气寒味苦，气薄味浓，无毒，沉也，阴也。手少阴药也。以姜汁炒用，则止呕吐，清心
胃。且治一切时气，又解诸般热毒秽毒，及肿毒疮疡，目疾之暴发者。盖黄连得姜汁制，则
和其寒而性轻折，且少变其性，以引至热处，而使之驯化，正经所谓热因寒用是也。与木香
同用，为腹痛下痢要药。与吴茱萸同用，乃吞吐酸水神方。同枳壳治血痔，同当归治眼疾。
佐桂蜜，使心肾交于顷刻。入姜辛，疗心肺妙于须臾。欲上清头目口疮之类，酒炒为佳。欲
泻肝胆之火，猪胆蒸之为妙，取其入下部而泻之也。欲解痘疮之毒，桔梗麻黄汁炒之，取其
达表而解之也。实火同朴硝，虚火用酾醋，痰火用姜汁，伏火用盐汤。米食积泻者，壁土炒
之。赤眼暴发者，人乳浸之。东垣以为浓肠胃者，何也？盖肠胃为湿热所挠，而为痢为痛，
得此苦寒之剂，则湿热去而痛止，则肠胃自浓矣。又曰，与木香同用，治心下痞满，并伏梁
心积，宜矣。若停食受寒，及伤寒下早所使者，则不可用。又曰，除肠中混杂之红，宜矣。
如阴虚下血，及损脾而血不归脾者，概用之乎。又曰，治五劳七情，定惊悸，止心腹痛，皆
未分寒热而混言之，用者宜斟酌可也。
胡黄连疗劳热骨蒸，治伤寒咳嗽，温疟多热即解，久痢成疳竟除。补肝胆，劫目疼尤灵。
理腰肾，敛阴汗最捷。大都苦先入心，入心则热燥，此剂虽云泻心，实泻脾土，盖子能令母
实，实则泻其子也。中病即已，不可久服，久则反从火化，愈觉发热。故曰，芩连栀子，久
服发热，此之谓也。反花猪肉。
黄连气味寒凉而味苦，气薄味浓，无毒，性质沉降，属阴。它是入手少阴心经的药物。如果用姜汁炒制后使用，就能停止呕吐，清泄心和胃的热邪。并且能治疗各种时行疫病，又能解除各种热毒、秽毒，以及肿毒疮疡和突然发作的眼疾。大概是因为黄连得到姜汁的炮制，就调和了它的寒性，使药性变得轻扬折中，稍微改变了它的本性，从而引导药力到达热邪所在之处，使其被驯服化解，这正是经典所说的“热因寒用”的道理。与木香一起使用，是治疗腹痛下痢的要药。与吴茱萸一起使用，是治疗吞酸吐酸的良方。与枳壳同用可以治疗血痔，与当归同用可以治疗眼疾。配合桂枝和蜂蜜，能使心肾在顷刻间相交济。加入生姜和细辛，能在须臾之间治愈心肺疾病。如果想要上清头目口疮等上部热证，用酒炒制最好。如果想要泻肝胆之火，用猪胆汁蒸制最为巧妙，这是取它进入下部而泻火的意思。如果想要解痘疮之毒，用桔梗和麻黄的汁液炒制，这是取它通达表里而解毒的意思。实火证配合朴硝，虚火证用醋，痰火证用姜汁，伏火证用盐汤。因米食积滞导致的腹泻，用灶心土（壁土）炒制。赤眼突然发作的，用人乳浸泡。李东垣认为它能厚肠胃，为什么呢？大概是因为肠胃被湿热所困扰，导致痢疾和疼痛，得到这种苦寒的药物后，湿热去除而疼痛停止，肠胃自然就会厚实强健了。又说，与木香同用，治疗心下痞满以及伏梁心积，是适宜的。如果是停食受寒，以及伤寒病过早使用攻下法后出现的症状，则不可使用。又说，清除肠中混杂的红浊（便血），是适宜的。如果是阴虚导致的下血，以及损伤脾胃导致血液不能归脾的情况，一概使用它合适吗？又说，治疗五劳七情，安定惊悸，停止心腹疼痛，都没有区分寒热而混而言之，使用者应当斟酌使用。
胡黄连治疗骨蒸劳热，治疗伤寒咳嗽，温疟多热症服用后即解，久痢发展成疳积症也能彻底消除。补益肝胆，缓解眼痛尤其灵验。调理腰肾，收敛阴汗最快捷。大抵苦味先入心，入心则产生热燥，此药虽然说是泻心火，实际上是泻脾土，因为子能令母实，实则泻其子（脾为心之子）。中病即止，不可久服，久服反而从火化，更加觉得发热。所以说，黄芩、黄连、栀子，久服会导致发热，说的就是这个道理。反花猪肉（指食用后易引发恶疮或加重病情）。
The Qi is cold and the Flavor is bitter; the Qi is thin and the Flavor is dense. It is non-toxic, sinking in nature, and belongs to Yin. It is a herb entering the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian. When stir-fried with ginger juice for use, it stops vomiting and clears heat from the Heart and Stomach. Furthermore, it treats various seasonal epidemics, resolves various types of heat toxins, foul toxins, as well as swelling toxins, sores, ulcers, and sudden-onset eye diseases. This is because when Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome) is processed with ginger juice, its cold nature is harmonized and its property becomes lighter and moderated, slightly altering its character to guide it to areas of heat, thereby taming and transforming it. This corresponds to the classic principle of "treating heat with cold" (Re Yin Han Yong). When used together with Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), it is an essential medicine for abdominal pain and dysentery. When used together with Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus), it is a miraculous prescription for acid regurgitation and vomiting. Combined with Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), it treats bloody hemorrhoids; combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it treats eye diseases. Assisted by Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) and honey, it facilitates the interaction between the Heart and Kidney in an instant. Added with Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) and Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), it cures Heart and Lung ailments within moments. To clear upper orifices such as the head, eyes, and mouth ulcers, wine-processing is best. To drain Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder, steaming with Zhu Dan (Porci Bile) is exquisite, taking advantage of its entry into the lower part to drain downward. To resolve the toxicity of smallpox, processing with Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) and Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) juices is effective, utilizing their ability to reach the exterior and resolve toxins. For Excess Fire, combine with Puxiao (Natrii Sulfas); for Deficiency Fire, use vinegar; for Phlegm-Fire, use ginger juice; for Hidden Fire, use salt water. For diarrhea caused by rice food stagnation, process with Bitu (Fodder Earth). For sudden onset of red eyes, soak in Renru (Humanis Lac). Why does Li Dongyuan consider it capable of thickening the intestines and stomach? It is likely that the intestines and stomach are disturbed by Damp-Heat, leading to dysentery and pain. Upon receiving this bitter-cold agent, the Damp-Heat is removed, pain ceases, and the intestines and stomach naturally become robust. He also stated that using it with Muxiang to treat epigastric fullness and Fuliang (substance accumulation in the heart region) is appropriate. However, if it is due to retained food and cold invasion, or if administered too early in the course of Shanghan (Cold Damage) after purgative treatment, it should not be used. He also said that clearing mixed redness (blood) in the intestines is appropriate. But what about lower bleeding due to Yin Deficiency, or blood failing to return to the Spleen due to Spleen damage; is it suitable to use it indiscriminately? He also mentioned treating the Five Exhaustions and Seven Emotions, calming palpitations, and stopping heart and abdominal pain, without distinguishing between Cold and Heat, speaking generally. Users should exercise discretion.
Huhuanglian (Scutellariae Barbatae Rhizoma) treats bone-steaming fever from consumption, cough from Shanghan, and resolves Wen Nue (Warm Malaria) with excessive heat quickly. It completely eliminates chronic dysentery progressing into Gan disease (childhood malnutrition syndrome). It tonifies the Liver and Gallbladder, alleviating eye pain with particular efficacy. It regulates the waist and Kidneys, stopping night sweats most rapidly. Generally, bitter flavors enter the Heart first; entering the Heart generates dryness and heat. Although this herb is said to drain Heart Fire, it actually drains Spleen Earth, because the Son can make the Mother solid, and when Solid, one drains the Son. Stop taking it once the illness is cured; do not take it for a long time, as prolonged use will transform into Fire, causing increased sensation of heat. Thus it is said: "Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian, and Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), taken for a long time cause fever," which refers to this phenomenon. Contraindicated with flowered pork.