The effects of Coptis chinensis
It clears heat and dries dampness, drains fire and detoxifies. Used for damp-heat fullness, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, high fever with delirium, excessive heart fire, restlessness and insomnia, hematemesis due to blood heat, red eyes with acid reflux, toothache, thirst, carbuncles and boils; externally used for eczema, damp sores, and ear discharge. Wine-processed Coptis chinensis effectively clears heat from the upper burner. Used for red eyes and mouth sores. Ginger-processed Coptis chinensis clears and harmonizes the stomach and stops vomiting. Used for alternating chills and fever, damp-heat in the middle burner, fullness, and vomiting. Cornus officinalis-processed Coptis chinensis soothes the liver, harmonizes the stomach, and stops vomiting. Used for liver-stomach disharmony, vomiting, and acid reflux.
The effects of Coptis chinensis
1. Anti-ulcer effect: It has a significant inhibitory effect on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats, with an effect intensity comparable to that of cimetidine (Plt; 0.01).
2. Inhibits gastric acid secretion: It can significantly reduce the amount of gastric juice secretion (Plt; 0.01); its effect is comparable to that of cimetidine.
3. Protects the gastric mucosa: Significantly resists acute gastric mucosal damage induced by sodium hydrochloride, aspirin, etc. in rats.
4. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects: The hot plate test and writhing test both showed significant analgesic effects; it also showed significant anti-inflammatory effects.
5. Antibacterial: It has a strong effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Streptococcus pyogenes, but a weaker effect on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi.
Application of Coptis chinensis
1. For damp-heat fullness, vomiting, and acid reflux, it is particularly effective in clearing heat from the middle jiao (middle burner). It is often used with perilla leaves (Su Ye) to treat epigastric and abdominal fullness, nausea, and vomiting caused by damp-heat obstructing the middle jiao and disrupting qi circulation. It is commonly used in formulas such as Su Ye Huang Lian Tang (Perilla Leaf and Coptis Decoction). Alternatively, it can be combined with scutellaria, dried ginger, and pinellia (Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang) for example. Combined with gypsum, it can treat vomiting due to stomach heat, as in Shi Lian San (Gypsum and Coptis Powder).
2. For diarrhea and dysentery caused by damp heat, this product is an essential medicine for treating diarrhea and dysentery, and it is effective when used alone.
3. It is especially effective in clearing away excess fire in the heart meridian, and can be used to treat delirium and restlessness caused by excessive heart fire.
4. Carbuncles, boils, sores, red eyes, toothache
5. Xiao Ke (消渴) can clear stomach fire and can be used to treat diabetes caused by excessive stomach fire and excessive hunger. It is often used with Ophiopogon japonicus, such as in Xiao Ke Wan (消渴丸).
6. For external treatment of eczema, weeping sores, and ear discharge: It can be made into an ointment for external application to treat skin eczema and weeping sores. The juice extracted from the ointment can be applied to the affected area to treat ear discharge. The decoction can be used as eye drops to treat red and swollen eyes.
