Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang
Star黄连温胆汤 (Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction)
Source: Liu Yin Tiao Bian (1852)
Last updated October 1, 2026
Description
Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang (Coptis Gallbladder-Warming Decoction), from Systematic Differentiation of the Six Etiologies (Liu Yin Tiao Bian).
Actions: Rectify qi, dissolve phlegm, clear heat, and harmonize the stomach
Indications: Indicated for the treatment of insomnia, dizziness, deficient restlessness, desire to vomit, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow and greasy coating, slippery, and rapid pulse caused by phlegm-heat harassing the interior
Category: Formulas That Dry Dampness and Dissolve Phlegm.
Source: Xi S, Gong Y. Essentials of Chinese Materia Medica and Medical Formulas: New Century Traditional Chinese Medicine. Academic Press/Elsevier, 2017, pp. 787–789.
Composition
| Herb | Amount | % | Role | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ban Xia
as printed: Rhizoma Pinelliae (ban xia) 9 g
|
9g | 17.31% | — | |
|
Zhu Ru
as printed: Caulis Bambusae in Taenia (zhu ru) 9 g
|
9g | 17.31% | — | |
|
Zhi Shi
as printed: Fructus Aurantii Immaturus (zhi shi) 9 g
|
9g | 17.31% | — | |
|
Chen Pi
as printed: Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (chen pi) 12 g
|
12g | 23.08% | — | |
|
Gan Cao
as printed: Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle (zhi gan cao) 5 g
|
5g | 9.62% | — | |
|
Fu Ling
as printed: Poria (fu ling) 5 g
|
5g | 9.62% | — | |
|
Huang Lian
as printed: Rhizoma Coptidis (huang lian) 3 g
|
3g | 5.77% | — |
Energetics dose-weighted
The formula's overall nature, taste balance and channel reach, weighted by each herb's dose. Classical formulas often pair warm and cool herbs on purpose, so a net figure summarises the mix — it doesn't describe every herb in it.
Nature
Net neutral (-0.06)
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Grams by band: cold 6%, cool 35%, neutral 19%, warm 40%.
Pairs warm and cool. 40% of the weighed grams are warm or hot and 40% cool or cold — the net is their average, not the whole story.
Small but decisive: Huang Lian 3g (cold, 6% of the grams). Dose weighting nearly cancels a herb this small, but it may be what the formula is for.
Taste
- pungent 35%
- sweet 32%
- sour 6%
- bitter 23%
- bland 5%
From 100% of the weighed grams.
Channels reached
- Spleen 83%
- Lung 77%
- Stomach 67%
- Heart 42%
- Large intestine 23%
- Gallbladder 23%
Share of the grams entering each channel, from 100% of the weighed grams.
Dose-weighted from each herb's recorded nature, taste and channels (missing values are left out, never counted as neutral). It describes the composition — it is not a recommendation.
Preparation
Decoct the ingredients with water for oral use
Relationships
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Formula family
Each entry reads as the larger formula written out: “+” adds its other catalogue cores, then the herbs none of them hold. A catalogue formula counts as a core only when at least 80% of its herbs are present, no more than 1 is absent, and the absent herb is not its chief.
Formula Network
Formulas that share herbs with this one — the closer to the centre, the stronger the match. Click a node to explore.
Similar Formulas by composition
Match score combines dosage-weighted composition (cosine, 70%) with shared-herb overlap (Jaccard, 30%).
Traditional formula information is for educational purposes only. Herbal formulas should be prescribed by a qualified practitioner — dosages and combinations are individualized and can interact with medications.
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