In Chinese Herbology, Heat is passed from the Liver to the Heart. Subdue Liver Fire (Long Dan Xie Gan Tang) thus contains both Liver- and Heart-cooling herbs, specifically Chinese gentian root and rhizome, Chinese skullcap root and Gardenia fruit. Where this excess Heat or Yang energy has damaged Blood and Yin, the formula contains two herbs – Chinese skullcap root and Dong quai root – to address this. In classic versions of the formula, only small amounts of these herbs are used, but dogs seem to require higher amounts to fully benefit from the formula. Raw Rehmannia root assists these two herbs in clearing Heat and protecting the Yin. Plantain seed, Asian water plantain rhizome and Poria with wood root drain the Damp that is causing the Heat accumulation. Bupleurum root and Dong quai root prevent Qi and Blood stasis, whether from the drying cooling action of the formula or the intense Heat already present. Bupleurum root also provides a cooling yet Yang-invigorating effect that helps adapt or mesh the strong cooling effect of the formula with the intense Heat affecting these animals. Chinese licorice root and rhizome assists in protecting the Spleen, clears Heat and harmonizes the other herbs in the formula.
