Source: Yifang Jijie (Collection of Prescriptions with Exposition).

Ingredients:
No.1  Longdancao (Radix Gentianae) (fried with wine) 6 g
No.2  Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) (fried with wine) 9 g
No.3  Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae) (fried with wine) 9 g
No.4  Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 9 g
No.5  Mutong (Caulis Akebiae) 6 g
No.6  Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis) 9 g
No.7  Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) fried with wine) 3 g
No.8  Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae) fried with wine) 6 g
No.9  Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) 6 g
No.10  Shenggancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 6 g

Administration:
Decoct the above drugs for oral administration.

Actions:
Purging excessive fire from the liver and gallbladder, and removing damp-heat from the lower energizer.  

Clinical Application:
This recipe is indicated for upward attack of excessive fire in the liver and gallbladder or downward flow of damp-heat from the liver meridian, manifested as headache, conjunctival congestion, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, deafness, pain and bulge of ear; or marked by stranguria with turbid urine, pruritus and swelling of vulva, and leukorrhagia, red tongue with thick yellowish fur, taut and rapid pulse. It is applicable to such diseases with fire of excess type in the liver meridian and damp-heat syndrome as intractable migraine, hypertension, acute conjunctivitis, furuncle of external auditory canal, acute pyelonephritis, acute icterohepatitis, acute cholecystitis, urethritis, vulvitis, bubo, and acute pelvic inflammation.

In case of dominance of upward flaming of excess fire in the liver and gallbladder that affects the upper part, ingredients No. 5 and No. 6 should be subtracted and Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) added instead to help purge fire from the liver. If downward flow of dampness-heat in the liver meridian affects the lower part, ingredients No. 2 and No. 8 should be replaced with Huashi (Talcum) and Yiyiren (Semen Coicis) to help eliminate dampness. In case of ulceration, swelling and pain at the lower part, ingredient No. 9 can be replaced with Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae), Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci) and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) to purge fire and toxin and relieve swelling.

Elucidation:
This syndrome is caused by excess fire in the liver and gallbladder, and upward flaming or downward flow of damp heat along the liver meridian. It should be treated by purging liver-fire and dispelling damp heat. Ingredient No. 1 is used as monarch drug to purge excess fire in the liver and gallbladder and clear away damp heat in the lower-energizer. Ingredients No. 2 and No. 3 are used in combination to reinforce the effect of No. 1, playing the role of minister drug. Functioning together as adjuvant drug, ingredients No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 have the effect of removing heat and inducing diuresis to dispel damp heat, No. 7 and No. 8 possess the effect of nourishing yin and blood, and No. 9 regulating the function of liver-qi.
The last ingredient works as guiding drug with the effect of clearing away heat and coordinating the effect of various ingredients in the recipe so as to prevent the stomach from being hurt by drugs of bitter and cold property. The combination of these drugs produces both purgative and reinforcing, both regulating and nourishing actions, dispelling pathogenic factors without impairing vital-qi, and strengthening vital-qi without retaining damp heat.

Cautions:
This recipe should not be applied to those manifesting headache and conjunctival congestion that are attributable to yang excess due to yin deficiency. Stop using the recipe immediately when the expected results have been achieved.