Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan, Sweet Dew Special Pill to Eliminate Toxin, is Lian Qiao, Huang Qin, Bo He, She Gan, Chuan Bei Mu, Hua Shi, Mu Tong, Yin Chen Hao, Huo Xiang, Shi Chang Pu and Bai Dou Kou. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Damp-Heat.

Herb

Amount

12 g

12 g

6 g

9 g

6 g

18 g

9 g

24 g

9 g

4 g

10 g

Actions and indications

Resolves Dampness and transforms turbidity

Damp-Heat epidemic (Damp-Warmth) at the Qi level, classically in early summer, with Damp and Heat about equal and Qi blocked through the San Jiao
Summerheat with Dampness; Damp-Heat, Damp stagnation or Phlegm-Heat in the Middle Jiao
Heaviness of the body, aching limbs, tiredness, lethargy and malaise
Stifling, uncomfortable chest, distended abdomen and epigastrium, and poor appetite
Nausea and vomiting; diarrhea, dysentery or constipation
Thirst but no wish to drink; bitter and sweet tastes in the mouth at once
Urine scanty and dark, cloudy or red
Low back pain

Clears Heat, relieves toxicity and unblocks the San Jiao

Fever that sweating does not bring down, often persistent and sometimes low-grade; sweating may be absent
Jaundice, with skin and eyes turning orange-yellow
Sore, swollen throat, swelling of the lower cheeks, and sores in the mouth and on the tongue
Skin rashes or eruptions
Pressing headache with irritability
Tongue red, normal or pale; coat thick, white and greasy where Damp dominates, or dry and yellow where Heat dominates; pulse soft (soggy) and rapid

Modern uses

Enteric fever
Typhoid fever
Fever
Acute hepatitis
Infectious hepatitis
Viral hepatitis with jaundice
Jaundice
Cholecystitis
Mild leptospirosis
Mild encephalitis B
Viral myocarditis
Acute gastroenteritis
Acute gastritis
Gastric distention
Abdominal fullness and distention
Anorexia
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Pyelonephritis
Oliguria
Parotitis
Mumps
Sore throat
Laryngopharyngitis
Acute tonsillitis or pharyngitis
Stomatitis
Cough
Keratitis
Pterygium
Migraine headache
Allergic purpura
Favism
Damp-Heat skin eruptions such as eczema or urticaria
Sjogren's syndrome
AIDS/HIV
Cancer pain
Low back pain
Fatigue
Perspiration

Symptoms

Abdominal distention

Anhidrosis

Bitter taste in the mouth

Body aches

Change in bowel habits

Chest fullness

Chest oppression

Constipation

Dark urine

Diarrhea

Epigastric distention

Fatigue

Fever

Headache

Heavy body

Irritability

Jaundice

Low back pain

Low-grade fever

Mouth ulcers

Nausea

Poor appetite

Rash

Scanty urination

Sore throat

Sweating

Sweet taste in the mouth

Swelling

Swollen throat

Tenesmus

Thirst with no desire to drink

Turbid urine

Vomiting

Modifications

Enteric fever: + di yu, + ku shen, + huang lian

Fever: + ku shen, + huang lian

Cholecystitis: + jin qian cao

Infectious hepatitis (may be combined with Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang): + yin chen hao, + zhi zi, + huang bai, + da huang

Damp and Heat equally strong: high fever, thirst, jaundice, aching body, and urine and stools that will not pass: + zhi zi, + da huang, + bai mao gen

Lingering low fever with stuffy chest, poor appetite, weary limbs, bitter sticky taste, scant dark urine and a rapid slippery pulse: + qin jiao, + jin qian cao, + chai hu, + qing hao

Mumps with little Dampness: + qing dai

Mumps with little Dampness, alternative herb: + ban lan gen

Swollen throat: + ban lan gen, + jin yin hua, + shan dou gen

Macular rashes with bleeding: + qing hao, + bai mao gen, + xiao ji

Macular rashes with bleeding, alternative herbs: + qing hao, + bai mao gen, + da ji

Prominent jaundice: + zhi zi, + da huang

Show all 38 modifications

Jaundice with constipation: + zhi zi, + da huang
Severe sore or swollen throat: + ban lan gen, + shan dou gen
Heavier Dampness: + cang zhu, + ban xia
Keratitis: + yi yi ren, + hou po, + chen pi, + hu zhang, − lian qiao, − bo he, − she gan, − chuan bei mu, − shi chang pu
Keratitis with marked Dampness: + yi yi ren, + hou po, + chen pi, + hu zhang, − lian qiao, − bo he, − she gan, − chuan bei mu, − shi chang pu, − yin chen hao
Pyelonephritis: + qu mai, + bian xu, + shi wei, + bai mao gen
Pyelonephritis, alternative with Xiao Ji: + qu mai, + bian xu, + shi wei, + bai mao gen, + xiao ji
Infectious disease with fever and Dampness: + yi yi ren, + zhi ban xia
Infectious disease with high fever: + shi gao
Encephalitis, early stage: + dan dou chi, + xing ren, − she gan, − lian qiao
Encephalitis, middle stage: + zhi zi, + huang qin, − bo he, − she gan, − chuan bei mu
Encephalitis, late stage: + yu jin, − bo he, − she gan, − mu tong
Jaundice (combined with Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang)
Infectious hepatitis after the exterior signs have gone (combined with Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang): + yin chen hao, + zhi zi, + huang bai, + da huang, − ma huang, − bo he
Sjogren's syndrome with a very dry throat: + bei sha shen, + mai men dong
Sjogren's syndrome, constipated: + gua lou
Sjogren's syndrome, painful swollen joints: + sang ji sheng, + gou ji
Cancer pain with intense Toxic Heat in the intestines: + jin yin hua, + ma chi xian, + da huang
Cancer pain; stools with blood and mucus, mostly blood: + zi cao, + mu dan pi, + huai hua mi, + di yu
Cancer pain; stools with blood and mucus, mostly mucus: + fu ling, + yi yi ren
Cancer pain with marked tenesmus: + bai shao
Cancer pain with Spleen Qi deficiency: tiredness, loose stools, little appetite: + dang shen, + bai zhu, + fu ling
Cancer pain with Liver Qi stagnation: low mood, full chest, pain under the ribs: + xiang fu, + chai hu
AIDS: + zhe bei mu, + mu xiang, − bo he, − chuan bei mu, − hua shi, − shi chang pu
AIDS with prominent toxins: + zhe bei mu, + mu xiang, + jin yin hua, + pu gong ying, + da qing ye, − bo he, − chuan bei mu, − hua shi, − shi chang pu
AIDS with fever: − bo he, − chuan bei mu

Cautions

contraindication Bitter, cold and draining: only suitable when Damp and Heat are both present

contraindication Avoid in significant Yin deficiency, especially without Dampness, since its drying and diuretic herbs use up fluids further

contraindication Avoid where Cold-Damp or weak Spleen Yang shows as watery diarrhea, cold limbs, and a pale tongue with slippery white coat

contraindication Avoid in Qi or Blood deficiency without Damp-Heat; the formula has no tonics and its draining can exhaust Qi and harm the Spleen

caution The Mu Tong must be Chuan Mu Tong (Clematis armandii); Guan Mu Tong (Aristolochia manshuriensis) contains aristolochic acid, a carcinogen that causes irreversible kidney damage, and is banned or restricted in China, the EU, the US and elsewhere

pregnancy Because it drains and promotes urination, use it in pregnancy only with professional guidance

Pinyin

gan lu xiao du dan

English Name

Sweet Dew Special Pill to Eliminate Toxin

gan lu xiao du dan

About gan lu xiao du dan

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Resolves Dampness and transforms turbidity

Clears Heat, relieves toxicity and unblocks the San Jiao

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support