Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua, also known as Ren Dong, Er Hua, Shuang Hua, Yin Hua, Jin Chai Gu, Lao Weng Xu, Tong Ling Cao)
Honeysuckle is the dried flower buds or newly opened flowers of the plant Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), Lonicera macranthoides, or Lonicera confusa. It can be cultivated or found in the wild, with major production in Henan and Shandong provinces. The original plant grows in sparse forests, shrublands, along roadsides, and in open fields. It prefers a mild and humid climate, enjoys ample sunlight, is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, and flood-resistant, and has no strict soil requirements, being tolerant of saline-alkaline conditions. It has a sweet taste and a cold nature, entering the Lung (Fei), Heart (Xin), and Stomach (Wei) meridians. Its effects include clearing heat and detoxifying, as well as dispersing wind-heat. Clinical names include Honeysuckle (Yin Hua, Shuang Hua) and Honeysuckle Charcoal.
【Materia Medica Overview】
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing”: It has a sweet taste, is warm, and non-toxic. It is used to treat cold and heat syndromes, and body swelling.
According to the “Bencao Shiyi”: It is indicated for heat toxins, blood dysentery, and watery dysentery, taken in concentrated decoction.
According to the “Yaoxing Lun”: It can also be used alone, with a spicy taste. It is indicated for abdominal distension and can stop gas from descending.
According to the “Kaibao Bencao”: It has a sweet taste, is warm, and non-toxic. It is used for cold and heat body swelling.
According to the “Dian Nan Bencao”: It has a bitter taste and a cold nature. It clears heat, detoxifies various sores, and treats carbuncles, unnamed swellings, and dan tumors. It can also relieve abdominal distension, eliminate phlegm, dispel wind-heat, and clear throat heat and pain.
According to the “Bencao Mengquan”: It has a sweet taste and a warm nature. It is non-toxic. It often grows in fields or gardens. It does not wither in winter, hence its name. It climbs on trees, with many vines twisting leftward, thus also called Left Twisting Vine. The stem is slightly purple, and the leaves resemble those of the vine and are green. It blooms in April, with a strong fragrance. Initially, the flowers are white, turning yellow over time. Therefore, it is also called Honeysuckle, Egret Vine, Jin Chai Gu, and Lao Weng Xu. The various names reflect the beauty of its unusual vines and flowers. The roots, stems, flowers, and leaves can be harvested at any time (flowers and leaves in spring and summer, roots and stems in autumn and winter). It is specifically used to treat carbuncles and is indeed a crucial medicine. If not fully formed, it disperses, and has great detoxifying power; if fully formed, it can promote healing. It can be crushed and mixed with wine for immediate consumption, or ground and mixed with wine for topical application. It can also be decocted with other herbs, adjusting the dosage according to the condition. The “Bie Shuo” also states: It is effective against five types of flying corpses, and can also be taken if struck by a ghost causing pain. It treats blood dysentery and watery dysentery. It dispels wind and dampness. Elderly people who take it for a long time can lighten their bodies and prolong their lives.
According to the commentary: This herb is abundant and produced everywhere. Patients suffering from carbuncles and toxins do not want to part with it; elderly people seeking longevity often overlook it. Everyone desires longevity, yet they often seek rare and hard-to-find medicines, which reflects a common human tendency to value the distant over the near.
According to the “Bencao Gangmu”: Honeysuckle, with stems and leaves, has the same functions. Ancient people referred to it as a crucial medicine for treating wind and relieving distension, detoxifying dysentery, but later generations have forgotten its use. Later generations refer to its ability to reduce swelling and detoxify as its main function, which ancient people did not mention. This shows that the principles of ancient and modern medicine can vary greatly and should not be treated as identical. Chen Ziming in “Essentials of Surgery” states: Honeysuckle wine treats carbuncles and boils; it should be taken at the first sign of onset, and its effects are remarkable, surpassing those of Hong Nei Xiao. Hong Mai and Shen Kuo have detailed records of various prescriptions. It treats all types of ghostly afflictions, wind, dampness, and all swellings and toxins. It detoxifies and relieves heat. Ancient people referred to it as a crucial medicine for treating wind and relieving distension, detoxifying dysentery, but later generations have forgotten its use. Later generations refer to its ability to reduce swelling and detoxify as its main function, which ancient people did not mention.
According to the “Bencao Jing Shu”: Honeysuckle, also known as Jin Yin Hua. The vine is also called Egret Vine. It absorbs the energy of the earth and the spring energy of heaven, hence its sweet taste, slightly cold and non-toxic. It treats cold and heat body swelling, and long-term use can lighten the body and prolong life. The sweet taste can nourish blood, and the sweet nature can harmonize the center, while the slightly cold nature generates energy. The flavor and properties are appropriate for its indications.
According to the “Leigong Paozhi Yaoxing Jie”: Honeysuckle has a bitter and sweet taste, is neutral, slightly cold, non-toxic, and enters the Lung meridian. It treats heat toxins, blood dysentery, dispels carbuncles, detoxifies, nourishes deficiency, and treats wind. Long-term use prolongs life.
It is noted that Honeysuckle resolves skin toxins, thus entering the Lung meridian, making it a crucial medicine for sores. Tao Yinj居 states that long-term use promotes longevity, yet many overlook it, seeking rare medicines instead, which reflects a common human tendency to value the distant over the near.
According to the “Bencao Chengya Banji”: (from the superior category)
【Flavor and Properties】 Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】 Treats cold and heat body swelling. Long-term use lightens the body and prolongs life.
【Summary】 It is found everywhere. The vine twists leftward, covering trees and plants, or growing between fences. The stem is slightly purple, with opposite leaves. The leaves resemble those of the vine and are green, with fine hairs. In March and April, the flowers bloom, about an inch long, with two flowers on one stem, uneven in size, resembling half a flower. Initially, the petals are white; after three days, they gradually turn golden yellow. The new and old flowers mix, yellow and white interspersed, with a fragrant aroma. It does not change in dry or wet conditions. The flowers are called Honeysuckle, Jin Chai Gu, Lao Weng Xu; the vine is called Yuanyang, Egret, Left Twisting, Honey Bucket; collectively known as Honeysuckle, Tong Ling Cao.
【Summary】 The vine twists leftward, with two flowers on one stem, two petals on one flower, representing the yang beginning in the two yin below, symbolizing the thunder. Only Honeysuckle can achieve this, thus it is indicated for flying corpses, escaping corpses, wind corpses, sinking corpses, and corpse afflictions. It can restore what harms the body, shaking and opening it. If there is cold and heat body swelling, as well as wind, dampness, and ghostly afflictions, it can still be effective.
According to the “Bencao Yidu”: Honeysuckle. Commonly known as clean flower, with leaves called hairy flower. It is spicy, sweet, slightly bitter, and non-toxic. It reduces fever, detoxifies, nourishes blood, quenches thirst, treats wind, and eliminates dampness. It treats heat toxins, blood dysentery, intestinal masses, and carbuncles. It is found everywhere. It attaches to trees and extends its vines, with slightly purple stems, opposite leaves. The leaves resemble those of the vine and are green, with fine hairs. In March and April, the flowers bloom, about an inch long, with two flowers on one stem, one large and one small, both white, turning yellow after two or three days. The new and old flowers mix, yellow and white interspersed, hence the name Honeysuckle. Flowers are harvested in April, and the vines and leaves can be harvested at any time.
According to the “Jingyue Quanshu”: It has a sweet taste, is neutral, and slightly cold. It is good at transforming toxins, thus treating carbuncles, swelling, and skin diseases, as well as various toxins. It can disperse unformed toxins and can also promote the healing of formed toxins. However, its nature is mild, and it must be used in larger quantities. It can be boiled in wine, or the juice can be mixed with wine for immediate consumption, or ground and mixed with wine for thick application. For treating scrofula and toxins in the upper body, use one or two liang, and regularly decoct for best results.
According to the “Yaoxing Jie”: Honeysuckle has a bitter and sweet taste, is neutral, slightly cold, non-toxic, and enters the Lung meridian. It treats heat toxins, blood dysentery, dispels carbuncles, detoxifies, nourishes deficiency, and treats wind.
It is noted that Honeysuckle resolves skin toxins, thus entering the Lung meridian, making it a crucial medicine for sores. Tao Yinj居 states that long-term use promotes longevity, yet many overlook it, seeking rare medicines instead, which reflects a common human tendency to value the distant over the near.
According to the “Bencao Xinpian”: Honeysuckle, also known as Ren Dong Vine. It has a sweet taste, is warm, and non-toxic. It enters the Heart, Spleen, Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians, affecting all organs. It is a divine product for detoxification. If toxins are not formed, it disperses; if toxins are formed, it can eliminate them, and it can revive those on the brink of death. Therefore, for carbuncles and boils, this medicine is essential. However, its sweet and mild nature means it is also nourishing, and while it is good at detoxifying, its effects are slow, requiring larger doses. (Honeysuckle’s detoxifying effects are indeed well-established.)
For treating carbuncles, use seven to eight liang, add five qian of licorice and two liang of angelica, decoct as one dose, and there has never been a case where it did not disperse immediately. For other toxins on the body, head, or feet, reduce the dosage by half, and it will still be effective. In modern times, many recognize the use of Honeysuckle for treating carbuncles, but they dare not use half a jin. They do not realize that the external appearance of carbuncles may be small, but the internal condition is severe; without using this heavy dosage, the toxins are not easily eliminated. Moreover, Honeysuckle is less effective in small doses and more effective in larger doses, especially since it is better at nourishing than attacking, detoxifying without depleting qi and blood. No other medicine surpasses Honeysuckle in detoxifying. Therefore, whether at the onset or after pus formation, or in cases of sudden changes, it is essential to use the previous prescription, and there is no doubt it will bring the dead back to life. Do not be surprised by the heavy dosage; do not doubt it unnecessarily. If you find Honeysuckle too much and difficult to decoct, you can first take ten bowls of water, decoct to extract the juice of Honeysuckle, then decoct angelica and licorice, which is indeed a proper method. As for ghostly afflictions causing pain, it can also treat minor cases. It stops dysentery, eliminates heat, and prolongs life, which should not be doubted.
Or if one asks, Honeysuckle detoxifies, but can it also nourish? One might be confused by the “Bencao”‘s statement about prolonging life. It is said that Honeysuckle’s nourishing properties indeed exceed its detoxifying properties. Detoxifying medicines generally disperse qi, but Honeysuckle not only does not disperse qi but can also nourish it, and is especially good at nourishing yin. However, in small doses, it nourishes more than it detoxifies; in larger doses, it detoxifies more than it nourishes. Therefore, among detoxifying medicines, none surpasses Honeysuckle. If one doubts that Honeysuckle is a medicine for prolonging life, it should not be used. The purest products can be taken long-term to prolong life, while those with strong flavors should only be used temporarily for effect. Honeysuckle should be used primarily for detoxification and not for nourishing deficiency. If one is confused by the idea of prolonging life, believing Honeysuckle to be a nourishing medicine, I would advise people to take it long-term to assist in longevity, rather than merely focusing on detoxification.
Or if one asks, many people know that Honeysuckle detoxifies, but none have praised it as much as you. Do you wish to highlight its extraordinary qualities without considering the implications? I say: Honeysuckle’s detoxifying effects are indeed not limited to what I have mentioned. Honeysuckle enters all meridians, but it particularly affects the Kidney and Stomach meridians. Toxins can be categorized into two types: yin and yang. Yang refers to the Stomach, while yin refers to the Kidney. When yang transforms into yin, it means the Stomach’s toxins enter the Kidney; when yin transforms into yang, it means the Kidney’s toxins enter the Stomach. Detoxifying products either specifically purge the yangming Stomach meridian or the shaoyin Kidney meridian. To find a medicine that can detoxify both Stomach and Kidney toxins, there is no second option besides Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle can eliminate toxins from the Stomach without allowing them to re-enter the Kidneys; it can also eliminate toxins from the Kidneys without allowing them to flow back into the Stomach. Honeysuckle can act preemptively to eliminate toxins and can also attack when necessary, and it is especially good at concluding matters and gathering effects.
Or if one doubts that Honeysuckle’s nature is very mild, yet carbuncles and toxins are urgent, how can its effects be so significant? Is it not a method of treating urgent conditions with a mild approach? I say: Carbuncles and toxins are urgent, and the treatment method is not merely to save a fire; how can it be treated with a mild approach? Honeysuckle’s nature is mild, but when used to treat carbuncles, it becomes urgent. Moreover, using four to five liang, up to half a jin or a jin, will make its power more focused and its energy more vigorous, which is indeed urgent treatment for urgent conditions.
According to the “Bencao Beiyao”: It clears heat and detoxifies. Sweet and cold, it enters the Lung. It disperses heat and detoxifies (clearing heat is detoxifying), nourishes deficiency (all sweet flavors nourish), treats wind, and quenches thirst (Danxi states: After carbuncles and boils, if one experiences thirst, Huangqi Liuyi Decoction with Honeysuckle pills is appropriate. Honeysuckle nourishes blood, Huangqi nourishes qi; how can thirst arise?). It treats carbuncles, skin diseases, blood dysentery, and five types of corpse afflictions. It does not wither in winter, also known as Ren Dong (also known as Left Twisting Vine). The flowers and leaves have the same functions, with the flowers being particularly fragrant. It can be brewed into wine or used as tea. It can be made into a syrup, which is also excellent (Honeysuckle wine treats carbuncles and boils, and all types of toxins; it should be taken at the first sign of onset for remarkable effects. Dried Honeysuckle can also be used, but it is not as effective as fresh). Honeysuckle five liang, licorice two liang, two bowls of water, decoct until one bowl remains, then add one bowl of wine and simmer slightly, divided into three doses, consumed within a day and night. For severe cases, take two doses a day until the large and small intestines are unblocked, then the medicinal power is achieved. Honeysuckle pills can be made by dividing the previous amount in half, drying it with wine, and mixing it with licorice to form pills. Chen Zangqi states: For heat toxins and blood dysentery, take it in concentrated decoction. Grind it into powder, mix with sugar, and taking it regularly can help alleviate smallpox.
According to the “Jingyue Quanshu”: Honeysuckle is fragrant and sweet, entering the Spleen and Lung, primarily treating dysentery with pus and blood, making it a crucial medicine for internal and external carbuncles. It detoxifies and eliminates pus, with a nourishing effect that balances the detoxifying effect. After carbuncles and boils, it is a holy medicine. Nowadays, people only know its swelling-reducing effects, but overlook its ability to benefit wind deficiency. However, those with qi deficiency and clear pus, with little appetite and frequent diarrhea should not use it. For smallpox with deep-seated lesions, use this root for bathing, as it is effective for enhancing the appearance of the smallpox rash. This is a modified version of the water willow decoction.
According to the “Bencao Congxin”: It clears heat and detoxifies. Sweet and neutral. It clears heat and detoxifies. Nourishes deficiency (all sweet items nourish). Treats dysentery and relieves distension (Shicai states: Nowadays, people only enter the sore department, forgetting its treatment for dysentery and distension; why is Honeysuckle so neglected?). It treats carbuncles, skin diseases, blood dysentery, and five types of corpse afflictions. It thrives in spring. Its nature is extremely balanced, so there are no contraindications. Its vine and leaves are called Honeysuckle (it does not wither in winter). Dried Honeysuckle is not as effective as fresh. It can be brewed into wine or used as tea. It can be made into a syrup, which is also excellent (Honeysuckle wine treats carbuncles and boils, and all types of toxins; it should be taken at the first sign of onset for remarkable effects. Honeysuckle five liang, licorice one liang, two bowls of water, then add one bowl of wine, simmer slightly, divided into three doses, consumed within a day and night. For severe cases, take two doses a day until the large and small intestines are unblocked, then the medicinal power is achieved. Honeysuckle pills can be made by dividing the previous amount in half, drying it with wine, and mixing it with licorice to form pills. Chen Zangqi states: For heat toxins and blood dysentery, take it in concentrated decoction. Grind it into powder, mix with sugar, and taking it regularly can help alleviate smallpox.)
According to the “De Pei Bencao”: Also known as Jin Yin Teng, it is used to suppress sulfur. It is sweet, neutral, and slightly cold. It enters the Foot Yangming and Taiyin meridians. It dispels wind and fire, relieves gas distension, detoxifies heat dysentery, and reduces swelling and toxins. It is effective when combined with Huangqi, Angelica, and Licorice for treating carbuncles. It can also be used with powdered herbs to detoxify heat and relieve dysentery. Grind it into powder, mix with sugar, and take regularly to alleviate smallpox. Grind it and mix with wine for topical application. Decoct to extract concentrated juice and take with warm wine to treat five types of corpse afflictions (flying corpses, wandering skin, penetrating organs, escaping corpses, and heavy body afflictions). The vine and leaves can be used, with the flowers being the best. It can be boiled in wine or the juice can be mixed with wine for drinking. If someone is about to develop carbuncles, they often feel thirsty and want to drink water; after eating, they feel hungry, so it is advisable to take Honeysuckle syrup first to resolve this.
According to the “Bencao Qiuzhen”: [Commentary] It clears lung heat and detoxifies.
Honeysuckle specifically enters the Lung. It does not wither in winter, hence it is also called Ren Dong. It has a sweet taste, is cold, and non-toxic. All texts mention its ability to nourish deficiency and blood, and also state that it enters the Lung to disperse heat, treating sores, intestinal masses, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids, making it a crucial medicine for detoxifying. This seems to belong to two different categories. However, it is not difficult to understand that the texts mention its ability to nourish deficiency because of its fragrant sweet taste, and although it enters the body to disperse heat, it does not cause significant harm; the texts mention its ability to nourish blood because it resolves the toxic blood clots, thus nourishing it. Ultimately, it is a product that clears heat and detoxifies, and it is confirmed. Therefore, all diseases such as carbuncles and others can be treated with it internally, taking advantage of its cold energy to clear heat and its strong ability to promote unblocking. It is also said to treat five types of afflictions, which is not false. Flying, escaping, wind, sinking, and afflictions. The five afflictions arise from different causes, but this specifically addresses wind and dampness that have become heat. Furthermore, the “Essentials” states that Honeysuckle wine treats all types of carbuncles; it is a rare and difficult-to-find medicinal material, and it is necessary to use a handful of fresh Honeysuckle vine, grinding it with a little raw wine, adjusting the thickness, and applying it around the area, leaving an opening for gas to escape; the vine should only be used in five liang, and it should not be struck with iron, as it is best to use a wooden mallet. One liang of licorice should be used raw, placed in a sand bottle, with two bowls of water, simmered slowly until one bowl remains, then add a large bowl of good wine, simmer for a few more boils, strain, and divide into three doses, consumed within a day and night. For severe cases, take two doses a day until the large and small intestines are unblocked, then the medicinal power is achieved. If one believes that long-term use can lighten the body and prolong life, it is not without exaggeration. In ancient texts, many medicinal effects are recorded, but it is up to the user to recognize and not be misled by the effects of the medicine.
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing Du”: It has a sweet and warm taste, is non-toxic, and treats cold and heat, body swelling, and long-term use can lighten the body and prolong life. (“Bie Lu”) Chen Xiuyuan states: The warm energy enters the Liver, and the sweet taste enters the Stomach. How do we know it enters the Stomach and not the Spleen? Because this substance is light and thin, it tends to move towards the yang aspect, and the Stomach is the yang earth. Its ability to treat cold and heat is due to Honeysuckle’s ability to extend and twist, with flowers blooming in yellow and white; yellow enters the Ying aspect, while white enters the Wei aspect, harmonizing Ying and Wei, thus curing cold and heat diseases. Its ability to treat body swelling is due to the wind and wood energy harming the middle earth, leading to internal distension and external swelling, which ancient people collectively referred to as gu, taking the hexagram of mountain wind as its meaning. Honeysuckle sweetly enters the Stomach, which is the earth (the earth is the mountain). It warmly enters the Liver, which is the wind and wood (the wind is the wind). Internally, it can harmonize the earth and wood, and externally, it can harmonize Ying and Wei, which is why it is effective.
According to the “Bencao Bian Yan”: Li Pinghu stated that ancient people referred to Honeysuckle as a treatment for wind and distension, but later generations do not know this. Later generations refer to its ability to reduce swelling and detoxify, which ancient people did not mention, thus showing that the principles of ancient and modern medicine can vary greatly and should not be treated as identical. Alas! To consider cold and heat body swelling as carbuncles is like comparing the sun’s shape to a copper plate, or the sun’s light to a candle. To consider cold and heat as wind and swelling as distension is to strike the plate to make a sound, or to touch the flute to see its shape and call it the sun. Therefore, cold and heat body swelling is not carbuncles, but rather a principle that has not changed from ancient to modern times, and should not be treated as identical.
According to the “Bencao Bian Du”: Its aroma is fragrant and enters the Spleen. Its sweet and cold taste detoxifies. It opens the meridians and enters the collaterals. It is used to treat boils and eliminate carbuncles. It should also be used with the flowers. It can also treat dysentery and eliminate wind. Each should be used according to established methods. (Honeysuckle has a fragrant aroma. Its color is red and white, and all flowers disperse. It has the function of promoting the circulation of qi and blood and dispersing. Moreover, its cold nature can detoxify, and its sweet taste does not harm the Stomach. Therefore, it is a holy medicine for all external carbuncles. Ancient people used it to treat wind and distension, dysentery, and expel corpse afflictions as a crucial medicine, but later generations do not know its use, which shows that its efficacy is not limited to treating sores.)
According to the “Bencao Cuoyao”: It has a sweet taste. It enters the Hand Taiyin and Foot Jueyin meridians. Its function is to disperse heat and detoxify. It is effective when combined with Angelica for treating heat toxins and blood dysentery. It is effective when combined with Huangqi Liuyi Decoction. It treats carbuncles, skin diseases, blood dysentery, and five types of corpse afflictions. Its nature is extremely balanced, so there are no contraindications.
According to the “Bencao Zeliang”:
[Harm] Its cold nature can be harmful; those with weak cold bodies and weak Spleen and Stomach should not take it, for fear of causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. After carbuncles and boils, it should be used sparingly. The classics state that cold can cause blood to stagnate, making it difficult to gather.
[Benefit] Sweet and neutral, it enters the Spleen and Lung, detoxifies heat, transforms toxins, treats wind, nourishes blood, and relieves distension. Clean Honeysuckle has a cooler nature and stronger detoxifying power. Honeysuckle vine is sweet, cold, and non-toxic, dispelling wind and detoxifying, while relaxing muscle knots.
[Preparation] Flowers are harvested in April and dried in the shade, without time restrictions. Dried Honeysuckle is not as effective as fresh. It can be brewed into wine or used as tea. It can be made into a syrup, which is also excellent, and steaming is especially good.
According to the “Bencao Fenjing”: Sweet, neutral. It clears heat and detoxifies, nourishes blood, treats wind, and heals blood dysentery, carbuncles, and skin diseases. Its nature is extremely balanced, so there are no contraindications.
According to the “Bencao Zeyao Gangmu”:
【Flavor and Properties】 Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
【Indications】 Stops gas, reduces heat toxins, and treats blood dysentery and watery diarrhea. It addresses all wind, dampness, and various swellings, toxins, carbuncles, and skin diseases. The functions of the stems, leaves, and flowers are the same. Ancient people referred to it as a crucial medicine for treating wind, dampness, and distension, detoxifying dysentery, but later generations have forgotten its use. Later generations refer to its ability to reduce swelling and detoxify as its main function, which ancient people did not mention. The principles of ancient and modern medicine are indeed not identical, and the exploration of their intricacies is the same.
According to the “Yuqiu Yaoxie”: It has a spicy taste, is slightly cool, and enters the Hand Taiyin Lung and Foot Jueyin Liver meridians. It cools the Liver, clears the Lung, reduces swelling, and eliminates toxins. Honeysuckle clears wind and dampness, eliminates swelling and toxins, and treats all sores, carbuncles, skin diseases, hemorrhoids, and dysentery, both internally and externally. Its efficacy is next to that of Hibiscus.
According to the “Yinpi Xincan”:
Appearance: Yellow and white, with thick stems and heavy patterns.
Taste: Slightly fragrant, bitter, and cool.
Function: Transforms wind-heat, opens the meridians, and treats joint pain.
Dosage: Three to five qian.
Usage: Used raw or stir-fried in wine.
Contraindications: Avoid use in cases of cold evil causing bone pain.
【Source and Production Area】
According to the “Chinese Herbal Medicine Dictionary”:
It is the flower bud of the plant Lonicera japonica. It is harvested in May to June, in the early morning when the dew has just dried, and then dried on mats or in the shade, ensuring to turn them to prevent blackening. It should not be exposed to strong sunlight. It is best stored in a dry and ventilated place to prevent insect infestation and discoloration.
It is produced in most regions of China, with the highest yield in Shandong and the best quality in Henan.
【Preparation
According to the “Chinese Herbal Medicine Dictionary”:
Honeysuckle: Remove sand and dirt. Clean impurities.
Honeysuckle Charcoal: Take the cleaned Honeysuckle, place it in a pot, and stir-fry over a strong fire until it turns dark brown, then sprinkle with clean water, remove, and dry.
【Modern Pharmacological Research】
1. The flowers have antimicrobial properties, inhibiting various bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its decoction has inhibitory effects on Leptospira, and its injection has inhibitory effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa; the extract can inhibit Streptococcus and Actinomyces; the decoction has significant inhibitory effects on Coxsackie B5 virus in cultured cells.
2. The flowers have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and anti-allergic effects. The extract inhibits swelling in rat toes caused by carrageenan and egg white.
3. Honeysuckle has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system.
4. Honeysuckle has an anti-endotoxin effect.
5. Honeysuckle has a lipid-lowering effect.
6. Honeysuckle enhances immune function. The decoction can promote the phagocytic function of albumin, and the injection of Honeysuckle has a significant effect on promoting the phagocytic function of inflammatory cells in mice.
7. Honeysuckle has liver-protective and bile-expelling effects.
8. Honeysuckle has contraceptive effects.
9. Honeysuckle has cytotoxic effects; its extract can stimulate gastrointestinal motility and increase the secretion of gastric juice and bile. Additionally, chlorogenic acid can slightly enhance the pressor effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine in cats and rats.
(Compiled by Yan Xinyu)
(Proofread by Xiao K)
(Media/Quansijie)
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