Lian Po Yin, Coptis and Magnolia Bark Decoction, is Huang Lian, Hou Po, Zhi Zi, Dan Dou Chi, Shi Chang Pu, Ban Xia and Lu Gen. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Damp-Heat.

Herb

Amount

3 g

6 g

9 g

9 g

3 g

3 g

60 g

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Damp

Damp-Heat lodged in the Middle Jiao, with Damp and Heat about equal
Sudden turmoil disorder: sudden vomiting together with foul, watery diarrhoea
Summerheat with Damp; Phlegm-Fire
Restlessness and irritability, bitter taste, thirst without much wish to drink
Scanty, dark urine, possibly reddish
Yellow, greasy tongue coat on a normal tongue; pulse slippery and rapid, or smooth and wiry

Regulates Qi and harmonises the Middle Jiao

Focal distension with a stifling feeling in the chest and epigastrium
Sour regurgitation, poor appetite, abdominal pain and tiredness

Modern uses

Acute gastroenteritis
Viral enteritis
Stomach influenza
Salmonella food poisoning
Bacterial dysentery
Typhoid
Paratyphoid
Acute gastritis
Superficial gastritis
Gastritis
Helicobacter pylori gastritis, in modified forms
Peptic ulcers
Duodenal ulcer
Acid reflux
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Chronic colitis
Abdominal pain
Abdominal fullness and distention
Anorexia
Parasites
Infectious hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis
Cholecystitis
Oliguria
Fever
Night sweats
Sweating of the hands and feet
Asthma
Fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis
Epstein-Barr virus syndrome

Modifications

Diarrhoea worse than the vomiting: + che qian zi, + yi yi ren

Fullness and distension of the abdomen: + cao guo, + bai dou kou

Blood in the stool: + di yu, + qian cao gen

Severe diarrhoea: + bai bian dou, + yi yi ren

Diarrhoea with tenesmus: + mu xiang, + bing lang

Food stagnation and poor digestion: + shan zha, + shen qu

Heat outweighing Damp: + huang qin, + jin yin hua, + lian qiao

Summerheat and Damp: + shi chang pu

Summerheat and Damp, alternative: + huang qin

Marked fullness and distension: + mu xiang, + cang zhu

Damp outweighing Heat: + yi yi ren, + cang zhu

Spleen deficiency: + bai zhu

Show all 24 modifications

Scanty urine: + hua shi, + fu ling
Sluggish appetite: + chao shen qu
Qi badly depleted: + xi yang shen, + wu wei zi
Fluids badly depleted: + shi hu, + mai men dong
Intense Heat: + shi gao
Chronic fatigue, myalgic encephalomyelitis or Epstein-Barr: + hua shi, + mu xiang, + chai hu, − dan dou chi
Miliaria alba: + yi yi ren, + zhu ye (dan)
Night sweats: + fu ling, − lu gen
Night sweats, Heat marked: + fu ling, + huang qin, − lu gen
Night sweats, Damp marked: + fu ling, + ze xie, + zhu ling, − lu gen
Night sweats in Qi deficiency: + fu ling, + bai zhu, + shan yao, − lu gen
Night sweats and weak appetite: + fu ling, + shen qu, − lu gen

Cautions

contraindication Cold-Damp patterns, such as diarrhoea with clear watery stool, cold limbs and a pale tongue; for sudden turmoil disorder use it only when the type is Damp-Heat

contraindication Yang deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, which its cold, bitter herbs would injure further

caution Yin deficiency with Heat: its drying herbs can deplete fluids further

caution Meant for a short course; long use of its bitter, drying herbs can harm Spleen and Stomach Qi and the fluids

caution Marked dehydration, persistent vomiting, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms that last beyond a day or two need prompt medical assessment rather than self-treatment

pregnancy Contains Ban Xia, traditionally used with care in pregnancy; only under qualified guidance

Pinyin

lian po yin

English Name

Coptis and Magnolia Bark Decoction

lian po yin

About lian po yin

Ingredients

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and transforms Damp

Regulates Qi and harmonises the Middle Jiao

Modern uses

Symptoms

Modifications

Cautions

Preparation

Names

Classification