Huang Qin, or Baikal Skullcap Root, is a well-known herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine that clears heat, dries dampness, and cools the blood. It is especially useful for treating heat and damp-heat conditions affecting the Lungs, intestines, Liver, and Gallbladder. With its bitter and cold nature, Huang Qin is often used in infections, inflammatory disorders, and fever patterns. It is also known for its ability to calm the fetus in pregnancy when there is heat or restlessness.
Functies en voordelen
Clears Heat and Dries Dampness
Huang Qin is commonly used in conditions such as diarrhea, dysentery, or jaundice due to damp-heat in the Stomach, intestines, or Liver. It is a foundational herb in formulas for gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary inflammation.
Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity
It treats high fever, irritability, thirst, and cough, particularly when caused by external or internal heat toxin. It is helpful in upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, and viral conditions.
Verkoelt het bloed en stopt het bloeden
Huang Qin can be used to cool the blood in conditions such as nosebleeds, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool due to heat in the blood level.
Calms the Fetus
In cases of restlessness or threatened miscarriage associated with internal heat, Huang Qin helps stabilize pregnancy and soothe fetal agitation.
Indicaties
Huang Qin is used for damp-heat syndromes such as diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, or vaginal discharge. It is also indicated for Lung heat manifesting as cough, thick yellow sputum, or chest pain. Fever, restlessness, and bleeding due to internal heat are other common indications. In obstetrics, it is used to address heat-related restlessness in pregnancy.
Diagnose van tong en pols in TCM
The tongue is often red with a yellow, greasy coating—signs of internal heat and dampness. The pulse tends to be rapid, slippery, or wiry depending on the organ system involved and the presence of damp-heat.
Common TCM Patterns Treated by Huang Qin
Huang Qin is used to treat damp-heat in the Stomach or intestines with symptoms like diarrhea, foul stools, or abdominal pain. It addresses Liver and Gallbladder damp-heat, including jaundice or bitter taste. For Lung heat, it helps with productive cough and yellow phlegm. It is also included in blood-heat patterns with bleeding and in threatened miscarriage from internal heat.
Voorzorgsmaatregelen en contra-indicaties
Huang Qin should be avoided in cases of cold from deficiency or Spleen/Stomach cold-damp. Prolonged use can damage digestive Qi if not balanced with warming herbs. It is contraindicated in loose stools due to Spleen deficiency without heat.
Conclusie
Huang Qin is a cold, bitter herb essential for clearing heat, drying dampness, and cooling the blood. Its broad range of applications makes it effective in treating inflammatory, infectious, and febrile conditions, especially those involving the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. It also plays a role in managing obstetric heat patterns, making it a valuable and versatile herb in the TCM pharmacopeia.