Chicken Bile Classic Formulas — Natural Herb Library

Primary Actions

Clears heat and brightens the eyes - Ji Dan is traditionally applied for red, hot, tearing, or obstructed eyes, especially when toxic heat or superficial inflammation affects the eye surface.
Stops cough and transforms phlegm - older materia medica and later clinical use emphasize chicken bile for pertussis-type spasmodic cough, chronic bronchitis, and thick difficult sputum, often given as fresh bile juice with sugar or as processed tablets.
Resolves toxicity and reduces inflammatory sores - topical use extends to damp-toxic lesions around the ear root, hemorrhoids, and superficial erosive or suppurative skin conditions.
Benefits strangury and urinary gravel - although less famous for this than its respiratory use, classical records include Ji Dan for sand strangury and difficult urination linked to gravel or heat obstruction.

Wu Ji Dan topical application (乌鸡胆外用) - bedtime application of black-hen bile for blurred vision and tearing, recorded in Qian Jin Fang lineage.
Ji Dan with Wu Bei Zi and Man Jing Zi wash - classical eye-heat method in which the eyes are first washed with decoction and then touched with chicken bile for hot tearing and ocular irritation.
Gan Ji Dan with Ji Shi Bai powder in warm wine - old formula pattern for sand strangury and urinary gravel from Shi Bian Liang Fang.

The Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian entry on Ji Dan describes it as bitter and cold and attributes actions of anti-inflammatory use, cough relief, phlegm transformation, detoxification, and eye-brightening, with indications including pertussis, chronic bronchitis, pediatric dysentery, strangury, red tearing eyes, ear-root sores, and hemorrhoids.
Bie Lu records Ji Dan for poor vision and skin sores, while later texts such as Ben Cao Gang Mu preserve topical eye and hemorrhoid applications.
Zhonghua Bencao continues the same medicinal identity and notes that the gallbladder or fresh bile is collected directly from domestic chicken for medicinal use.