Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, including its rhizomes. It has a bitter and cold nature, and it enters the Heart, Liver, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. It is effective in clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying. Huang Lian is well-known for treating heat, damp-heat, blood-heat, and heat-toxicity syndromes, but it also has other effects that are often overlooked. Its main therapeutic effects can be summarized as follows.
Damp-Heat Syndrome
This herb has a bitter and cold property, which can dry dampness and clear heat, making it effective for various damp-heat syndromes, particularly in clearing damp-heat from the stomach and intestines. Its ability to clear heat and dry dampness can be applied in the following three situations.
First, for damp-heat obstruction, as seen in the Sanxie Xin Tang syndrome from the “Shang Han Lun”, it can be combined with Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata) and Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) to harmonize the stomach and relieve fullness. If there is a combination of warm heat and damp-heat in the stomach and intestines, leading to cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, it can be combined with Hou Po (Magnolia Bark) and Ban Xia, as in the Lian Po Yin from the “Huo Luan Lun”.
Second, for damp-heat dysentery, this herb is the primary medicine for treating damp-heat dysentery, showing strong inhibitory effects against dysentery bacilli and Vibrio cholerae. Historically, it has been said that “ancient formulas use Huang Lian as the best treatment for dysentery”, thus it has been a staple in the treatment of dysentery throughout the ages.
This herb can be used alone for dysentery, or combined with Mu Xiang (Aucklandia) to form Xiang Lian Wan; it can also be combined with Ge Gen (Pueraria), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), and Gan Cao (Licorice) to create Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang; or with Shao Yao (Peony), Huang Qin, Da Huang (Rhubarb), Mu Xiang, and Dang Gui (Angelica) to form Shao Yao Tang, which is also a well-known formula for treating dysentery.
Third, for damp sores, which are caused by damp-heat invading the skin, this herb can be combined with Dang Gui, Chi Shao (Red Peony), Sheng Di (Rehmannia), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Chan Tui (Cicada Slough), Ku Shen (Sophora), and Jing Jie (Schizonepeta) for internal use, or it can be ground with pine resin and Hai Piao Xiao (Cuttlefish Bone) to make a paste for external application, which is very effective.
Fire-Heat Syndrome
This herb is bitter and cold, with a property that clears and purges heat, entering the Heart, Liver, and Stomach meridians. It is an excellent remedy for clearing heat, purging fire, detoxifying, and reducing swelling, primarily used for excess heat in the organs, often seen in conditions of excess Heart and Stomach fire, or Liver fire.
For excess Heart fire, it can be decocted alone, as in the Xie Xin Tang from the “Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang”; for severe heat and fire, causing agitation and even delirium, it is often used with Huang Qin and Shan Zhi Zi (Gardenia) as in the Huang Lian Jie Du Tang from the “Wai Tai Mi Yao”; if there is excess Heart fire with insufficient Kidney Yin, leading to insomnia and restlessness, it can be combined with Shao Yao, E Jiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), and Ji Zi Huang (Egg Yolk) as in the Huang Lian E Jiao Tang from the “Shang Han Lun”; for excess Heart fire causing sores in the mouth and tongue, or transferring heat to the Small Intestine, leading to irritability and red urine, it can be combined with Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf) and Zhi Zi as in the Qing Xin Dao Chi San from the “Yi Zong Jin Jian”.
For excess Stomach fire, symptoms include toothache radiating to the head, facial heat, pain relieved by cold and aggravated by heat, or bleeding gums, with a slippery and rapid pulse and a red tongue with yellow coating. It can be combined with Dang Gui, Sheng Di, Dan Pi (Moutan), and Sheng Ma (Cimicifuga) as in the Qing Wei San from the “Lan Shi Mi Cang”; for Stomach heat causing vomiting, it is often combined with Ban Xia, Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings), and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel) as in the Huang Lian Chen Pi Zhu Ru Ban Xia Tang from the “Wen Re Jing Wei”.
For excess Liver fire, it is often used with Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia) to treat Liver Qi stagnation transforming into fire, causing pain in the hypochondrium, vomiting, and acid regurgitation, as in the Zuo Jin Wan.
Blood-Heat Syndrome
This herb is bitter and cold, with strong fire-purging and detoxifying properties. It is effective for bleeding disorders caused by heat forcing blood flow, and can be used with Huang Qin and Da Huang as in the Xie Xin Tang from the “Jin Gui Yao Lue” to treat hematemesis and epistaxis.
The “Bo Ji Fang” states that using Huang Lian alone as a powder, taken at a dose of 3 grams, decocted in water, can also achieve this effect, making it a more straightforward and precise method.
Heat-Toxin Syndrome
This herb is bitter and cold, with strong heat-clearing and detoxifying properties. Modern pharmacological studies have shown its inhibitory effects on various pathogenic bacteria, making it commonly used for skin conditions caused by heat-toxicity, especially effective for treating carbuncles. For example, the Huang Lian Jiu Ku Tang from the “Wai Ke Zheng Zong” combines this herb with Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), Huang Qin, and Lian Qiao (Forsythia) for internal use to treat sores, abscesses, and swelling, with effects of reducing swelling and alleviating pain.
This herb is effective not only for internal use but also for external application. For instance, the Huang Lian Gao from the “Yi Zong Jin Jian” is made from Huang Lian, Huang Bai, and Jiang Huang (Turmeric) to create a topical ointment, which, when used in conjunction with internal medications, yields even better results.
Lowering Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar
Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Huang Lian has a certain blood pressure-lowering effect, with mechanisms related to the dilation of vascular smooth muscle. Clinical studies have found that using Huang Lian Jie Du Tang to treat 30 patients with hypertension and insulin resistance for one month resulted in a 90% effective rate in lowering blood pressure.
For treating hypertension with excess Heart and Liver fire, a combination of Huang Lian, Gou Teng (Uncaria), Aloe, Ze Xie (Alisma), Ge Gen, Xia Ku Cao (Selfheal), Yi Mu Cao (Leonurus), Long Dan Cao (Gentian), and Bai Shao (White Peony) can achieve an effective rate of over 80%, with even higher symptom improvement rates.
Recent studies have found that Huang Lian has a reliable blood sugar-lowering effect. For example, taking Huang Lian extract tablets at a dose of 0.4 grams three times a day for 1-3 months resulted in over 80% of patients experiencing a decrease in blood sugar, with significant alleviation of the three excess symptoms and one deficiency symptom.
For early-stage patients with diabetes presenting with excess heat, or those with insulin resistance, the Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang is commonly used, showing significant blood sugar-lowering effects.
For later-stage patients with both Qi and Yin deficiency, it is often combined with Huang Qi (Astragalus), Yu Zhu (Polygonatum), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Ge Gen, Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), and Gui Jiao (Cinnamon) to enhance blood sugar-lowering effects. Continuous use for 1-3 months shows a proportional increase in efficacy over time.
Eliminating Malnutrition
The “Yao Xing Lun” states that this herb “kills children’s malnutrition parasites”, and the “Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao” mentions that it can be used in a steamed pill with pig stomach to treat children’s malnutrition. For pediatric malnutrition, adding this herb to a group of spleen-strengthening and appetite-enhancing herbs can enhance efficacy and provide a bitter flavor to strengthen the stomach.
Huang Lian is typically taken internally in decoctions at a dose of 5-10 grams, and for external use or in pills and powders, the dosage is appropriate. This herb can harm the stomach if used in excess; it should be used cautiously in cases of Yin deficiency with internal heat, stomach deficiency with nausea, or spleen deficiency with diarrhea, especially in cases of early morning diarrhea.
[Content Source: China Traditional Chinese Medicine News; Image Source: Medicinal Plant Illustrated Guide WeChat]
