Huang Lian (Coptis)
【Source】Dry rhizome of the Ranunculaceae plant Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), Sanjiao Ye Huang Lian (Coptis deltoidea), or Yun Lian.
【Properties and Channels】Bitter, cold. Enters the Heart, Liver, Stomach, and Large Intestine channels.
【Characteristics】This herb is extremely bitter and cold, clearing heat and drying dampness, with strong medicinal properties. It primarily enters the Heart and Stomach channels, also affecting the Liver and Large Intestine channels. It is effective in clearing Heart and Stomach fire, eliminating damp-heat in the Middle Jiao, and is a key herb for treating damp-heat and fire stagnation.
【Functions】Clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies.
【Indications】
(1) Damp-heat causing fullness, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice.
(2) Heat illness with high fever, irritability, delirium, internal heat causing restlessness and insomnia, Stomach fire toothache, and sores in the mouth and tongue.
(3) Liver fire invading the Stomach causing vomiting and acid regurgitation.
(4) Blood heat causing vomiting and nosebleeds, carbuncles and abscesses, red and painful eyes, ear canal abscesses, and damp-heat skin rashes.
【Compatibility】
Huang Lian combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia): Huang Lian is bitter and cold, functions to clear heat, dry dampness, drain fire, and detoxify; Mu Xiang is acrid and warm, functions to regulate the Stomach and relieve pain. Together, they clear heat, dry dampness, detoxify, regulate Qi, and relieve pain, used for damp-heat diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Huang Lian combined with Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia): Huang Lian is bitter and cold, functions to clear heat and dry dampness; Wu Zhu Yu is acrid and warm, functions to dry dampness and soothe the Liver. Together, they clear heat, drain fire, dry dampness, and soothe the Liver, used for Liver fire invading the Stomach and damp-heat obstruction causing vomiting and acid regurgitation.
Huang Lian combined with Ban Xia (Pinellia) and Gua Lou (Trichosanthes): Huang Lian is bitter and cold, functions to clear heat, dry dampness, and drain fire; Ban Xia is acrid and cold, functions to dry dampness, transform phlegm, and disperse masses; Gua Lou is sweet and cold, functions to clear heat, transform phlegm, and open the chest. Together, they drain fire, transform phlegm, and disperse masses, effective for phlegm-fire obstructing the chest.
【Dosage and Administration】Internal use: decoction, 2-10g; or in pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder for application. Raw use is better for draining fire, detoxifying, and drying dampness, clearing Heart and Large Intestine fire. Stir-fried with wine enhances upward movement of the herb and moderates its bitter and cold nature. Stir-fried with ginger juice or Wu Zhu Yu, it balances the bitter and cold nature and enhances the effect of stopping vomiting. Wu Zhu Yu processed also treats Liver Qi stagnation transforming into fire.
【Precautions】This herb is extremely bitter and cold; excessive or prolonged use can harm the Spleen and Stomach. Therefore, the internal dosage should not be too large or used for long periods. It is contraindicated in cases of Stomach cold vomiting or Spleen deficiency diarrhea.
【Chemical Components】The rhizome of the famous herb “Huang Lian” contains berberine, coptisine, methylcoptisine, and jatrorrhizine, which can treat acute conjunctivitis, acute bacterial dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, hematemesis, and carbuncles. The rhizome contains 5.56%-7.25% berberine, coptisine, and other alkaloids.
【Pharmacology】This herb has antipyretic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immune-enhancing, anti-tumor, anti-arrhythmic, myocardial ischemia, blood pressure lowering, gastrointestinal smooth muscle inhibition, anti-ulcer, bile secretion enhancement, blood sugar lowering, and platelet aggregation inhibition effects.
Yu Xing Cao (Houttuynia)
【Source】 Fresh whole herb or dried aerial parts of the Saururaceae plant Yu Xing Cao (Houttuynia cordata).
【Properties and Channels】Acrid, slightly cold. Enters the Lung channel.
【Characteristics】This herb is light and acrid, slightly cold, and specifically enters the Lung channel. It clears heat and detoxifies, effectively treating lung abscesses; it also promotes urination and alleviates painful urination, commonly used for heat-induced painful urination.
【Functions】Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and drains abscesses, promotes urination and alleviates painful urination.
【Indications】
(1) Lung abscess with cough and expectoration of pus and blood, lung heat cough with thick phlegm.
(2) Heat toxin sores and abscesses, damp-heat diarrhea.
(3) Painful urination due to heat.
【Compatibility】
Yu Xing Cao combined with Che Qian Zi (Plantago): Yu Xing Cao clears heat and promotes urination; Che Qian Zi smooths the urinary tract. Together, they have the effect of clearing heat and promoting urination, used for treating damp-heat accumulation in the bladder causing painful urination.
Yu Xing Cao combined with Jie Geng (Platycodon): Both can drain pus and reduce abscesses, but Yu Xing Cao also clears heat and detoxifies; Jie Geng can disseminate Lung Qi and resolve phlegm. Together, they enhance each other’s effects, used for treating lung abscesses with cough, expectoration of pus and blood, and chest fullness.
Yu Xing Cao combined with Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion): Yu Xing Cao detoxifies and drains pus; Pu Gong Ying clears heat and detoxifies. Together, they enhance detoxification, used for treating heat toxin sores and abscesses, and red, swollen, painful conditions.
Yu Xing Cao combined with Sang Bai Pi (Mulberry Root Bark): Yu Xing Cao clears Lung heat and reduces abscesses; Sang Bai Pi drains Lung heat and stops cough. Together, they have the effect of clearing Lung heat, stopping cough, and alleviating wheezing, used for treating heat obstructing the Lung, causing cough and wheezing with fever.
【Dosage and Administration】Internal use: decoction, 15-30g, fresh product doubled, not suitable for prolonged boiling; or in pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, pounded for application.
【Precautions】Yu Xing Cao is cold in nature, and should be avoided by those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency or cold-type diseases.
【Chemical Components】The aerial parts contain volatile oils, antibacterial effective components such as decanal, lauric aldehyde, α-pinene, and linalool, the first two having a distinctive odor. It also contains methyl nonyl ketone, camphor, lauric acid, limonene, and eugenol. The term Yu Xing Cao usually refers to the addition of the sulfite adduct of decanal. It also contains afzelin, hyperoside, rutin, chlorogenic acid, β-sitosterol, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. The leaves contain quercetin, and the flowers and fruit spikes contain isoquercitrin.
【Pharmacology】This herb has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, immune-enhancing, anti-tumor, cough-suppressing, and bronchodilatory effects.
