Chinese: 当归龙荟丸
Pinyin: Dāng Guī Lóng Huì Wán
Other names: Angelica Gentiana Aloe Pill, Tangkuei Gentian and Aloe Pill, Dragon Brain Pill, Dong quai Gentian Aloe Pill,
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat from the Organs
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: VertigoTinnitusEpilepsy and three other conditions
Main actions: Drains Liver and Gallbladder Fire Excess
Contraindications: Contraindicated in cases of Spleen Deficiency.
Source date: 1172 AD
Source book: Formulas from the Discussion Illuminating the Yellow Emperor's Basic Questions
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Dong Quai (Dang Gui) and Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1172 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat from the Organs. Its main action is that it drains Liver and Gallbladder Fire Excess.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Liver Fire Blazing. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as vertigo, tinnitus or hearing loss for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, we review the patterns and conditions that Dang Gui Long Hui Wan helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan
Dang Gui is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Dong Quai (Dang Gui)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: HeartLiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
Dang Gui softens the Liver by tonifying its Blood. This is important because only a Liver whose Blood is strong and mobile can ensure the smooth flow of Qi (one of the Liver's key functions).
Long Dan Cao is a king ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Chinese Gentian (Long Dan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverLung
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Long Dan Cao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. Clears Liver-Fire. Clears Liver-Wind."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it is bitter and very cold and therefore has a strong capacity to drain Fire.
Lu Hui is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Aloe Vera (Lu Hui)
Part used: Concentrated dry product of leaf juice
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLiver
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Lu Hui's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat. Cools the Liver and clears Heat in the Liver. Eases constipation and kills parasites."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Liver.
Qing Dai is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Natural Indigo (Qing Dai)
Part used: Dried powder or mass prepared from the leaf and/or the stem
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Salty
In general Qing Dai's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat, resolves Fire toxicity and cools the Blood. Disperses Stagnation and reduces swelling. Drains Liver Fire, dispels Summer-Heat and extinguishes Wind to stop tremors."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Liver.
Zhi Zi is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Zhi Zi's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Triple Burner.
Huang Lian is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Heart.
Huang Bo is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Part used: Dried bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Bo's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness."
Huang Qin is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Qin's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Lungs.
Da Huang is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Rhubarb (Da Huang)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLarge intestineLiverPericardium
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Da Huang's main actions are as follows: "Drains Excess Heat and eliminates Dampness, especially when in the Bright Yang stage according to the Six Stages Theory. Cools the Blood and stops bleeding. Invigorates Blood, breaks up Stasis and relieves pain. Clears Heat and toxins from Excess. Applied topically for Hot sores and Blood Stasis."
In the context of Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, it is used because it drains Fire from the Yang Brightness and eliminates clumping.
Mu Xiang is an assistant ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Costus Roots (Mu Xiang)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLarge intestineLiverLungSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that regulate Qi
Mu Xiang ensures that the bitter nature of the formula does not lead to a breakdown of the Qi dynamic; it adds regulation of the Qi to the draining of Fire.
She Xiang is an envoy ingredient in Dang Gui Long Hui Wan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Musk (She Xiang)
Part used: Musk gland of the deer
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
She Xiang ensures that the bitter nature of the formula does not lead to a breakdown of the Qi dynamic; it adds regulation of the Qi to the draining of Fire.
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is used to treat Liver Fire Blazing
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is mostly used to treat the pattern "Liver Fire Blazing" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Liver Fire Blazing here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Vertigo Tinnitus Hearing loss Pharyngitis Psychosis Epilepsy
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Dang Gui Long Hui Wan treats vertigo" for instance. Rather, Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is used to treat Liver Fire Blazing, which is sometimes the root cause behind vertigo.
Now let's look at Liver Fire Blazing, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Dang Gui Long Hui Wan.
The Liver is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Liver in Chinese Medicine
Liver Fire Blazing
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
Symptoms: Thirst Tinnitus Deafness Red face Red eyes Dizziness Epistaxis Dry stools Dark Urine Haemoptysis Irritability Constipation Haematemesis Outbursts of anger Temporal headaches Dream disturbed sleep Bitter taste in the mouth
Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Liver Fire Blazing. This pattern leads to symptoms such as irritability, outbursts of anger, tinnitus and deafness. Patients with Liver Fire Blazing typically exhibit rapid (Shu), wiry (Xian) or full (Shi) pulses.
Many of these symptoms are located in the upper-parts of the body because the nature of Fire is to flare upwards. As such we have the red face and eyes, the temporal headache, dizziness, etc. The headache is typically very intense, throbbing in character and located on the temples or felt in the... read more about Liver Fire Blazing
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