Huang Lian - 黄连 - Rhizoma Coptidis - Coptis
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Rhizoma Coptidis |
| Common English: | Coptis Rhizome Goldthread Root |
Category
Herbs that Clean Heat and Purge Fire: Herbs that Clear Heat and Dry DampnessProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter (Astringent) | Cold | Heart Large Intestine Liver Stomach (Gallbladder) (Spleen) | 1.5-10g Tincture: 0.25-3 ml |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Clears Heat and drains Dampness | Damp-Heat in the Stomach or Intestines with diarrhea or dysenteric disorder, enteritis and vaginal infection, cholera, acute gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, staphylococcus Stomach Heat with vomiting and/or acid regurgitation |
Drains Fire and resolves Fire toxicity | Heat with Blazing Fire (Toxic Heat) with high fever. irritability, disorientation, delirium, a red tongue and a rapid, full pulse Heat from Excess with toxicity painful, red eyes, otitis and a sore throat, ear, nose and throat infection Boils, carbuncles and abscesses (Chuang Yung) |
Clears Heat and stops bleeding | Blood Heat with epistaxis, hematemesis, hematuria, hemafecia and hemoptysis |
Clears Heat topically | Infected wounds, red and painful eyes, ulcerations of the tongue and mouth (topical) |
Clears Heart Fire (sedative) | Heart Fire Lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys |
Drains Stomach Fire | Stomach Fire |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Cx. Fraxini | Rx. Scutellariae | Rx. Scutellariae |
Damp-Heat dysenteric disorders. | External Heat with diarrhea or dysentery. | Dysenteric disorders with co-existing pathogens in the exterior. Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao with diarrhea or dysentery. |
| Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum | Rx. Scutellariae |
Cold and Heat complexes in the Intestines and Stomach marked by focal distention, nausea, vomiting and feelings of oppression in the chest. | Phlegm-Heat clumping in the chest with feelings of oppression beneath the Heart with pain on palpation. | High fever, irritability, dry mouth and throat and dark urine due to Fire toxin in the three burners. |
| Fr. Evodiae | Fr. Evodiae | Hb. Asari |
Epigastric and abdominal pain, acid regurgitation, ulcers, vomiting and epigastric upset due to Liver Fire or Stomach Heat. | Dysenteric disorder and abdominal pain. | Toothache, gum swelling, halitosis, dental disorders and tongue and mouth ulcerations due to Stomach Fire. Swollen eyes and deafness. Red eyes and photophobia due to Liver Fire. |
Hb. Asari | Rz. Cimicifugae | Rx. Rehmanniae |
Toothache, gum swelling, and tongue and mouth ulcerations due to Stomach Fire. (stronger effect) | Toothache due to Stomach Fire. | Insomnia and delirium due to unremitting Heat injuring the Ying level. |
Rx. Rehmanniae | Caul. Bambusae in Taeniam | Rz. Anemarrhenae |
Wasting and thirsting disorder due to Excess Heat. Stomach Fire with Excess hunger. | Nausea, vomiting, hiccup or dry retching due to Stomach Fire. Vomiting of mucus or acid regurgitation due to Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Stomach. Gallbladder Fire and Phlegm-Heat Disturbing the Heart with palpitations, insomnia, irritability and a stifling sensation in the chest. | Blazing Stomach Fire with intense hunger, dry stools, dry, yellow tongue coat and a slippery rapid pulse. |
Cx. Cinnamomi | Fr. Gardeniae | Rx. Scutellariae |
Insomnia with disturbing dreams, palpitations which are worse at night and irritability due to lack of communication between the Heart and Kidneys. | Ying Stage Heat with delirium and loss of consciousness. | Heart Fire with Blood Heat. |
Rx. Scutellariae | Rx. Scutellariae | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao. | Boils, carbuncles and furuncles. | Cold and Heat in the Middle Jiao with abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting. |
Rx. Aucklandiae | Rx. Aucklandiae | Colla Corii Asini |
Dysenteric disorders due to Damp-Heat Obstructing the Intestines. | Hot dysenteric disorders with Qi Stagnation. Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao with intense tenesmus. | Heat toxin clumping in the Intestines, injuring the Blood collaterals causing Blood and pus in the stools especially during pregnancy or postpartum. |
Colla Corii Asini | Fr. Mume | Rx. Scutellariae |
Insomnia and irritability due to overwhelming Heart Fire and Yin and Blood Deficiency. | Irritable Heat and fullness in the chest due to Yin Deficiency Fire attacking the Heart. Internal Heat with thirst, Dryness, cough and irritability. Seasonal epidemic dysenteric disorders with inability to eat | Drains pathogenic Heat from the Upper and Middle Jiaos for high fever, redness, swelling and pain of the head and face, dry mouth, parched throat, ulcerations of the mouth and tongue, epistaxis, rashes and irritability in warm-febrile disease. Explosive diarrhea and dysentery with burning pain in the anus or fetid, filthy stools and abdominal pain. Nausea in pregnancy with Heat disturbing the fetus. |
Cx. Phellodendri | Endoconcha Sepiae | Rx. Puerariae |
Diarrhea or dysentery with burning sensations in the anus. | Acid regurgitation. | Diarrhea in Exterior syndromes. |
Bul. Allii Macrostemi | Gypsum Fibrosum | Fr. Evodiae |
Diarrhea with bleeding. | Wasting and thirsting disorder (diabetes). | Liver Fire. |
Concha Haliotidis | Cinnabaris | Rx. Scutellariae |
Red eyes due to Liver Yang Rising. | Insomnia and irritability due to Heart Fire. | Hematemesis and rectal bleeding due to Blood Heat. |
Rz. Acori Tatarinowii | Rx. Scutellariae | |
Delirium. | Abscesses, lesions, carbuncles, furuncles, burns, swelling and inflammation due to toxic Heat. |
Notes
- It ranks among the coldest, most bitter and most drying herbs in Chinese Medicine.
- Its main use is for Liver and Heart Fire, particularly when the Fire invades the Spleen/Stomach and Lungs.
- Being anti-bacterial, it is valuable for intestinal infections.
- Since it is so intensely bitter, it is better taken as an extract or a pill.
- It is a relative of goldenseal.
- It acts as a notably broad-spectrum anti fungal.
- It is among the best herbs for intestinal infections with bleeding.
- On its own it can treat photophobia, blurred vision, floaters, night blindness and acute conjunctivitis arising from Liver Blood Deficiency and Liver Yang Rising.
- It may be used externally as an eye wash.
- It is reported to cure ophthalmalgia caused by pathogenic Heat.
- Studies show that it inhibits cancer cell growth.
- It is reported to cure the five kinds of impairment and the seven kinds of trauma.
- It moves Qi, relieves gastralgia and palpitations with fear and restlessness, moistens the Heart and Lungs, promotes meiopoiesis and stops hemorrhage.
- It is reported to expel Blood Stagnation in the tongue.
- It is reported to cure Qi and Blood Deficiency, weakness of the Spleen and Stomach, Yin Deficiency, and restlessness from accumulated Internal Heat. Do not combine it with salt when treating these conditions.
- Roasting directs its action upward to the brain, eyes, mouth and tongue.
- Roasted with Ginger juice, it cures pyogenic swelling and infection, Summerheat, malignant infection, sores and ulcers.
- Japanese Coptis serves as a cheaper substitute.
- It drains every kind of Heat in the Heart, Spleen, Liver and Kidneys, and every kind of Fire in the Large Intestine, Small Intestines, Gallbladder and Stomach.
- It is reported to treat hypertension.
- It is also reported to prolong sleep.
- It is reported to treat upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, tuberculosis and gout.
It is used against staphylococcus, pneumococcus, bacillus anthracis and vibrio cholerae. - To treat upper Jiao Heat, sauté it in sake.
- To treat Middle Jiao Heat, sauté it with chopped ginger.
- To treat Lower Jiao Heat, sauté it in seawater.
- To treat Heat from Food Accumulation, sauté it in soil.
- Frying it with pig bile strengthens its ability to sedate Liver and Gallbladder Fire.
- Huang Lian, Fr. Evodiae Wu Zhu Yu and Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang each relieve nausea. Wu Zhu Yu warms the Liver, treating nausea and acid regurgitation from Liver Cold attacking the Stomach. Huang Lian clears Stomach Heat, treating nausea and bilious vomiting from Damp-Heat in the Stomach, and Sheng Jiang warms the Middle, treating vomiting of clear fluids from Stomach Cold.
- Dry-fried Coptis Chao Huang Lian is tempered in its coldness so that it does not harm Spleen and Stomach Yang. It enters the Blood, where it cools Blood Heat and resolves toxicity.
- Ginger Coptis Jiang Huang Lian concentrates its cooling effect on the Middle Jiao, cooling Stomach Fire and Heat, easing nausea and descending rebellious Qi.
- Wine-fried Coptis Jiu Huang Lian rises to the head and eyes and cools Upper Jiao Fire, treating pain of the eyes, ears or tongue and mouth ulcers caused by pathogenic Fire or Heat.
- Evodia Coptis Yu Huang Lian concentrates on clearing Damp-Heat at the Qi Level with diarrhea and nausea, or Liver Stomach Disharmony producing Liver Fire with acid regurgitation, belching or nausea.
- Salt-water Fried Coptis Yan Shui Chao Huang Lian is less drying and acts on the Lower Jiao, clearing Fire to safeguard Kidney water.
- Charred Coptis Huang Lian Tan acts at the Blood Level, cooling Heat and the Blood, stopping bleeding and relieving dysenteric disorders. It is used for hemorrhage from Blood Heat and for pus in the stool from Damp-Heat in the Large Intestine.
From Class
- Damp strategies: Cang Zhu; Che Qian Zi/Ze Xie; San Huang (Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai); Gan Jiang: Scalloped greasy tongue: Cang Zhu; swollen moist: drain with plantago or alisma; red sticky: three yellows; cold: dried ginger. (Yuen)
- Huang Lian / Lian Zi Qing Xin Yin / Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang: Coptis for stagnant heat — unfulfilled desire going to heart heat; lotus seed decoction clears the heart; Huang Lian also in Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang.