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Huangqin from Yaozhou
Huangqin from Luzhou

Bitter in taste, neutral and greatly cold in nature. The flavor is light but the qi is dense; it can ascend and descend, belonging to Yin, with a slight Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. The best origin is Pengcheng (belonging to Shandong). When used, select those with deep color. Remove internal rot, scrape clean the outer skin. Cut into thin slices for chewing; use raw or stir-fried as required. It dislikes Congshi (Allium fistulosum fruit) when used alone; do not decoct together. It is incompatible with Dansha (Cinnabaris), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), and Lilu (Veratrum nigrum); Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) and Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Hippopotami) are used as guiding herbs. The withered and floating ones are named Suxinqin (Old Scutellariae Radix), entering the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian; for upper jiao and diaphragm conditions, wine-stir-frying is suitable. The firm and solid ones are named Zixinqin (Young Scutellariae Radix), entering the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian; for lower jiao conditions, using them raw is best. Suxinqin clears Lung fire, resolves phlegm, promotes Qi circulation, and removes damp-heat, preventing accumulation on the body surface. Zixinqin clears Large Intestine fire, nourishes Yin, subdues Yang, and nourishes the source of transformation, often filling the Bladder. It can stop frequent bloody dysentery and reduce red, swollen, and painful eyes. Combined with Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Sharen (Amomi Fructus), it calms the fetus. For treating scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis), it is combined with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Baidian (Ampelopsis Radix), and Chixiaodou (Phaseoli Semen Rubri). For abdominal pain, it is combined with Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma). Decocted as Xiaoqingkong Gao (recorded in Danxi's formulas), used singly to clear the head and brain. Generally removing various...

Huanglian from Yazhou
Hulianlian from Guangzhou
Huanglian from Xuanzhou

Bitter in taste, cold in nature. The flavor is dense but the qi is light; it can ascend and descend, sinking in nature, belonging to Yin, with a slight Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. Xuanlian originates from Xuancheng (harvested with seedlings). Chuanlian grows in Sichuan Province, being slender, small, and mostly harvested with seedlings. Both types should resemble hawk claws or linked pearls. Sun-dry until very dry, wrap in cloth, and rub (pronounced 'luo') clean of rootlets and seedlings. To treat various Fire pathogens, stir-fry according to specific preparations. If Fire is in the upper part, stir-fry with strong wine; if in the lower part, stir-fry with child's urine. For Excess Fire, combine with Poxiao (Natrii Sulfas); for Deficiency Fire, combine with Yan Cu (Strong Vinegar). For Phlegm-Fire, combine with Jiangzhi (Ginger Juice); for Hidden Fire (Fire hidden in the lower jiao), combine with Yantang (Salt Water). For Qi-Stagnation Fire, combine with Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus); for Blood-Mass Fire, mix with Ganqi Mo (Dryobalanops Residue Powder). It can also be taken for food stagnation diarrhea; Chenbitu (Old Wall Soil, preferably facing east) is ground and stir-fried with it. (Poxiao, Wuzhuyu, Ganqi, and Chenbitu must all be ground finely, mixed with water, and stir-fried.) To drive out Excess Liver-Gallbladder Fire, Pig Gallbladder Juice stir-frying is essential. It also treats red eyes by soaking and steaming in human milk. Applied topically or swallowed, it immediately relieves pain. It surpasses Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata); it fears Kandonghua (Adenophorae Radix). It dislikes Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos), Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), and Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix); it prohibits pork and cold water. As an assistant herb, Huangqin and Longgu are used, entering the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. When encountered with Badou (Crotonis Fructus), its toxicity is resolved. It can be boiled into paste or liquid, arbitrarily combined with powders to make pills. Xianglian Wan (Coptidis and Costi Pill) contains Guangmuxiang (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum), being a key medicine for abdominal pain and dysentery; Zhulian Wan (Evodiae and Coptidis Pill) has Wuzhuyu as an assistant, being a miraculous formula for vomiting and acid regurgitation. To stop polydipsia and frequent urination, grinding Huanglian alone with honey to make pills is also effective. Combined with Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), it treats hemorrhoidal bleeding; combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it treats eye sores. With Guirou (Cinnamomi Ramulus) and honey decocted and taken on an empty stomach (Huanglian as sovereign, assisted by a little Guirou, boiled vigorously, honey added, taken empty stomach), it allows Heart and Kidney to interact instantly. It anchors Liver and cools blood (In treating blood disorders, Fangfeng is the superior guide, Huanglian is the middle guide, Diyu is... epilepsy, clearing Heart and removing fullness. It reduces swelling of the female genitalia and cures pediatric pica-induced malnutrition. It eliminates malignant sores and carbuncles, dispelling damp-heat and stagnant heat. Hulianlian is grown in Qianghu lands, hence its name. Dry like willow branches, breaking emits a line of smoke. Neutral and cold in nature, extremely bitter in taste, black inside with slightly pale yellow skin. It dislikes Xuanshen and Juhua, and can resolve Badou toxicity; it prohibits pork, and accidental ingestion causes seminal emission. It treats consumption fever and bone-steaming, and cough due to cold damage. It resolves warm malaria with excessive heat and completely cures chronic dysentery leading to malnutrition. It benefits Liver and Gallbladder, alleviates eye pain effectively, regulates waist and Kidney, and stops night sweats rapidly. It is suitable for pediatric night sweats and tidal fever, and maternal pregnancy fever with false fright. It should be used and cannot be omitted.
(Mo) Note: Bitter enters the Heart first; Fire seeks dryness. Huanglian is bitter and drying, thus entering the Heart Meridian. Although said to drain Heart Excess, it actually drains the Spleen because "the son can cause the mother to be excess," and when there is excess, one drains the son. However, long-term use transforms into Fire, causing more heat and masking the cold nature. Therefore, its efficacy is best for initial diseases with Qi-excess and Heat-excess; for chronic diseases with Qi-deficiency and heat, taking it again反而 assists the Fire.