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Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) is bitter and cold. It enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians.
The Compendium of Materia Medica records Huang Lian: “It clears the heart and eliminates evil blood, resolves overdoses of medications, and alleviates irritability and the toxicity of Ba Dou (Croton tiglium) and Qing Fen (Arsenic).”
Introduction to Huang Lian
Family: The dried rhizome of the Ranunculaceae plant, Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), or San Jiao Ye Huang Lian (Coptis trifolia).
Geographical Distribution: 1. Huang Lian grows in mountain forests or cool valleys at altitudes of 1000 to 2000 meters. It can be found wild or cultivated, with significant distributions in Hubei, Shaanxi, Hunan, Sichuan, and Guizhou. There is a large cultivation in western Hubei and eastern Sichuan. 2. San Jiao Ye Huang Lian is cultivated in the mountainous forests of Emei and Hongya at altitudes of 1600 to 2200 meters. 3. Yun Lian grows wild or is cultivated in high mountain cold and humid shaded areas at altitudes of 1500 to 2300 meters, primarily in northwestern Yunnan and southeastern Tibet. Harvesting and Processing: Harvest in autumn, remove fibrous roots and soil, dry, and use after removing residual fibrous roots.
Pharmacological Effects: Antipyretic; anti-inflammatory; anti-parasitic; anti-pathogenic microorganisms; anti-myocardial ischemia; anti-arrhythmic; anti-ulcer; inhibits platelet aggregation; suppresses the central nervous system; promotes bile secretion; positive inotropic effect; lowers blood pressure; lowers blood sugar; stimulates gastrointestinal smooth muscle; anti-tumor; anti-radiation, etc.
Chemical Components: Alkaloids: Berberine, Coptisine, Methylberberine, Jatrorrhizine, Palmatine, etc.; Others: Inorganic elements such as magnesium, aluminum, potassium, etc. Taste and Properties: Bitter, cold. It enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine meridians. Functions and Indications: Clears heat and dries dampness, purges fire and detoxifies. Used for damp-heat fullness, vomiting with sour regurgitation, dysentery, jaundice, high fever with delirium, excessive heart fire, irritability and insomnia, blood heat causing nosebleeds, red eyes, toothache, diabetes, and carbuncles; externally used for eczema, damp sores, and purulent ear discharge.
❖Herbal Formulas1
(Indications: High fever with delirium, septicemia, irritability, thirst, flushed face, red eyes, constipation, short and red urine, damp-heat fullness and discomfort)
Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) and Gan Cao (Licorice) each 6g, Xuan Shen (Scrophularia) 30g, Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan) each 10g, and Xi Ni Jiao (Rhinoceros Horn) 3g (ground and taken with water). Boil with water for 15 minutes, filter out the liquid, then boil again for 20 minutes, discard the residue, mix the two decoctions, and take one dose daily.
2
(Indications: Septicemia, high fever, headache, thirst, damp-heat fullness and discomfort)
Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Pu Gong Ying (Dandelion), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), Ban Zhi Lian (Scutellaria), Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle), Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis), and Zi Hua Di Ding (Viola) each 20g, Dang Shen (Codonopsis), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) each 10g. Decoction method is the same as 1. Take one dose daily.
3
(Indications: Clears heat and alleviates diarrhea)
Ge Gen (Pueraria) 15g, Gan Cao (Licorice) 6g, Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) 9g, Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) 9g. Combine the four ingredients with 8 liters of water, first boil Ge Gen, reduce to 2 liters, add the other herbs, boil to obtain 2 liters, discard the residue, and take warm. The formula uses Huang Qin and Huang Lian to clear heat and dry dampness, and to stop diarrhea.
Medicinal Diet for Health Preservation
Huang Lian and Lotus Seed Soup
Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) 10g, Dang Shen (Codonopsis) 15g, Lotus Seed Flesh 30g. Decoction and take warm.
◆ Clears heat and dries dampness, stops diarrhea. Suitable for intestinal heat diarrhea or damp-heat diarrhea, with symptoms of watery stools, foul odor, burning sensation in the anus, or diarrhea with pus and blood, urgency, and heaviness.
Huang Lian Pig Stomach Pills
Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) 90g, Huang Qi (Astragalus), Chi Fu Ling (Poria), Ren Shen (Ginseng), Chai Hu (Bupleurum) each 30g, Mu Xiang (Aucklandia), Di Guo Pi (Lycium) each 15g, Tao Ren (Peach Kernel), Bie Jia (Tortoise Shell) each 45g, and 1 pig stomach. Remove the fibrous parts from the ginseng; treat the tortoise shell with vinegar and roast; soak the peach kernel in hot water to remove the skin; stir-fry the wheat bran until slightly yellow; grind all herbs into powder; clean the pig stomach with salt, stuff the herb powder inside, sew it up, steam until soft, mash, and form pills the size of a phoenix seed. Take 30 pills before meals with rice soup.
◆ Tonifies Qi and nourishes Yin, clears heat and supplements deficiency. Suitable for women with deficiency heat, fatigue, or bone steaming heat, amenorrhea, etc.
(Note: The above content is an excerpt from the Compendium of Materia Medica for quick reference on herbal health preservation, for informational purposes only, and does not represent our opinions or serve as a basis for prescriptions.)
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