Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis)
【Herbal Name】Huang Lian
【Alias】Wang Lian, Zhi Lian
【Medicinal Part】Rhizome
【Plant Morphology】1. Huang Lian: A perennial herb. The rhizome is yellow, branched, and densely covered with fibrous roots. The leaves are basal; with petioles; leaf blades are thick and paper-like, ovate-triangular, and 3-lobed; the central lobe has a petiole, is ovate-rhombic, with a sharp apex, deeply pinnately lobed, and has sharp serrated edges, while the lateral lobes are unequal and deeply lobed, with short soft hairs along the veins on the surface. Flowers are 1-2, in dichotomous or multi-branched umbel, with 3-8 flowers; the involucral bracts are usually 3, lanceolate; sepals are 5, yellow-green, narrowly ovate; petals are linear or linear-lanceolate; stamens are numerous; carpels are 8-12, free, with short stalks. The fruit is a capsule. Seeds are 7-8, elongated oval, brown. Flowering period is from February to April, and fruiting period is from March to June.
2. Triangular-leaved Huang Lian: The rhizome is yellow, with few branches, distinct internodes, and densely covered with many fine roots, with creeping stems. The leaf blades are ovate, 3-lobed; the central lobe is triangular-ovate, deeply lobed, with lobes closely spaced.
3. Yunnan Huang Lian: The rhizome is yellow, with dense internodes, fewer branches, and many fibrous roots. The leaf blades are ovate-triangular, 3-lobed, with the central lobe ovate, tapering to a sharp point, and deeply lobed, with lobes spaced apart, the widest distance can reach 1.5 cm. Petals are spoon-shaped to ovate-spoon-shaped, with a blunt apex.
【Distribution】1. Huang Lian: Distributed in Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, etc.; cultivated in large quantities in western Hubei, eastern Sichuan, and southern Shaanxi.
2. Triangular-leaved Huang Lian: Cultivated in Emei and Hongya areas of Sichuan at high altitudes.
【Harvesting and Processing】Harvest in autumn, remove fibrous roots and soil, dry, and remove residual fibrous roots.
【Herbal Characteristics】1. Huang Lian: The rhizome is often clustered with branches, curved and intertwined, resembling a chicken claw, commonly referred to as “Chicken Claw Huang Lian”; single branches are cylindrical, 36 cm long, and 2-8 mm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow or yellow-brown, with red-brown exposed areas where the outer skin has fallen off, rough, with irregular nodular protrusions, fibrous roots, and remnants of fibrous roots; some internodes have smooth surfaces like stems, commonly referred to as “Crossing the Bridge”; the upper part often retains brown scale leaves, and the apex usually has remnants of stems or petioles. The texture is hard, with an irregular fracture surface, the bark is orange-red or dark brown, the wood is bright yellow or orange-yellow, and the pith is red-brown, sometimes hollow. The aroma is faint, and the taste is extremely bitter.
2. Ya Lian: Mostly single branches, slightly cylindrical, slightly curved, 4-8 cm long, and 5-10 mm in diameter. The “Crossing the Bridge” part is longer. The apex has a small amount of residual stem.
3. Yun Lian: Mostly single branches, curved in a hook shape, smaller, 2-5 cm long, and 2-4 mm in diameter.
【Plant Family】Ranunculaceae, genus Coptis, including Huang Lian, Triangular-leaved Huang Lian, or Yun Lian.
【Properties and Taste】Bitter in taste, cold in nature; enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians.
【Functions】Clears heat and dries dampness, purges fire and detoxifies.
【Indications】1. Damp-heat obstruction in the middle jiao, nausea, and acid regurgitation: This herb is extremely bitter and cold, with a stronger ability to clear heat and dry dampness than Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis), especially effective in clearing damp-heat from the middle jiao. It treats damp-heat stagnation in the middle jiao, causing abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, stomach heat vomiting, liver fire invading the stomach causing rib-side distension and pain, acid regurgitation, and Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold with acid vomiting.
2. Damp-heat dysentery: This herb effectively removes damp-heat from the Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine, treating damp-heat dysentery, abdominal pain, urgency, and heaviness, with accompanying fever and damp-heat dysentery with pus and blood lasting for a long time.
3. High fever, delirium, irritability, and blood-heat vomiting: This herb purges fire and detoxifies, especially effective in clearing heart fire. It can be used to treat symptoms of delirium and irritability due to excessive heart fire. It can treat excessive heat in the three jiao, high fever, irritability, delirium, heat injuring yin, irritability and insomnia, excessive heart fire, and heart-kidney disharmony causing palpitations and insomnia, and evil fire internally blazing causing vomiting and bleeding.
4. Boils, carbuncles, and red eyes with toothache: This herb can both clear heat and dry dampness, and purge fire and detoxify, especially effective in treating carbuncles. It is used to treat boils, carbuncles, red and swollen eyes, and toothache due to stomach fire.
5. Diabetes: This herb effectively clears stomach fire and can be used to treat diabetes due to excessive stomach fire, excessive hunger, and kidney yin deficiency with excessive heart and stomach fire.
6. External treatment of eczema, wet sores, and ear discharge: This herb has the function of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and detoxifying, and can be made into ointments for external application to treat skin eczema and wet sores. The juice can be used to treat ear discharge; decoction can be used as eye drops to treat red and swollen eyes.
【Preparation Methods】1. Huang Lian: Take the raw herb, remove impurities, wash thoroughly, cut into thin slices, and dry. The raw product is commonly used to clear heart fire and detoxify.
2. Wine Huang Lian: Take Huang Lian slices, mix with yellow wine, moisten until translucent, place in a pot, heat gently, and stir-fry until dry, then cool. Wine Huang Lian is commonly used to clear fire from the upper jiao and eyes.
3. Ginger Huang Lian: Take Huang Lian slices, mix with ginger juice, moisten until translucent, place in a pot, heat gently, and stir-fry until dry, then cool. Ginger Huang Lian clears fire from the middle jiao and is effective in treating stomach heat vomiting.
4. Evodia Huang Lian: Take Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia rutaecarpa), add an appropriate amount of water, boil for 30 minutes, remove the residue, and mix the juice with Huang Lian slices, moisten until the juice is absorbed, then place in a pot, heat gently, and stir-fry until dry, then cool. Evodia Huang Lian can clear damp-heat from the qi level and disperse liver and gallbladder fire.
5. Fried Huang Lian: Take Huang Lian slices, place in a pot, heat gently, and stir-fry until dark yellow, then cool. Fried Huang Lian has a milder cold nature and is less likely to harm Spleen yang.
【Clinical Applications】1. Treat damp-heat obstruction in the middle jiao, causing abdominal fullness and nausea, often combined with Su Ye (Perilla frutescens), such as Su Ye Huang Lian Tang (from “Wen Re Jing Wei”, noted in “Traditional Chinese Gynecology”), or combined with Huang Qin, Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), and Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata), such as Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang (from “Shang Han Lun”); treat stomach heat vomiting, combined with Shi Gao (Gypsum), such as Shi Lian San (from “Xian Nian Ji”); treat liver fire invading the stomach causing rib-side distension and pain, acid regurgitation, combined with Wu Zhu Yu, such as Zuo Jin Wan (from “Dan Xi Xin Fa”); treat Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold with acid vomiting, combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), and Gan Jiang, such as Lian Li Tang (from “Zheng Yin Mai Zhi”).
2. Treat dysentery, effective when used alone. For damp-heat dysentery with abdominal pain, urgency, and heaviness, combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia lappa), such as Xiang Lian Wan; for damp-heat dysentery with accompanying fever, combined with Ge Gen (Pueraria lobata), Huang Qin, etc., such as Ge Gen Huang Qin Huang Lian Tang (from “Shang Han Lun”); for long-standing damp-heat dysentery with pus and blood, combined with Wu Mei (Mume fruit), such as Huang Lian Wan (from “Wai Tai Mi Yao”).
3. Treat excessive heat in the three jiao, high fever, and irritability, combined with Huang Qin, Huang Bai (Phellodendron amurense), and Zhi Zi (Gardenia jasminoides), such as Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (from “Wai Tai Mi Yao”); treat high fever and delirium, combined with Shi Gao, Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena asphodeloides), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia ningpoensis), and Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), such as Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (from “Yi Zhen Yi De”); treat heat injuring yin, irritability, and insomnia, combined with Huang Qin, Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora), and E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), such as Huang Lian E Jiao Tang (from “Shang Han Lun”); treat excessive heart fire and heart-kidney disharmony causing palpitations and insomnia, combined with Rou Gui (Cinnamon), such as Jiao Tai Wan (from “Han Shi Yi Tong”); treat evil fire internally blazing causing vomiting and bleeding, combined with Da Huang (Rhubarb), Huang Qin, such as Xie Xin Tang (from “Jin Bian Yao Lue”).
4. Treat boils and carbuncles, combined with Huang Qin, Huang Bai, and Zhi Zi, such as Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (from “Wai Tai Mi Yao”); treat red and swollen eyes, conjunctivitis, combined with Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum gracile), such as Huang Lian Tang (from “Pu Ji Fang”); treat stomach fire attacking upward causing unbearable toothache, combined with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa), Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga foetida), and Mu Dan Pi, such as Qing Wei San (from “Lan Shi Mi Cang”).
5. Treat excessive stomach fire, excessive hunger, and diabetes, often combined with Mai Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus), such as Xiao Ke Wan (from “Pu Ji Fang”), or combined with Huang Bai to enhance the purging fire effect, such as Huang Bai Wan (from “Sheng Ji Zong Lu”); treat kidney yin deficiency with excessive heart and stomach fire causing diabetes, combined with Sheng Di Huang, such as Huang Lian Wan (from “Wai Tai Mi Yao”).
【Pharmacological Research】This herb has strong antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus anthracis, and all dysentery bacilli except for Shigella sonnei; it also has antibacterial effects against Pneumobacillus, Diphtheria bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Bordetella pertussis, Yersinia pestis, Brucella, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis; it has weaker effects against Escherichia coli, Proteus, and Salmonella; the contained berberine at low doses can stimulate the heart, enhance its contractility, and increase coronary blood flow, while at high doses it inhibits the heart and weakens its contraction; berberine can reduce the heart rate in toads, and has stimulating effects on isolated atria of rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats, and has antiarrhythmic effects, promotes bile secretion, inhibits gastric secretion, and has antidiarrheal effects; at low doses, it enhances the excitation process in the cerebral cortex of mice, while at high doses, it enhances the inhibition process, and has anti-acute inflammation, anti-cancer, and inhibits tissue metabolism; berberine and tetrahydroberberine can reduce myocardial oxygen consumption; Huang Lian and its extracted components have anti-ulcer effects.
【Chemical Components】This herb mainly contains berberine (Huang Lian Su), coptisine, methylcoptisine, palmatine, and various other alkaloids; it also contains berberine ketone and berberine lactone.
【Contraindications】1. Contraindications for compatibility with Western medicine:
(1) It can reduce the activity of trypsin and pepsin, and should not be used together.
(2) The injection solution is extremely unstable when combined with penicillin and should not be used together.
(3) Berberine is a strongly alkaline alkaloid and can precipitate with various acidic drugs, and should not be used together for injections.
(4) Lisinopril can inhibit the hypotensive effect of Huang Lian and should not be used together.
(5) Propranolol hydrochloride can significantly inhibit the hypotensive effect of Huang Lian and should not be used together.
(6) Should not be used with cardiac glycosides, as it can lead to increased concentrations of cardiac glycosides in the blood, easily causing toxicity.
(7) Should not be used with alkaloid drugs such as atropine, aminophylline, caffeine, etc., as it can increase drug toxicity and easily cause drug poisoning.
(8) Should not be used with iodine ion preparations, sodium bicarbonate, and other strongly alkaline Western medicines, or heavy metal drugs such as ferrous sulfate, magnesium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, etc.
2. Dietary contraindications: Avoid pork and cold water.
【Compatible Formulas】1. Huang Lian combined with Wu Zhu Yu: Huang Lian is bitter and cold, with functions of clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying; Wu Zhu Yu can warm the stomach, soothe the liver, disperse stagnation, and stop vomiting. The combination of one cold and one warm can clear and warm, effectively clearing liver fire, regulating the stomach, and treating symptoms such as acid regurgitation, diarrhea, and chest and rib pain. In clinical applications, the dosage ratio of Huang Lian to Wu Zhu Yu is often 6:1.
2. Huang Lian combined with Ban Xia: Huang Lian is bitter and cold, effectively clearing stomach heat and drying dampness, while Ban Xia is pungent and can warm and dry the Spleen, dispel phlegm, and stop nausea. The combination of these two herbs balances cold and heat, harmonizing yin and yang, and effectively treating symptoms such as chest and abdominal fullness, nausea, and vomiting.
3. Huang Lian combined with Da Huang: Both have bitter and cold properties, but their effects are not identical. Huang Lian clears heat, dries dampness, purges fire, and detoxifies, while Da Huang is heavy and turbid, purging fire, promoting bowel movements, cooling blood, and detoxifying. The combination enhances the effects of both, effectively treating symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bleeding.
4. Huang Lian combined with Shui Niu Jiao (Water Buffalo Horn): Huang Lian clears heat, dries dampness, purges fire, and detoxifies, focusing on the qi level; Shui Niu Jiao clears heat and cools blood, focusing on the blood level. The combination can eliminate heat from both the qi and blood levels, effectively treating high fever, delirium, and bleeding.
5. Huang Lian combined with E Jiao: Huang Lian purges heart fire and alleviates irritability; E Jiao nourishes kidney yin and replenishes heart blood. The combination enhances the effects of both, achieving a balance of yin and yang, and is suitable for treating symptoms such as insomnia and irritability.
6. Huang Lian combined with Gan Jiang: Huang Lian is bitter and cold, clearing heat and drying dampness, while Gan Jiang is pungent and warm, dispersing cold and promoting digestion. The combination effectively treats symptoms such as abdominal fullness, nausea, and diarrhea.
7. Huang Lian combined with Huang Bai: Both are excellent for clearing heat and drying dampness, suitable for treating damp-heat conditions. Huang Lian excels at clearing heart fire, while Huang Bai excels at clearing kidney fire. The combination enhances their effects, especially in treating damp-heat dysentery and related conditions.
