Huáng Qín (黄芩), known in English as Skullcap root (Scutellaria baicalensis), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach and Gallbladder channels. Its main action: clears Heat, dries Damp — especially Upper Jiao and Lung.
| Pinyin | Huáng Qín (Huang Qin) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 黄芩 |
| English | Skullcap root |
| Botanical name | Scutellaria baicalensis |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Gallbladder |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Cold patterns; Spleen and Stomach deficiency without Heat |
Actions
- Clears Heat, dries Damp — especially Upper Jiao and Lung
- Stops bleeding — Heat in Blood
- Calms foetus
Indications
- Lung Heat cough
- Damp-Heat diarrhoea/dysentery
- Heat in Blood causing bleeding
- Threatened miscarriage from Heat
How to remember Huáng Qín
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, Stomach channel: like most Clear heat herbs
- Lung channel: from its action “dries Damp — especially Upper Jiao and Lung”
- Learn by heart
- Large Intestine and Gallbladder channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng
- Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng
- Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng
- Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng
- Dà Chái Hú Tāng
- Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng
- Dìng Chuǎn Tāng
- Gǔn Tán Wán
- Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn
- Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán
- Huáng Tǔ Tāng
- Sháo Yào Tāng
- Gé Gēn Huáng Qín Huáng Lián Tāng
- Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- 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
- 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 Qín?
Huáng Qín is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Huáng Qín enter?
Huáng Qín enters the Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach and Gallbladder channels.
What are the actions of Huáng Qín?
Clears Heat, dries Damp — especially Upper Jiao and Lung; Stops bleeding — Heat in Blood; Calms foetus.
What is Huáng Qín used for?
Lung Heat cough; Damp-Heat diarrhoea/dysentery; Heat in Blood causing bleeding; threatened miscarriage from Heat.
Which formulas contain Huáng Qín?
Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng, Lóng Dǎn Xiè Gān Tāng, Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng, Jiǔ Wèi Qiāng Huó Tāng, Dà Chái Hú Tāng, Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng, Dìng Chuǎn Tāng, Gǔn Tán Wán, Tiān Má Gōu Téng Yǐn, Ān Gōng Niú Huáng Wán, Huáng Tǔ Tāng, Sháo Yào Tāng, Gé Gēn Huáng Qín Huáng Lián Tāng and Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Huáng Qín 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.