Chinese: 凉膈散
Pinyin: Liáng Gé Sǎn
Other names: Cool the Diaphragm Powder
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and resolve toxicity
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: EpilepsyStomatitisPharyngitis and seven other conditions
- Drains Fire
- Unblocks the bowels by clearing the Upper Burner
- Draining the Middle Burner
Contraindications: The use of this formula can readily injure the Spleen and Stomach Qi. The... The use of this formula can readily injure the Spleen and Stomach Qi. The dosage of Rhubarb and Mirabilite should therefore be reduced or omitted altogether once the constipation has been alleviated, or with the appearance of mild abdominal pain, pus in the stool, and fatigue. This formula is appropriate only for conditions of Heat Excess in the Upper and Middle burners and is contraindicated during pregnancy and for patients who are very weak. see more
Source date: 1107 AD
Source book: Formulary of the Pharmacy Service for Benefiting the People in the Taiping Era
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.
Liang Ge San is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and resolve toxicity. Its main actions are: 1) drains Fire and 2) unblocks the bowels by clearing the Upper Burner.
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 Liang Ge San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Heart Fire blazing. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as pharyngitis, stomatitis or biliary tract infections for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the eight ingredients in Liang Ge San, we review the patterns and conditions that Liang Ge San helps treat.
The eight ingredients in Liang Ge San
Lian Qiao is a king ingredient in Liang Ge San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Forsythia Fruits (Lian Qiao)
Lian Qiao clears Heat and resolving Toxicity. It enters the Heart channel to disperse pathogenic Heat, eliminates all types of Heat from the Upper Burner, and is a specific herb for treating sores.
Da Huang is a deputy ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. 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 Liang Ge San, it is used because it opens the bowel to flush Heat from the Middle Burner.
Mang Xiao is a deputy ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Mirabilites (Mang Xiao)
Part used: The rock crushed as a powder
Nature: Cold
Meridian affinity: StomachLarge intestine
Category: Purgative herbs that drain downward
In general Mang Xiao's main actions are as follows: "Purges Stagnation in the Intestines caused by Heat and Dryness, Cools Heat and abates swelling"
In the context of Liang Ge San, it is used because it opens the bowel to flush Heat from the Middle Burner.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. 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 stagnant Heat from the Lungs and clears constrained Heat from the Diaphragm. It focus on the Upper and Middle Burners.
Zhi Zi is a deputy ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
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 Liang Ge San, it is used because it clears Heat from all three Burners through the urine and guides Fire out from below.
Bo He is an assistant ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
6. Wild Mint (Bo He)
Bo He is light in nature. It serves as assistant that calms irritability and alleviates the attendant head and throat symptoms by moving the Protective Qi and venting Heat from the Exterior.
Dan Zhu Ye is an assistant ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Lophatherum Herbs (Dan Zhu Ye)
Part used: Dried stem and leaf
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartSmall intestineStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Dan Zhu Ye is light in nature. It serves as assistant that calms irritability and alleviates the attendant head and throat symptoms by moving the Protective Qi and venting Heat from the Exterior.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Liang Ge San. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
8. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao along with small amount of honey, acts as envoys that moderate and harmonize the fierce action of Rhubarb and Mirabilit. It also protects the Stomach and preventing the abdominal pain that sometimes accompanies the use of purgative herbs.
Liang Ge San is used to treat Heart 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 Liang Ge San is mostly used to treat the pattern "Heart Fire blazing" which we describe below.
But before we delve into Heart Fire blazing here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:
Pharyngitis Stomatitis Biliary tract infections Conjunctivitis Lobar pneumonia Epilepsy Chronic renal failure Tonsillitis Acute icteric hepatitis Multiple furuncles
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Liang Ge San treats pharyngitis" for instance. Rather, Liang Ge San is used to treat Heart Fire blazing, which is sometimes the root cause behind pharyngitis.
Now let's look at Heart Fire blazing, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Liang Ge San.
The Heart is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Heart in Chinese Medicine
Heart Fire blazing
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi), Hasty (Cu)
Symptoms: Thirst Anxiety Insomnia Red face Dark Urine Palpitations Mouth ulcers Bloody urine Tongue ulcers Restlnessness Feeling of heat Dream disturbed sleep Bitter taste in the mouth
Liang Ge San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Heart Fire blazing. This pattern leads to symptoms such as palpitations, thirst, mouth ulcers and tongue ulcers. Patients with Heart Fire blazing typically exhibit overflowing (Hong), rapid (Shu), full (Shi) or hasty (Cu) pulses.
Different from Heart Yin Deficiency which is an Empty-Heat pattern, the Heart Fire blazing here is a Full-Heat one. The typical manifestation of Full-Heat are thirst, red face, feeling of heat, red tongue and Rapid Overflowing or Hasty Pulse.
The Heart opens to the tongue, therefore Heart Fire... read more about Heart Fire blazing
Formulas similar to Liang Ge San
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang is 54% similar to Liang Ge San
Fang Feng Tong Sheng San is 41% similar to Liang Ge San
Yin Qiao San is 40% similar to Liang Ge San
Tao He Cheng Qi Tang is 38% similar to Liang Ge San
Sang Ju Yin is 38% similar to Liang Ge San
Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang is 38% similar to Liang Ge San