Hú Huáng Lián (胡黄连), known in English as Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurroa), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine channels. Its main action: clears deficiency Heat.
| Pinyin | Hú Huáng Lián (Hu Huang Lian) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 胡黄连 |
| English | Picrorhiza |
| Botanical name | Picrorhiza kurroa |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Dosage | 1.5–9g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency; Cold patterns |
Actions
- Clears deficiency Heat
- Clears Heat, dries Damp — Large Intestine
- Clears childhood nutritional impairment fever
Indications
- Yin deficiency steaming bone
- Damp-Heat dysentery
- Childhood fever with abdominal distension
How to remember Hú Huáng Lián
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Liver and Stomach channels: like most Clear heat herbs
- Large Intestine channel: from its action “dries Damp — Large Intestine”
Formulas containing Hú Huáng Lián
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Hú Huáng Lián?
Hú Huáng Lián is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Hú Huáng Lián enter?
Hú Huáng Lián enters the Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine channels.
What are the actions of Hú Huáng Lián?
Clears deficiency Heat; Clears Heat, dries Damp — Large Intestine; Clears childhood nutritional impairment fever.
What is Hú Huáng Lián used for?
Yin deficiency steaming bone; Damp-Heat dysentery; childhood fever with abdominal distension.
Which formulas contain Hú Huáng Lián?
Qīng Gǔ Sǎn.
Practise Hú Huáng Lián and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.