daily with warm boiled water. A variation contains 15g Qing Dai and 30g Long Dan.
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Formula family
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
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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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