Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) is the dried rhizome of the plants Coptis chinensis, Coptis trifolia, or Coptis deltoidea, commonly known as “Wei Lian”, “Ya Lian”, and “Yun Lian” respectively. It is harvested in autumn, with the fibrous roots and soil removed, then dried and any remaining fibrous roots are knocked off. It can be found wild or cultivated, primarily distributed in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Shaanxi provinces.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Huang Lian is considered bitter and cold, entering the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians. It is known for its ability to clear heat, dry dampness, purge fire, and detoxify. It is used for conditions such as damp-heat obstruction, vomiting with sour regurgitation, dysentery, jaundice, high fever with delirium, excessive Heart fire, irritability and insomnia, blood heat leading to vomiting or nosebleeds, red eyes, toothache, diabetes, and carbuncles; externally, it is used for eczema, damp sores, and purulent ear discharge. Wine-prepared Huang Lian is particularly effective for clearing heat from the upper jiao, used for red eyes and oral ulcers.【Dosage】 Decoction: 2-10g. Raw Huang Lian has a stronger heat-clearing effect, while stir-fried Huang Lian reduces its bitter and cold properties. Ginger juice is often used to stop vomiting, while wine-prepared Huang Lian is used for heat conditions in the upper jiao. For external use, apply an appropriate amount.
Modern Medical Research:
Huang Lian contains functional components such as berberine, coptisine, methyberberine, palmatine, and coptisine, which have been shown to have effects including heat-clearing and detoxifying, improving memory, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-cancer, antioxidant, protecting gastric mucosa, lowering blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular function.
1. Huang Lian has anti-ulcer effects.
Huang Lian is a great choice for patients with gastric diseases, and it is often included in TCM prescriptions.
2. Huang Lian protects the gastric mucosa.
Huang Lian also plays a protective role for the stomach.
3. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
After an injury, Huang Lian can help alleviate pain. It is commonly used in our daily lives for various discomforts and illnesses. Berberine is effective for treating burns, whether from boiling water, hot oil, or tar, with a very high healing rate.
4. Treatment of damp-heat dysentery.
This herb is a key medicine for treating dysentery and is effective when used alone. Huang Lian has excellent effects for diarrhea.
5. Huang Lian has antibacterial properties.
Huang Lian is particularly effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Streptococcus type B, with weaker effects against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi.
6. Heat-clearing effects.
Huang Lian is effective for high fever with delirium, irritability and insomnia, and blood heat leading to vomiting or nosebleeds, especially effective in clearing excess Heart fire, and can be used to treat symptoms of delirium and irritability caused by excessive Heart fire.
7. Treatment of eczema and damp sores.
Huang Lian can be used externally to treat eczema, damp sores, and purulent ear discharge. It can be made into an ointment for skin eczema and damp sores. The juice can be applied to the affected area to treat purulent ear discharge. Decoction can be used as eye drops to treat red and swollen eyes. Its medicinal value is very high in this regard.
8. Treatment of diabetes.
Huang Lian is known for its bitter taste, yet it is particularly effective for treating diabetes, often referred to as the “sweet disease”. The usual dosage is 30g per day (30g is the basic dosage, often combined with dried ginger to prevent gastric injury), while for treating diabetic ketoacidosis, the daily dosage can reach up to 120g, providing rapid blood sugar reduction.
Effects: Clears heat and dries dampness, purges fire and detoxifies.
6. Huang Lian for acne scars.
Take 5g of Huang Lian and prepare a cucumber. Grind Huang Lian into powder, extract juice from the cucumber, mix the two, and apply to the face. After 10-15 minutes, wash off. Huang Lian has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, while cucumber also has diuretic and anti-swelling functions. The combined use can help remove skin toxins and has a good detoxifying and repairing effect on acne scars.