Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang  黄连汤
Coptis Warm the Gall Bladder Decoction

Tradition:


TCM

Source / Author:


Warp and Woof of Warm-Heat diseases (1852)

Herb Name


Zhu Ru (Bamboo shavings)
Ban Xia (Pinellia)
Zhi Shi (Unripe Bitter Orange)
Chen Pi (Tangerine peel)
Poria (Fu Ling)
Sheng Jiang (fresh Ginger)
Da Zao (Jujube)
Gan Cao (Licorice fried)
Huang Lian (Coptis)

Latin


Bambusa tuldoides
Pinellia ternata
Citrus aurantium
Citrus reticulata
Poria cocos
Zingiber officinalis
Zizyphus jujuba
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Coptis chinensis

Amount


6 grams
6 grams
6 grams
9 grams
6 grams
5 slices
1 piece
3 grams
3–6 grams

Preparation:


Grind to a coarse powder.
Prepare by boiling 12 grams in 1 cup of water with the fresh Ginger and Jujube.

Function:


Clears Heat, Resolves Phlegm, Harmonises the Stomach, Regulates Qi

Use:


Damp-Heat or Phlegm-Heat with Stomach and Gall Bladder dishmarony marked by Irritability, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, a bitter taste in the mouth, red tongue with a greasy yellow coating, and a rapid and slippery pulse.
1. Nausea and Vomiting
2. Chronic Bronchitis
3. Chronic Gastritis
4. Cholecystitis
5. Chronic Hepatitis
6. Palpitations
7. Emphysema
8. Meniere’s Diseases
9. Dizziness, Vertigo, Tinnitus
10. Epilepsy
11. Seizures with copious sputum
12. Trigeminal Neuralgia
13. Anxiety
14. Depression, Manic Depression
15. Mania
16. Schizoid behavior
17. Autism
18. Hyperthyroid with Insomnia

Dose:


Take 1 cup twice daily before meals.

Cautions:


Not used in Yin deficiency

Modifications:


1. Constipation, add Rhubarb (Da Huang)
2. Vertigo, add Peony Bai Shao, Hemetite (Dai Zhe Shi)
3. Tinnitus, add Uncaria Gou Teng, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)
4. To settle rising Yang in Dizziness, Tinnitus, Mania etc., add Oyster Shell (Mu Li) and Fossil Bone (Long Gu)
5. Epilepsy:
i. add Arisaema (bile prepared) Dan Nan Xing, Gastrodia Tian Ma, Scorpion (Quan Xie)
ii. add Curcuma Yu Jin, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu)
6. Trigeminal Neuralgia, add Gastrodia Tian Ma, Corydalis Yan Hu Suo, Ariseama Tian Nan Xing, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong
7. Bronchitis from Phlegm-Heat:
i. add Trichosanthes seed Gua Lou Zi, Apricot kernel (Xing Ren)
ii. take with Gun Tan Wan
8. Hypertention, add Mistletoe (Sang Ji Sheng), Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Cassia seed (Jue Ming Zi)
9. Insomnia:
i. add Zizyphus seed (Suan Zao Ren), Oyster shell (Mu Li), Pearl (Zhen Zhu)
ii. take with Zhu Sha An Shen Wan

Similar Formulas:


This is used the same as Wen Dan Tang, but this is stronger to clear Heat.

Back To DECOCTIONS
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures