Library

Its nature, flavor, and functions are similar to those of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), hence the name.
Currently, various practitioners use it to treat childhood tidal fever (fever that rises at a specific time each day) and the five types of infantile malnutrition syndromes (Wugan). (Yu Jiayan stated: "Treating the five Wgan in children is essentially treating the five exhaustion syndromes (Wulao) in adults. Pediatricians know the established formulas for Wgan but fail to understand the complex progression of Wulao. If treated in the early stages, efficacy can be achieved; however, if administered to those with Spleen deficiency, it may lead to death. This is because herbs like Longdancao (Gentianae Radix), Lushui (Aloe), Huanglian, and Huhuanglian are extremely bitter and cold, which children cannot tolerate. The same applies to adults. If one erroneously assumes that beyond the deficiency-exhaustion of the five Zang organs there exists a 'deficiency-exhaustion with excess' and recklessly uses various bitter-cold drugs, such deaths are caused by the physician.") It also resolves opium toxicity. (Er Yun stated: "To resolve opium toxicity, take it with tea; this is effective.") It originates from Persia. Currently, it is also produced in Qinzhou, Longyou, and Nanhai regions. The interior is black, and the exterior is yellow. When broken, dust emerges like smoke; this indicates authenticity.

(Huangqin) clears fire and removes dampness.
Bitter flavor enters the Heart meridian; cold nature overcomes heat. It drains excess fire in the Middle Jiao and eliminates damp-heat in the Spleen. It treats dysentery with abdominal pain. (Contraindicated for cold-type pain. Abdominal pain varies by cold, heat, deficiency, excess, food stagnation, blood stasis, and phlegm-dampness. Cold requires warming, heat requires clearing, deficiency requires tonifying, excess requires purging, food stagnation requires digestion-promoting, blood stasis requires moving and dispersing, and phlegm-dampness requires resolving phlegm and promoting diuresis. Pain that worsens upon pressure indicates excess pain; pain that alleviates upon pressure indicates deficiency pain.) It treats alternating chills and fever (pathogen in the Shaoyang meridian). It treats jaundice, the five types of strangury, and blood obstruction (excess heat in the Blood level). It treats Qi rebellion, carbuncles, sores, ulcers, and various hemorrhages. It descends Phlegm. (Zhu Danxi stated: "Huangqin descends phlegm by leveraging its ability to descend fire. Phlegm arises due to fire agitation; thus, one must first descend the fire.") It relieves thirst and calms the fetus. (Pregnancy benefits from clearing heat and cooling blood; when blood does not move recklessly, the fetus remains secure.)
When stir-fried with wine, its action moves upward, clearing Lung fire and benefiting Qi in the chest. (The Lung governs Qi; heat injures Qi; clearing heat thereby benefits Qi.) It treats wind-heat and damp-heat in the Upper Jiao. (Zhu Danxi stated: "Huangqin acts on the Upper and Middle Jiao.") It treats fire-induced cough and fishy odor in the throat. (Among the five odors, the Lung corresponds to fishiness.) It treats red, swollen, and painful eyes. (When Huangqin is combined with Chaihu, it reduces chills and fever; with Shaoyao, it treats dysentery; with Houpo and Huanglian, it stops abdominal pain; with Sangbaipi, it clears Lung fire; with Baizhu, it calms the fetus; these are all sage combinations. Li Shizhen stated: "Zhang Zhongjing used Xiaochaihu Tang for Shaoyang syndrome; Huangqin Tang for Taiyang-Shaoyang combined syndrome with dysentery; and Xiexin Tang for post-purging epigastric fullness in Shaoyang syndrome, employing Huangqin in all. This is because Huangqin is bitter and cold, entering the Heart meridian to drain heat and eliminate Spleen damp-heat, preventing Stomach fire from flowing into the Lung and damaging Metal, thus protecting the Lung. Those with Lung deficiency should avoid it, as bitter-cold damages Earth, injuring the mother organ. Although Shaoyang syndrome is half-exterior and half-interior, epigastric fullness involves pathogenic factors of the Heart, Lung, and Upper Jiao; irritability, desire to vomit, and silent anorexia involve the Middle Jiao of the Spleen and Stomach. Thus, Huangqin is used to treat the Ministerial Fire of the Hand and Foot Shaoyang; Huangqin is also a Shaoyang herb. Yang Shiying's *Zhizhi Fang* stated: 'Chaihu reduces fever less effectively than Huangqin.' Li Shizhen stated: 'Chaihu is bitter and dispersing, scattering the superficial aspect of fire; Huangqin is cold and overcoming heat, subduing the root of fire.' Dong Yuan treated lung heat where the body felt like burning, with irritability, excessive thirst, and worsening during the day, using Yiwu Huangqin Tang to drain qi-level fire in the Lung meridian: one liang of Huangqin, decocted and taken. *Ben Shi Fang* treated sudden severe metrorrhagia.") Huangqin is bitter and cold and damages the Stomach. Those with deficiency-cold constitution should strictly avoid it. In pregnancy, if taken without excess heat, it will damage Yin and harm the fetal origin.
The hollow center is called Kuku Qin, or Pianku Qin, which clears Lung fire and releases heat from the muscle surface. (Light and floating substances move upward.) The solid interior is called Tiaoku Qin, or Ziku Qin, which drains Large Intestine fire. (Heavy and solid substances move downward.) For upward movement, stir-fry with wine to drain Liver and Gallbladder fire. Stir-fry with pig bile. Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) and Fossilized Bones (Longgu) serve as guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Moutan Cortex (Danpi) and Cinnabar (Dansha).