Hu Huang Lian (胡黄连) — Picrorhiza / Kutki
Hu Huang Lian is the Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic bridge herb — used for childhood accumulation-heat, steaming-bone tidal fever and Damp-Heat dysentery. Its Ayurvedic name is Kutki; its status as a hepatoprotective herb has grown with modern research.
On this page
- Overview
- Properties
- Actions and indications
- Dosage
- Cautions and incompatibilities
- Key formulas
- Treatment at my clinic
1. Overview
Hu Huang Lian (胡黄连) — Picrorhiza / Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa) — is a Chinese herb in the Clear Heat (Deficient Heat) category. I prescribe it as part of bespoke pharmaceutical-grade granule formulas from Sun Ten in Taiwan at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire and via online herbal consultations.
2. Properties
| Pinyin name | Hu Huang Lian |
|---|---|
| Chinese characters | 胡黄连 |
| Latin name | Picrorhiza kurroa |
| English name | Picrorhiza / Kutki |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels entered | Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine |
| Category | Clear Heat (Deficient Heat) |
3. Actions and indications
Principal actions
- Clears Empty-Heat and steaming-bone
- Clears childhood accumulation heat
- Clears Damp-Heat
Indications
- Steaming-bone tidal fever
- Malnutrition-related fever in children
- Damp-Heat dysentery
- Chronic hepatitis with Damp-Heat (modern)
4. Dosage
1.5–9g
5. Cautions and incompatibilities
- Contraindicated in Spleen-Cold
- Reduce dose in the very young
6. Key formulas
7. Treatment at my clinic
I prescribe Hu Huang Lian where its indications and TCM pattern match the patient’s presentation, always as part of a tailored formula. Return to the Chinese herbs directory or the Chinese herbal medicine main page.
