Coptis chinensis / HUANG LIAN / Coptis Root

Botanical Name – Coptis chinensis

Chinese Name – HUANG LIAN

English Name – Coptis Root

Coptis chinensis,also known as coptis root or the Chinese goldthread, is a species of goldthread flowering plant native to China. It is a low-growing, creeping, perennial plant that is endemic to the cooler regions of Asia, most notably China. It can be found in damp coniferous woods and bogs. Forests, shaded places in valleys at elevations of 500 – 2000 metres.

Coptis chinensis is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called Huang Lian. The root contains berberine, a bright yellow pigment found in the roots, which can be used for dyeing.