Huang Lian Jie Du Wan - Coptis Decoction To Relieve Toxicity

Herbal Formula Database

Huang Lian Jie Du Wan Herbal Formula Classifications and Usages

The herbal formula "huang lian jie du wan" , 黃連解毒湯, which in english is "coptis decoction to relieve toxicity", is categorized within the "clear heat" functional grouping and within the "clear heat from the qi level" sub-category.

You may also see this formula referenced by: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Huang Lian Jie Du Teapills, Coptis Pill to Eliminate Toxins, Coptis Decoction to Resolve Toxicity, Antiphlogistic Decoction of Coptis, Coptis and Scute Combination.

Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:

  • Clears fire toxins (damp heat, toxic heat, fire) from all three jiaos - formula has an antibiotic function which has a broad range of uses in conditions arising from damp heat in the body.  Acute bacterial infections, dystentary, fever (of unknown origin), acute bronchitis, acute conjunctivitis, UTI.
  • Hypertension when it arises from fire/toxic heat.
  • A range of skin issues - boils, acne, mastitis, pyogenic skin infections, gingivitis.
  • Disorders of the middle jiao - hepatitis (particularly acute infectious), jaundice, H-pylori, gastritis.
  • Arrest bleeding in reckless bleeding from heat.
  • Gu syndrome conditions with the right underyling factors - IBS, Lyme, other inflammatory conditions.

Huang Lian Jie Du Wan has some precautions to be considered (see our precautions list).

  • Generally only used for acute situations, rarely taken for longer than 15-20 days.  For longer use watch for signs of damage to the spleen system in TCM terms.
  • Avoid in patients with Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.  G6PD is an inherited condition usually occurring in males, more commonly in those of African and Mediterranean descent. Triggers include infections, stress, fava beans, aspirin, and other drugs.  When symptoms are triggered, they include fever, dark urine, abdominal and back pain, fatigue, and pale skin.  Most people recover in a few days without treatment, but avoiding relapses is important. 

Our shop contains huang lian jie du wan from the following manufacturer:

($26.00) Add To Cart View Huang Lian Jie Du Tang - Sun Ten

For many reasons such as availability, ecological choices, and/or price, each manufacturer or herbalist may well adjust the exact composition of a specific formula. Huang Lian Jie Du Wan is generally comprised of the following herbs:

ViewHuang Bai (Amur Cork Tree Bark, Phellodendron)

Drains damp heat from the lower jiao - thick-yellow leukorrhea, foul-smelling diarrhea, dysentery; damp-heat pouring downward or hot leg qi - red, swollen, painful knees, legs, and/or feet; damp-heat…

ViewHuang Lian (Coptis Rhizome)

Drains fire, relieves toxicity - high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, painful, red eyes, red tongue, sore throat, boils, carbuncles, abscesses. Clears heat, drains dampness - for damp…

ViewHuang Qin (Baical Skullcap Root, Scutellaria)

Clears heat, drains fire, especially from the upper warmer - heat patterns with fever, irritability, thirst, cough, thick, yellow sputum, hot sores and swellings. Clears heat, dries dampness - damp-…

ViewZhi Zi (Cape Jasmine Fruit, Gardenia)

Clears heat (Heart and Liver), eliminates irritability - heat patterns with fever, restlessness, insomnia, delirium, stifling sensation in the chest. Drains damp heat - lin (urinary dysfunction) syn…

A single formula, alone, may not be sufficient to fully address a particular TCM diagnostic pattern. Formulas may be used alone, in combinations, and/or in stages. Huang Lian Jie Du Wan is a candidate for consideration when needing to influence bladder damp heat, large intestine damp heat, liver and gallbladder damp heat, lung dampness - phlegm heat and/or lung wind invasion - wind heat.

Huang Lian Jie Du Wan may potentially be used, in coordination with a well tailored overall approach, to influence the following conditions: bronchitis, common cold, dysentary, eczema, fever, flu, gastritis, hepatitis (b or c), hepato-cirrhosis, irritable bowel syndrome (ibs), mastitis, menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) and/or skin problems (rash)

As noted above, huang lian jie du wan is within the clear heat functional group. And it appears within the sub-category "clear heat from the qi level", which contains the following formulas:

ViewBai Hu Wan (White Tiger Decoction)

In 6 channel theory, Yang ming channel heat or the "4 bigs" - big thirst, big sweat, big thirst, big pulse - accordingly, fever, thirst, profuse sweating, aversion to heat. Many symptoms may fit t…

ViewChai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Wan (Bupleurum, Cinnamon Twig and Ginger Decoction)

Shaoyang disorder with water accumulation - A modification of xiao chai hu tang with gui zhi and gan jiang to work with mixed pattern cases of "heat above, cold below".  Generally for patients with e…

All formulas in the primary category of "clear heat" are listed below.

(truncated intro "...heat can be found at the qi level, blood level (xue), nutritive level (ying) and within particular organ systems. proper diagnosis is very …)".

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