Xie Gan Tang
Star泻肝汤 (Drain the Liver Decoction)
Source: Selections from the Clinical Experience of Guan You-Bo (2006)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Xie Gan Tang (Drain the Liver Decoction), from Selections from the Clinical Experience of Guan You-Bo (2006).
Associated formula of Huang Lian Jie Du Tang.
Actions: Drains heat and resolves toxicity; Clears the Liver; Cools the blood
Indications: Early stage hepatic coma with drifting consciousness, yang-type jaundice, red eyes and complexion, pain in both flanks, abdominal distention, heavy breathing, foul breath, thirst, constipation, a red tongue with a yellow coating, and a wiry slippery pulse
Pattern: Heat toxin in the Liver with yang jaundice and impending coma
Usage: Integrated-medicine formula combining Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Yin Chen Hao Tang, Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin and Xiao Xian Xiong Tang; take up to half a month or until 50% improved, then switch to tonifying.
Category: Formulas that Clear Heat and Resolve Toxicity.
Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 170.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Yin Chen
as printed: Artemisiae scopariae Herba (yin chen hao) 60g
|
60g | 20.34% | — | |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Coptidis Rhizoma (huang lian) 10g
|
10g | 3.39% | — | |
|
Huang Qin
as printed: Scutellariae Radix (huang qin) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Mu Dan Pi
as printed: Moutan Cortex (mu dan pi) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Huang Bai
as printed: Phellodendri Cortex (huang bai) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Da Huang
dose printed as (fried in alcohol) 10g; as printed: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (da huang) (fried in alcohol) 10g
|
g | — | — | |
|
Zhi Zi
as printed: Gardeniae Fructus (zhi zi) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Chi Shao
as printed: Paeoniae Radix rubra (chi shao) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Jin Yin Hua
as printed: Lonicerae Flos (jin yin hua) 30g
|
30g | 10.17% | — | |
|
Pu Gong Ying
as printed: Taraxaci Herba (pu gong ying) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Zi Hua Di Ding
as printed: Violae Herba (zi hua di ding) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Ye Ju Hua
as printed: Chrysanthemi indici Flos (ye ju hua) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Ban Lan Gen
as printed: Isatidis Radix (ban lan gen) 30g
|
30g | 10.17% | — | |
|
Chong Lou
as printed: Paridis Rhizoma (chong lou) 15g
|
15g | 5.08% | — | |
|
Zhi Shi
as printed: Aurantii Fructus immaturus (zhi shi) 10g
|
10g | 3.39% | — | |
|
Gua Lou
as printed: Trichosanthis Fructus (gua lou) 10g
|
10g | 3.39% | — | |
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Pinelliae Rhizoma (ban xia) 10g
|
10g | 3.39% | — |
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 53%, cool 44%, warm 3%.
Small but decisive: Huang Lian 10g (cold, 3% of the grams), Huang Qin 15g (cold, 5% of the grams), Huang Bai 15g (cold, 5% of the grams), Zhi Zi 15g (cold, 5% of the grams), Pu Gong Ying 15g (cold, 5% of the grams), Zi Hua Di Ding 15g (cold, 5% of the grams), Gua Lou 10g (cold, 3% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 22%
- sweet 14%
- sour 4%
- bitter 60%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Stomach 64%
- Liver 54%
- Heart 49%
- Spleen 36%
- Large intestine 31%
- Gallbladder 29%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
1 herb without a dose in grams, so left out of every figure above: Da Huang.
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
Decoction divided into four portions taken over one day, each with half a Greatest Treasure Special Pill (zhi bao dan) per the source.
Relationships
Full-screen graph →Click a node for details · double-click to expand it · Ctrl/⌘ + scroll or two fingers to zoom and pan.
Formula family
Full herb lists
- This formula = Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin without Tian Kui Zi + Xiao Xian Xiong Tang + Yin Chen Hao Tang + Ban Lan Gen, Chi Shao, Chong Lou, Huang Bai, Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Shi
- This formula = Xiao Xian Xiong Tang + Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin + Yin Chen Hao Tang + Ban Lan Gen, Chi Shao, Chong Lou, Huang Bai, Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Shi
- This formula = Yin Chen Hao Tang + Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin + Xiao Xian Xiong Tang + Ban Lan Gen, Chi Shao, Chong Lou, Huang Bai, Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi and Zhi Shi
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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