Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan
Classical TCM Formula Profile
Part of the HJMEDICAL TCM Discovery Center
甘露消毒丹 · Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān
A classical epidemic formula for damp-heat with fever, oppression and turbid damp signs.
Read the complete guide →Quick Facts
- Formula Category
- Dampness-Draining Formulas
- Primary Pattern
- Damp-Heat
- Primary Function
- Resolve damp, clear heat, ventilate Qi, resolve toxin
- Primary Therapeutic Principle
- Clear damp-heat, resolve turbidity and open the Qi mechanism
- Classical Source
- Qing dynasty formulary
- Available as Granules
- Yes
Formula Overview
A classical epidemic formula for damp-heat with fever, oppression and turbid damp signs.
Therapeutic Principle
Traditionally selected for epidemic or diffuse damp-heat with fever and turbid damp, rather than early mild damp-warmth, pure urinary lin, or Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat alone.
Composition: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, Envoy
Every herb in the formula, grouped by the job it does in the classical hierarchy.
君SovereignTreats the main pattern
臣MinisterReinforces the sovereign
佐/使Assistant & EnvoyTreats accompanying patterns, harmonises the whole
石菖蒲Shi Chang Pu6g
Grassleaf Sweetflag Rhizome- moves qi and remove dampness refresh the spleen and harmonize the center
川貝母Chuan Bei Mu6g
Sichuan Fritillaria- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
木通Mu Tong6g
Akebia Stem- clears heat removes dampness and relieves strangury
藿香Huo Xiang6g
Agastache / Patchouli- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
射干She Gan6g
Belamcanda Rhizome- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
連翹Lian Qiao9g
Forsythia Fruit- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
薄荷Bo He6g
Mentha / Peppermint- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
白豆蔻Bai Dou Kou6g
Round Cardamom- clears heat and resolves toxins
- dissipates nodules and relieves swelling
- benefits the throat and relieves pain
Classical Composition
- Talcum (Hua Shi) 15 liang (450g)
- Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin) 10 liang (300g)
- Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (Yin Chen) 11 liang (330g)
- Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (Shi Chang Pu) 6 liang (180g)
- Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (Chuan Bei Mu) 5 liang (150g)
- Akebiae Caulis (Mu Tong) 5 liang (150g)
- Pogostemonis Herba (Huo Xiang) 4 liang (120g)
- Forsythiae Fructus (Lian Qiao) 4 liang (120g)
- Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Bai Dou Kou) 4 liang (120g)
- Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bo He) 4 liang (120g)
- Belamcandae Rhizoma (She Gan) 4 liang (120g)
Dosages follow the classical source and are shown for study, not as a prescription.
Related Conditions
Related Health Topics
Actions
- Drains dampness and removes turbidity
- clears heat and resolves toxins.
Indications
- Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is indicated for damp-warmth and seasonal epidemic.
- It is a pattern with equal dampness and heat pathogens in the qi level.
- The symptoms are fever and fatigue, chest distress and abdominal distension, aching pain of limbs, throat pain, yellow skin and eyes, maxillofacial swelling, thirst, scanty and dark urine, diarrhea, and turbid strangury.
Tongue & pulseThe tongue coating may be either white, thick and greasy or yellow and dry. The pulse is either soggy and rapid or slippery and rapid.
Traditional Pathogenesis
Cause & mechanism
- This formula is applied to patterns that have equal dampness and heat.
- Fever, aching pain of limbs and fatigue are caused by heat steaming dampness.
- Chest distress and abdominal distension are caused by dampness accumulation in middle jiao.
- Yellow skin and eyes are caused by damp-heat steaming in the liver and gallbladder.
- Thirst, throat pain, and maxillofacial swelling are caused by heat attacking the upper jiao.
- Scanty dark urine, diarrhea, and turbid strangury are caused by damp-heat pouring downward.
Clinical presentation
- A tongue with thick, white, and greasy or dry, yellow coating is a sign of damp-heat stagnation in the qi level.
Treatment strategy
- The therapeutic methods are to drain dampness and remove turbidity and to clear heat and resolve toxins.
How does this formula compare?
Clinical Perspective
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan, San Ren Tang, Ba Zheng San and Long Dan Xie Gan Tang all address damp-heat. San Ren Tang is early damp-warmth with Qi obstruction; Ba Zheng San focuses on lower-jiao damp-heat lin syndrome; Long Dan Xie Gan clears Liver-Gallbladder damp-heat. Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is broader for epidemic damp-heat with fever, oppression and turbid damp signs.
Clinical Differentiation
- Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan is a common formula used in the summer for damp-warmth and seasonal epidemic with equal amounts of dampness and heat.
- Doctor Wang Shi-xiong named it as the principal formula for treating damp-warmth.
- This clinical pattern is marked by feverish sensation and aching pain of limbs, thirst, dark urine, throat pain, yellow skin, white and greasy, or light yellow tongue coating.
Safety notes: This formula is not applicable for damp-heat invading ying level, marked by delirious speech and crimson tongue.
For educational reference only, based on traditional pattern differentiation — not a substitute for professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the actions of Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan?
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan has the actions of resolving Dampness and transforming turbidity, clearing Heat, and resolving Toxicity. It is the classic formula for Damp-Warmth or seasonal epidemic patterns in which Dampness and Heat are equally severe and remain in the Qi level.
Which modern diseases is Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan suited to?
Modern TCM clinical practice commonly applies it to individuals whose pattern differentiation falls within Damp-Heat (equal Damp and Heat), including acute viral hepatitis with jaundice, acute gastroenteritis, cholecystitis, leptospirosis, certain cases of mumps or tonsillitis with Damp-Heat features, and other summer-autumn epidemic or infectious conditions matching this pattern.
Is Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan suitable for improving fever with fatigue, chest oppression, sore throat, and jaundice?
For presentations of fever with body heaviness and fatigue, chest oppression and abdominal distension, aching limbs, sore or swollen throat, possible yellowing of the skin or eyes, thirst, dark scanty urine, a white greasy or yellow tongue coating, and a soft or slippery rapid pulse — in those whose pattern differentiation confirms Damp-Warmth with equal Damp and Heat in the Qi level — TCM commonly applies Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan as an adjunct. It cannot replace standard medical treatment of infectious or hepatic diseases.
Related Products
Nong's Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan (Sweet Dew Toxin-Resolving Formula) 5:1 Concentrated Granules
Related Articles
Gan Lu Xiao Du Dan: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat Epidemic, Fever & Digestive Upset
Ba Zheng San: Classic TCM Formula for Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner, Painful Urination & Lin Syndrome
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Liver-Gallbladder Damp-Heat, Irritability & Hypochondriac Pain
San Ren Tang: Classic TCM Formula for Early-Stage Damp-Heat, Headache & Heavy Body
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Medical Disclaimer
For general TCM education only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified TCM practitioner or licensed healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a chronic condition.