Huáng Lián (黄连), known in English as Coptis rhizome (Coptis chinensis), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Heart, Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver channels. Its main action: clears Heart Fire, calms agitation.
| Pinyin | Huáng Lián (Huang Lian) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 黄连 |
| English | Coptis rhizome |
| Botanical name | Coptis chinensis |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Stomach, Large Intestine, Liver |
| Dosage | 1.5–9g |
| Cautions | Cold patterns; Yin deficiency without Heat |
Actions
- Clears Heart Fire, calms agitation
- Clears Heat and dries Damp — Middle Jiao
- Resolves Fire toxicity
Indications
- Heart Fire with irritability, insomnia
- Damp-Heat dysentery
- Vomiting from Stomach Heat
- Carbuncles
How to remember 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 channel: like most Clear heat herbs
- Heart channel: from its action “Clears Heart Fire”
- Stomach channel: from its use for “vomiting from Stomach Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Large Intestine channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Huáng Lián
- Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng
- Qīng Yíng Tāng
- Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng
- Zhū Shā Ān Shén Wán
- Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán
- Wū Méi Wán
- Sháo Yào Tāng
- Gé Gēn Huáng Qín Huáng Lián Tāng
- Jiāo Tài Wán
- Qīng Wèi Sǎn
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- 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
- Hú Huáng Lián
- 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 Huáng Lián?
Huáng Lián is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Huáng Lián enter?
Huáng Lián enters the Heart, Stomach, Large Intestine and Liver channels.
What are the actions of Huáng Lián?
Clears Heart Fire, calms agitation; Clears Heat and dries Damp — Middle Jiao; Resolves Fire toxicity.
What is Huáng Lián used for?
Heart Fire with irritability, insomnia; Damp-Heat dysentery; vomiting from Stomach Heat; carbuncles.
Which formulas contain Huáng Lián?
Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng, Qīng Yíng Tāng, Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng, Zhū Shā Ān Shén Wán, Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán, Wū Méi Wán, Sháo Yào Tāng, Gé Gēn Huáng Qín Huáng Lián Tāng, Jiāo Tài Wán and Qīng Wèi Sǎn.
Practise 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.