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The dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis, C. deltoidea, or C. teeta (Ranunculaceae). Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, and Large Intestine channels. Bitter and cold, it is the primary herb for clearing heat and drying dampness, draining fire and resolving toxicity, with particular efficacy in treating middle-burner damp-heat and Heart fire.
清热燥湿，泻火解毒之力最强，多用于湿热泻痢、高热神昏
缓和苦寒之性，和胃止呕，善治胃热呕吐
借酒上行，善清头目之火，治目赤肿痛、口舌生疮
内服煎汤一般2–5g；清心、清胃可用3–6g；外用适量，研末调敷
Reference range for non-pregnant adults. Not a personalized prescription. Pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use require specialist supervision.
Documented interactions exist with the following Western drug classes. Click to view mechanism, severity, and clinical recommendations.
Protective guidance only — when to avoid or use with caution. This block deliberately omits pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric dosing: any such use must be managed by a qualified TCM practitioner or appropriate specialist.
脾胃虚寒者忌用。苦寒伤胃，易败胃气，不宜久服大量。阴虚津伤者慎用。
本品大苦大寒，过用或久服易伤脾胃阳气。含小檗碱，新生儿及G6PD缺乏者慎用，可诱发溶血。不宜与猪肉同食（古训）。
味苦，寒。主热气目痛，眦伤泣出，明目，肠澼腹痛下痢，妇人阴中肿痛。久服令人不忘。
上品
@misc{bencaodian-huang-lian,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Huáng Lián 黄连 (Coptis Rhizome) — Coptidis Rhizoma},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/herbs/huang-lian},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}© Bencaodian Editorial · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
黄连主含异喹啉生物碱（以小檗碱为代表），具广谱抗菌、抗炎、降血糖、调血脂及抗心律失常等现代药理作用。
Coptis contains isoquinoline alkaloids led by berberine, with broad-spectrum antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, and antiarrhythmic pharmacological activity.
传统视黄连为苦寒清热燥湿要药，现代研究证实其生物碱抗菌活性。
Traditionally the premier bitter-cold herb for damp-heat; modern studies confirm alkaloid-based antimicrobial action.
小檗碱对痢疾杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、幽门螺杆菌等均有抑制作用。
Berberine inhibits Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Helicobacter pylori among others.
孕妇及新生儿禁用——小檗碱可置换胆红素诱发核黄疸；并注意其 CYP3A4/P-gp 相互作用。
Contraindicated in pregnancy and neonates — berberine displaces bilirubin and may precipitate kernicterus; caution with CYP3A4/P-gp interactions.
《中国药典》以小檗碱含量（不少于 5.5%）为质量控制指标。
Chinese Pharmacopoeia specifies berberine content (≥5.5%) as the quality marker.
This section is provided for academic reference only and does not constitute medical advice.