Sweet Wormwood and Scutellaria Gallbladder-Clearing Decoction

Sweet Wormwood and Scutellaria Gallbladder-Clearing Decoction

Artemisiae Annuae Herba (Qing Hao) 1.5-2 qian (4.5~6g), Bambusae Caulis in Taenias (Dan Zhu Ru) 3 qian (9g), Pinelliae Rhizoma (Ban Xia) 1.5 qian (4.5g), Poria (Chi Fu Ling) 3 qian (9g), Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 1.5-3 qian (4.5~9g), Aurantii Fructus (Zhi Qiao) 1.5 qian (4.5g), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chen Pi) 1.5 qian (4.5g), Jasper Jade Powder (Talcum; Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; Indigo Naturalis) (Bi Yu San (Hua Shi; Gan Cao; Qing Dai)) 3 qian (9g)

Prepare it as a decoction.

Clears gallbladder, drains dampness, harmonizes the stomach, and dissolves phlegm.

Pattern of shaoyang damp-heat marked by alternating chills and fever similar to malaria, more fever than chills, a bitter taste in the mouth, diaphragm oppression, sour and bitter regurgitation, spitting yellow sticky drool, belching, hiccups, distending pain in the chest and rib-side, yellow scanty urine, a red tongue body, a white greasy or white yellow tongue coating, and a rapid, slippery right pulse and a rapid, wiry pulse.

Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is indicated for gallbladder heat, damp-heat, and obstructive turbid-phlegm in the shaoyang. Dampness and heat constraint obstructs the shaoyang gallbladder and the shaoyang sanjiao causing blazing ministerial fire of the gallbladder rendering it unable to pivot. Since the constrained heat in the gallbladder channel is more prominent, the alternating chills and fever similar to malaria actually manifest more fever than chills, and is accompanied with a bitter taste in the mouth, diaphragm oppression, and distending pain in the chest and rib-side. When gallbladder heat and liver qi invade the stomach, constrained fluid transforms into phlegm, and ascending counterflow of the stomach qi may result, which brings about sour and bitter regurgitation. There may also be spitting yellow sticky drool, belching, or hiccups. When dampness obstructs the sanjiao, the waterways may be inhibited. This is marked by scanty yellow urine. The treatment is to clear the gallbladder, drain dampness, harmonize the stomach, and dissolve phlegm.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang is the common formula prescribed to treat the pattern of shaoyang damp-heat. This clinical pattern is marked by alternating chills and fever similar to malaria, but there is more fever than chills, distending pain in the chest and rib-side, sour and bitter regurgitation, red tongue, greasy tongue coating, wiry, slippery, and rapid pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of dampness and heat constraint obstructing the shaoyang gallbladder and the shaoyang sanjiao: typhoid fever, acute cholecystitis, acute jaundice hepatitis, bile reflux gastritis, pyelonephritis, malaria, pelvic inflammatory disease, and leptospirosis.