Coptidis Rhizoma
Aliases：Wei Lian、Chuan Lian、Ji Zhua Lian、Ya Lian、Yun Lian
Huangliàn Pian (Coptidis Rhizoma Slices) is a prepared form of Chinese medicinal herb. It is produced from the dried rhizomes of Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis deltoidea C.Y. Cheng et Hsiao, or Coptis teeta Wall. (family Ranunculaceae) through cleaning and slicing processes. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, and Yunnan provinces.
Efficacy & Actions
It has the actions of clearing heat and drying dampness, and draining fire and resolving toxin.
Indications
1. Damp‑heat patterns Huangliàn Pian is commonly used for damp‑heat conditions such as epigastric and abdominal stuffiness, nausea, vomiting, acid regurgitation, as well as damp‑heat diarrhea, dysentery, and jaundice. 2. Fire‑toxin and heat‑excess patterns Huangliàn Pian is also indicated for high fever with loss of consciousness; irritability, insomnia, and palpitations due to exuberant heart fire; hematemesis and epistaxis caused by heat forcing blood to extravasate; toothache and polyphagia (excessive hunger) due to stomach fire; red, swollen eyes and oral ulcers; as well as carbuncles, furuncles, eczema, weeping skin sores, and purulent ear discharge.
Modern Pharmacology
Modern pharmacological studies have found that this product mainly has anti‑pathogenic microbial, anti‑bacterial toxin, anti‑inflammatory, antipyretic, anti‑diarrheal, and hypoglycemic effects, among others.
Ingredients
Huangliang Pian mainly contains alkaloids such as berberine, coptisine, methylcoptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, epiberberine, berbamine, magnoflorine, etc., among which berberine is the most abundant.
Usage & Dosage
1. Internal use: 2–5 g in decoction; or used in pills or powders. 2. External use: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied as a paste; or decocted for washing; or prepared as an ointment for topical application; or used as a soak (steeping the affected area in the liquid).
Contraindications
1. This product may easily damage Yin fluids; therefore, it should be used with caution in patients with Yin deficiency and fluid damage. 2. Patients with hypotension or hypoglycemia should not take this product for a prolonged period. 3. This product should not be used concurrently with Western medications such as digitalis cardiac glycosides, enzyme preparations (e.g., pepsin, lactasin, multi-enzyme tablets, pancreatin, amylase, etc.), alkaloids, heavy metal salts, and iodides. 4. During medication, avoid eating fatty foods such as pork, as well as raw, cold, and cold‑nature foods.
Selected Formulas
1. Clearing heat, resolving toxicity, reducing swelling, and relieving pain Huangliàn Pian is often combined with Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex), and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) to enhance the effects of draining fire and resolving toxicity. Indicated for high fever, irritability, delirium, and coma due to exuberant heat‑toxin, as well as carbuncles, furuncles, red swelling, and pain. 2. Clearing heat, draining fire, cooling blood, and saving yin Huangliàn Pian is often combined with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) to clear heat, drain fire, cool the blood, and nourish yin. Indicated for high fever with irritability, thirst with desire to drink, dry vomiting, splitting headache, delirium, macular rash, and hematemesis due to extreme heat injuring yin. 3. Cooling blood and stopping bleeding Huangliàn Pian is often combined with Dahuangtan (charred Rhubarb) and similar herbs to cool blood and stop bleeding. Indicated for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemafecia (blood in stool), as well as strangury with turbid discharge, hemorrhoids, and anal fistulas caused by fire‑evil forcing blood to extravasate. 4. Clearing damp‑heat and stopping diarrhea/dysentery Huangliàn Pian is often combined with Baitouweng (Pulsatillae Radix), Qinpi (Fraxini Cortex), and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) to clear damp‑heat and relieve diarrhea and dysentery. Indicated for dysentery with bloody purulent stools, tenesmus (frequent urge with unsatisfactory evacuation), and burning sensation in the anus.
Daily Consumption
Huanglian and Millet Congee Ingredients: 5 g Huangliàn Pian (Coptidis Rhizoma slices), 200 g millet. Preparation: Rinse the millet thoroughly, place it in a pot, and add an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and cook until the millet is about 80% done. Add the rinsed Huangliàn slices and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. Action: Clear and drain stomach fire.
Medicinal Parts
rhizome
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture.