Shizhu Coptis

Shizhu Coptis

Shizhu Coptis is a geographical indication protected product.

Shizhu Coptis is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The most famous comes from Shizhu County, known as the “Hometown of Coptis.” Its roots are thick and sturdy, with a firm texture and reddish-yellow flesh. In the past, it was often presented as tribute to the imperial court and is known for its medicinal effects in clearing heat, removing dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying.

　　　Within Shizhu County, there are 16 townships, 30,000 farming households, and 100,000 coptis growers cultivating the plant. Currently, the perennial planting area of coptis exceeds 50,000 mu, with an annual production of 1,200 tons and an output value of 120 million yuan, accounting for over 60% of the national output. “Shizhu Coptis” is of high quality and enjoys a reputation both domestically and abroad. It is sold across the country and exported to more than ten countries and regions including North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau.

　　　The soil, water quality, and climate of Shizhu Huangshui are unique, making it the original growing region of coptis. The Northern Song Dynasty geographical compendium “Taiping Huanyu Ji” records that “Nanbin County (the ancient name of Shizhu) produced abundant coptis.” In November 2001, it was designated as a “Demonstration Base for High-Quality Traditional Chinese Medicine (Coptis) Planting in China” by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 1954, “Shizhu Coptis was listed as a state medicine” and subject to unified purchase and marketing, reaching over 630,000 jin that year, accounting for two-thirds of the national total. In the 23rd year of the Republic of China, the Bank of China’s publication “Medicinal Materials of Sichuan Province” noted: “Rhizoma Coptidis is only cultivated and exclusively produced in Shizhu.” On December 23, 2003, the “Protection of Origin for Shizhu Coptis” passed expert review, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued Announcement No. 144 on October 10, 2004. In 1989, at a national symposium on authentic medicinal materials held in Tai’an, Shandong, “Shizhu Coptis” was unanimously recognized as authentic coptis by 176 experts. In December 2003, it was designated as a “Chongqing Famous Agricultural Product” by the Chongqing Famous Agricultural Products Recognition Committee. In 1958, the Sichuan Provincial Government approved the establishment of the first national coptis planting farm and scientific research institute in Shizhu Huangshui. The GAP certification for Shizhu Coptis was passed by expert inspection and review from the GAP Certification Center of the State Food and Drug Administration on August 23–25, 2004.

　　【Alias】Coptis, Sichuan Coptis, Ginger Coptis, Sichuan Yellow Coptis, Ginger Yellow Coptis, Ginger Sichuan Coptis, Ginger-Processed Coptis, Evodia Coptis, Evodia Yellow Coptis, Stir-Fried Coptis, Evodia-Wu Coptis, Wine Coptis, Wine Yellow Coptis, Wine-Soaked Coptis, Pig Bile Stir-Fried Coptis, Salt Stir-Fried Coptis, Coptis Charcoal, Ginger Juice Stir-Fried Sichuan Coptis, Tail Coptis, etc.

　　　　 【Source】This product is the dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch. of the Ranunculaceae family, Coptis deltoidea C.Y.Cheng et Hsiao, or Coptis teeta Wall.

　　 　　 【Original Plants】1. Coptis: A perennial herb with branched rhizomes shaped like chicken claws. Basal leaves have long petioles; the leaf blade is ovate-triangular with three complete fissures, the central lobe is lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid, with serrated edges. There is one to two flower stems, terminal, with a cyme of 3–8 flowers. 2. Yunlian: The central lobe of the leaf is ovate-lanceolate or elongated-lanceolate, with 3–6 pairs of pinnately deep fissures.

　　 　　 【Properties and Meridians】Bitter, cold. Enters the heart, spleen, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and large intestine meridians.

　　　　 【Functions and Indications】Clears heat and dries dampness, purges fire and detoxifies. Used for damp-heat distension, vomiting, acid regurgitation, diarrhea, jaundice, high fever and delirium, excessive heart fire, restlessness and insomnia, blood heat with vomiting of blood or nosebleed, red eyes, toothache, diabetes, abscesses and boils; externally used for eczema, damp sores, and ear discharge. Wine-processed Coptis is good for clearing upper burner heat. Used for red eyes and mouth sores. Ginger-processed Coptis clears the stomach and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting. Used for cold-heat complex, damp-heat obstruction, distension and vomiting. Evodia-processed Coptis soothes the liver and harmonizes the stomach to stop vomiting. Used for liver-stomach disharmony, vomiting and acid regurgitation.

　　　　【Applications of Coptis】 　　1. For internal accumulation of damp-heat, gastrointestinal damp-heat, vomiting, diarrhea, and similar conditions. Combined with Scutellaria and Rhubarb, it can treat conditions of internal damp-heat. For damp-heat lingering in the gastrointestinal tract, it is often combined with Pinellia and Bamboo Shavings; with Aucklandia, Scutellaria, and Pueraria to treat diarrhea. 　　2. For febrile diseases with high fever, thirst and restlessness, blood heat causing bleeding, and heat-toxin sores. To treat febrile disease with high fever and excessive heart fire, it is combined with Gardenia and Forsythia; for blood heat causing bleeding, it can be combined with Scutellaria and Rhubarb; for heat-toxin sores, it can be combined with Red Peony Root and Tree Peony Bark. Additionally, Coptis can be used for stomach fire excess in middle-jiao consumption, combined with Trichosanthes Root, Anemarrhena, and Rehmannia; applied to the mouth, it treats mouth ulcers.

　　　　 【Usage and Dosage】Decoct and take 2–5g. Appropriate amount for external use.

　　　　 【Precautions】This product is extremely bitter and cold. Overuse or prolonged use may harm the spleen and stomach. Contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. Bitter-drying may damage fluids; use with caution for those with yin deficiency and fluid damage.