Chinese: 甘露消毒丹
Pinyin: Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān
Other names: Sweet Dew Special Pill to Eliminate Toxin
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: TyphoidParotitisEnteric fever and seven other conditions
- Resolves Dampness and transforms turbidity
- Clears Heat and resolves Toxicity
Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with significant underlying Yin Deficiency.
Source date: 1831 AD
Source book: Secretly Transmitted Effective Medicine
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.
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is a 11-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin), Talc (Hua Shi) and Virgate Wormwood (Yin Chen) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1831 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness. Its main actions are: 1) resolves Dampness and transforms turbidity and 2) clears Heat and resolves Toxicity .
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 Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Damp-Heat or Toxic-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as acute gastroenteritis, enteric fever or typhoid for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eleven ingredients in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan, we review the patterns and conditions that Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan helps treat.
The eleven ingredients in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan
Huang Qin is a king ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. 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
Huang Qin drains Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness. It acts
on the Lower Burners, so that Qi can flow freely and the Damp-Heat has an avenue by which to exit the body. It also clears Heat and resolves toxicity.
Hua Shi is a king ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Talc (Hua Shi)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: BladderStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Hua Shi drains Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness. It acts
on the Upper Burners, so that Qi can flow freely. It also treats jaundice.
Yin Chen is a king ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
3. Virgate Wormwood (Yin Chen)
Part used: Dried aerial parts
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: GallbladderLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Yin Chen drains Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness. It acts
on the Middle Burners, so that Qi can flow freely. It also treats jaundice.
Huo Xiang is a deputy ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Korean Mint (Huo Xiang)
Part used: Dried aerial parts
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Huo Xiang is fragrant, aromatic, acrid and warming. It transforms Dampness and invigorate Qi. When the Middle Burner is obstructed by the thick, cloying properties of Dampness, aromatic herbs need to be used to eliminate the turbidity and revive the Spleen.
Shi Chang Pu is a deputy ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Sweetflag Rhizomes (Shi Chang Pu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
Shi Chang Pu is fragrant, aromatic, acrid and warming. It transforms Dampness and invigorate Qi. When the Middle Burner is obstructed by the thick, cloying properties of Dampness, aromatic herbs need to be used to eliminate the turbidity and revive the Spleen.
Bai Dou Kou is a deputy ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Cardamon Fruits (Bai Dou Kou)
Part used: Fruits
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Meridian affinity: SpleenStomachLung
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Bai Dou Kou is fragrant, aromatic, acrid and warming. It transforms Dampness and invigorate Qi. When the Middle Burner is obstructed by the thick, cloying properties of Dampness, aromatic herbs need to be used to eliminate the turbidity and revive the Spleen.
Lian Qiao is an assistant ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
In general Lian Qiao's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and toxicity from the Blood. Dispels External Wind-Heat. Reduces lumps, swollen lymph nodes and sores of a Heated nature."
In the context of Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan, it is used because it clears Toxic-Heat, facilitating the functions of Baikal skullcap root.
She Gan is an assistant ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
8. Blackberry Lily Rhizomes (She Gan)
In general She Gan's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat. Detoxifies Fire poison especially for sore throat. Resolves Phlegm and lowers Lung Qi "
In the context of Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan, it is used because it clears and improves the condition of the throat.
Chuan Bei Mu is an assistant ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
9. Fritillary Bulbs (Chuan Bei Mu)
Part used: Dried bulb
Nature: Cool
Chuan Bei Mu clears up-flaring Fire from the Lung Channel and collaterals and assists Blackberry Lily rhizome in clearing the throat.
Mu Tong is an assistant ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
10. Akebia Stems (Mu Tong)
Part used: Dried stem
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSmall intestine
Category: Herbs that drain Dampness
Mu Tong clears Heat and facilitates the resolution of Dampness, assisting Talc and Virgate wormwood in guiding Damp-Heat out though the urine.
Bo He is an envoy ingredient in Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
11. Wild Mint (Bo He)
Bo He is acrid and cooling. Its light and floating nature focuses the action of the assistants on the throat, while aiding the key and deputies in invigorating the Qi.
Conditions and patterns for which Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan may be prescribed
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 Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Acute gastroenteritis Enteric fever Typhoid Mild leptospirosis Infectious hepatitis Cholecystitis Pyelonephritis Allergic purpura Viral myocarditis Parotitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan treats acute gastroenteritis" for instance. Rather, Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind acute gastroenteritis.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat
Pulse type(s): Soggy (Ru)
Symptoms: Acne Fever Thirst Fatigue Hot body Headaches No thirst Dry mouth Dizziness Red urine Joint pain Heavy head Late period Restlessness Loose stools Heavy periods Poor appetite Chest pressure Feeling of heat Sore lower back Vaginal itching Aversion to cold Frequent sighing Vaginal discharge Abdominal fullness Frequent urination Swollen neck glands Abdominal tightness Sore and weak limbs Feeling of heaviness Lower abdominal pain Scanty dark urination Thick menstrual blood Scanty and dark urine Trichomonas infection Irregular menstruation Thermophilus infection Feeling of bearing down Purplish menstrual blood Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Sticky taste in the mouth Bitter taste in the mouth Small clots in menstrual blood Yellow or brown vaginal discharge Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swollen neck glands, headaches and stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium. Patients with Damp-Heat typically exhibit soggy (Ru) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Damp-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
The general symptoms of Damp-Heat are the heaviness of the body and head as well as low temperature fever rising in the afternoon. The patients are not hot on... read more about Damp-Heat
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Sores Eczema Thirst Pustule Coughing Erythema Swellings Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Mouth ulcers Constipation Abdominal pain Swollen tonsils Feeling of heat Lower back pain Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions Shortness of breath Yellow vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Bloody vaginal discharge Five colour vaginal discharge
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swellings, pus and boils. Patients with Toxic-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue with yellow coating.
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to... read more about Toxic-Heat
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