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Also known as *Mumeng*. The roots are harvested in the sixth lunar month and dried. The skin color is reddish-purple, and the flesh is reddish-white.
Bitter, pungent, slightly cold. The odor and taste are both strong. It belongs to Yin and has a descending nature. It enters the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and also the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian. It is an essential herb for clearing heat, dissipating nodules, and expelling blood stasis.
It primarily treats accumulations and masses in the heart and abdomen, and pathogenic factors of cold and heat (all caused by blood stagnation). It unblocks the nine orifices, promotes urination and defecation, treats severe heat in the intestines and stomach, bloody dysentery, hematemesis, and epistaxis, accumulated blood in the intestines, amenorrhea in women, various blood disorders, and carbuncles and masses belonging to the Jueyin category. It treats traumatic injuries from metal weapons, breaks blood stasis, generates flesh, stops thirst, tonifies deficiency, and benefits Qi. When combined with Licorice Root (*Gancao*), it treats dysentery with pure blood and abdominal pain, named *Zishen Tang* (Purple Ginseng Decoction). For incessant hematemesis, use equal parts of *Zishen*, Donkey-hide Gelatin (*Ejiao*), and Licorice Root, grind into powder, and take one or two qian with Sour Plum Decoction or Rice Porridge Decoction.
[Discussion] *Zishen* specifically enters the Blood level, and its treatment of Blood-level diseases specifically targets stagnation. Why? Because this plant flowers in the fifth lunar month; although bitter and cold, it actually penetrates through the Qi transformation of extreme Yang to emerge. Even when harvesting the roots, it is done during the time of extreme Yang in the sixth lunar month. If it were not because it takes advantage of Yang Qi to transform Yin, entering the Blood level to achieve the effect of promoting blood circulation and harmonizing blood, how could it work? If one merely uses its bitter-cold nature to counteract blood stagnation, even in cases of severe heat, one might inevitably violate the taboo of "cold causing coagitation." Moreover, how can tonic effects like benefiting deficiency and Qi, as described by Su Gong, be expected from bitter-cold herbs? From this reasoning, it follows that this herb, being not extremely cold, can treat hemorrhage caused by severe heat, demonstrating a skillful use of material properties.

Those from Yazhou and Meizhou are of good quality. There are two types: one type has thick roots without hairs, with bead-like nodes, shaped like an eagle's claw, solid texture, and deep yellow color; the other type has no beads, many hairs, hollow center, and pale yellow color. Each has its appropriate uses. (Core) Those with many nodes, hard and heavy, making sound when struck, and bright red-gold color are superior. Those with many rhizomes are inferior, and those that are thin, small, and have many rootlets are unsuitable for medicinal use. (Original)
The root tastes bitter and strong, has a cold and descending Qi, cold and dry nature, and belongs to Yin. It enters the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. (Bitter enters the Heart; Fire tends toward dryness.) It also enters the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. It does not wither in winter, representing the image of Cold Water. Having nodes and yellow color represents the regulation of Central Earth; it is a medicine for the Heart. (Reversal)
It calms the Liver and cools Blood. (Based on the transformation of Cold Water entering the Heart, thus cooling Blood; cooling Blood is the means to calm the Liver.) It regulates the Stomach and thickens the Intestines. It primarily treats stagnant heat in the middle jiao, restlessness, thirst, nausea, and fullness below the heart. (Zhang Zhongjing used it in all five Xiexin Tang formulas for treating nine types of subcardiac fullness.) It treats acid regurgitation, sudden heart pain, pain in the hypochondrium and lower abdomen, hot vomiting, hot diarrhea, all damp-heat conditions, abdominal pain with hot dysentery, mixed cold and heat in the five Zang organs, and chronic diarrhea with pus and blood.
It treats summerheat toxicity, all epidemic heat toxins, various sores and ulcers, and heat-induced eye pain with tearing. It also treats pediatric malnutrition (*Gan*) and swelling and pain in the female genitals. (Various Materia Medica) It can drain Heart Fire, hence the Materia Medica states it calms the Spirit. It is used in pills for calming palpitations, soothing the Spirit, and stabilizing fright. (Song) In treating blood disorders, Saposhnikovia Root (*Fangfeng*) serves as the upper envoy, Coptis Rhizome (*Huanglian*) as the middle envoy, and Sanguisorba Root (*Diyu*) as the lower envoy. (Draining the Heart is essentially draining the Spleen, hence called the Middle Jiao Envoy.) Since the Heart governs Blood, and *Huanglian* enters the Heart based on the transformation of Cold Water, it is precisely for regulating Blood and treating intestinal diseases. In Typhoid Fever with retained evil blood and internal/external heat, presenting similarly to Shaoyang disease, if Xiao Chaihu Tang is ineffective, use one part *Huanglian*, half part Red Poria (*Chifuling*), decocted with Ramulus Nymphae (*Dengxinjian*). Also, for postpartum heat entering the Blood Chamber where Xiao Chaihu Tang is insufficient, add Trogopterus Dung (*Wulingzhi*), assisted by *Huanglian* and *Chifuling*. Since the Heart governs Blood, and both *Huanglian* and *Chifuling* clear Heat and cool Blood. (Renzhai) *Huanglian* enters the Qi level of Central Earth, removing damp-heat and draining Heart Fire. If Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency prevents transportation, substitute with Poria (*Fuling*) and Scutellaria Root (*Huangqin*). (Danxi) Danxi's pill for food stagnation primarily uses *Huanglian*, processed with Evodia Fruit (*Wuzhuyu*) to treat the left side, and Alpinia Oxyphylla Fruit (*Yizhiren*) to treat the right side, assisted by Aurantium Fructus (*Zhike*) for rapid resolution of fullness. Processed with Ginger Juice and stir-fried for Upper Jiao Phlegm-Fire. (Jiamo) Combined with Aucklandia Root (*Muxiang*) for subcardiac fullness and intestinal stagnation, it is an essential herb for abdominal pain and dysentery. Combined with *Wuzhuyu* for Liver Fire, including hypochondriac and lower abdominal pain, and for acid regurgitation. (Song) *Huanglian* is the immortal herb for alcohol intoxication and the divine grass for dysentery, having unique merits across the Six Channels. (Zhongchun) Most bitter-cold herbs cause purgation, but only *Huanglian* and Phellodendron Bark (*Huangbai*) are cold and dry, capable of descending Fire, removing dampness, and stopping dysentery. Thus, it is the Sovereign herb for treating dysentery. Treating dysentery requires bitter, pungent, and cold herbs: pungent disperses and opens stagnation, bitter dries dampness, and cold overcomes heat, thereby promoting smooth Qi flow. (Shouzhen) For dysentery with hot stomach and inability to eat (Jinkou Li), decoct *Huanglian* and Ginseng Root (*Renshen*) and sip throughout the day. If vomited, force-feed again. Once swallowed, improvement occurs. (Danxi) Use Yellow Earth, Ginger Juice, Wine, and Honey for four-fold processing as the Sovereign herb, Quinoa Seed (*Shijunzi*) as the Minister herb, Wine-processed White Peony Root (*Baishao*) as the Assistant herb, and *Muxiang* as the Guide herb, for pediatric five types of *Gan*. Stir-fry with *Wuzhuyu*, add equal parts *Muxiang*, double Raw Rhubarb (*Sheng Dahuang*), water-pellet for five types of dysentery. (Han) For dysentery, use Dried Ginger (*Ganjiang*) and *Huanglian*, named Jianglian San. For thirst, use Wine-steamed *Huanglian*. For mouth ulcers, use Asarum Root (*Xixin*) and *Huanglian*. This not only mutual restraint avoids bias but also considers the depth of disease and location of Zang-Fu. Combined with Tongolo Barberry Stem (*Chichengye*) in Sanhuang Shigao Tang for irritability after rash eruption. Added to Dangui Liu Huang Tang with Ziziphus Seed (*Suanzaoren*) and Longan Aril (*Longyanrou*) for night sweats. Combined with Rehmannia Root (*Dihuang*), Chrysanthemum Flower (*Ganju*), Schizonepeta Spike (*Jingjie Sui*), Licorice Root Tip (*Gancao Shao*), Bupleurum Root (*Chaihu*), Chuanxiong Rhizome (*Chuanxiong*), Akebia Caulis (*Mutong*), and Cicada Slough (*Chantui*) for wind-heat attacking upward, red painful eyes. Combined with White Peony Root (*Shaoyao*), Lablab Seed (*Biandou*), Lotus Seed (*Lianzi*), Cimicifuga Rhizome (*Shengma*), Talc (*Huashi*), Licorice Root (*Gancao*), and Red Yeast Rice (*Hongqu*) for all types of dysentery with pus and blood. Combined with Sophora Flower (*Huaihua*), *Zhike*, Frankincense (*Ruxiang*), and Myrrh (*Moyao*) for pure bloody dysentery with abdominal pain. Combined with *Renshen* and Lotus Seed for deficient patients with dysentery, and elderly/postpartum women with persistent dysentery. Combined with Ophiopogon Tuber (*Maidong*) and Schisandra Berry (*Wuweizi*) for sudden thirst with polyuria. Combined with Ground Beetle (*Wuguchong*), Aloe (*Luhui*), White Galangal Seed (*Bai Wutiy*), Indigo Naturalis (*Qingdai*), Hibiscus Flower (*Bai Jin Hua*), and Hollyhock Flower (*Bai Furong Hua*) for all pediatric heat-related *Gan*.
Attached Formulas Xianglian Wan. Treats red and white dysentery with tenesmus and abdominal pain. Use equal parts Xuan *Huanglian* and Qing *Muxiang*, grind and sieve, form pills with White Honey size of Sophora seeds. Take 20-30 pills per dose, twice daily. Divine efficacy. For chronic cold, mix with roasted garlic. This is from Li Jiang's military manual. Yijian treats dysentery: *Huanglian* stir-fried with *Wuzhuyu* 4 liang, *Muxiang* roasted with flour 1 liang, formed into pills with millet rice. Danxi adds Stone Lotus Seed for Jinkou Li. Wang Shi adds Sour Plum Flesh for thirst, dissolved with Ejiao for pills. Secret Formula Xianglian Wan treats Qi dysentery with tenesmus. (Jisheng Fang) *Huanglian* 4 liang, *Muxiang* 2 liang, Ginger 4 liang. Spread Ginger at bottom of clay pot, then *Huanglian*, then *Muxiang*. Add 3 bowls of fresh water, boil, dry, grind, form pills with Vinegar and Barnyard Millet Paste. Take 5 times daily. BianTong Wan treats unremitting red/white dysentery and intestinal wind bleeding. Use Chuan *Huanglian* de-haired, *Wuzhuyu* soaked in Sour Plum Decoction, 2 liang each. Stir-fry until fragrant, remove, grind separately. Mix with millet rice paste, form Sophora-sized pills, water-pellets. Take 30 pills per dose. Red dysentery: swallow with Licorice Decoction; White dysentery: swallow with Ginger Decoction; Red/White: 15 pills each with Rice Decoction. Jianghuang San. Use Xuan *Huanglian* 1 liang, Ginger 4 liang. Stir-fry gently until Ginger is crisp, separate, grind. For watery diarrhea, use Ginger powder; for Spleen diarrhea, use *Huanglian* powder. Take 2 qian on empty stomach with plain water. Severe cases resolve in two doses. Also treats dysentery. Suanlian Wan. Treats visceral toxin bleeding. Roast single-clove garlic, mash, mix with *Huanglian* powder, form pills. Take daily with Rice Decoction. Note: *Huanglian* is an essential herb for dysentery. The formulation of Xianglian Wan uses ascending to assist descending, containing profound logic. Dysentery fundamentally stems from Lung Qi stagnation; *Muxiang* removes Lung Qi stagnation. Using cold to treat heat, adjusting ascending/descending, and removing stagnation makes this formula perpetually effective. Later variations using Ginger or Evodia differ. Ginger acts from Lung to Stomach, assisting bitter-cold to move Qi, addressing Qi level mostly. Evodia acts from Liver to Spleen, assisting bitter-dry to remove dampness, addressing Blood level mostly, as damp-heat resides in Blood. Summerheat uses Wine-boiling because heat affects Pericardium, which governs Blood. Chronic cold and visceral toxin bleeding use roasted garlic because pungent-hot disperses, unblocking Five Zang and clearing Blood stagnation.
[Discussion] *Huanglian* possesses the Qi and flavor of Cold Water, extreme Yin, yet its color and harvest time return to Central Earth. (Flowers are yellow, fruits yellow in June, roots yellow, firm in June-July). Cold Water cannot interact with Fire without the mediation of Earth (Yellow Mother). This is a natural wonder. (Li contains Kun, Kan contains Li, Ding-Ren combine. Kidney meridian branch enters chest; Spleen, Liver, Kidney ascend together; Spleen meridian enters Heart.) Ancients said: Heart is the root of Tianzhen Shenji development; Stomach is the mark of Guqi filling Zhenqi. When root and mark harmonize, Zongqi remaining in Danzhong (branch of Du Meridian entering chest) circulates to Four Zang without disease (meaning Zhenqi and Guqi fill the body). Thus, Guqi in Stomach fills Zongqi, and Spleen meridian combining with Liver/Kidney to enter Heart serves the Heart. Disease of Heart function is disease of Heart itself. Haizang said: *Huanglian* drains Heart, actually drains Spleen. Danxi said: *Huanglian* treats disease by clearing Heart/Stomach. Neither is arbitrary. One Water cannot overcome Two Fires. Pathogenic factors conflicting with Righteous Qi transform into Heat. From Six Evils, it moves from Lung to Stomach (Lung Yin failing to descend to Heart causes turbid Clear to fail entering Stomach to generate Blood, returning as Heart disease). From Seven Emotions, it moves from Heart to Stomach. This herb's main action originates from Taiyang within Yang, unable to combine with True Yin of Cold Water for disease (Less Yin within Yang causes Qi stagnation transforming to Heat; long-term Heat transforms to Dampness. Only *Huanglian*, based on Cold Water transformation serving Central Earth, possessing Dry Metal nature, is most accurate for stagnant/damp-heat). Disease of Heart function starts in Central Earth. *Huanglian* treats stagnant Heat transforming to Dampness, starting in Central Earth, acting by opposition. It brings Cold Water transformation to Central Earth. If Wind Wood reaches Cold Water transformation to offer upwards, Liver disease follows. Its ability to thicken intestines comes from dryness within bitter-cold, and Hand/Foot Yangming being Dry Metal, seeking similar Qi.
Miao said: Patients with Blood deficiency, Qi deficiency, weak Spleen/Stomach, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are endangered if treated with this. Pork is strictly forbidden during use. Suitable only for excess Heat. Contraindicated for food retention with cold in Stomach, or痞 (fullness) caused by premature purgation in Typhoid. Suitable for rectal bleeding due to damp-heat. Contraindicated for Yin-deficiency bleeding and Spleen-blood deficiency bleeding.
[Processing] For dysentery medicines, select genuine Chuan *Huanglian*, break it; those with holes and red-gold color are best. Remove rootlets, slice, separate coarse/fine. Soak thoroughly in Ginger Juice. Line with cotton paper. First stir-fry with Mountain Yellow Earth until dry, grind fine, stir-fry until nearly red. Place slices on earth via paper, dry, mix with Ginger Juice again. Do not use water. Replace scorched paper. Repeat nine times. For red dysentery, stir-fry with wet Sophora Flower. For treating Fire of the organ itself, use raw. For Liver/Gallbladder Excess Fire, soak in Pig Bile and stir-fry. For Deficient Fire, soak in Vinegar and stir-fry. For Upper Jiao Fire, stir-fry with Wine. For Middle Jiao Fire, stir-fry with Ginger Juice. For Lower Jiao Fire, stir-fry with Salt Water. Stir-fry with Mirabilite. For Qi-level damp-heat Fire, soak in Evodia Decoction and stir-fry. For latent Fire in Blood-level masses, stir-fry with Dry Lacquer Water. These methods not only guide but also restrain bitter-cold with pungent-hot, and dryness with salt-cold. Users should detail these.