Chinese: 莲朴饮
Pinyin: Lián Pǔ Yǐn
Other names: Coptis Magnolia Decoction, Coptis and Magnolia Bark Drink, Goldthread Magnolia Decoction,
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AsthmaTyphoidParatyphoid and three other conditions
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Dampness
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Middle Burner
Contraindications: Indicated only for Damp-Heat type disorders. It must not be used where the... Indicated only for Damp-Heat type disorders. It must not be used where the symptoms that characterize the disorder are due to Damp-Cold. see more
Source date: 1862 AD
Source book: Discussion of Sudden Turmoil Disorders
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Lian Po Yin is a 7-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian) and Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1862 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Heat and expel dampness. Its main actions are: 1) clears Heat and 2) transforms Dampness.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Lian Po Yin is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Damp-Heat invading the Spleen, Damp-Heat in the Stomach or Damp-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as gastroenteritis, typhoid or paratyphoid for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the seven ingredients in Lian Po Yin, we review the patterns and conditions that Lian Po Yin helps treat.
The seven ingredients in Lian Po Yin
Huang Lian is a king ingredient in Lian Po Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLarge intestineLiverSpleenStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and dry Dampness
In general Huang Lian's main actions are as follows: "Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites"
In the context of Lian Po Yin, it is used because it drains Heat and dries Dampness in the Middle-Burner.
Hou Pu is a king ingredient in Lian Po Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Houpu Magnolia Bark (Hou Pu)
Part used: Dried stem bark, root bark or branch bark
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: LungSpleenStomach
Category: Aromatic herbs that transform Dampness
Hou Pu is one of the most effective herbs for transforming Dampness and promoting the movement of Qi, especially in the Middle Burner
Zhi Zi is a deputy ingredient in Lian Po Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Cape Jasmine Fruits (Zhi Zi)
Part used: Dried ripe fruit
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: GallbladderHeartLungSanjiao
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
In general Zhi Zi's main actions are as follows: "Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory."
In the context of Lian Po Yin, it is used because it clears the Heat stagnating in the chest and epigastrium.
Dan Dou Chi is a deputy ingredient in Lian Po Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
4. Fermented Soybeans (Dan Dou Chi)
Part used: Fermented preparation obtain from the ripe bean
Nature: Cool
In general Dan Dou Chi's main actions are as follows: "Relieves the Exterior and scatters Wind, Cold and Heat, especially when there is Yin Deficiency. Relieves stuffy sensation in the chest and irritability."
In the context of Lian Po Yin, it is used because it clears the Heat stagnating in the chest and epigastrium.
Shi Chang Pu is a deputy ingredient in Lian Po Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
5. Sweetflag Rhizomes (Shi Chang Pu)
Part used: Dried rhizome
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: StomachHeartLiver
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
In general Shi Chang Pu's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Orifices, awakens the Mind (Shen) and expels Wind-Damp Phlegm. Harmonizes the Earth element and dispels Damp. Applied internally or externally for Wind-Cold-Damp painful obstruction."
In the context of Lian Po Yin, it is used because it transforms Dampness and revives the Spleen.
Ban Xia is a deputy ingredient in Lian Po Yin. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
6. Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia)
Part used: Dried rhizome and tuber
Nature: Warm
Taste(s): Pungent
Ban Xia dries Dampness and is very effective in directing the Rebellious Stomach Qi downward, thereby stopping vomiting and/or nausea
Lu Gen is an assistant ingredient in Lian Po Yin. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
7. Common Reed Rhizomes (Lu Gen)
Part used: Fresh or dried rhizome
Nature: Cold
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: LungStomach
Category: Herbs that clear Heat and purge Fire and/or clear Summer Heat
Lu Gen clears and transforms Damp-Heat, generates Fluids, harmonizes the Stomach, and stops vomiting and/or nausea.
Conditions and patterns for which Lian Po Yin may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Lian Po Yin is used by TCM practitioners to treat four different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Gastroenteritis Typhoid Paratyphoid Peptic ulcers Asthma Acute viral hepatitis
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Lian Po Yin treats gastroenteritis" for instance. Rather, Lian Po Yin is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind gastroenteritis.
Now let's look at the four patterns commonly treated with Lian Po Yin.
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Oily sweat Poor appetite Dull headache Feeling of heat Low-grade fever Nausea or vomiting Feeling of heaviness Scanty and dark urine Dull-yellow complexion Yellow sclera of the eyes Bitter taste in the mouth Loose stools with foul smell Burning sensation in the anus Itchy skin and skin eruptions Abdominal and epigastric pain Thirst without a desire to drink Abdominal and epigastric fullness
Lian Po Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat invading the Spleen. This pattern leads to symptoms such as poor appetite, feeling of heaviness, thirst without a desire to drink and nausea or vomiting. Patients with Damp-Heat invading the Spleen typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses.
This pattern is essentially the same as Cold-Damp invading the Spleen except that in this case there is Heat.
Many of the symptoms are due to Dampness: the feeling of fullness and heaviness, the nausea, the sticky tongue coating and the Slippery pulse.
The symptoms that indicate Heat are the foul... read more about Damp-Heat invading the Spleen
The Stomach is a so-called "Fu" Organ. Learn more about the Stomach in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in the Stomach
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Symptoms: Nausea Facial pain Blocked nose Epigastric pain Feeling of heat Epigastrium fullness Feeling of heaviness Thick nasal discharge Dull-yellow complexion Sticky taste in the mouth Thirst without a desire to drink
Lian Po Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat in the Stomach. This pattern leads to symptoms such as epigastric pain, epigastrium fullness, feeling of heaviness and facial pain. Patients with Damp-Heat in the Stomach typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or slippery (Hua) pulses.
In this pattern Dampness obstructs the Stomach, which prevents the descending of Stomach Qi and causes nausea and a feeling of fullness of the epigastrium.
The Stomach Channel connects to the face so the Dampness also leads to the symptoms of facial pain, blocked nose and thick nasal discharge.... read more about Damp-Heat in the Stomach
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat
Pulse type(s): Soggy (Ru)
Symptoms: Acne Fever Thirst Fatigue Hot body Headaches No thirst Dry mouth Dizziness Red urine Joint pain Heavy head Late period Restlessness Loose stools Heavy periods Poor appetite Chest pressure Feeling of heat Sore lower back Vaginal itching Aversion to cold Frequent sighing Vaginal discharge Abdominal fullness Frequent urination Swollen neck glands Abdominal tightness Sore and weak limbs Feeling of heaviness Lower abdominal pain Scanty dark urination Thick menstrual blood Scanty and dark urine Trichomonas infection Irregular menstruation Thermophilus infection Feeling of bearing down Purplish menstrual blood Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Sticky taste in the mouth Bitter taste in the mouth Small clots in menstrual blood Yellow or brown vaginal discharge Stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium
Lian Po Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swollen neck glands, headaches and stifling sensation in the chest and epigastrium. Patients with Damp-Heat typically exhibit soggy (Ru) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Damp-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
The general symptoms of Damp-Heat are the heaviness of the body and head as well as low temperature fever rising in the afternoon. The patients are not hot on... read more about Damp-Heat
The Spleen is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Spleen in Chinese Medicine
Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Soggy (Ru)
Symptoms: Nausea Loose stools Feeling of heaviness of the head and body A feeling of oppression in chest and epigastrium Continuous fever which does not reduce with sweating
Lian Po Yin is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen. This pattern leads to symptoms such as feeling of heaviness of the head and body, a feeling of oppression in chest and epigastrium, nausea and loose stools. Patients with Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or soggy (Ru) pulses.
This is one of the five patterns of the Qi level, the second level of the Four Levels theory.
Here Damp-Heat causes sweating but, while it might give the impression it abates the fever, it comes back soon afterwards. The reason is because sweat comes from the space between the skin and muscles but... read more about Damp-Heat in Stomach and Spleen
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