Chinese name:

Source:

Coptidis Rhizoma - rhizome

Nature:

• cold (more descending, less ascending, yin within yin)

Taste:

• bitter (very bitter, dense)

Tropism:

• heart, liver, stomach and large intestine (spleen, gallbladder)

Direction of action:

• descending stomach yang and heart fire

Effects:

• clears Shi Re (Sheng and Jiu)

• eliminates fire toxin (Sheng)

Dosage:

• 3 – 12 g, standard 10 g

Contraindications:

• caution required in cases of vomiting and diarrhoea due to spleen and stomach deficiency, morning diarrhoea resulting from kidney deficiency, and symptoms of yang deficiency and cold