Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity, is Huang Lian, Huang Qin, Huang Bai and Zhi Zi. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Heat and relieve toxicity, and records it as draining Fire in all three Jiao.

Herb

Amount

9 g

6 g

6 g

6 g

Actions and indications

Drains Fire and resolves toxicity in all three Jiao

Fire toxin obstructing all three Jiao and spreading through both Exterior and Interior
High fever with irritability, fidgeting and a sense of oppressive heat inside
Delirium, incoherent speech, a clouded mind or insomnia as Fire harasses the Heart
Thirst, with dryness of the mouth, throat and lips
Red face, red eyes, palpitations and tinnitus
Toxic sores: carbuncles, furuncles and deep-rooted boils
Maculae, rashes and itchy skin
Lung Heat
Gu syndrome
Tongue red and dry with a yellow coat; pulse rapid and forceful

Clears Heat and drains Damp-Heat from the Gallbladder

Jaundice
Dysentery with fever, or diarrhoea
Dark urine

Stops bleeding

Heat driving the Blood out of its vessels: vomiting or coughing of blood, nosebleed, blood in the urine or stool, purpura

Modern uses

Septicaemia
Pyaemia
Toxic bacillary dysentery
Pneumonia
Urinary tract infection
Encephalitis
Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis
Influenza
Purulent skin lesions
Pyogenic skin infection
Furuncles, carbuncles, deep-rooted boils and boils
Cellulitis
Erysipelas
Impetigo herpetiformis
Emotional instability
Fevers
Post-febrile disease
Haemoptysis
Haematemesis
Epistaxis
Haematuria
Blood diseases
Purpura
Allergic purpura
Palpitations
Insomnia
Neurasthenia
Neurosis
Hysteria
Depression
Anxiety
Anxiety neurosis
Panic disorder
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Menopausal syndrome
Urticaria
Jaundice
Acute icteric jaundice
Acute infectious hepatitis
Acute cholecystitis
Acute pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis
Periodontitis
Gingivitis
Stomatitis
Toothache
Bad breath
Glossitis
Thrush
Candidiasis
Hypertension
Cerebrovascular accident
Cerebral bleeding
Sequelae of stroke
Post-ischaemic brain injury
Otitis media
Ear pain
Tinnitus
Nephritis
Acute glomerulonephritis
Acute pyelonephritis
Prevention of infection after surgery
Herpes zoster
Herpes simplex
Cataracts
After cataract surgery
Chalazion
Hordeolum
Blepharitis
Eyelid oedema
Chronic dacryocystitis
Red eyes
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Fatigue
Acute eczema
Eczema of the anus
Dermatitis
Drug-induced dermatitis
Acne
Pruritus
Gu syndrome
Behcet's disease
Gonorrhoea
Acute pelvic inflammatory disease
Vaginitis
Prostatitis
Vestibulitis
Acute gastroenteritis
Acute enteritis
Nervous gastritis
Peptic ulcer
Indigestion
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome
Giardiasis
Leaky gut syndrome
AIDS/HIV
Liver cancer

Symptoms

Blood in stools

Boils

Carbuncles

Confusion

Dark urine

Delirium

Diarrhea

Dry lips

Dry mouth

Dry throat

Easy bruising

Epistaxis

Feeling of heat

Fever

Flushed face

Hematemesis

Hematuria

Hemoptysis

High fever

Incoherent speech

Insomnia

Irritability

Itching

Jaundice

Mental dullness

Palpitations

Rash

Red eyes

Restlessness

Sores

Thirst

Tinnitus

Modifications

Constipation: + da huang

Jaundice from obstructing Heat: + yin chen hao, + da huang

Dysentery with bloody mucus and tenesmus: + mu xiang, + bing lang, + qin pi

Lower Jiao Damp-Heat with frequent, urgent, uncomfortable urination: + mu tong, + ze xie, + che qian zi

Nosebleed, vomiting of blood, or erythema and purpura: + sheng di huang, + mu dan pi, + xuan shen

Swollen, painful skin ulcers (combined with Pai Nong San)

Yin deficiency: + shu di huang, + zhi mu

Yin deficiency, as an alternative (combined with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang)

Blood deficiency (combined with Si Wu Tang)

Insomnia: + suan zao ren

Hot-type diarrhoea and dysentery: + ge gen

Acne rosacea: + hong hua, + sheng di huang, + chi shao

Show all 95 modifications

Upper Jiao Damp-Heat with mouth inflammation or herpes sores: + bo he, + lian qiao
Lower Jiao Damp-Heat: + dang gui, + ze xie, + mu tong, + che qian zi
Heartburn: + mu li
Conjunctivitis, ear infections or boils: + fang feng, + bo he, + jing jie, + lian qiao
Intense thirst, flushing or rashes, with a big pulse: + shi gao, + ma huang (gen), + dan dou chi, + sheng jiang
Nosebleed: + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye
Severe maculae: + mu dan pi, + sheng di huang
Red tongue without coat: + xuan shen, + sheng di huang, + mai men dong
Dry mouth and throat: + mai men dong, + wu wei zi
Fever and thirst: + shi gao, + zhi mu
Cough bringing up pus and blood: + jie geng
Toxic abscesses and sores: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding
Toxic abscesses and sores, as an alternative (combined with Jie Geng Tang)
High fever with jaundice: + jin yin hua
High fever with jaundice, as an alternative (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin)
Gu syndrome: + zi su ye, + bo he, + bai zhi
Acute eczema from Damp-Heat (combined with Dao Chi San): + chi shao, + ku shen
Shingles (combined with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang)
Insomnia with a flushed face and marked irritability (combined with Si Ni San)
Nasal vestibulitis: + huang bai, + sang ye, + lian qiao
Nasal vestibulitis with constipation: + da huang, + mang xiao
Chalazion with signs of Fire (combined with Yin Qiao San)
Hordeolum: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, − zhi zi
Hordeolum with constipation: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + da huang, − zhi zi
Hordeolum with thirst: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + tian hua fen, − zhi zi
Hordeolum with a dusky purple eyelid: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + ru xiang, + mo yao, − zhi zi
Hordeolum that has not yet burst: + pu gong ying, + zi hua di ding, + dang gui, + mu dan pi, + chuan shan jia, + zao jiao ci, − zhi zi
Suppurative cataract: + san qi, + tao ren, + hong hua
Chronic dacryocystitis (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin)
Bacterial dysentery: − zhi shi
Abscesses and sores: + bai zhi, + tu fu ling
Anal eczema: + tu fu ling, + di fu zi, − huang bai, − zhi shi
Lin syndrome (painful urination): + che qian zi, + da huang, + bai jiang cao, + zhi zi, + bi xie
Recovery after cataract surgery (combined with Ge Gen Tang)
Irritable bowel syndrome with blood in the stool: + dan zhu ye, + da huang
Haematuria: + sheng di huang, + jin yin hua, + mu dan pi, + xiao ji, + ou jie, + qing dai
Severe haematuria: + sheng di huang, + mu dan pi, + qian cao gen, + bai mao gen, + ou jie, + xiao ji
Severe haematuria, shorter alternative: + sheng di huang, + mu dan pi, + qian cao gen, + bai mao gen
Haematuria with dry lips and thirst: + sheng di huang, + mu dan pi, + qian cao gen, + bai mao gen, + xuan shen, + lu gen, + tian hua fen
Jaundice from toxic Heat (combined with Yin Chen Hao Tang and Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + hong tian kui, − tian kui zi
Jaundice with fever from toxic Heat (infection): + bai mao gen, + yin chen hao
Dysentery with fever from toxic Heat (infection): + mu xiang
Urinary problems with fever from toxic Heat (infection): + mu tong, + che qian zi
Behcet's disease (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin)
Behcet's disease with fever (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + shi gao, + zhi mu
Behcet's disease with swollen legs (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + fu ling, + zhu ling, + chi xiao dou
Behcet's disease with pustules, blisters or folliculitis (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + chi shao, + zi cao, + mu dan pi
Behcet's disease with sores of the eye (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + jue ming zi, + qing xiang zi
Behcet's disease with genital sores (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + zao jiao zi, + tu fu ling
Behcet's disease with pus (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + ban zhi lian
Behcet's disease with sore throat (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + ban lan gen, + niu bang zi
Behcet's disease with constipation (combined with Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin): + da huang
Severe toxic Heat: + sheng di huang, + da huang, + xuan shen, + zhu ye (dan), + gan cao
Severe toxic Heat with dryness and thirst: + sheng di huang, + da huang, + zhu ye (dan), + xuan shen, + gan cao, + tian hua fen, + lu gen
Severe toxic Heat that has reached the Qi and Blood levels: + sheng di huang, + da huang, + xuan shen, + zhu ye (dan), + gan cao
Insomnia (combined with Qing Ying Tang): + zhi zi, + dan zhu ye, + lian zi xin, + deng xin cao, − zhi zi tan, − shui niu jiao
Pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis or sinusitis: + sheng di huang, + ce bai ye, + ou jie, + qing dai
Pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis or sinusitis with marked dryness and thirst: + sheng di huang, + ce bai ye, + ou jie, + qing dai, + shi hu, + tian hua fen
Pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis or sinusitis with constipation: + sheng di huang, + ce bai ye, + ou jie, + qing dai, + da huang
Pneumonia, septicaemia, meningitis, encephalitis or sinusitis with sore throat: + sheng di huang, + ce bai ye, + ou jie, + qing dai, + xuan shen, + ma bo
Dermatitis caused by drugs (combined with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang): + jin yin hua, + xuan shen, + shi gao, + zhi mu, + gan cao, − huang bai
Dermatitis caused by drugs, with delirium or coma (combined with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang and Zi Xue Dan): + jin yin hua, + xuan shen, + shi gao, + zhi mu, + gan cao, − huang bai
Dermatitis caused by drugs, with thirst (combined with Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang): + jin yin hua, + xuan shen, + shi gao, + zhi mu, + gan cao, + shi hu, + tian hua fen, − huang bai
Mouth ulcers: + xuan shen
Mouth ulcers with high fever: + xuan shen, + ban lan gen, + da qing ye
Mouth ulcers with delirium, clouded consciousness or febrile rashes: + xuan shen, + shui niu jiao
Mouth ulcers with marked dryness and thirst: + xuan shen, + shi hu, + tian hua fen
Mouth ulcers and constipation: + xuan shen, + da huang
Liver cancer: + mu dan pi, + bai shao, + lou lu, + bie jia, + wu gong, − huang bai
Liver cancer with Yin deficiency and a red tongue: + mu dan pi, + bai shao, + lou lu, + bie jia, + wu gong, + bei sha shen, + gua lou, + sheng di huang, − huang bai
Liver cancer and constipation: + mu dan pi, + bai shao, + lou lu, + bie jia, + wu gong, + da huang, − huang bai
Liver cancer with nosebleed or vomiting of blood: + mu dan pi, + bai shao, + lou lu, + bie jia, + wu gong, + xian he cao, + sheng di huang, + huai hua mi, + ou jie, − huang bai
Liver cancer with unconsciousness (combined with An Gong Niu Huang Wan and Zi Xue Dan): + mu dan pi, + bai shao, + lou lu, + bie jia, + wu gong, − huang bai
Gingivitis or periodontitis: + sheng di huang, + ce bai ye, + ou jie, + qing dai
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, the ear clearly red and swollen (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao, + sheng di huang, + tu fu ling
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, with thirst and fever (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao, + shi gao
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, with headache (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao, + man jing zi, + bo he
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, with restless sleeplessness (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao, + dan zhu ye
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, with delirium (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang and An Gong Niu Huang Wan): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao
Ear pain from toxic Heat blocking the Pericardium, with vomiting and nausea (combined with Da Cheng Qi Tang): + pu gong ying, + long dan cao, + zhi gan cao, + xuan fu hua
Insomnia in AIDS/HIV: + e jiao, + bai shao, + shu di huang, + bai zi ren, + suan zao ren, − huang bai, − zhi zi
Prominent bleeding: + sheng di huang, + xuan shen

Cautions

contraindication Only for excess patterns in people with a strong constitution

contraindication Deficiency patterns: Spleen or Stomach Yang deficiency (cold limbs, loose stools, poor appetite), and Heat from Yin deficiency without true excess Fire

contraindication A red, uncoated tongue from deficient Stomach Yin

caution Every herb in it is bitter and cold: used where Heat is not really excess, or kept up for a long time, it damages Spleen and Stomach Yang and dries up the fluids

caution Not for long-term use, as it can injure Yin; keep to a short course for the acute presentation and stop or change it once fever and toxic-Heat signs settle

caution High fever, bleeding, delirium and toxic sores can mark a medical emergency that needs prompt assessment; the formula does not replace that care

pregnancy Its strong bitter-cold nature calls for caution in pregnancy, if it is used at all, and only under professional guidance

Pinyin

huang lian jie du tang·huang lian jie du tang

English Name

Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity

huang lian jie du tang

About huang lian jie du tang

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Drains Fire and resolves toxicity in all three Jiao

Clears Heat and drains Damp-Heat from the Gallbladder

Stops bleeding

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification

Support