Huang Qin is the root of Baikal Skullcap-- it is not the same skullcap that is a native of North America. It is one of the Fifty Fundamental herbs in Chinese medicine. I still haven't found a reliable list for these fifty herbs, but Wikipedia does have one list, which can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbology#50_fundamental_herbs
Huang Qin is useful because it works on both the lower and upper burner. It travels to the metal element channels of both the Lung and Large Intestine, as well as the Stomach and Gallbladder (so, actually, it goes to middle burner as well!).
Since it is considered bitter and cold, it cools heat and dries dampness in these areas. It is also good for stopping bleeding and calming a restless fetus. This herb does not seem to lend itself well to a clever story. Or maybe I am just out of clever herb stories. I just keep thinking of how much both Dennis and Emily impressed that this is one important herb, and to know it well. So right now I plopped a few pieces of it into my tea, in the hopes that its cooling heat and drying damp function will get rid a zit the size of Jupiter that landed on my chin as a result of eating a lot of tasty sinful food on my recent vacation--ice cream, french fries, lobster, beer. However, my ever struggling spleen is not suited for the cold nature of this herb and I'm about to go for a run, hopefully I won't be running for the toilet!
Reviewing its functions, the heat clearing / damp drying function doesn't seem to have anything to do with zits. This function is for lower burner damp heat manifesting as dysentery / diarrhea, painful urinary dribbling, and upper burner damp heat manifesting as fever, thirst (heat) with no ability to drink (damp), and a stifling sensation in the chest. In the upper burner it also resolves toxic heat manifesting as a cough with yellow sputum, high fever, thirst and irritability.
If you have chaotic bleeding due to heat, the cooling nature of this herb will help relieve that problem (coughing blood, bloody nose, intestinal abscesses).
If there is a risk of miscarriage due to heat, Huang Qin will "calm fetal restlessness."
And finally, working with GB channel, it will sedate Liver Yang manifesting as headache, irritability, red eyes, and hypertension.
As one of the fifty most effective Chinese herbs, it is being studying a lot by Western scientists and has been reported to be antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and hepatoprotective. I don't think it will so much help my big zit, though. Maybe?
It is reported to be easy to grow. It has lovely late summer flowers:
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