Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Huang Lian E Jiao Tang
English Translation: Coptis and Ass-Hide Gelatin Decoction
Formula Type: Nourish the Heart and Calm the Spirit (Shen)
Actions: Enriches the yin, causes the fire to descend, eliminates irritability, & calms the spirit.
Indications: Irritability with a sensation of heat in the chest, insomnia, palpitations with anxiety, a red tongue with a dry, yellow coating, & a thin, rapid pulse. There may also be sores on the tongue or in the mouth.
Contraindications: Unknown.
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Huang Lian / Coptis Rhizome |
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp |
Dosage1.5-9g |
Actions1. Drains fire & relieves toxicity for heat with blazing fire with such symptoms as high fever, irritability, disorientation, delirium, red tongue, & a rapid full pulse. Also for exessive heat with toxicity with such symptoms as painful, red eyes & sore throat & for boils, carbuncles, & abscesses.
2. Clears heat & drains dampness: for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines that presents with diarrhea or dysenteric disorder. Also for vomiting &/or acid regurgitation due to Stomach heat.
3. Clears Heart fire: for irritability & insomnia due to lack of communication between the Heart & Kidneys.
4. Clears heat & stops bleeding: for nosebleed, or blood in the urine, stool, or vomit due to reckless moevement of the blood.
5. Drains Stomach fire: for digestive dysfunction with bad breath & belching with a putrid odor.
6. Clears heat topically: used topically for red & painful eyes & ulcerations of the tongue & mouth. |
MeridiansHeart, Large Intestine, Liver, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of yin deficiency, nausea or vomiting due to Stomach cold from deficiency, & diarrhea due to Spleen or Kidney deficiency. Long-term use is discouraged as it can injure the Spleen & Stomach. This herb may antagonize ju hua, xuan shen, bai xian pi, & jiang can, & may counteract kuan dong hua & niu xi. Some also say that it should not be taken with pork. |
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Huang Qin / Scute or Baical Skullcap Root |
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Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Damp |
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & drains fire, especially from the upper burner: for heat patterns with high fever, irritability, thirst, cough, & expectoration of thick, yellow sputum, or hot sores & swellings. In treating the latter it can be applied topically or taken internally.
2. Clears heat & dries dampness: a major herb for damp-heat in the Stomach or Intestines, which manifests as diarrhea or dyenteric disorder; damp warm-febrile disease, which presents with fever, stifling senstaion in the chest, & thirst but inability to drink; or for damp-heat in the lower burner with painful urinary dysfunction. Used as a an auxiliary herb for damp-heat jaundice. |
MeridiansGallbladder, Large Intestine, Lung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of heat from deficiency in the Lungs, cold diarrhea o any other condition with cold in the middle burner, & restless fetus due to cold in the blood. May counteract mu dan pi & li lu. |
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E Jiao / Donkey Hide Gelatin |
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Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood |
Dosage3-15g pill or dissolved into strained decoction or wine |
Actions1. Tonifies the blood: for such symptoms as dizziness, sallow complexion, & palpitations due to blood deficiency.
2. Nourishes the blood & stops bleeding: for any type of bleeding, but is best for consumptive disorders with coughing of blood, blood in the stool, excessive menstrual bleeding, or uterine bleeding.
3. Nourishes & moistens the yin: for yin deficiency with such symptoms as irritability & insomnia in the aftermath of a febrile disease. Also used for dry Lung coughs due to yin deficiency or consumption. |
MeridiansKidney, Liver, Lung |
CautionsContraindicated in cases with exterior disorders. Use with caution in cases of Spleen &/or Stomach deficiency. May counteract da huang. |
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Bai Shao Yao / Peony (White) |
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Taste: Bitter, Sour • Temperature: Cool • Category: Tonic • Sub Category: Tonify Blood |
Dosage6-15g, very large doses up to 30 g |
Actions1. Nourishes the blood & regulates the menses: for blood deficiency with such symptoms as menstrual dysfunction, vaginal discharge, & uterine bleeding. This is a very commonly used herb for treating women's disorders.
2. Calms & curbs the Liver yang & alleviates pain: for such symptoms as flank, chest, or abdominal pain from either constrained Liver qi or disharmony between the Liver & Spleen. In general, this herb is used to "soften & comfort" the Liver, stop painful spasms in the abdomen, stop cramping pain or spasms in the hands & feet, & alleviate abdominal pain associated with dysentric disorders. It is also used for headache & dizziness due to ascendant Liver yang.
3. Preserves the yin & adjusts the nutritive & protective levels: for vaginal discharge & spermatorrhea, as well as exterior wind-cold from deficiency patterns with continuous sweating that does not resolve the problem. It is also used for yin deficiency where the yang floats to the surface causing spontaneous sweating or night sweats. |
MeridiansLiver, Spleen |
CautionsUse with caution in cases of diarrhea due to cold from deficiency, & in patients with weak yang & cold from deficiency. May antagonize shi hu & mang xiao, may counteract with bie jia & xiao ji, & may be incompatible with li lu. |
Dosage information not currently available