金银花 Jīn Yín Huā flos lonicerae japonic ae honeysuckle flower
[Addendum:忍冬藤 Rĕn Dōng Téng Caulis Lonicerae Japonicae
Honeysuckle Stem]
The source is from the flower bud of semi-evergreen voluble shrub
Lonicera japonica, Lonicera hypoglauca Miq, and other congeneric
species, family Caprifoliaceae. Alternate names include 忍冬花 Rěn Dōng Huā, 双花 Shuāng Huā, 二花 Èr Huā, and 银花 Yín Huā. Sweet in flavor and cold in nature.
[Actions] Clear heat and resolve toxin, and cool and dispel wind-heat. It
is applicable to treat carbuncles, swellings, boils, furuncles, pharyngitis, erysipelas, toxin dysentery, and fever in warm disease. This herb contains chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, cyclohexanhexol, luteolin, lonic- erin, and tannin. Its thick decoction has shown an antibacterial effect against typhoid bacillus, cholera vibrio, and hemolytic streptococcus, and inhibitory effect against shigella dysenteriae, pneumonia, diplococcus, corynebacterium diphtheriae, and human type tubercle bacillus. This medicinal has significant anti-inflammatory and immunity-regulatory effects. Experiments reveal that it can interact with the cholesterol to reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption.
[Quality] Dirt excluded, impurities removed, and dried under shade. Good
quality has many big, soft, pale yellow, unopened or just-opened flowers and is aromatic without branches and leaves. The herb produced in Henan is of good quality.
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[Indications]
1. Sores, carbuncles, swelling and toxins: Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae), potent in clearing heat and resolving toxin, is a commonly used medicinal in TCM external medicines and applicable for all sores and toxins of yang patterns marked by sudden onset with localized red- ness, swelling, hot sensation and pain. It is often combined with Zĭ Huā Dì Dīng (Herba Violae), Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae), Mŭ Dān Pí (Cortex Moutan), and Chì Sháo (Radix Paeoniae Rubra).
2. Throat swelling and pain: it is usually seen in acute infection of upper respiratory tract, or acute pharyngitis, and tonsillitis. Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) is often combined with Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae), Bò He (Herba Menthae), Jié Gĕng (Radix Platycodonis), and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) for swollen and painful throat with accompanying enlargement of lymph node in neck and fever. 3. Heat dysentery with stool containing blood: heat dysentery is caused
by damp-heat accumulation in the intestines and featured by sudden onset with stool containing mucous and blood and accompanying fever and red tongue with yellow greasy coating. Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) is prescribed together with Huáng Lián (Rhizoma Coptidis), Huáng Qín (Radix Scutellariae), and Bái Sháo (Radix Paeoniae Alba).
4. Wind-heat type of common cold and warm febrile disease: owning to its properties of clearing heat, resolving toxins, and scattering wind- heat, Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) is combined with Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae), Bò He (Herba Menthae), and Niú Bàng Zĭ (Fructus Arctii) for pathogens entering in the lung-wei level in the ini- tial stage of warm disease. It is also applicable when pathogenic heat transmits inwards to the interior in warm febrile disease. It, for instance, is used together with Shí Gāo ( Gypsum Fibrosum) and Zhī Mŭ (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) for pathogenic heat in qi level, and with Shēng Dì (Radix Rehmanniae) and Mŭ Dān Pí (Cortex Moutan) for pathogenic heat in blood level. Also used in the summerheat-heat pat- tern due to its fragrant flavor and effects of clearing heat and resolving summe rheat.
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[Usage and Dosage] Use raw in general, dry-fry until charred to treat
bloody dysentery. Use 3–12 g in decoction, and up to 30–60 g to clear heat and relieve toxin.
[Mnemonics] Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae, Honeysuckle Flower): sweet and cold; capable of dispersing wind-heat, clearing heat, relieving toxins, and curing sores and dysentery.
[Simple and Effective Formulas]
1. 银翘散 Yín Qiào Săn — Lonicera and Forsythia Powder from Systematic
Differentiation of Warm Diseases (温病条辨, Wēn Bìng Tiáo Biàn): Jīn
Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) 15 g, Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) 12 g, Jié Gĕng (Radix Platycodonis) 5 g, Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 3 g, Jīng Jiè (Herba Schizonepetae) 10 g, Niú Bàng Zĭ (Fructus Arctii) 10 g, Bò He (Herba Menthae) 5 g, Zhú Yè (Folium Phyllostachydis Henonis) 10 g, and Lú Gēn (Rhizoma Phragmitis) 12 g; decoct in water for oral administration to treat externally-contracted wind-heat pattern with fever, sweating, slight aversion to wind, throat pain, and rapid pulse. Also applicable for acute infection of the upper respiratory tract, common cold, pharyngitis, and pneumonia.
2. 回疮金银花散 — Huí Chuāng Jīn Yín Huā Săn — Honeysuckle Flower Powder for Curing Sores from Essentials for Health (Huó Fǎ Jī Yào, 活法机要): Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) 60 g, Huáng Qí (Radix Astragali) 30 g, and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 10 g; decoct in water for oral administration to treat sores and ulcers in purplish black color and with severe pain.
3. 治乳痈方 Zhì Rē Yōng Fāng — Healing Acute Mastitis Formula from
Empirical Formulas (经验方, Jīng Yàn Fāng): Jīn Yín Huā (Flos
Lonicerae Japonicae) 30 g, Lián Q iào (Fructus Forsythiae) 20 g, Pú Gōng Yīng (Herba Taraxaci) 20 g, Qīng Pí (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride) 5 g, Chén Pí (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) 10 g, and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 3 g; decoct in water for oral adminis- tration to treat acute mastitis.
[Precautions] The infusion of Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) is
superior to its decoction in terms of antibacterial effect, and therefore it
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should not be decocted for a long time. In experiment, Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) and Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) are complemen- tary to each other in terms of antibacterial action.
[Addendum] 忍冬藤忍冬藤 Rĕn Dōng Téng caulis lonicerae japonicae
honeysuckle stem
The source is from the stem and leaf of Lonicera japonica, also called 银花藤 Yín Huā Téng. Rĕn Dōng Téng (Caulis Lonicerae Japonicae) and Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) have similar flavors and actions. The former is often used to resolve heat-toxin abscesses, swelling, sores, and ulcers, and considered more effective than Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) decoction in antibacteria. Rĕn Dōng Téng (Caulis Lonicerae Japonicae) also can clear damp-heat in the channels and collaterals and thus is applicable to wind-heat-damp bì syndrome with red, swelling and painful joints. Use 10–20 g in general.
连翘
连翘 Lián Qiào fructus forsythiae weeping forsythia capsule
The source is from the fruit of deciduous undershrub Forsythiae suspense (Thunb.) Vahl, family Oleaceae. Alternate names include 连轺 Lián Yáo. Bitter in flavor and slightly cold in nature.
[Actions] Clear heat and resolve toxins, clear the heart, and alleviate
abscesses and dissipate masses. It is applicable for externally-contracted wind-heat or warm disease in early stage manifested as fever, headache, and thirst, or sores, ulcers, carbuncles, and swellings due to heat-toxin accumulation, or scrofula and tuberculosis. This herb contains forsythol, oleanolic acid, forsythoside, vitamin P, and volatile oil. It has shown a significantly inhibitory effect against staphylococcus aureus, shigella dysenteriae, hemolytic streptococcus, pneumonia, coccus, and typhoid bacillus. It can inhibit virus and tubercle bacillus. Its ingredient oleanolic acid has cardiotonic and diuretic effect, and vitamin P can increase capillary resistance. Experiments also show this substance has antipy- retic, antemetic, diuretic, and antihypertensive effects.
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[Quality] Impurities removed, kneaded off, and branches and peduncles
excluded. “Green” 青翘 Qīng Qiào is collected when the fruit has just begun to ripen, good quality is dry, green-brown, and complete without branches or stems. “Old” 老翘 Lǎo Qiào is collected when the fruit already ripened, the fruit should be dry, yellow with a pig petal and thick shell and without branches or stems.
[Indications]
1. Scrofula: Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) is prescribed together with Xià Kū Căo (Spica Prunellae), Mŭ Lì (Concha Ostreae), Bèi Mŭ (Bulbus Fritillaria), Xuán Shēn (Radix Scrophulariae), Chái Hú (Radix Bupleuri), Guĭ Jiàn Yŭ (Ramulus Euonymi), and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) for enlargement of lymph nodes and especially scrofula with accompanying body heat and sweating during sleep.
2. Carbuncles, swelling, sores and toxins: owning to its effect of clearing heat and resolving toxins, Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) is combined with Chì Sháo (Radix Paeoniae Rubra), Mŭ Dān Pí (Cortex Moutan), and Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) for carbuncles, swelling, sores and toxins with localized redness, swelling, hot sensation, pain and before pus formation; and with Pú Gōng Yīng (Herba Taraxaci) and Chuān Bèi Mŭ (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae) for mastitis and breast nodules. It can also be used topically in the form of fine powder in a combination with other medicinals that clear heat and resolve toxins.
3. Wind-heat pattern: Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) is combined with Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae), Zhī Zĭ (Fructus Gardeniae), and Bò He (Herba Menthae) for wind-warm at the initial stage with fever, sweating, throat pain, dizziness, vexation, and cough.
4. Heart fire patterns: L ián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) is potent in clearing heart fire and frequently combined with other medicinals that clear the heart such as Mài Dōng (Radix Ophiopogonis), Zhú Yè Xīn (Folium Pleioblasti), and Lián Xīn (Plumula Nelumbinis) for vexation, agita- tion, unconsciousness, and delirious speech associated with inward
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invasion of epidemic warm diseases heat into pericardium; with Shēng Dì (Radix Rehmanniae), Zhú Yè (Folium Phyllostachydis Henonis), Mù Tōng (Caulis Akebiae), and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) for ulcer in the mouth and tongue caused by hyperactiv- ity of heart fire. It is also effective in treating heat strangury and diffi- cult and painful urination due to heart heat transmitting to the small intestine.
[Usage and Dosage] Use raw in general, and its kernel is better at relieving
heart fire. Use 10–20 g in decoction.
[Mnemonics] Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae, Weeping Forsythia Capsule):
bitter and cold; clear heat, resolve toxins, especially good at clearing the heart, and dissipate sore and accumulation.
[Simple and Effective Formulas]
1. 连翘饮 Lián Qiào Yĭn — Forsythia Beverage from Book to Safeguard
Life Arranged by Categorized Patterns (类证活人书, Lèi Zhèng Huó
Rén Shū): Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) 12 g, Fáng Fēng (Radix Saposhnikoviae) 10 g, Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 3 g, and Zhī Zĭ (Fructus Gardeniae) 10 g; decoct in water for oral adminis- tration to treat pediatric heat patterns with symptoms and signs of fever, night sweating, sores, nosebleed, sore throat, vexation, and agitation.
2. 连翘汤 Lián Qiào Tāng — Forsythia Decoction from Empirical Formulas (经验方, Jīng Yàn Fāng): Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) 12 g, Xuán Shēn (Radix Scrophulariae) 12 g, Huáng Qín (Radix Scutellariae) 10 g, Chái Hú (Radix Bupleuri) 10 g, and Gān Căo (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae) 3 g; decoct in water for oral administration to treat enlargement of lymph node in the neck and armpit.
[Precautions] Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae), bitter and cold in nature,
should be used with caution in cases of pale tongue, cold body, and loose stool due to deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach. It is contraindi- cated in cases of deficiency pattern when carbuncle is ruptured with clean, thin, and light-colored pus.
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Daily practices
1. What are the similarities and differences between Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) and Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) in terms of actions and indications?
2. What are the similarities and differences between such heat-clearing and toxin-relieving medicinals as Jīn Yín Huā (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae) and Lián Qiào (Fructus Forsythiae) and these heat-clearing and fire-draining medicinals in terms of indications ?
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CHAPTER 4