Evidence supporting the use of: Coptis chinensis
For the body system: Pancreas Head

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Table of Contents

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread, Huang Lian) is an important herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Its primary traditional uses involve clearing heat, drying dampness, and purging fire, particularly in the context of digestive and metabolic disorders. In TCM, the pancreas is not identified as an organ system per Western medicine, but the concepts of “Spleen” and “Stomach” function overlap with pancreatic activity, including digestion, glucose metabolism, and insulin regulation. Coptis chinensis is traditionally prescribed for symptoms like abdominal fullness, diarrhea, dysentery, and other digestive disturbances, which may be interpreted by some practitioners as supporting the pancreas.

From a scientific standpoint, Coptis chinensis contains berberine, an alkaloid with documented effects on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Modern research has shown that berberine can help lower blood glucose and improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, suggesting a plausible mechanistic link to pancreatic function. However, the use of Coptis chinensis specifically to “support the pancreas head body system” is primarily justified by traditional use, as most clinical and pharmacological studies focus on metabolic syndrome and diabetes rather than direct support or treatment of pancreatic health or disease. Thus, while there is some overlap in the rationale, the evidence for direct pancreatic support is limited, and its use for this purpose is mainly rooted in tradition rather than rigorous scientific validation.

More about Coptis chinensis
More about Pancreas Head