Scientific Name: Coptis chinensis Franch.
Alias: Wei Lian, Chuan Lian, Ji Zhua Lian
01
Basic Introduction
The Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) is a perennial herbaceous plant with basal leaves that are thick and paper-like, ovate-triangular, and deeply lobed. It grows in cool, damp, shaded forests at altitudes of 1000-1900 meters. Huang Lian is known for its ability to clear heat and dry dampness, as well as to purge fire and detoxify. Its taste is extremely bitter, leading to the saying, “A mute eats Huang Lian, unable to express the bitterness.”
[Properties and Channels] Bitter, cold. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine channels.
02
Functions and Indications
Clears heat and dries dampness, purges fire and detoxifies. Used for symptoms of damp-heat stagnation, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, high fever with delirium, excessive heart fire, irritability and insomnia, blood heat leading to vomiting and nosebleeds, red eyes, toothache, thirst, and carbuncles. Externally used for eczema, damp sores, and ear discharge. Wine-prepared Huang Lian is effective for clearing heat from the upper jiao, used for red eyes and oral ulcers. Ginger-prepared Huang Lian harmonizes the stomach and stops vomiting, used for cold-heat counterflow and damp-heat obstruction. Yao Huang Lian soothes the liver and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting, used for liver-stomach disharmony and acid reflux.
03
Applications
1. Used for damp-heat accumulation, gastrointestinal damp-heat, vomiting, and diarrhea. Combined with Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Da Huang (Rheum palmatum), it can treat damp-heat accumulation. For damp-heat lingering in the stomach, often combined with Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata) and Zhu Ru (Bamboo shavings); combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia) and Huang Qin to treat diarrhea.
2. Used for warm disease with high fever, thirst and irritability, blood heat leading to erratic bleeding, and heat toxin sores. Treats warm disease with high fever and excessive heart fire, combined with Zhi Zi (Gardenia) and Lian Qiao (Forsythia); for blood heat leading to erratic bleeding, can be combined with Huang Qin and Da Huang; for heat toxin sores, can be combined with Chi Shao (Paeonia) and Mu Dan Pi (Moutan). Additionally, Huang Lian can be used for stomach fire excess, combined with Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena) for treatment; applied topically, it can treat oral and tongue sores.
[Dosage and Administration] Decoction, 2-5g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount.
[Precautions]
1. This herb is extremely bitter and cold; excessive or prolonged use can harm the Spleen and Stomach. Those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency and cold should avoid it. Bitter and drying, those with Yin deficiency and fluid depletion should use it cautiously.
2. The above content is for educational purposes only and cannot replace professional medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider for specific decisions.
04
Herbal Legend
According to legend, there was an old doctor in ancient times who had a medicinal garden and employed a diligent boy named Huang Lian to help tend to the herbs. One day, Huang Lian went to the mountains and discovered a lovely little plant with leaves resembling sweet chrysanthemum and yellow flowers. He uprooted it and planted it in the medicinal garden. One day, the doctor’s daughter was suffering from heat and diarrhea, speaking nonsense in her delirium, and no medicine seemed to help. Huang Lian remembered that he had once chewed the leaves of that little plant for his sore throat, which, despite its bitterness, provided relief. He recommended it to the doctor, who prepared a decoction for his daughter. Although she initially refused to drink it due to its bitterness, Huang Lian persuaded her with his own experience, and after three days of taking it, she was cured. Because this herb was discovered and cultivated by Huang Lian, the doctor named it “Huang Lian.”
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