Chinese: 黄连解毒汤
Pinyin: Huáng Lián Jiě Dú Tāng
Other names: Coptis Decoction to Resolve Toxicity, Goldthread Decoction to Resolve Toxin
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and resolve toxicity
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: PyemiaDysenteryPneumonia and nine other conditions
- Drains Fire
- Resolves Toxin
Contraindications: Contraindicated for patients with weak constitution due to its very bitter and... Contraindicated for patients with weak constitution due to its very bitter and cold ingredients. It should not be applied over long term as it can hurt Yin. see more
Source date: 752 AD
Source book: Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library
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 Jie Du Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 752 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and resolve toxicity. Its main actions are: 1) drains Fire and 2) resolves Toxin.
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 Jie Du Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Lung Heat, Toxic-Heat Stagnation or Toxic-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as septicemia, pyemia or dysentery for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Huang Lian Jie Du Tang helps treat.
The four ingredients in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Huang Lian is a king ingredient in Huang Lian Jie Du 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
Huang Lian drains Fire and Heat from the entire body, especially from the Heart and the Middle Burner. Once the fire is effectively cleared, the Toxin will disappear.
Huang Qin is a deputy ingredient in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. 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 Jie Du Tang, it is used because it clears Heat from the Upper Burner.
Huang Bo is an assistant ingredient in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo)
Part used: Dried bark
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: BladderKidneyLarge intestine
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Bo's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat in the Lower Burner. Clears Kidney Yin Deficient Heat. Applied externally or toxic Fire, especially associated with Dampness."
In the context of Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, it is used because it clears Heat from the Lower Burner.
Zhi Zi is an assistant ingredient in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Zhi Zi drains Heat from the Triple Burners through urination. It is especially powerful in relieving anxiety and irritability.
Conditions and patterns for which Huang Lian Jie Du 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 Jie Du Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat three 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:
Septicemia Pyemia Dysentery Acute gastroenteritis Acute hepatitis Acute cholecystitis Pneumonia Urinary tract infection Stomatitis Periodontitis Meningitis Encephalitis B
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Huang Lian Jie Du Tang treats septicemia" for instance. Rather, Huang Lian Jie Du Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind septicemia.
Now let's look at the three patterns commonly treated with Huang Lian Jie Du Tang.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Lung Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Acne Thirst Sweating High fever Feeling of heat Shortness of breath Cough with thin yellow sputum
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Lung Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heat, thirst, high fever and cough with thin yellow sputum. Patients with Lung Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses.
Lung Heat can be acute or chronic.
When acute, it is one of the five patterns of the Qi level, the second level of the Four Levels theory. In that case, it is caused by external invasion of the Lungs by Wind-Heat. The patients usually suffer from flaring of nostrils because the Lungs open to the... read more about Lung Heat
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Symptoms: Fever Eczema Thirst Pustule Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Throat pain Mouth ulcers Constipation Swollen tonsils Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat Stagnation. This pattern leads to symptoms such as pustule, carbuncles, fever and red skin eruptions. Patients with Toxic-Heat Stagnation typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses.
This pattern can be chronic and causes by accumulated Heat or Fire in the body, which become Toxin eventually. It can also be caused by external Pernicious Influences which combat with the Defensive Qi and it gives rise to symptoms like fever and redness. This Toxic-Heat also consumes Body Fluids... read more about Toxic-Heat Stagnation
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Sores Eczema Thirst Pustule Coughing Erythema Swellings Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Mouth ulcers Constipation Abdominal pain Swollen tonsils Feeling of heat Lower back pain Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions Shortness of breath Yellow vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Bloody vaginal discharge Five colour vaginal discharge
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swellings, pus and boils. Patients with Toxic-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue with yellow coating.
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to... read more about Toxic-Heat
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