Huanghai Cortex Phellodendri
The source is from the bark of a deciduous arbor, Phellodendrou amurense Rupr. or P. chinense Schneid, family Rutaceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Hebei, etc., P. chinense Schneid in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Yunnan, etc.. During April and May, the trees are barked and the rough skin is scraped, the left bark being dried in the sun. Usually the crude one is cut into pieces or thin pieces or further stir-baked with salt solution or with wine for medication.
Medicinal Properties Bitter in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the kidney, bladder and large intestine meridians.
Actions Clear away heat and remove dampness, purge the sthenic fire and eliminate toxic materials, reduce asthenia-heat and bone steaming.
Application
1. It is used for syndromes of dampness-heat type in the lower energizer and very effective in clearing away dampness and heat from the lower energizer. For yellow and thick leukorrhea due to damp-heat, it is usually combined with Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Qianshi ( Semen Euryales ), and Cheqianzi ( Semen Plantaginis ), etc., such as Yihuang Tang (Decoction). For dampness and heat of the bladder marked by dripping discharge of urine with pain, it is usually combined with Cheqianzi ( Semen Plantaginis ), Huashi ( Talcum ), Mutong (Caulis Akebiae) and others that can clear away heat, promote urination and treat stranguria. It is combined with Cangzhu ( Rhizoma Atractylodis ), Niuxi ( Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae), such as Sanmiao Wan (Pill) to treat beriberi and swelling and pain of foot and knees due to damp invasion of the lower energizer. For dysentery of damp-heat type, combined with Baitouweng (Radix Pulsatillae ) , Huanglian ( Rhizoma Coptidis ) , Qinpi ( Cortex Fraxini) and others that can clear away heat, eliminate dampness and toxin, such as Baitouweng Tang (Decoction); for jaundice and brownish urine due to dampness and heat, often combined with Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae), Yinchen (Herba Artemisiae Scopariae), etc., such as Zhizi Baipi Tang (Decoction).
2. For insufficiency of kidney yin and excessive kidney-fire manifested as hectic fever, night sweat, and emission, it is often combined with Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae ) , Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata), Shanyurou ( Fructus Corni ), etc., such as prescription of Zhi Bai Dihuang Wan (Pill).
3. It is used for pyocutaneous disease of heat type, carbuncle, furuncle, erysipelas, and burn, etc.. It is of ten used orally by combining it with Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), Zhizi ( Fructus Gardeniae ) and others that can clear away heat and relieve toxin, and externally used by covering its powder on the wounded area, or decocted for external washing.
Usage and Dosage 2 -12 g is used in decoction for oral use, or in pill or powder form. Just right amount is for external use. The crude one is usually used for clearing away heat, eliminating dampness and relieving toxin, the one stir-baked with salt solution is usually used for purging fire and expelling hectic fever, and the carbonized one for arresting bleeding.
Notes Being bitter in flavor and cold in nature, easily injures stomach-qi, so it is contraindicated in a case with deficiency and cold of the spleen and stomach.
Explanation Huanglian ( Rhizoma Coptidis ), Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) and Huangbai Cortex Phellodendri) are all bitter in flavor and cold in nature, all have the actions of clearing away heat, eliminating dampness, purging fire and relieving toxin, but Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) is good at clearing away heart or stomach fire, and more effective in relieving toxin; Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) is good at clearing away lungfire, and arresting bleeding and preventing miscarriage; Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri) dominates to clear away kidney-fire and dampness-heat of the lower energizer. Therefore, there has been a saying that Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) clears the fire of the upper-energizer, Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), the fire of the middle-energizer and Huangbai ( Cortex Phellodendri), the fire of the lower-energizer.
