Hu Huang Lian
Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell
β― TCM Properties
Clears Deficiency Heat and Reduces Steaming Bone Disorder; Clears Childhood Nutritional Impairment Heat; Clears Damp-Heat; Cools the Blood
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora is a small alpine perennial herb of the family Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae) restricted to rocky meadows, screes and moist humus-rich slopes at 3500-4500 m in the eastern Himalaya, Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. From a stout, creeping, dark brown rhizome up to 15 cm long and 0.5-1 cm thick it produces a basal rosette of spathulate to obovate leaves 5-15 cm long with sharply serrate margins and prominent reticulate venation. A leafless erect scape 15-30 cm tall bears a dense terminal spike of small, five-lobed, purplish-blue to violet tubular flowers with exserted stamens, blooming in summer. The fruit is an ovoid two-valved capsule containing numerous small ridged seeds. The rhizome, harvested in autumn, is hard, fibrous, intensely bitter and yellow-brown in cross-section.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | β | β | β |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Hu Huang Lian (picrorhiza rhizome) is a strongly bitter, cold herb that clears deficiency heat from the bones β the steaming-type heat of chronic Yin deficiency β as well as damp heat from the intestines and digestive tract. It is used for childhood malnutrition with fever, chronic low-grade fever from Yin deficiency, and Damp-Heat digestive conditions including dysentery and hemorrhoids. Its potent bitter-cold nature requires cautious use in those with weak digestion.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.