Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) is the dried rhizome of the plant from the family Ranunculaceae. Due to its rhizome resembling a chicken’s foot, it is often referred to as “Chicken Claw Lian.” Since ancient times, the most notable impression people have of Huang Lian is its extremely bitter taste, making it difficult to swallow. Indeed, as a medicinal herb, it is one of the bitterest in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although Huang Lian is very bitter, its efficacy is astonishing; the saying “bitter medicine is good for the health” is a clear label for Huang Lian.
Huang Lian is primarily produced in the Yunnan-Guizhou and Sichuan regions, especially in Sichuan, where the climate is mild and humid with frequent light rain, leading to a constant high demand for Huang Lian. In autumn, the roots of Huang Lian that have grown for more than three years are dug up, cleaned, and then dried for medicinal use.
Effects and Functions of Huang Lian:
1. Stops Dysentery
Huang Lian is a herb that enters the Large Intestine meridian. The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica) has long recorded that Huang Lian can be used to treat “abdominal pain and dysentery with diarrhea.” Generally, such abdominal pain and diarrhea can be severe, and if the symptoms are not controlled immediately, it may lead to fluid loss. Huang Lian is often used with Da Huang (Rhubarb) to clear heat and dry dampness, treating severe abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by damp-heat.
2. Clears Heat and Detoxifies
Huang Lian has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Its bitter taste enters the Heart meridian, effectively eliminating internal heat and resolving damp-heat toxins! Huang Lian is an essential herb for clearing fire; for severe conditions such as sores, carbuncles, and painful diseases, Huang Lian can be used to clear Heart fire for treatment.
3. Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory
Huang Lian contains berberine, which has inhibitory effects on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, making it a broad-spectrum antibacterial herb. Therefore, it has certain therapeutic effects on diseases caused by bacteria, such as dysentery, enhancing the body’s resistance and reducing illness.
4. Protects the Liver and Gallbladder
Huang Lian is a herb that protects the liver and gallbladder, helping to safeguard the liver and gallbladder. It can assist hepatitis patients by lowering transaminase activity, thus becoming a good medicine for liver protection.
Contraindications of Huang Lian:
Huang Lian has many effects and is classified as a very bitter and cold herb. Frequent use or large doses can easily harm the stomach qi, leading to the saying “bitter cold harms the stomach.” Therefore, it is not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, spleen and kidney deficiency with diarrhea, or stomach deficiency with vomiting. TCM believes that bitter and dry substances can easily damage the body’s yin fluids, so caution is advised for those with yin deficiency and fluid damage.
Practical Uses of Huang Lian:
1. Huang Lian, Ejiao, and Egg Yolk Soup
Basic Ingredients: 2 egg yolks, 12g Huang Lian, 3g Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis), 9g Ejiao (Donkey-hide gelatin), 3g Bai Shao (White Peony).
Preparation: First, boil Huang Lian, Huang Qin, and Bai Shao with 8 cups of water, concentrate to 3 cups, strain, then add Ejiao to dissolve, and finally mix in the egg yolks.
Dosage: Take hot, divided into 3 doses.
Efficacy: Clears heat and nourishes yin. Suitable for heat evil entering the nutrient level, damaging the nutrient yin heart fluid, persistent fever, irritability, inability to sleep, red and dry tongue, and thin rapid pulse.
Applicable Conditions: Can be used for palpitations, insomnia, etc.
Contraindications: Not suitable for those with thick and greasy tongue coating.
2. Drinking Huang Lian Infusion
Huang Lian can be directly infused in water, which should be boiled. Drinking Huang Lian infusion clears heat, dries dampness, drains fire, and detoxifies, suitable for acute conditions such as mouth sores, red eyes, and toothaches. In hot summer, this method of drinking Huang Lian infusion can also provide a short-term cooling effect.
Long-term or excessive use of Huang Lian infusion is not recommended.
This article is an original work by Jiantai Tang; please indicate the source when reprinting.
Qingdao Jiantai Tang Clinic is led by Chief Experts Wang Dexu, former head of the Dermatology Department of the Eighth People’s Hospital of Qingdao, and Wang Zeshan, head of the TCM Department, focusing on integrated Chinese and Western medicine, specializing in skin diseases and allergic diseases, and pursuing the treatment of various difficult diseases.
For various skin diseases: eczema, dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic purpura, chronic urticaria, psoriasis, vitiligo, severe acne, postherpetic neuralgia, vector-borne skin diseases (such as tick, mite, bee, scorpion, centipede stings), allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, pharyngitis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.), neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, rheumatism, gynecological diseases, digestive system diseases, etc., we have good efficacy.
