Chinese: 黄连阿胶汤
Pinyin: Huáng Lián ē Jiāo Tāng
Other names: Coptis Colla Asini Decoction, Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: HypertensionAphthous ulcersNervous exhaustion and two other conditions
- Enriches the Yin
- Causes Fire to descend
- Eliminates irritability
- Calms the spirit
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Discussion of Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian) and Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish the Heart and calm the Mind. Its main actions are: 1) enriches the Yin and 2) causes Fire to descend.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency or Lesser Yin Heat Transformation. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as nervous exhaustion, autonomic dystonia or erectile dysfunction for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the five ingredients in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Huang Lian E Jiao Tang helps treat.
The five ingredients in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Huang Lian is a king ingredient in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, it is used because it directly clears Fire from the Heart and thereby calms the Mind.
E Jiao is a king ingredient in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Donkey-Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
Part used: Solid glue prepared from the dried or fresh skin of donkeys
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: KidneyLiverLung
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general E Jiao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies and nourishes Blood. Stops bleeding. Moistens and lubricates Yin."
In the context of Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, it is used because it indirectly controls the Heart Fire by enriching the Yin and nourishing the Blood.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLungSmall intestineSpleen
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Qin's main actions are as follows: "Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome."
In the context of Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, it is used because it drains Heat from the Upper Burner and the Intestines.
Bai Shao is a deputy ingredient in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. White Peony Roots (Bai Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Neutral
Meridian affinity: LiverSpleen
Category: Tonic herbs for Blood Deficiency
In general Bai Shao's main actions are as follows: "Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain."
In the context of Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, it is used because it enriches and retains the Yin to harmonize the functions of the Qi.
Ji Zi Huang is an assistant ingredient in Huang Lian E Jiao Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
5. Chicken Egg Yolks (Ji Zi Huang)
Part used: The egg yolk, raw or cooked
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartKidney
Category: Tonic herbs for Yin Deficiency
In general Ji Zi Huang's main actions are as follows: "Nourishes Yin and moisturizes Dryness. Nourishes blood and dispels Wind."
In the context of Huang Lian E Jiao Tang, it is used because it enters the Heart and Kidneys, tonifies the Yin and Blood, and resolves Heat toxicity.
Conditions and patterns for which Huang Lian E Jiao Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Nervous exhaustion Autonomic dystonia Erectile dysfunction Aphthous ulcers Hypertension
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Huang Lian E Jiao Tang treats nervous exhaustion" for instance. Rather, Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind nervous exhaustion.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Huang Lian E Jiao Tang.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue coating: Complete absence of coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Thirst Anxiety Fatigue Insomnia Tinnitus Dry mouth Fidgeting Dizziness Chest heat Dry stools Malar flush Night sweats Mouth ulcers Restlnessness Dry throat at night Hot palms and soles Scanty dark urination Excessive sexual desire Thin body lacking strength Desire to drink in small sips Feeling of heat in the afternoon Insomnia with very restless sleep Coughing with blood-streaked sputum
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat in the afternoon, dry mouth, desire to drink in small sips and dry throat at night. Patients with Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency typically exhibit rapid (Shu), empty (Xu) or floating (Fu) pulses as well as Red tongue with no coating .
Yin Deficiency involves the excessive consumption of Body Fluids, Essence and Blood. The main cause is overwork, which usually develops very gradually and slowly over several years. The only exception to a rapid Yin Deficiency is when Pathological Heat consumes Body Fluids and Yin very fast.
If... read more about Empty-Heat or Fire caused by Yin Deficiency
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Lesser Yin Heat Transformation
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Fine (Xi)
Symptoms: Insomnia Dark Urine Irritability Night sweats Feeling of heat Dry mouth and throat at night
Huang Lian E Jiao Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lesser Yin Heat Transformation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat, irritability, insomnia and dry mouth and throat at night. Patients with Lesser Yin Heat Transformation typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or fine (Xi) pulses.
This is one of the two patterns of the Lesser Yin stage, the second Yin stage of the Six Stages theory.
The Lesser Yin stage is where the disharmony mainly affects the Kidney Channel.
The Kidneys are considered the root of Yin and Yang in the body. As such, this stage has two patterns, called... read more about Lesser Yin Heat Transformation
Formulas similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Xie Xin Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Ge Geng Huang Qin Huang Lian Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Huang Lian Jiao Du Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Huang Qin Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
Wu Shi Lian Mei Tang is 40% similar to Huang Lian E Jiao Tang