Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) has a bitter taste and a cold nature, belonging to the category of cold and cool herbs. It primarily functions to clear and drain heart and stomach fire, cool the liver and gallbladder, and detoxify. It also has a drying dampness effect. The variety from Sichuan is particularly potent, hence it is also known as Chuan Huang Lian (Sichuan Coptis). Due to heart and stomach fire leading to symptoms such as mouth and tongue sores, red eyes, toothache, and dark urine with constipation, this herb can be combined with Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Mu Tong (Akebia), Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), and Sheng Da Huang (Rhubarb) for treatment. In cases of blood-heat toxin accumulation leading to sores, abscesses, and swellings, Huang Lian can be combined with Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Zhi Zi (Gardenia), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Chi Shao (Red Peony), Di Ding (Dandelion), Yin Hua (Lonicera), and Lian Qiao (Forsythia).
Huang Lian can be combined with Tian Zhu Huang (Bamboo Sugar), Yu Jin (Curcuma), Chang Pu (Acorus), Yuan Zhi (Polygala), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Xi Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn), Sheng Di (Rehmannia), and Yuan Shen (Ophiopogon) for treating symptoms caused by excessive heart heat such as irritability, insomnia, dry mouth, red tongue, yellow urine, and rapid pulse. For heat stagnation in the stomach leading to symptoms like fullness and pain in the epigastric region, Huang Lian can be combined with Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Gua Lou (Trichosanthes), Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel), Fu Ling (Poria), and Sheng Da Huang (Rhubarb). Huang Lian combined with Zhi Shi is a common remedy for treating “epigastric fullness” (a sensation of blockage in the stomach area). Huang Lian also has a function of clearing the liver and brightening the eyes. Common formulas include Huang Lian Yang Gan Wan (Huang Lian, Long Dan Cao, Cao Jue Ming, Shi Jue Ming, Mi Meng Hua, Ye Ming Sha, Chong Wei Zi, Huang Qin, Chai Hu, Mu Zei Cao, Qing Pi, Huang Bai, Yang Gan, Honey), which is used for treating excessive liver fire, blood deficiency leading to dim vision, unclear sight, photophobia, night blindness, and spasms of the eyelids. Using Huang Lian decoction externally to wash the eyes can also treat red and painful eyes, and acute conjunctivitis.
Huang Lian can also dry dampness. For dysentery caused by damp-heat accumulation (symptoms include abdominal pain, frequent unsatisfactory stools with pus and blood, urgency, yellow greasy tongue coating, dry mouth with little desire to drink, and slippery rapid pulse), it is often combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia), Bai Shao (White Peony), Dang Gui (Angelica), Bin Lang (Areca), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla), Fu Ling (Poria), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), and Zhi Shi (Bitter Orange). Huang Lian combined with Wu Yu (Evodia) can be used for liver fire and disharmony between the liver and stomach leading to noisy stomach pain and acid reflux; combined with Xi Xin (Asarum) for mouth sores; combined with Rou Gui (Cinnamon) for heart-kidney disharmony; combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia) for dysentery; combined with Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) for abdominal cold pain with diarrhea; and combined with Da Suan (Garlic) for bloody stools.
The experiences of predecessors utilized the principles of cold and heat, yin and yang, to achieve efficacy through mutual compatibility and restriction in formulating prescriptions, which can serve as a reference. Huang Bai is mainly used to clear damp-heat in the lower jiao and can strengthen the kidneys. Huang Lian is mainly used to clear damp-heat in the middle jiao and can drain heart fire. Hu Huang Lian is used for bone steaming heat, five hearts heat, and pediatric malnutrition and convulsions.
Chuan Huang Lian is mainly used for damp-heat in the middle jiao and various sores and abscesses. The usual dosage is generally three fen to two qian or three qian. It is contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with heat, spleen and kidney deficiency leading to diarrhea, and qi deficiency causing diarrhea.
The Hong Yi Tang adheres to the principle of “promoting good and refraining from evil, establishing a career and doing things, inheriting national essence” and insists on the entrepreneurial purpose of “promoting national medicine to benefit the world, treating people with benevolence and virtue,” taking the defense of “original traditional Chinese medicine” as its own responsibility, promoting the corporate culture of “respecting teachers, inheritance, gratitude, and great love,” and spreading the essence of Chinese culture to the world.
Phone: 0431-85943456
Address: 1059 Haoyue Road, Luyuan District, Changchun City, Jilin Province
Scan to follow the latest updates
Jilin Guosheng Hongyitang TCM Hospital
