【Herb Name】Honeysuckle jinyinhua
【Alias】Ren Dong Hua, Shuang Hua, Er Hua, Yin Hua, Lu Ge Hua, Jin Hua, Shuang Bao Hua, Jin Teng Hua.
【English Name】Lonicerae Japonicae Flos.
【Medicinal Part】The flower buds of the plant Lonicera japonica Thunb. from the Caprifoliaceae family.
【Plant Morphology】A perennial semi-evergreen woody vine. The old stems are brown, while the young branches are green and densely covered with soft hairs. The leaves are opposite and ovate. Flowers grow in pairs in the axils; the corolla is white when first opened, turning yellow later, covered with soft hairs and glandular hairs; the corolla tube is long and slender, with the upper lip having 4 shallow lobes and the lower lip narrow and not lobed; there are 5 stamens that extend beyond the corolla; the ovary is inferior. The berries are spherical and turn black when ripe. The flowering period is from April to June, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
【Distribution】Grows in hills, forest edges, and by fences; widely cultivated. Distributed in most regions of the country.
【Harvesting and Processing】Harvest in early summer before the flowers bloom, remove impurities, and dry.
【Herb Characteristics】The herb Honeysuckle is rod-shaped, thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom, slightly curved. The surface is yellow-green and densely covered with short soft hairs. The calyx is green with a 5-lobed tip. The open flowers have a tubular corolla with a two-lipped tip; there are 5 yellow stamens attached to the tube wall; the pistil is single with a hairless ovary. It has a fragrant aroma, with a mild and slightly bitter taste.
【Nature and Taste】Cold in nature, sweet in taste. It enters the Lung (Fei) meridian, Heart (Xin) meridian, and Stomach (Wei) meridian.
【Functions and Indications】Clears heat and detoxifies, disperses wind-heat. It belongs to the category of heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs.
【Clinical Applications】Dosage is 6-15 grams, decocted in water; or used in pills or powders. For external use: appropriate amount, pounded and applied. Used to treat carbuncles, sore throat, erysipelas, heat-toxicity blood dysentery, wind-heat colds, and febrile diseases. Currently, it is often made into various preparations for treating throat inflammation, tuberculosis with respiratory infections, pneumonia, bacterial dysentery, surgical purulent infections, cervical erosion, and acute ophthalmic inflammation.
【Pharmacological Research】Exhibits antimicrobial, antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic properties, promotes phagocytosis of inflammatory cells, lowers blood lipids, central nervous system stimulation, anti-fertility effects, prevents gastric ulcers, and stimulates uterine activity. In vitro experiments show that Honeysuckle decoction and alcohol extract have certain inhibitory effects on various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. The water decoction, water extract, and purified liquid of Honeysuckle demonstrate good bactericidal and inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans, with the antibacterial effect increasing significantly with concentration.
【Chemical Composition】Contains chlorogenic acid, inositol (1%), volatile oils, terpenes, phenolic acids, and other chemical components, including compounds such as chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid, β-sitosterol, and others.
【Contraindications】Use with caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold and ulcers belonging to Yin conditions.
【Formulations】① For severe pain from ulcers with purple-black discoloration: Honeysuckle with branches and leaves (chopped) 60 grams, Astragalus 120 grams, Licorice 30 grams. Finely chop, add one liter of wine, place in a closed container, and simmer for 3-2 hours, strain, and take immediately. (From “Essential Techniques of Healing”) Honeysuckle Powder for ulcers.
② For furuncles, sores, and pain relief: Honeysuckle 120 grams, Licorice (fried) 30 grams. Grind into coarse powder, take 12 grams each time, decoct with one cup of water and wine until reduced to one cup, strain, and take warm. (From “Treasures of Health”)
③ For early-stage furuncles: Honeysuckle 240 grams, water ten bowls, decoct until reduced to two bowls, add 60 grams of Angelica, and decoct until reduced to one bowl, take all at once. (From “Secrets of the Cave”) Angelica Flower Decoction.
④ For breast abscesses with severe pain: Honeysuckle, Angelica, Astragalus (honey-fried), Licorice each 7.5 grams. Prepare as one dose, decoct in water, add half a cup of wine, and take warm after meals. (From “Essentials of Yin”) Honeysuckle Powder.
⑤ For long-standing breast lumps that are red and draining: Honeysuckle and Astragalus (raw) each 15 grams, Angelica 24 grams, Licorice 5.4 grams, and 50 pieces of bitter orange leaves, decoct in equal parts of water and wine. (From “Bamboo Forest Gynecology”) Honeysuckle Decoction.
Use medication with caution, please follow medical advice!（Source: Internet）