【气味】
苦寒无毒。可升可降。阴中阳也。入手少阴心经。为治火之主药。以布拭去肉毛。
用浆水浸二伏时漉出。于柳木火焙干用。然生用之。则治本经火热。若以猪胆汁浸炒。则治
肝胆之实火。以醋浸炒。则治肝胆之虚火。以酒炒则治上焦之火。以姜汁则治中焦之火。以
盐水或朴硝。则治下焦之火。以茱萸汤浸炒。则治气分湿热之火。以干漆水炒。则治血分块
中伏火。以黄土炒。则治食积之火。盖辛热能制其苦寒。咸寒能制其燥性。
【主治】
除热气目痛 伤泪出。明目。腹痛下痢。止烦渴。益胆。治小儿疳气。杀虫镇肝。
治惊悸。润心肺。长肉止血。并疮疥盗汗。安蛔定吐。但其性苦寒。不宜偏胜。古人治痢香
连丸。用黄连木香。姜连散用黄连干姜。变通丸用黄连茱萸。姜黄散用黄连生姜。治消渴用
酒蒸黄连。治伏暑用酒煮黄连。治下血用黄连大蒜。治肝火用黄连茱萸。治口疮用黄连细辛
。皆是一冷一热。一阴一阳。热因寒用。寒因热用。君臣阴阳相佐济。斯为良也。
恶（菊花 白藓皮 玄参 芫花 僵蚕 冷水） 畏（款冬 牛膝） 忌（冷水）
【气味】
苦平无毒。可升可降阴也。又微苦而甘。为阴中微阳。入手太阴血分。又气凉。味
苦甘。阳中微阴。入手少阳阳明经。
【主治】
泻肺经热。清上焦及皮肤积热。去诸热。妇人产后。养阴退阳。利胸中气。消膈上
痰。除脾湿安胎疗喉中腥臭。故伤寒心下痞满泻心汤。仲景凡四方。皆用黄芩。以其主诸热
利小肠故也。又太阳病下之痢不止。喘而汗出者。有葛根黄芩黄连汤。及妊娠安胎散。亦多
用之。入小柴胡汤以治少阳症。入黄芩汤以治太阳少阳合病下利。入泻心汤以治少阳症下后
心下满而不痛。总以黄芩之苦。可以发传邪之热。使寒能胜湿。折火之本也。若因饮食受寒
腹中痛。及饮水心下悸。小便不利。而脉不数。则黄芩不可用。其热厥腹痛。肺热而小便不
利者宜用之。若其人素多酒欲。病小腹绞痛。痛不可忍。黄芩宜急用之。若其感冒咳嗽既久
。骨蒸发热。肤如火燎。值暑月烦渴。六脉浮洪。服柴胡麦门冬荆沥诸药不效。引饮而昼益
甚。此热入气分。与肺气虚寒者不同。黄芩亦急用之。其制得酒上行。得浓朴黄连止腹痛。
得五味子令人有子。得黄 疗鼠 。得猪胆汁除肝胆火。得柴胡除寒热。得芍药治下利。得
桑白皮泻肺火。得白术安胎。
恶（牡丹皮 丹砂 藜芦）
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Its action can ascend or descend. It belongs to the category of Yin containing Yang. It enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It is a principal herb for treating Fire pathogens. Before use, wipe off the fleshy hairs with cloth. Soak in fermented grain water (Jiangshui) for two full days (two Fu periods), then drain and dry over willow wood fire. However, raw Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) treats Fire-Heat in its own meridian (Heart). If stir-fried with pig bile, it treats Excess-Fire of the Liver and Gallbladder. If stir-fried with vinegar, it treats Deficiency-Fire of the Liver and Gallbladder. If stir-fried with wine, it treats Fire in the Upper Jiao. If stir-fried with ginger juice, it treats Fire in the Middle Jiao. If processed with salt water or Poxiao (Natrii Sulfas/Mirabilite), it treats Fire in the Lower Jiao. If soaked and stir-fried with Evodia soup, it treats Fire caused by Damp-Heat in the Qi level. If stir-fried with dry lacquer water, it treats latent Fire within blood stasis masses. If stir-fried with yellow earth, it treats Fire caused by food stagnation. This is because pungent-hot properties can counteract its bitter-cold nature, and salty-cold properties can counteract its drying nature.
[Indications]
Clears Heat pathogens, relieves eye pain and tearing. Brightens the eyes. Treats abdominal pain and dysentery. Stops irritability and thirst. Benefits the Gallbladder. Treats pediatric Gan accumulation (malnutrition syndrome). Expels parasites, calms the Liver. Treats palpitations and fright. Moistens the Lungs and Heart. Promotes flesh growth and stops bleeding. Also treats sores, scabies, and night sweats. Calms roundworms and stops vomiting. However, since its nature is bitter and cold, it should not be used excessively or exclusively. Ancients treated dysentery with Xianglian Wan (Fragrant Coptis Pill), using Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix); Jianglian San (Ginger-Coptis Powder), using Huanglian and Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma); Bentong Wan (Variation Pill), using Huanglian and Zhuyu (Evodiae Fructus); Jianghuang San (Ginger-Turmeric Powder), using Huanglian and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma); treated Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) with wine-steamed Huanglian; treated latent summerheat with wine-boiled Huanglian; treated lower gastrointestinal bleeding with Huanglian and garlic; treated Liver Fire with Huanglian and Zhuyu; treated mouth ulcers with Huanglian and Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma). These all combine cold and hot, Yin and Yang, using heat to guide cold, and cold to guide heat. The sovereign and minister herbs assist each other through Yin-Yang balance, which constitutes good practice.
Adverse interactions: Aversion to (E) Chrysanthemi Flos (Ju Hua), Dictamni Cortex (Bai Xian Pi), Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen), Genkwa Flos (Yuan Hua), Bombyx Batryticatus (Jiang Can), and cold water. Taboo: Cold water.
[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, neutral, non-toxic. Its action can ascend or descend, belonging to Yin. It is slightly bitter and sweet, belonging to Yin containing slight Yang. It enters the Blood level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Additionally, its qi is cool, flavor bitter and sweet, belonging to Yang containing slight Yin. It enters the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian.
[Indications]
Drains Heat from the Lung Meridian. Clears accumulated Heat in the Upper Jiao and skin. Removes various Heat pathogens. Used for postpartum women in women to nourish Yin and subdue Yang. Promotes Qi movement in the chest. Resolves phlegm above the diaphragm. Removes Spleen Dampness, calms the fetus, and treats foul odor in the throat. Therefore, in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), the Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction) formulas for epigastric fullness used by Zhang Zhongjing all contain Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), because it primarily clears various Heat and benefits the small intestine. Furthermore, in cases where Taiyang disease was incorrectly purged leading to persistent dysentery, wheezing, and sweating, Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang (Puerariae Radix, Scutellariae Radix, and Coptidis Rhizoma Decoction) is indicated. It is also widely used in Ren Shen An Tai San (Ginseng Calming Fetus Powder) for pregnancy. It is included in Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) to treat Shaoyang syndromes; in Huangqin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) to treat dysentery resulting from combined Taiyang and Shaoyang diseases; and in Xiexin Tang to treat epigastric fullness without pain after incorrect purgation of a Shaoyang syndrome. Generally, the bitterness of Huangqin can disperse the heat of transmitted pathogens, allowing cold properties to overcome dampness and break the root of Fire. However, if abdominal pain is caused by dietary cold injury, or if heart palpitations occur after drinking water with difficult urination and a non-rapid pulse, Huangqin should not be used. It is suitable for heat-jue (cold extremities due to internal heat) with abdominal pain, Lung Heat with difficult urination. If a person has a history of excessive alcohol and sexual indulgence, presenting with unbearable severe lower abdominal colic, Huangqin should be used urgently. If chronic cough from wind-cold/wind-heat persists, accompanied by bone-steaming fever, skin feeling like burning embers, intense thirst during summer months, floating and surging pulses in all six positions, and ineffectiveness of Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Jingli (Phyllostachys nigra Juice), with symptoms worsening during the day despite drinking, this indicates Heat entering the Qi level, which differs from Lung Qi deficiency-cold; in such cases, Huangqin should also be used urgently. Its processing effects: Wine enhances its ascending action; together with Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Huanglian, it stops abdominal pain; together with Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), it aids conception; together with [missing character], it treats scrofula (Shu Liu); together with pig bile, it clears Liver-Gallbladder Fire; together with Chaihu, it resolves alternating chills and fever; together with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), it treats dysentery; together with Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), it drains Lung Fire; together with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), it calms the fetus.
Adverse interactions: Aversion to (E) Moutan Cortex (Mu Dan Pi), Cinnabaris (Dan Sha), Veratrum Root (Li Lu).