Huang Lian (Coptis)
【Properties and Effects】
Huang Lian (Coptis) clears heat and detoxifies,
removes dampness and dryness from the body.
It alleviates irritability and clears fire,
reducing heat toxins from sores and swellings.
【Functions, Indications, and Clinical Applications】
【Properties】Bitter, cold. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians.
【Dosage】Decocted, 2-5 g.
1. Alcoholic Huang Lian clears heat from the upper jiao, used for red, swollen, painful eyes and oral ulcers.
2. Ginger Huang Lian clears stomach heat and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting, used for cold-heat complex, damp-heat obstruction, and fullness with vomiting.
3. Yu Huang Lian soothes the liver and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting, used for vomiting and acid reflux due to liver-stomach disharmony.
【Precautions】
1. Very bitter and cold; excessive or prolonged use harms the Spleen and Stomach; contraindicated in those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency and cold.
2. Bitter and drying can harm Yin fluids; use cautiously in those with Yin deficiency and fluid damage.
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity)
【Formula Composition】
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang consists of four ingredients: Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Huang Bai (Phellodendron), and Zhi Zi (Gardenia).
For mania with great heat, vomiting, and insomnia,
hemorrhage and yellow spots can occur.
【Composition】Huang Lian 3 liang, Huang Qin 2 liang, Huang Bai 2 liang, Zhi Zi 14 pieces.
【Formula Explanation】
【Functions and Indications】Clears heat and detoxifies. For excess heat and toxicity in the San Jiao (Triple Burner). Symptoms include great heat and irritability, dry mouth and throat, incoherent speech and insomnia; or heat disease with vomiting blood, nosebleeds; or severe heat with rashes, or fever with diarrhea, or damp-heat jaundice; or surgical abscesses and toxins, yellow and red urine, red tongue with yellow coating, and rapid, strong pulse.
【Commonly Used Chinese Patent Medicines】
Huang Lian Jie Du Wan (Coptis Decoction Pills)
Clears heat, detoxifies, and promotes bowel movement. Used for sores in the mouth and tongue, red eyes, headache, irritability, heat dysentery, sore throat with bleeding, and abscesses.
Huang Lian Jie Du Wan: pill form, 3 g per dose, 1-3 times a day, reduce for children.
【Key Points for Selection】Yellow and red urine, red tongue with yellow coating, rapid and strong pulse.
【Precautions】Contraindicated in pregnant women; contraindicated in those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency and cold.
The above content is from the “Quick Reference for TCM Formulas” manual.
