Huang Lian Tang (Coptis Decoction)

Coptis Decoction

Shang Han Lun, c. 220 CE

• Huang Lian (clear heat above); Gan Jiang, Gui Zhi (warm cold below)
• Ban Xia (descend); Ren Shen, Da Zao, Zhi Gan Cao (harmonise)

• Clears heat above and warms cold below
• Harmonises the Stomach and descends rebellious qi

Upper-heat with lower-cold: chest heat and irritability with epigastric/abdominal cold pain, nausea or vomiting, and possibly diarrhoea.

Tongue: white coat with a red tip. Pulse: wiry or slippery.

Adjust the heat- and cold-balancing herbs to the case.

For mixed heat-above, cold-below; not for pure heat or pure cold.