Coptis
Coptis chinensis · 黄连
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Huang lian, Chinese goldthread, Golden thread, Coptis rhizome
Pinyin: Huáng lián
Avoid in newborns and pregnancyA bright yellow rhizome with an intense bitter taste, used in Chinese medicine for heat, stomach upset and diarrhea.
Did you know? The root is yellow because it contains berberine, the same yellow chemical that has long been used to dye cloth.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Used in tradition for diarrhea and stomach heat. Berberine trials for diarrhea exist, but trials of the whole root are lacking.Traditional proof
- Blood sugar. Berberine, a coptis chemical, has many small trials for blood sugar with mixed quality. Trials of the whole root are lacking.Traditional proof
- Infections. Lab studies show it can fight some bacteria, fungi and parasites. Human proof for the root is lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Gut & intestines, Stomach, Pancreas & blood sugar, Immune system
Traditional use
Traditional Chinese Medicine has used coptis for fevers, mouth and gum sores, stomach heat with acid and vomiting, and diarrhea. It is a key herb in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang and Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill).
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Bitter, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory. Energy: cooling.
- Chinese medicine
- 黄连 Clear heat. Nature: cold. Flavour: bitter. Enters the Heart, Spleen, Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder and Large Intestine channels.
How people take it
Traditional doses are about 2 to 5 grams of dried rhizome. Berberine studies usually give about 0.9 to 1.5 grams a day in divided doses. Whole-herb doses are not well studied.
Decoction, capsule, tincture and powder.
Where to get it
Grows in mountain forests of southwestern China. Dried rhizomes are sold in herb shops, and berberine capsules are sold online. Goldenseal and barberry are other common sources of berberine.
Be careful
The root is very bitter and can upset the stomach. Large doses may cause diarrhea. Berberine can raise bilirubin in newborns and has been linked to a dangerous form of jaundice, so avoid coptis in newborns and in pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; newborns.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Detoxifying Decoction) combines them with phellodendron and gardenia for heat and fever.
- Works well together
Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill) pairs coptis with evodia at about six to one for stomach heat with acid and vomiting.
- Works well together
Also in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a classic formula for heat and infection symptoms.
- Works well together
Also in Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, for heat and restlessness.
- Works well together
Mu xiang and coptis are paired in Xiang Lian Wan (Costus and Coptis Pill) for stomach and bowel upset.
- Works well together
Coptis root is the classic Chinese source of berberine.
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Berberine can lower blood sugar. With diabetes medicines, the drop may be too strong, so check glucose more often.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
Found in these formulas
Coptis Detox Decoction (TCM)
The honest take
Coptis is a famous bitter herb in Chinese medicine, and its main chemical, berberine, has been tested in many small human trials. Berberine results for blood sugar are mixed, and whole-root studies are scarce. Claims about diarrhea and infection are mostly traditional or lab-based.