论曰内经谓有病口苦，名曰胆瘅。夫胆为中正之官，清净之腑，十一脏之所取决，咽为
之使，若数谋虑不决，则胆虚气上溢，而口为之苦，胆主藏而不泻。今数谋不断，则清净者
浊而扰矣。故气上溢而其证为口苦也。经所谓是动则病口苦，以气为是动也。
治肝胆俱虚，热气上熏，口中常苦。泄热益胆汤方
黄芩（去黑心） 甘草（炙锉各二两） 人参 桂（去粗皮各一两） 苦参 茯神（去
木各半两）
上六味。粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，以水一盏半，煎取七分，去滓温服不拘时。
治谋虑不决，胆气上溢，虚热口苦，神思不爽。半夏茯苓汤方
半夏（汤洗七遍去滑焙干） 赤茯苓（去黑皮） 麦门冬（去心焙各三两） 酸枣仁 桂
（去粗皮） 黄
上九味。粗捣筛，每服五钱匕，水一盏半，入生姜五片，秫米一匙头许，同煎至一盏，
去滓温服不拘时。
治谋虑伤胆，胆气上溢，膈脘虚烦，常觉口苦。地骨皮汤方
地骨皮 生干地黄（各五两细锉） 前胡（去芦头二两半） 茯神（去木二两） 麦门
冬去心（焙） 知母（各二两半） 人参 甘草（炙锉各二两）
上八味，粗捣筛，每服五钱匕，水一盏半，入豉及粟米各少许，同煎至一盏，去滓温服
不拘时。
治胆虚气逆，口中常苦，烦躁引饮。麦门冬汤方
麦门冬（去心） 地骨皮 黄芩（去黑心） 茯神（去木） 大黄（锉炒） 升麻 甘
草（炙锉） 羚羊角镑（
上八味。粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，水一盏，入竹茹半分，同煎至七分，去滓食后温服。
治胆热气逆，口苦烦渴。栀子汤方
栀子仁（二十一枚） 升麻 黄芩（去黑心） 大青 茯神（去木各三分） 甘草（半
两炙锉）
上六味。粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，水一盏，入豉五十粒，煎至七分，去滓入蜜半合，更煎
三二沸，食后温服。
治胆虚气逆，邪热攻冲，口苦烦渴。人参汤方
人参 甘草（炙锉） 冬葵子（各半两） 黄芩（去黑心） 赤茯苓（去黑皮） 枳壳
（去瓤麸各三分）
上六味。粗捣筛，每服三钱匕，水一盏，入生姜半分，煎至七分，去滓温服不拘时。
治胆热口苦。胡黄连丸方
胡黄连（一两） 青羊角（镑） 蛇黄（捣研如粉各半两） 熊胆（研） 青黛（研
各一分）
上五味。粗捣研为末，用黄牛胆汁和丸，或羊胆和丸，如绿豆大，每服七丸，食后温竹
叶汤下。
It is stated in the discussion: The *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine) records that a disease manifesting as bitter taste in the mouth is called Dan Dan (Gallbladder Heat). The Gallbladder is the official of justice and integrity, a pure and clear organ, from which the functions of the eleven zang-fu organs depend. The pharynx serves as its pathway. If one frequently deliberates but fails to make decisions, it leads to Gallbladder deficiency with Qi overflowing upwards, resulting in a bitter taste in the mouth. The Gallbladder stores essence and does not discharge recklessly. Now, frequent deliberation without resolution causes the pure and clear state to become turbid and disturbed. Therefore, Qi overflows upwards, and the symptom manifests as a bitter taste in the mouth. The classic states "when the channel is moved, there is disease of bitter taste in the mouth," because this is due to the movement of Qi.
Treatment for Liver and Gallbladder both deficient, with hot qi steaming upwards, causing a constant bitter taste in the mouth. Xi Re Yi Dan Tang (Draining Heat and Benefiting the Gallbladder Decoction)
Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix, remove black heart) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried and crushed, each 2 liang) Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, remove rough bark, each 1 liang) Ku Shen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, remove wood, each 0.5 liang)
The above six herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 3 qian bi per dose. Add 1.5 zhan of water, decoct until 0.7 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm at any time.
Treatment for Gallbladder Qi overflowing due to indecisive deliberation, deficiency-heat causing bitter taste in the mouth, and unclear mental thoughts. Ban Xia Fu Ling Tang (Pinellia and Poria Decoction)
Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, washed seven times with boiling water to remove slipperiness, dried by baking) Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria, remove black skin) Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, remove heart, dried by baking, each 3 liang) Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosi Semen) Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, remove rough bark) Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) [Note: Dosage missing in original text]
The above nine herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 5 qian bi per dose. Add 1.5 zhan of water, 5 slices of Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), and a spoonful of Shu Mi (Sorghum), decoct together until 1 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm at any time.
Treatment for Gallbladder injury due to deliberation, Gallbladder Qi overflowing, emptiness and vexation in the diaphragm and epigastrium, and frequent bitter taste in the mouth. Di Gu Pi Tang (Lycii Cortex Decoction)
Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex) Sheng Gan Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, each 5 liang, finely crushed) Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix, remove rhizome head, 2.5 liang) Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, remove wood, 2 liang) Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, remove heart, dried by baking) Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, each 2.5 liang) Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried and crushed, each 2 liang)
The above eight herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 5 qian bi per dose. Add 1.5 zhan of water, a small amount of Chi Xiao Dou (Fermented Soybean) and Su Mi (Millet), decoct together until 1 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm at any time.
Treatment for Gallbladder deficiency with rebellious Qi, constant bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, and thirst. Mai Men Dong Tang (Ophiopogonis Decoction)
Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix, remove heart) Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex) Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix, remove black heart) Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, remove wood) Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, crushed and stir-fried) Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried and crushed) Ling Yang Jiao (Saiga Tataricae Cornu, shaved)
The above eight herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 3 qian bi per dose. Add 1 zhan of water, 0.5 fen of Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings), decoct together until 0.7 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm after meals.
Treatment for Gallbladder heat with rebellious Qi, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, and thirst. Zhi Zi Tang (Gardeniae Decoction)
Zhi Zi Ren (Gardeniae Fructus, 21 seeds) Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix, remove black heart) Da Qing (Isatidis Folium) Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, remove wood, each 3 qian) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, half liang, honey-fried and crushed)
The above six herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 3 qian bi per dose. Add 1 zhan of water, 50 grains of Chi Xiao Dou (Fermented Soybean), decoct until 0.7 zhan remains, remove dregs, add 0.5 he of Honey, boil for two or three boils, and take warm after meals.
Treatment for Gallbladder deficiency with rebellious Qi, pathogenic heat attacking and rushing, bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, and thirst. Ren Shen Tang (Ginseng Decoction)
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Gan Cao (Licorice Root, honey-fried and crushed) Dong Kui Zi (Abutilonis Semen, each 0.5 liang) Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix, remove black heart) Chi Fu Ling (Red Poria, remove black skin) Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus, remove pulp and bran, each 3 qian)
The above six herbs. Coarsely crush and sieve. Take 3 qian bi per dose. Add 1 zhan of water, 0.5 fen of Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), decoct until 0.7 zhan remains, remove dregs, and take warm at any time.
Treatment for Gallbladder heat causing bitter taste in the mouth. Hu Huang Lian Wan (Coptidis Pill)
Hu Huang Lian (Picrorhizae Rhizoma, 1 liang) Qing Yang Jiao (Capra Hircus Cornu, shaved) She Huang (Realgar, pounded and ground into powder, each 0.5 liang) Xiong Dan (Ursi Bile, ground) Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis, ground, each 1 qian)
The above five herbs. Coarsely crush and grind into powder. Mix with bile from a yellow cow to form pills, or mix with bile from a sheep to form pills, sized like mung beans. Take 7 pills per dose, swallow with warm Zhu Ye Tang (Bamboo Leaf Decoction) after meals.