Coptis
Modern sources record safety concerns for this herb. Reference information, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Modern sources record a use restriction for Coptis rhizome (huang lian). The WHO monograph on Rhizoma Coptidis states that the safety of berberine or extracts of Rhizoma Coptidis in pregnancy has not been established and that, until such data are available, use during pregnancy is contraindicated. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Drains heart-fire and clears damp-heat of the middle burner, checks dysentery and diarrhea with pus and blood, brightens the eyes, resolves toxicity, and relieves mouth sores; a principal medicinal for dysentery and for sores.
Used in 17 formulas
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·主治（《本经》）
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：黄连苦寒，泻心火、清中焦湿热、止痢、明目、解毒。《本经》主热气、目痛泣出、明目、肠澼腹痛下痢、妇人阴中肿痛；《别录》主五脏冷热、久下泄澼脓血、止消渴、调胃厚肠、疗口疮；张元素谓其泻心火、去中焦湿热、为诸疮要药；刘完素谓古方以黄连为治痢之最。
Nature & flavor: 苦，寒，无毒（《本经》）；《别录》谓微寒；张元素谓气味俱厚、可升可降、阴中阳、入手少阴经。·Meridians: 心（手少阴）
- Xiang Lian Wan (Aucklandia & Coptis Pill)
- Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill)
- Coptis Decoction
- Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction
- Minor Sinking-into-the-Chest Decoction
- San Bu Wan (Three-Tonify Pill)
- Aconite Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Rhubarb and Coptis Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Pulsatilla Decoction Plus Licorice and Ass-Hide Gelatin
- Dried Ginger, Scutellaria, Coptis and Ginseng Decoction
- San Huang Wan (Three-Yellow Pill)
- Pulsatilla Decoction
- Mume Pill
- Kudzu, Scutellaria and Coptis Decoction
- Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Licorice Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Fresh Ginger Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连（条目标题·《本经》上品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·气味（《本经》《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·发明（张元素）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·修治（时珍·黄连入手少阴心经）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·主治（《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·气味（畏恶反·徐之才）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十三·草部·山草类下·黄连·气味（甄权·忌猪肉恶冷水）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.