Explanation of Gegen Qinlian Decoction Syndrome and Its Clinical Application

Abstract

Gegen Qinlian Decoction is one of the commonly used classical prescriptions, which consists of four herbs: Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Zhigancao Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle. The clinical application experience of Gegen Qinlian Decoction is as follows: first, according to Zhongjing Zhang's original text, heat distressing the large intestine with unresolved exterior syndrome is the original meaning of Gegen Qinlian Decoction syndrome. In clinical practice, bacillary dysentery, gastrointestinal cold, etc., belong to simultaneous exterior and interior disease, which are completely consistent with the original meaning of this prescription; second, the clinical digestive system diseases with exuberant heat of the large intestine as the core manifestation cannot be treated merely based on the exterior syndrome; third, due to the interior–exterior relationship between the lung and the large intestine and between the meridians, the use of Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) can make the source of body clear, and the waste qi can be released and the pore can be easily opened, so this prescription can also be used for exogenous fever; fourth, with multidimensional comprehensive understanding of the syndrome, pathogenesis, symptoms and pharmacology, Gegen Qinlian Decoction has also been further applied to the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, etc.