This product is derived from the roots of the perennial herbaceous plants of the Chinese Gentian family, including Chinese Gentian (Gentiana scabra Bge.), Three-flowered Chinese Gentian (Gentiana triflora Pall.), and Striped-leaf Chinese Gentian (Gentiana manshurica Kitag.). It is distributed in various regions, with the largest production in the northeast, hence it is commonly referred to as "Guan Chinese Gentian." It is harvested in autumn, dried, cut into sections, and used in its raw form.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, cold. Act on liver, gallbladder and bladder channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing heat and drying dampness, purging liver and gallbladder fire.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for swelling of vulva, pruritus vulvae, leukorrhea, eczema, jaundice, and dark urine. This product is extremely bitter and Great Cold (24th solar term), clearing heat and drying dampness, especially effective in clearing dampness-heat in the lower energizer. It is used to treat dampness-heat pouring down, swelling of vulva, pruritus vulvae, yellow and thick leukorrhea in women, swelling and pain of the scrotum in men, eczema, cutaneous pruritus, etc., often combined with Phelloendron Bark, Sophora, Atractylodes Rhizome, and other herbs; for treating liver-gallbladder dampness-heat, jaundice, and dark urine, it can be used with Virgate Wormwood, Gardenia, Phelloendron Bark, etc.
2. Used for liver fire headache, red eyes, deafness, hypochondriac pain, and bitter taste in the mouth. This product is bitter and cold, descending, and can purge the excess fire of the liver and gallbladder. It is often used with Bupleurum, Skullcap Root, Akebia Stem, etc., such as Gentian Liver-Draining Decoction.
3. Used for extreme heat in the liver meridian, producing wind, resulting in high fever, convulsions, and hand-foot convulsions. This product can clear and purge the excess fire of the liver and gallbladder, often used with Cow-Bezoar, Uncaria, Coptis Rhizome, etc., to synergistically clear liver and extinguish wind, such as in Liang Jing Wan.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Governs bone cold-heat, fright epilepsy pathogenic qi, mends broken injuries, stabilizes the five zang-organs, kills parasitic toxins."
2. Zhenzhunang: "Removes yellow in the eyes and redness, swelling, and pain of the eyes, raised flesh, unbearable pain."
3. 《Medication Methods and Images》: "Reduces liver channel pathogenic heat, eliminates dampness-heat in the lower energizer swelling, purges bladder fire."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-6g. Apply an appropriate amount externally.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach should not be used. Those with yin deficiency and fluid injury should use with caution.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains Chinese Gentian bitter glycosides, Chinese Gentian alkaloids, Chinese Gentian flavones, and Chinese Gentian sugars. The decoction of Chinese Gentian has a certain inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, cold-damage disease bacilli, Staphylococcus aureus, some skin fungi, and Leptospira, and also has anti-inflammatory effects. Chinese Gentian alkaloids have a sedative effect, can relax muscles, and have a hypotensive effect on anesthetized animals. A small amount of Gentian taken orally can reflexively enhance gastric secretion, increase free acid, aid digestion, and stimulate appetite. Additionally, it has liver-protective effects, reduces alanine aminotransferase, and promotes bile secretion.