气寒，味微苦，苦而甘。微寒，味薄气浓，阳中阴也。阴中微阳，大寒。无毒。
入手太阴经之剂。
《象》云∶治肺中湿热，疗上热，目中赤肿，瘀肉壅盛，必用之药。泄肺受火邪上逆于
膈上。补膀胱之寒不足，乃
滋其化源也。
《心》云∶泻肺中之火。
洁古云∶利胸中气，消膈上痰。性苦寒，下痢脓血稠粘，腹疼后重，身热，久不可者。
与芍药、甘草同用。
《珍》云∶除阳有余，凉心去热，通寒格。阴中微阳，酒炒上行，主上部积血，非此不
能除。肺苦气上逆，急食苦以泄之。
《本草》云∶主诸热黄胆，肠 泄痢，逐水，下血闭，恶疮疽蚀，火伤，疗痰热，胃中
热，小腹绞痛。消谷，利小肠，女子血闭，淋露下血，小儿腹痛。
东垣云∶味苦而薄，中枯而飘，故能泻肺火而解肌热，手太阴剂也。细实而中不空者，
治下部妙。
陶隐居云∶色深坚实者好。又治奔豚、脐下热痛。飘与实，高下之分，与枳实、枳壳
同例。黄芩，其子主肠 脓血。
《本草》又云∶得浓朴、黄连，治腹痛；得五味子、牡蒙、牡蛎，令人有子；得黄 、
白蔹、赤小豆，疗鼠 。山茱萸、龙骨为之使。恶葱实。畏丹砂、牡丹、黎芦。
张仲景治伤寒心下痞满，泻心汤四方皆用黄芩，以其去诸热、利小肠故也。又，太阳病
下之，利不止，有葛根黄芩黄连汤。亦主妊娠，安胎散内多用黄芩，今医家常用有效者，因
着之。《千金方》∶巴郡太守奏加减三黄丸，疗男子五劳七伤、消渴、不生肌肉，妇人带
下、手足寒热者。久服之，得行及奔马。甚验。
陶隐居云∶黄芩，圆者名子芩，仲景治杂病方多用之。
Qi is cold, taste is slightly bitter, bitter with a sweet aftertaste. Slightly cold in nature, thin in flavor but strong in qi, it belongs to yang containing yin. Yin containing slight yang, greatly cold. Non-toxic.
Enters the Taiyin Lung meridian formulas.
Xiang (Zhang Yuansu or his school) says: Treats damp-heat in the lungs, treats upper jiao heat, redness and swelling of the eyes, overgrowth of fleshy masses; it is an essential herb. It drains the rebellion of fire pathogen affecting the lungs rising to above the diaphragm. It tonifies the deficiency of cold in the Bladder, thereby nourishing the source of transformation.
Xin (Wang Haogu or Li Dongyuan's insights) says: Drains fire in the lungs.
Jiegou (Zhang Yuansu) says: Promotes the movement of qi in the chest, eliminates phlegm above the diaphragm. The nature is bitter and cold, indicated for dysentery with thick and sticky pus and blood, abdominal pain with tenesmus, fever, and chronic cases refractory to treatment. Used together with Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma).
Zhen (Zhang Yuansu's *Zhenzhu Nang*) says: Eliminates excess yang, cools the Heart and removes heat, unblocks cold obstruction. Yin containing slight yang; when stir-fried with wine, its action moves upward, primarily treating accumulation of blood in the upper body; without this herb, it cannot be eliminated. The Lung dislikes rebellion of qi; urgently consume bitter substances to drain it.
*Bencao* says: Primarily treats various heat-induced jaundice, intestinal rumbling and dysentery, expels water retention, promotes menstruation in amenorrhea, treats malignant sores and ulcers, burns, treats phlegm-heat, stomach heat, colic in the lower abdomen. Aids digestion of grains, benefits the Small Intestine, treats female menstrual obstruction, leukorrhea with bleeding, and pediatric abdominal pain.
Dongyuan (Li Dongyuan) says: The taste is bitter and thin, the texture is withered and light, thus it can drain lung fire and resolve muscle-layer heat; it is a guide herb for the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian. Those that are small, solid, and not hollow inside are excellent for treating diseases of the lower body.
Tao Hongjing (Yinju) says: Those with deep color and solid texture are good. Also treats Ben Tun (fleeing pig qi) and hot pain below the umbilicus. The distinction between light/floating and solid/heavy is analogous to the difference between Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange Fruit) and Zhike (Bitter Orange Fruit). The seed of Huangqin treats pus and blood in the intestines.
*Bencao* further states: Combined with Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), it treats abdominal pain; combined with Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Mumeng (likely Ophiopogonis Radix or similar, context specific), and Muli (Ostreae Concha), it aids fertility; combined with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Baijian (Ampelopsis Radix), and Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean), it treats scrofula (Shu Luo). Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) and Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi et Scapulae) serve as its guiding herbs. It is incompatible with Congshi (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus). It fears Dansha (Cinnabaris), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), and Lilü (Veratri Rhizoma).
Zhang Zhongjing used Huangqin in all four Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoctions) formulas to treat epigastric fullness due to Cold-Heat complex in Shanghan (Cold Damage), because it clears various heats and benefits the Small Intestine. Furthermore, in Sunyang Bing (Taiyang Disease) where purgation was incorrectly applied leading to persistent diarrhea, Gegen Huangqin Huanglian Tang (Kudzu, Scutellaria, and Coptis Decoction) is indicated. It also governs pregnancy conditions; An Tai San (Calming the Fetus Powder) uses Huangqin extensively. As modern physicians find it effective, it is recorded here. *Qianjin Fang*: The Governor of Ba Commandate memorialized the modified Sanhuang Wan (Three Yellows Pill) to treat men suffering from Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries, Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), and failure to build muscle; and women with leukorrhea and alternating cold and heat in hands and feet. Long-term consumption results in stamina comparable to running and horseback riding. It is highly effective.
Tao Hongjing (Yinju) says: Round-shaped Huangqin is named Ziqin (Son Scutellaria); Zhang Zhongjing used it frequently in formulas for miscellaneous diseases.