Alias:Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), Wang Lian, Chuan Huang Lian, Jiang Lian, Zhi Lian, San Jiao Ye Huang Lian, Ji Zhua Lian, Jiang Chuan Lian, Jiang Zhi Huang Lian, Wu Yu Huang Lian, Jiu Lian.
Historical Origin:Grows in the valleys of Wuyang and the southern slopes of Mount Tai in Shujun. Hongjing noted that Wuyang is in Jianping. The western varieties are lighter in color and less potent than those from Dongyang and Xin’an counties. Coastal counties are not ideal. Jiang, Hu, Jing, and Kuizhou also have it, with Xuancheng being the best, followed by Shi and Qian. The plant grows to about one foot tall, with leaves resembling sweet chrysanthemum. It flowers yellow in April and bears fruit resembling celery seeds in June, which are also yellow. Roots are harvested in February and August.
Source of Medicinal Material:The rhizome of the Ranunculaceae plant Huang Lian.
Morphology: ①Huang Lian
A perennial herb, 15 to 25 cm tall. The rhizome is yellow, often branched, densely covered with fibrous roots. The leaves are basal, with petioles 6 to 16 cm long, glabrous; leaf blades are slightly leathery, ovate-triangular, up to 10 cm wide, and 3-lobed; the central lobe is somewhat rhombic, with a slender petiole 1 to 1.8 cm long, and the lobes are further deeply divided, with 4 to 5 pairs of lobes, nearly oblong, with acute tips, spaced 2 to 6 mm apart, and the edges have needle-like serrations; the lateral lobes are obliquely ovate, shorter than the central lobe, with unequal 2 deep lobes or rarely 2 lobes, and the lobes may be further deeply divided; the upper surface along the veins is covered with short soft hairs, while the underside is glabrous. The flower stalks are 1 to 2, equal to or longer than the leaves; the inflorescence is dichotomous or multi-branched, with 3 to 8 flowers; bracts are lanceolate, 3 to 5 deeply lobed; sepals are 5, yellow-green, elongated ovate to lanceolate, 9 to 12.5 mm long, 2 to 3 mm wide; petals are linear or linear-lanceolate, 5 to 6.5 mm long, with pointed tips and a nectar groove in the center; there are many stamens, with the outer whorl slightly shorter or nearly equal in length to the petals, and the anthers are broadly ovate and yellow; there are 8 to 12 carpels. The capsules are 6 to 12, with stalks, 6 to 7 mm long. Seeds are 7 to 8, elongated ovate, about 2 mm long, brown. Flowering period is from February to April. Fruiting period is from March to June.
Wild or cultivated. Distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, etc.
②San Jiao Ye Huang Lian
A perennial herb. Morphologically similar to Huang Lian, with the main feature being the rhizome is unbranched or has few branches. The leaves are papery, ovate, up to 16 cm long, 15 cm wide, and 3-lobed, with lobes having distinct petioles; the central lobe is triangular-ovate, with a base tapering to a slender petiole up to 2.5 cm long, and deeply divided into 4 to 6 pairs of lobes, with lateral lobes being obliquely triangular, with unequal 2 deep lobes or half-lobes, and small lobes adjacent to each other. The bracts are linear-lanceolate, with 3 lobes or comb-like deeply lobed near the middle. The flower calyx is narrowly ovate; petals are nearly inverted lanceolate and wider; there are about 20 stamens, about half the length of the petals; there are 9 to 12 carpels. Seeds are sterile.
Grown in Sichuan, wild varieties are rare.
③Emei Ye Lian
A perennial herb, 15 to 30 cm tall. The rhizome has few branches, with short and dense internodes. The basal leaves are 4 to 11, with petioles 5 to 16 cm long; leaf blades are lanceolate or narrowly ovate, about equal in length to the petioles, 3.5 to 6.5 cm wide, and 3-lobed; the central lobe is triangular-lanceolate, up to 14 cm long, 6 cm wide, with a gradually pointed tip, and a base tapering to a small petiole, deeply divided into 7 to 10 pairs of lobes, with small lobes having sharp serrations; the lateral lobes are obliquely ovate, only 1/3 to 1/4 the length of the central lobe, with 2 deep lobes or occasionally 2 lobes; the small lobes may be further divided or have 2 deep lobes; the upper surface along the veins is covered with fine soft hairs, while the rest is glabrous. The flower stalks are mostly solitary, with a multi-branched umbel, having 3 to 6 flowers; the sepals are linear, 7.5 to 10 mm long, 0.7 to 1.2 mm wide; there are 9 to 12 petals, narrow and linear, about half the length of the sepals; there are many stamens, about 4 mm long; there are 9 to 14 carpels. The capsules are about 8 mm long. Seeds are elongated and yellow-brown.
Grows wild in damp forests. Distributed in Sichuan.
④Yunnan Huang Lian
A perennial herb. Morphologically very similar to Huang Lian, with the main difference being the rhizome has few branches and dense internodes. The central lobe is ovate-rhombic or long-rhombic, deeply divided into 3 to 6 pairs of lobes, with small lobes spaced apart. The inflorescence is multi-branched, with 3 to 5 flowers; bracts are ovate, with 3 lobes or deeply lobed; the flower calyx is ovate or elliptical, 6 to 8 mm long, 2 to 3 mm wide; petals are spoon-shaped or ovate-spoon-shaped, 4.5 to 6 mm long, 0.5 to 1 mm wide, with rounded or blunt tips, narrowing below into a slender claw, with a nectar groove in the center; there are 8 to 15 carpels.
Grows in high mountain cold and damp shaded areas. Distributed in Yunnan and the Changdu region of Tibet, cultivated in Yunnan.
Habitat Distribution:Grows in cool, damp shaded areas in mountainous regions, wild in valleys at altitudes of 1000 to 1900 meters. Cultivated in high-altitude cool mountainous areas, mainly in Sichuan.
Resource Distribution:
Authentic Production Areas of Huang Lian
1. Chuan Lian: Mainly produced in Sichuan and Hubei provinces. Additionally, counties like Sangzhi and Longshan in Hunan also cultivate it. Historically, products from the mountainous areas along the Yangtze River in eastern Sichuan and western Hubei were distinguished between southern and northern bank products, with the northern bank products generally considered superior due to their thicker rhizomes, fewer branches, and golden yellow color.
2. Ya Lian: Refers to San Jiao Ye Huang Lian, produced in Emei, Hongya, and Leshan in Sichuan, mostly cultivated with a small amount of wild varieties.
3. Yun Lian: Curved and hook-shaped, mostly single-stemmed, with thick and solid stems, and a red-yellow cross-section being the best. Yun Lian is a famous medicinal material from Yunnan, produced in counties like Fugong, Bi Jiang, Gongshan, Lu Shui, and Tengchong, with Fugong, Gongshan, and Tengchong being the main production areas, ranking alongside Sichuan’s Ya Lian as a prized variety of Huang Lian known both domestically and internationally.
Harvesting and Processing:Harvest in autumn, remove fibrous roots and soil, dry, and remove any remaining fibrous roots.
Cultivation:Huang Lian is a high-altitude shade-loving plant suitable for cool, rainy mountainous areas. It prefers a cold climate, growing best between 8 and 32°C, with an optimal temperature of 15 to 22°C. Growth slows or ceases below 6°C or above 32°C. It can survive winter at -8°C. Huang Lian is a moisture-loving plant, intolerant of drought. It is a shade-loving plant, preferring weak light and scattered light, and is sensitive to strong light, which can scorch and kill seedlings. However, excessive shading leads to excessive leaf growth and low rhizome yield.
The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral. Continuous cropping is not recommended. Land previously planted with Huang Lian can be replanted after 2 to 3 years of rotation. Otherwise, yields will be low, and diseases will be severe.
Identification of Properties:Huang Lian products can be roughly classified into the following types based on the original plant and production area:
① Wei Lian, also known as Chuan Lian (from “Ben Cao Meng Quan”), Ji Zhua Lian, Ji Zhua Huang Lian, Guang Lian. This is the dried rhizome of the Huang Lian plant, often branched, typically 3 to 6 branches bundled together, slightly curved, resembling a chicken’s foot, about 3 to 7 cm long, with a single branch diameter of 3 to 8 mm. The exterior is yellow-brown, with the cork layer peeling off revealing a reddish-brown color; the branches have intermittent transverse stripes, with swollen nodes resembling beads, and many hard fibrous roots and root scars. Some surfaces are smooth without transverse stripes, commonly referred to as “Guo Jiang Zhi” or “Guo Qiao Gan”; the upper part often retains brown scales, with the tip having unremoved remnants of stems or petioles. The texture is solid and hard, with an irregular cross-section, the bark is dark brown, the wood is golden yellow, with cracks in the rays, and the central pith is reddish-yellow, occasionally hollow. It is odorless and extremely bitter, and chewing it can stain saliva red-yellow. The best quality is characterized by thick, bead-like, solid texture, with a red-yellow cross-section, and no remnants of stems or fibrous roots.
All are cultivated varieties, mainly produced in Sichuan and Hubei. Also produced in Shaanxi (Pingli).
② Ya Lian (from “Ben Cao Cong Xin”), also known as Emei Lian, Jiading Lian, Ci Gai Lian. This is the dried rhizome of the plant San Jiao Ye Huang Lian. Mostly single-stemmed, with few branches, slightly cylindrical, and curved like a silkworm, about 4 to 8 cm long, with a diameter of about 3 to 9 mm. The exterior is brown or yellow-brown, with many intermittent transverse stripes, and distinct nodes, with many fibrous root remnants, leaf petiole remnants, and scales, with “Guo Jiang Zhi” being less than Wei Lian. The texture is solid, with an irregular cross-section, the bark is dark brown, the wood is deep yellow, with distinct rays, and the pith is sometimes hollow. It is odorless and extremely bitter. The best quality is characterized by thick, bead-like, solid texture, with a yellow cross-section, and no remnants of stems or fibrous roots.
All are cultivated varieties, mainly produced in Sichuan (Emei, Hongya).
③ Wild Huang Lian, also known as Feng Wei Lian. This is the dried rhizome of the plant Emei Ye Lian. The shape is similar to Ya Lian, but the top often retains a long petiole of 6 to 10 cm as a marker of being wild; the rhizome is mostly single-stemmed or has 2 branches, slightly curved, about 5 to 6 cm long, with a diameter of 4 to 6 mm, the exterior is black-brown, with tightly packed nodes resembling beads, without “Guo Jiang Zhi”; the remaining scales are numerous, and the fibrous roots are harder. The cross-section of the wood is bright yellow.
All are wild. Mainly produced in Sichuan (Emei, Hongya, Ebian), with very low yield, but generally considered the highest quality.
④ Yun Lian (from “Ben Cao Cong Xin”) is mainly the dried rhizome of the plant Yunnan Huang Lian. It is smaller, often curved and twisted, mostly single-stemmed, resembling a scorpion’s tail. It is about 1.5 to 8 cm long, with a diameter of about 2 to 4 mm. The outer skin is yellow-green or gray-yellow. The other characteristics are roughly similar to the above varieties.
Can be cultivated or wild. Mainly produced in Yunnan (Deqin, Weixi, Tengchong, Bi Jiang).
Pharmacological Effects:Animal experiments have shown that berberine has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic effects, promotes bile secretion, alleviates diarrhea, has anti-inflammatory effects, protects against cerebral ischemia, has antimicrobial properties, lowers blood pressure, protects against myocardial ischemia and infarction, prevents arrhythmias, inhibits the central nervous system, stops diarrhea, has anti-ulcer effects, promotes bile secretion, lowers blood sugar, inhibits DNA synthesis, and inhibits platelet aggregation.
Processing:Huang Lian slices are cleaned of impurities, soaked until soft, sliced thinly, and dried or crushed for use.
Properties:Cold in nature, bitter in taste.
①From “Shang Han Lun”: “Bitter in taste, cold in nature.”
② From “Wu Pu Ben Cao”: “Shennong, Qibo, and Lei Gong: Bitter, non-toxic; Li Shi: Slightly cold.”
Meridians Entered:Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, Large Intestine.
①From “Tang Ye Ben Cao”: “Enters the Shaoyin meridian.”
② From “Ben Cao Jing Shu”: “Enters the Shaoyin, Yangming, foot Shaoyang, Jueyin, Yangming, Taiyin meridians.”
③ From “Ben Cao Jing Jie”: “Enters the foot Shaoyin kidney meridian and hand Shaoyin heart meridian.”
Functions and Indications:Clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies. Used for damp-heat obstruction, vomiting with sour regurgitation, diarrhea, jaundice, high fever with delirium, excessive heart fire, irritability and insomnia, palpitations, blood heat with vomiting or nosebleeds, red eyes, toothache, diabetes, carbuncles, and sores; externally used for eczema, damp sores, and ear discharge.
Dosage:2 to 5 g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount; for internal use, decoct in water, or can be used externally as a powder.
Precautions:Use with caution in cases of yin deficiency with heat, stomach deficiency with nausea, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, and nocturnal kidney leakage.
In cases of yin deficiency with heat, stomach deficiency with nausea, spleen deficiency with diarrhea, and nocturnal leakage, use with caution.
① From “Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu”: “Huang Qin, Long Gu, and Li Shi are its guiding herbs. Avoid Chrysanthemum, Yan Hua, Xuan Shen, Bai Xian Pi. Avoid Kuan Dong. It is superior to Wu Tou.”
② From “Yao Xing Lun”: “Avoid Bai Jiang Can. Avoid pork.”
③ From “Shu Ben Cao”: “Avoid Niu Xi.”
④ Zhu Zhenheng: “In cases of cold in the intestines and early onset of cold damage, yin deficiency with blood loss, and damage to the spleen leading to blood not returning to the source, it should not be used.”
⑤ From “Ben Cao Jing Shu”: “In cases of patients with blood deficiency and qi deficiency, weak spleen and stomach, insufficient blood leading to palpitations and insomnia, along with irritability and thirst, and postpartum insomnia, blood deficiency with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain; in children with measles and yang deficiency causing diarrhea; in the elderly with spleen and stomach deficiency causing diarrhea; in yin deficiency with morning diarrhea, known as kidney leakage; true yin deficiency with internal heat and irritability, all should be avoided.”
Huang Lian + Kuan Dong Hua Ancient texts record opposing properties. Huang Lian + Chrysanthemum Ancient texts record opposing properties. Huang Lian + Pork Ancient texts record opposing properties.
Various Discussions:1.From “Ben Cao Tu Jing”: Today, physicians use eye wash decoctions, using Dang Gui, Shao Yao, Huang Lian, etc., to decoct with snow water or sweet water, and wash the eyes while hot, reheat when cool, which greatly benefits the eyes. It is said that all eye diseases are caused by blood stasis, so blood-moving herbs combined with Huang Lian treat them, as blood becomes hot and moves, thus using it while hot is effective for all users.
2.From “Ben Cao Yan Yi”: Huang Lian is often used to treat dysentery, as it is based on the principle of bitterness and dryness. However, some see intestinal deficiency with seepage, and if there is slight blood, they immediately use it without understanding the need to stop, regardless of the degree of cold or heat, but only based on the dosage, which often leads to danger. If the qi is full and the disease is hot, blood dysentery, taking it will stop, and there is no need for a full dosage. If it is deficient and cold, it is unnecessary to take.
3.From “Zhu Jie Shang Han Lun”: Bitter people have heart heat, and cold removes heat. The bitterness of Da Huang and Huang Lian guides and drains the virtual heat from the heart. For upper heat, it is drained with bitterness; Huang Lian’s bitterness calms the intestines.
4. Liu Wanshu: Ancient formulas use Huang Lian as the best treatment for dysentery, as it is suitable for using pungent, bitter, and cold herbs, which can disperse, open up blockages, dry dampness, and cold can overcome heat, thus treating dysentery with it as the monarch.
5. Li Gao: All itchy sores and ulcers belong to heart fire, and all sores should be treated with Huang Lian and Dang Gui as the monarch, with Gan Cao and Huang Qin as assistants.
6.From “Tang Ye Ben Cao”: Huang Lian is bitter and dry, thus entering the heart, and fire is dried; however, it drains the heart, but actually drains the spleen as well, as the child can make the mother full, and if full, it drains the child. It treats blood, with Feng Wei as the upper guide, Huang Lian as the middle guide, and Di Yu as the lower guide.
7. Zhu Zhenheng: Huang Lian strikes at the damp-heat of the middle burner and drains heart fire. If the spleen and stomach qi is deficient and cannot transport, then use Fu Ling and Huang Qin instead. Stir-fried with pig bile, combined with Long Dan Cao, can greatly drain liver and gallbladder fire. For diarrhea with stomach heat, use Huang Lian and Ren Shen decocted, drink throughout the day, and if vomiting occurs, drink again, but just one sip down is enough.
8.From “Han Shi Yi Tong”: In diseases of fire division, Huang Lian is the main herb. All five viscera have fire; when balanced, it is treated, when diseased, it is chaotic. The formula books discuss monarch fire, minister fire, evil fire, and dragon fire, but in fact, it is one qi. Therefore, Dan Qi says, excess qi is fire, divided into several categories. In treating this disease, stir-fried with various methods: for evil excess fire, use Pu Xiao Decoction; for false fire, use wine; for virtual fire, use vinegar; for phlegm fire, use ginger juice; all should be soaked and stir-fried. For qi stagnation fire, use Wu Yao; for food accumulation diarrhea, use Huang Tu; for blood urine pain, use Gan Qi; all should be mixed with water and stir-fried, removing Yao, Tu, and Qi. For lower burner hidden fire, soak with salt water and stir-fry; for eye diseases, soak in human milk and steam, or use as drops or drink. Use raw as the monarch, with a little Gui Zhi as an assistant, decoct until boiling, and take honey on an empty stomach, which can make the heart and kidney communicate instantly. Eight, Wu Ling and Shi Gao greatly treat nocturnal emissions. The above, ginger, wine, and honey are the monarchs, making the monarch the minister, Bai Shao wine boiled as an assistant, Guang Mu Xiang as a messenger, treating children’s five pains. Stir-fried with Wu Yao, add Mu Xiang in equal parts, double the amount of Da Huang, and make water pills to treat five dysenteries. Using ginger juice and wine to boil is the powder, mixed with Xia Tian Gao, treats epilepsy, dizziness, sores, and is effective; it is not just said to drain heart fire, but also compared with bitter herbs like Huang Qin and Bai Zhu.
9.From “Ben Cao Meng Quan”: Long-term use of Huang Lian can lead to heat transformation, making one feel hot without realizing it is cold. Therefore, its efficacy is best for initial diseases with excess heat, while long-term diseases with qi deficiency and heat will be exacerbated by its use.
10From “Yi Xue Ru Men”: Huang Lian, when soaked in wine and stir-fried, can ascend to the head, mouth, and tongue; when stir-fried with ginger juice, it can disperse and remove heat effectively. For all damp-heat conditions, thinness, and rapid breathing, for all seasonal heat toxins, various toxic and filthy poisons, and all sores and ulcers, use ginger to harmonize its cold nature, slightly changing its properties.
11From “Gang Mu”: Huang Lian is a key herb for treating eye and dysentery diseases. Ancient formulas for treating dysentery include Xiang Lian Wan, using Huang Lian and Mu Xiang; Jiang Lian San, using Gan Jiang and Huang Lian; Bian Tong Wan, using Huang Lian and Wu Yao; Jiang Huang San, using Huang Lian and Sheng Jiang; for treating diabetes, use wine-steamed Huang Lian; for treating hidden heat, use wine-boiled Huang Lian; for treating blood loss, use Huang Lian and garlic; for treating liver fire, use Huang Lian and Wu Yao; for treating mouth sores, use Huang Lian and Xi Xin, all of which balance cold and heat, yin and yang, using cold for heat and heat for cold, with the main and assistant herbs complementing each other, achieving the best formulation without the harm of bias.
12From “Ben Cao Jing Shu”: Huang Lian is the immortal medicine for treating wine toxicity, the herb for relieving diarrhea, and each of the six meridians has its unique efficacy, mainly for treating heat, eye pain, and tears, clearing the heart, liver, and gallbladder. For abdominal pain and diarrhea, “Bie Lu” is the main treatment for diarrhea, which is called “Zang Du” in common terms. It clears water, benefits bones, thickens the stomach and intestines, and treats mouth sores, thus clearing the damp-heat of the stomach, spleen, and intestines. Long-term use helps one not forget, as the heart has no fire, thus clear and bright, leading to no forgetfulness.
13From “Ben Cao Hui Yan”: Huang Lian clears exogenous heat and epidemic heat, regulates Yangming and Shaoyin, expels evil heat from the heart and spleen, and treats severe dysentery with red and white diarrhea. It also addresses symptoms like palpitations, anxiety, restlessness, and mental confusion, as well as pain, itching, sores, and toxins with excess evil heat. Huang Lian is essential for these conditions, while eye pain and redness indicate liver evil heat; nausea and sour regurgitation indicate spleen evil heat; rib pain and fullness indicate liver and spleen evil heat; tongue ulcers and dry lips indicate heart and spleen evil heat; all belong to internal heat excess, with Yang excess and Yin deficiency symptoms, which cannot be treated without Huang Lian. If there is emotional fire gathering and not dispersing, or if there is stagnation fire, use Er Chen to clear it, but without Huang Lian’s bitter cold, Er Chen cannot clear alone. For vomiting blood, nosebleeds, and excessive urination, use Si Sheng to stop, but without Huang Lian as a minor assistant, Si Sheng cannot stop alone. For intestinal wind and blood loss, it can thicken the intestines and stop bleeding. For hot and closed urination, it can clear internal heat and promote urination. It can also reduce hidden heat and eliminate accumulated summer heat, with its efficacy focused on draining fire. It clears damp-heat and treats heat dysentery, with its flavor being bitter and cold. If the stomach is deficient, the bitter cold is not suitable; ginger juice stir-fried is acceptable. For yin conditions, bitter cold is not suitable; wine stir-fried is acceptable. Use according to the situation, and the medicine will naturally resolve the disease.
14From “Ben Cao Xin Bian”: Huang Lian enters the heart and collaterals, primarily draining fire, but it can also enter the liver, and it is generally the same as guiding herbs, but it is especially effective in the heart. It should be used sparingly and not excessively, as it can treat excess heat but not deficiency heat. Deficiency heat should be supplemented, while excess heat should be drained. Huang Lian drains fire, which is the correct treatment, while using Rou Gui to treat fire is a supplementary treatment. Therefore, Huang Lian and Rou Gui are opposites in nature, seemingly incompatible, but they can be successfully used together, as Huang Lian enters the heart and Rou Gui enters the kidney. In daily life, the heart and kidney must communicate for water and fire to be balanced; if water and fire are separated, the heart and kidney cannot communicate. If the heart does not communicate with the kidney, one cannot sleep at night; if the kidney does not communicate with the heart, one cannot sleep during the day. Using Huang Lian and Rou Gui together allows for instant communication between the heart and kidney, so how can one not have peaceful dreams?
15From “Ben Cao Jing Bai Zhong Lu”: Any medicine that can remove dampness must increase heat, and any medicine that can remove heat cannot remove dampness. Only Huang Lian can use bitterness to dry dampness and cold to remove heat, achieving both effects. The heart belongs to fire, and cold overcomes fire, so Huang Lian is suitable for draining heart fire, while also being able to supplement the heart. This is because bitterness is the correct flavor of fire, thus supplementing with flavor. If there is evil fire in the heart, it can also drain it, and true fire can be calmed, so draining is also a way to supplement.
16From “Ben Cao Jing Shu Zheng Yi”: In cases of cold damage with heat in the chest, evil qi in the stomach, abdominal pain, and desire to vomit, Huang Lian Decoction is the main treatment. In Shaoyin disease lasting more than two or three days, with heart vexation and inability to sleep, Huang Lian and Ejiao Decoction is the main treatment. Both formulas use Huang Lian as the monarch, and both conditions arise from the heart, indicating that Huang Lian is a remedy for draining heart fire.
17From “Ben Cao Si Bian Lu”: The use of Huang Lian is seen in the formulas of Zhong Sheng, such as Huang Lian and Ejiao Decoction for the heart; Wu Xie Xin Decoction, Huang Lian Decoction, Gan Jiang, Huang Lian, Ren Shen Decoction for the stomach; Huang Lian powder for the spleen; Wu Mei Wan for the liver; Bai Tou Weng Decoction, Ge Gen Huang Qin Huang Lian Decoction for the intestines. The method of preparation may involve pairing with Da Huang and Shao Yao for drainage, or with Ban Xia and Gua Lou for dispersing, or with Gan Jiang and Fu Zi for warming, or with Ejiao and egg yolk for moistening, or with Ren Shen and Gan Cao for tonifying, depending on the condition, thus achieving the benefits of bitterness and dryness without the drawbacks of bitterness and dryness.
18From “Ben Cao Zheng Yi”: Huang Lian is extremely bitter and cold, bitterly drying dampness, cold overcoming heat, able to drain and lower all excess dampness and heat from the heart, spleen, liver, kidney, gallbladder, stomach, and large intestine. It clears wind-heat eye diseases, balances liver and stomach for vomiting, and relieves abdominal pain and diarrhea, all of which are effects of drying dampness and clearing heat. It also bitterly clears the heart, purifying blood heat, thus treating blood-related diseases such as vomiting blood, nosebleeds, blood in urine, and dysentery, as well as carbuncles, rashes, and toxic heat. However, eye diseases require additional wind-dispelling and blood-moving herbs, while abdominal pain requires additional qi-moving and turbidity-guiding herbs for effective results. Relying solely on bitterness and cold is not sufficient. Moreover, the bitterness and cold of Huang Lian, especially its bitterness, highlights its drying dampness effect. All conditions requiring Huang Lian are generally damp-heat accumulation, relying on its bitter and drying properties to drain and lower, not just relying on its heat-clearing properties. If there is no thick yellow coating on the tongue, it is not suitable for this extremely bitter and drying herb. Even in the case of sores and ulcers, people often regard it as a universal remedy for Yang conditions, but in fact, it is only effective for treating toxins arising from excess fire, requiring the most Huang Lian, while other damp-heat conditions are also applicable. In addition, blood heat and blood toxicity that do not involve damp evil have their own blood-clearing and detoxifying agents, and are not solely reliant on Huang Lian for treatment.
19From “Ben Cao”: It is indicated for heat, eye pain, tears, brightening the eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and swelling and pain in women’s private areas.
20From “Bie Lu”: It is indicated for the toxicity of Ba Dou.
21From “Bie Lu”: It is indicated for the five viscera’s cold and heat, chronic diarrhea with pus and blood, stopping thirst, great fright, clearing water, benefiting bones, thickening the stomach and intestines, and treating mouth sores.
22From “Yao Xing Lun”: It is indicated for killing children’s roundworms, treating red eyes and pain, calming the liver, and removing heat toxins.
23From “Ben Cao Shi Yi”: It is indicated for weakness and rapid breathing.
24From “Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao”: It is indicated for treating the five labor and seven injuries, benefiting qi, stopping heart and abdominal pain, calming anxiety, nourishing the heart and lungs, promoting flesh growth, stopping bleeding; also for sores, sweating, summer diseases; steamed pig stomach pills for treating children’s roundworm qi.
25From “Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi Fang”: It can remove evil blood from the heart.
26From “Zhen Zhu Nang”: It drains heart fire and relieves fullness in the heart. Stir-fried or soaked in wine, it is effective for the upper neck and above.
27From “Wang Hao Gu”: It is indicated for heart disease and excess.
28From “Ben Cao Yan Yi Bu Yi”: Stir-fried with ginger juice, it is effective for dispersing and removing heat.
29From “Gang Mu”: It is effective for relieving the discomfort caused by excessive medication and light powder toxicity.
30From “Ben Cao Bei Yao”: It is effective for stopping vomiting, relieving sour regurgitation, quenching thirst, treating fire eyes, calming the heart, stopping nocturnal emissions, and relieving fullness.
31From “Ben Cao Bei Yao”: It is effective for treating carbuncles, ulcers, and wine toxicity, as well as for eliminating roundworms.
Compatibility:
1.Huang Lian paired with Ban Xia is commonly used for harmonizing the stomach and descending counterflow, dispersing masses and relieving fullness, such as in Ban Xia Xie Xin Decoction.
2.Huang Lian paired with Ejiao is commonly used for nourishing yin and clearing heat, such as in Huang Lian Ejiao Decoction.
3.Huang Lian paired with Gan Jiang, using both cold and warm, balancing yin and yang, such as in Gan Jiang Huang Lian Huang Qin Ren Shen Decoction.
4.Huang Lian paired with Bai Tou Weng is commonly used for clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling blood, and stopping dysentery, such as in Bai Tou Weng Decoction.
5.Huang Lian paired with Ge Gen is commonly used for relieving muscle and clearing heat, detoxifying, and stopping dysentery, such as in Ge Gen Qin Lian Decoction.
6.Huang Lian paired with Wu Mei, using both sour and bitter, commonly used for draining heat and relieving irritability, such as in Wu Mei Wan.
7.Huang Lian paired with Rou Gui is commonly used for harmonizing the heart and kidney, such as in Jiao Tai Wan.
8.Huang Lian paired with Wu Zhu Yu is commonly used for pungent opening and bitter descending, harmonizing the liver and stomach, such as in Zuo Jin Wan.
9.Huang Lian paired with Xi Xin, using cold to treat heat, commonly used for counteracting, such as in Jian Jin San.
10Huang Lian paired with Di Yu is commonly used for drying dampness and stopping dysentery, and for stopping bleeding, such as in Di Yu Wan.
Additional Formulas:
①For treating vexation and restlessness, heart confusion, upper heat, chaotic qi in the chest, and fullness in the heart: Zhu Sha 4 qian, Huang Lian 5 qian, Sheng Gan Cao 2.5 qian. Grind into a fine powder, soak in soup, steam into cakes, and form pills the size of millet. Take 10 pills after meals, as needed. (Huang Lian An Shen Wan from “Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi Fang”)
② For treating Shaoyin disease lasting more than two or three days, with heart vexation and inability to sleep: Huang Lian 4 liang, Huang Qin 2 liang, Shao Yao 2 liang, egg yolk 2, Ejiao 3 liang (some say 3 pieces). Combine the five ingredients, boil with 6 sheng of water, first boil the three ingredients, take 2 sheng, remove the residue, add the melted Ejiao, cool slightly, add the egg yolk, and stir to combine. Take 7 he after warming, three times a day. (Huang Lian Ejiao Decoction from “Shang Han Lun”)
③ For treating heart-kidney disconnection, restlessness, and insomnia: Sheng Chuan Lian 5 qian, Rou Gui 5 fen. Grind finely, form into pills with white honey, and take with light salt water. (Jiao Tai Wan from “Si Ke Jian Xiao Fang”)
④ For treating excess heat in the heart: Huang Lian 7 qian, 1.5 sheng of water, decoct to 1 sheng, take warm away from meals. Reduce for children. (Xie Xin Decoction from “Ju Fang”)
⑤ For treating fullness in the heart, pressing down and feeling moist, with pulse floating at the guan: Da Huang 2 liang, Huang Lian 1 liang. Combine the two ingredients, soak in 2 sheng of Ma Fei soup for a while, then strain and take warm. (Da Huang Huang Lian Xie Xin Decoction from “Shang Han Lun”)
⑥ For treating small chest obstruction, located in the heart, pressing down causes pain, with a floating slippery pulse: Huang Lian 1 liang, Ban Xia 0.5 sheng (washed), Gua Lou fruit 1 large. Combine the three ingredients, boil with 6 sheng of water, first boil the Gua Lou, take 3 sheng, remove the residue, add the other herbs, and boil to 2 sheng, remove the residue. Take warm three times. (Xiao Xian Xiong Decoction from “Shang Han Lun”)
⑦ For treating severe heat, vexation, vomiting, groaning, incoherent speech, and inability to sleep: Huang Lian 3 liang, Huang Qin and Huang Bai 2 liang each, Zhi Zi 14 pieces (split). Combine the four ingredients, chop, and boil with 6 sheng of water to obtain 2 sheng, divide into two doses. Avoid pork and cold water. (Huang Lian Jie Du Decoction from “Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang”)
⑧ For treating heat in the chest with evil qi in the stomach, abdominal pain, and desire to vomit: Huang Lian 3 liang, Gan Cao 3 liang (roasted), Gan Jiang 3 liang, Gui Zhi 3 liang (peeled), Ren Shen 2 liang, Ban Xia 0.5 sheng (washed), Da Zao 12 pieces (split). Combine the seven ingredients, boil with 10 dou of water to obtain 6 sheng, remove the residue. Take warm, three times during the day and twice at night. (Huang Lian Decoction from “Shang Han Lun”)
⑨ For treating sour vomiting with a slow pulse: Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Gan Jiang, roasted Gan Cao, Huang Lian, decoct in water. (Lian Li Decoction from “Zheng Yin Mai Zhi”)
⑩ For treating liver fire: Huang Lian 6 liang, Wu Zhu Yu 1 liang or 0.5 liang. Grind into powder, form into pills or steamed cakes. Take 50 pills with water. (Zuo Jin Wan, also known as Hui Ling Wan from “Dan Qi Xin Fa”)
⑪ For treating various dysentery and blood loss: Ya Zhou Huang Lian 0.5 jin, remove hair, cut, and pack into a fat pig’s intestine, tie securely, and boil in a sand pot with water and wine until soft, then take out and grind, form into pills the size of a walnut. Take 100 pills with rice soup. (From “Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi Fang”)
⑫ For treating diarrhea: Xuan Huang Lian and Qing Mu Xiang, grind and sift, form into pills the size of a walnut. Take 20 to 30 pills on an empty stomach, twice a day. For those with chronic cold, use cooked garlic to form pills. Effective for infants as well. (Xiang Lian Wan from “Bing Bu Shou Ji Fang”)
⑬ For treating severe cold diarrhea with red and white stools, continuous and unbearable abdominal pain: Huang Lian 6 liang, Gan Jiang 2 liang, Dang Gui and Ejiao 3 liang each. Combine the four ingredients, grind, and mix with 8 he of vinegar to form pills the size of a large soybean. Adults take 30 pills, children under a year take 3 pills, and those over a year take 5 pills, adjusting as needed, three times a day. (Zhu Che Wan from “Qian Jin Fang”)
⑭ For treating blood toxicity: Huang Lian powder, mix with one clove of garlic, roast until fragrant and soft, grind and form into pills the size of a walnut. Take 30 to 40 pills with aged rice drink. (From “Ben Shi Fang Shi Yi” San Lian Wan”)
⑮ For treating spleen receiving dampness, continuous diarrhea, slow digestion, and abdominal pain, also effective for children with roundworm qi and diarrhea: Huang Lian (remove fibrous roots), Wu Zhu Yu (remove stems, stir-fried), Bai Shao 5 liang each. Grind into fine powder, form into pills the size of a walnut. Take 20 pills with strong rice drink on an empty stomach, three times a day. (From “Ju Fang” Wu Ji Wan”)
⑯ For treating insufficient heart qi, vomiting blood, and nosebleeds, also effective for cholera: Da Huang 2 liang, Huang Lian and Huang Qin 1 liang each. Combine the three ingredients, boil with 3 sheng of water to obtain 1 sheng. Take all at once. (Xie Xin Decoction from “Jin Kui Yao Lue”)
⑰ For treating diabetes with excessive thirst and urination, resembling fatty liver, urinating 60 to 70 times a day: One winter melon, Huang Lian 10 liang. Cut off the top of the winter melon, remove the seeds, and fill with Huang Lian powder, then roast until the Huang Lian is cooked. Squeeze out the juice. Take one large cup, twice a day, adjusting as needed. (From “Jin Xiu Fang”)
⑱ For treating women’s heat exhaustion and emaciation: Huang Lian 3 liang (remove fibrous roots), Ren Shen 1 liang (remove the root), Chi Fu Ling 1 liang, Huang Qi 1 liang (sliced), Mu Xiang 0.5 liang, Bie Jia 1.5 liang (soaked in vinegar, roasted until yellow, remove the skirt), Chai Hu 1 liang (remove seedlings), Di Guo Pi 0.5 liang, Tao Ren 1.5 liang (soaked in soup, remove skin, tips, and double kernels, stir-fried until slightly yellow). Combine the herbs, grind finely, and use a good tender pig stomach to pack the herbs inside, sew it up, and steam until soft. Grind into a paste, form into pills the size of a walnut. Take 30 pills before meals with porridge. (Huang Lian Pig Stomach Pill from “Sheng Hui Fang”)
⑲ For treating children’s stomach heat and vomiting milk: Huang Lian 2 qian, Qing Ban Xia 2 qian. Grind into fine powder, divide into 100 portions, take three times a day, each portion being 1 fen. (From Liaoning “Zhong Cao Yao Xin Yi Fang Zi Liao Xuan Bian”)
⑳ For treating red and painful nails, removing heat: Huang Lian 0.5 liang, one jujube (sliced). Combine the two ingredients, boil with 5 he of water to obtain 1 he, remove the residue, and apply to the affected area, ten times a day. (Huang Lian Decoction from “Seng Shen Ji”)
(21) For treating carbuncles and swellings, both before and after rupture: Huang Lian and Bing Lang in equal parts, grind into powder, mix with egg white for application. (From “Jian Yi Fang Lun”)
(22) For treating pustular sores and acute eczema: Huang Lian, pine resin, and Hai Piao Xiao each 3 qian. Grind into fine powder, add 2 qian of yellow wax, dissolve in an appropriate amount of cooked sesame oil, and mix into a soft ointment. Apply to the affected area three times a day. Before applying the medicine, use a hot towel to compress the affected area to help the sores fall off. (From Inner Mongolia “Zhong Cao Yao Xin Yi Fang Zi Liao Xuan Bian”)
(23) For treating mouth and tongue sores: Huang Lian decocted in wine, hold and sip. (From “Zhou Hou Fang”)
(24) For treating children’s mouth sores: Huang Lian and Aloe in equal parts, form into bundles. Each bundle is soaked in honey soup for 5 fen. For horse teeth sores, mix with toad ash in equal parts, reduce half of the blue dye, and add a little musk. (From “Jian Bian Dan Fang”)
(25) For treating thick and rich flavors causing pain in the lips and teeth, or gum ulcers, or pain in the head, face, neck: Huang Lian (stir-fried) 1.5 qian, Sheng Di Huang, Mu Dan Pi, Dang Gui each 1 qian, Sheng Ma 2 qian. Combine and decoct in water, and if there is excess heat constipation, add Da Huang. (Qing Wei San from “Fu Ren Liang Fang”)
(26) For treating pregnancy-related vexation, dry mouth, and inability to sleep: Huang Lian powder, take 1 qian each time, with porridge drink, or wine-steamed Huang Lian pills, which are also effective. (From “Fu Ren Liang Fang”)
(27) For treating burns: Chuan Lian ground into powder, mixed with tea oil for application. (From “Zhong Yi Za Zhi” (2): 170, 1922)
(28) For treating diarrhea caused by Ba Dou toxicity: ground ginger and Huang Lian, take a small amount. (From “Bu Que Zhou Hou Fang”)