As long as you want to learn, it is never too late! Don’t hesitate, don’t just think without acting. If you have a dream, pursue it; if you have a goal, strive for it! The endpoint of persistence is the realization of success! The content may not be new, but it allows me to accumulate knowledge of Chinese herbs over time. The biggest enemy of memorizing herbs is boredom, which makes one sleepy. Using stories to remember is suitable for me, thanks to the sharing from my predecessors! (Some stories are selected from the “Collection of Legends of Chinese Medicine” shared by friends in the herbal community, thanks again!)
Huang Lian
This herb is the dried rhizome of the plants Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis deltoidea C.Y.Cheng et Hsiao, or Coptis teeta Wall. These three are commonly referred to as “Wei Lian”, “Ya Lian”, and “Yun Lian” respectively. Harvested in autumn, the roots are cleaned of fibrous roots and soil, then dried and any remaining fibrous roots are removed.
[Properties and Channels] Bitter, cold. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians.
[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, and carbuncles; externally used for eczema, damp sores, and ear discharge. Jiu Huang Lian is good for clearing heat from the upper jiao. Used for red eyes and oral ulcers. Jiang Huang Lian clears the stomach and stops vomiting. Used for cold-heat counterflow, damp-heat obstruction, and fullness with vomiting. Yu Huang Lian soothes the Liver and harmonizes the Stomach to stop vomiting. Used for Liver-Stomach disharmony and sour regurgitation.
[Dosage] 2-5g. For external use, apply an appropriate amount.
[Storage] Store in a ventilated, dry place.
Source: “Chinese Pharmacopoeia” 2015 Edition, Volume 1
Memory Tips
Huang Lian, when stir-fried, is used to clear heat and dry dampness; when raw, it drains fire and detoxifies.
A mute person eats Huang Lian, unable to express the bitterness. I have known this herb since childhood, so no special techniques are needed. As for the three Huang herbs – Huang Qin, Huang Lian, and Huang Bai – it is easier to remember them together!
Provided by Caiyun Zhuimeiyue 39:
Huang Qin clears the fire from the upper jiao; Huang Lian clears the fire from the middle jiao; Huang Bai clears the fire from the lower jiao.
Provided by qzq200412:
Huang Lian – clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies.
Huang Bai – clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies, eliminates bone steaming.
Huang Qin – clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies, stops bleeding and calms the fetus.
Long Dan Cao – clears heat and dries dampness, drains Liver and Gallbladder fire.
For damp-heat fire toxicity, use Huang Lian; Huang Bai eliminates steaming heat; Huang Qin calms blood and stabilizes the fetus; Long Dan specializes in draining Liver and Gallbladder fire.
The Story of Huang Lian
Once upon a time, on Huangshui Mountain, where the Tujia people lived, there was a doctor named Tao. He had a garden dedicated to growing medicinal herbs, which he used to treat patients. Due to his excellent medical skills, people from far and wide came to seek his help. Since Doctor Tao was often out, he hired a helper named Huang to manage the garden.
Doctor Tao’s daughter, Mei Wa, was beautiful, intelligent, and lively, cherished by her parents. Mei Wa also loved to plant flowers and herbs; every morning, her first task was to check on the flowers and herbs in the garden.
One morning in the first month, when the frost had not yet melted and the cold air was biting, Mei Wa went to the garden and saw that the flowers had not bloomed and the grass had not sprouted. She opened the back door and walked along the path up the mountain. Suddenly, she saw a small green flower blooming by the roadside. The more she looked, the more she liked it, so she loosened the surrounding soil with her fingers, dug it up by the roots, and planted it in the garden. The helper, seeing this wild grass blooming in the cold January, also liked it very much and watered it daily, fertilizing it monthly. The grass grew more and more lush, and eventually produced seeds. The helper scattered the seeds in the garden, and the following year, many more green flowers bloomed.
Unexpectedly, Mei Wa fell ill with a strange disease, feeling hot all over, vomiting and having diarrhea. In just three days, she became skin and bones. Doctor Tao was away treating patients, so Mei Wa’s mother had to invite another local doctor to treat her. This doctor was a friend of Doctor Tao and was very attentive in his diagnosis. However, after three doses of medicine, there was no improvement; her diarrhea worsened, and she even passed blood. Her mother stayed by her bedside all day, worried and unable to eat or sleep, crying at the thought of her daughter’s illness.
The helper, seeing this, was very anxious. What to do? Suddenly, he remembered the green flower. A month ago, he had a sore throat and accidentally chewed a leaf from it. Although it was extremely bitter, after an hour, his sore throat had improved. He thought, could this flower be used as medicine for Mei Wa’s illness? It was worth a try. With that thought, he pulled up a whole plant with roots and leaves, boiled it into a bowl of water, and while Mei Wa’s mother was cooking, he brought it to Mei Wa to drink. To his surprise, after drinking it in the morning, she felt much better by the afternoon; after two more doses, she was completely healed. When Doctor Tao returned and learned what had happened, he was very moved and repeatedly thanked the helper, saying: “Mei Wa suffered from damp-heat in the intestines and stomach; only a medicine that clears heat and dries dampness can cure her. This little green-flowered grass seems to have the effect of clearing heat and drying dampness!”
Because this helper’s surname was Huang and his name was Lian, in gratitude, this medicinal material was named Huang Lian.