Dang Gui Long Hui Wan — Tangkuei, Gentian & Aloe Pill

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

Overview

Dang Gui Long Hui Wan — the “Tangkuei, Gentian and Aloe Pill” — is from Liu Wansu’s Xuan Ming Lun Fang. It is used for severe excess Liver-Gallbladder Fire — the most aggressive Liver-clearing formula in the classical pharmacopoeia, stronger than Long Dan Xie Gan Tang. It combines four cold draining herbs (Long Dan Cao, Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai) with Da Huang, Lu Hui (aloe) and Mu Xiang for downward purging. Reserved for severe acute presentations where Liver Fire has become overwhelming: severe headache, intense irritability, severe constipation and acute mania.

I prescribe Dang Gui Long Hui Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Dang Gui Long Hui Wan is prescribed for severe excess Liver-Gallbladder Fire:

• Severe headache, dizziness
• Intense irritability, prone to rage
• Red eyes, deafness or tinnitus that is intense
• Bitter taste, foul breath
• Severe constipation, dark scant urine
• Possible delirium, mania, severe insomnia
• Tongue — red with yellow dry coat
• Pulse — wiry, rapid, forceful

Key herbs

1. Dang Gui (Rx. Angelicae Sinensis, 6–15g) — nourishes Blood; prevents the cold herbs from injuring the Blood
2. Long Dan Cao (Rx. Gentianae, 3–9g) — strongly clears Liver/Gallbladder Fire
3. Huang Lian (Rz. Coptidis, 3–9g) — clears Heart Fire
4. Huang Qin (Rx. Scutellariae, 6–9g) — clears Lung and upper-burner Heat
5. Huang Bai (Cx. Phellodendri, 3–9g) — clears Kidney and lower-burner Heat
6. Zhi Zi (Fr. Gardeniae, 3–9g) — clears Heat from all three burners
7. Da Huang (Rx. Rhei, 3–9g) — purges Heat-accumulation downward
8. Lu Hui (Aloe Vera, 3–6g) — clears Liver Fire; mild purgative
9. Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis, 1.5–3g) — clears Liver Fire; cools Blood
10. Mu Xiang (Rx. Aucklandiae, 3–6g) — moves Qi; prevents the cold herbs from causing stagnation

Formula actions

1. Strongly clears Liver and Gallbladder Fire
2. Purges Heat-accumulation downward through the bowels
3. Nourishes Blood to protect against the cold draining action

Conditions treated

1. Acute severe hypertensive crisis with red face, severe headache, constipation (alongside conventional care)
2. Acute mania or psychotic episode with Liver Fire pattern
3. Severe acute migraine with Liver Fire
4. Acute glaucoma or severe red-eye conditions with marked Heat
5. Severe acute hyperthyroidism flare with rage and agitation
6. Acute alcohol-related rage / withdrawal Liver Fire

Cautions

Contains Da Huang — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Very aggressive cold draining and purging — for short-term acute use only; never for chronic use.

Strictly for excess Liver Fire patterns — not for Yin-deficient Fire or any deficient pattern.

Severe acute hypertensive crisis or acute psychiatric emergency requires urgent medical care.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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