The Efficacy, Uses, and Contraindications of Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
Honeysuckle, also known as Rén Dōng Huā (忍冬花), Shuāng Huā (双花), Èr Huā (二花), Èr Bǎo Huā (二宝花), Jìng Yín Huā (净银花), Yín Huā (银花), Mì Yín Huā (密银花), Dōng Yín Huā (东银花), Nán Yín Huā (南银花), and Jì Yín Huā (济银花), is known for its ability to clear heat and detoxify, as well as disperse wind-heat. It is used to treat abscesses, sores, throat obstruction, erysipelas, heat-toxicity causing bloody dysentery, wind-heat colds, and febrile diseases.
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
【Name】Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
【Alias】Rén Dōng Huā (忍冬花), Shuāng Huā (双花), Èr Huā (二花), Èr Bǎo Huā (二宝花), Jìng Yín Huā (净银花), Yín Huā (银花), Mì Yín Huā (密银花), Dōng Yín Huā (东银花), Nán Yín Huā (南银花), Jì Yín Huā (济银花).
【Source】Honeysuckle is the flower bud of the plant Lonicera japonica, belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family.
【Classification】Heat-clearing and detoxifying herb.
【Properties】Sweet, cold.
【Efficacy】Clears heat and detoxifies, disperses wind-heat.
【Indications】Used for treating abscesses, throat obstruction, erysipelas, heat-toxicity causing bloody dysentery, wind-heat colds, and febrile diseases.
【Dosage】6-15 grams.
【Source】2015 Edition of the Pharmacopoeia.
The Efficacy, Uses, and Contraindications of Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)
【Efficacy and Uses of Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)】Clears heat and detoxifies. Used for febrile diseases, heat-toxicity causing bloody dysentery, abscesses, swellings, scrofula, and hemorrhoids.
1. For early-stage acute mastitis: 8 qian of honeysuckle, 5 qian of dandelion, 3 qian each of forsythia and dried tangerine peel, 2 qian each of green tangerine peel and raw licorice. Prepare as one dose, decoct twice, and take in two doses, once daily; for severe cases, two doses may be taken in one day. (From “Intermediate Medical Journal” (3): 167, 1964)
2. For pesticide (organic phosphorus preparations such as 1059, 1605, 4049) poisoning: 2 to 3 liang of honeysuckle, 2 qian of alum, 5 qian of rhubarb, and 2 to 3 liang of licorice. Decoction and take cold, one dose per day. (From “Selected New Medical Methods from Xuzhou”)
3. For severe pain from sores with purple-black discoloration: 2 liang of honeysuckle with branches and leaves (chopped), 4 liang of astragalus, and 1 liang of licorice. Finely chop, add 1 sheng of wine, place in a sealed container, and simmer in water for 3 to 2 hours, then strain and take. (From “Essentials of Life” – Honeysuckle Powder for Sores)
4. For all internal and external abscesses: 4 liang of honeysuckle and 3 liang of licorice. Decoction and take immediately; if drinkable, use wine for decoction. (From “Medical Insights” – Rén Dōng Decoction)
5. For Yangmei (waxberry) toxicity: 1 liang of honeysuckle, 2 qian of licorice, 2 liang of black soybeans, and 4 liang of earth poria. Decoction, one dose per day, must be fully consumed. (From “Ten Methods in Surgery” – Rén Dōng Decoction)
6. For Taiyin wind-heat, initial winter warmth, but with heat and no aversion to cold and thirst: 1 liang of forsythia, 1 liang of honeysuckle, 6 qian of bitter platycodon, 6 qian of mint, 4 qian of bamboo leaves, 5 qian of raw licorice, 4 qian of schizonepeta, 5 qian of fermented soybeans, and 6 qian of burdock seeds. Grind into a powder, take 6 qian each time, decoct with fresh reed root. (From “Differentiation of Warm Diseases” – Yin Qiao Powder)
7. For chronic mastitis with redness and discharge, deep ulceration: 5 qian each of honeysuckle and astragalus (raw), 8 qian of angelica, 1.8 qian of licorice, and 50 pieces of bitter orange leaves. Decoction with equal parts of water and wine. (From “Bamboo Forest Gynecology” – Honeysuckle Decoction)
8. For all swellings and toxins, regardless of whether they have ruptured or are newly appearing with fever, including carbuncles and throat obstruction: 1/2 bowl of natural juice from honeysuckle (with stems and leaves), decoct for 8 minutes, apply the residue topically, dispel toxins, promote circulation, and harmonize blood; its efficacy is unique. (From “Jishan Tang Experience Formula”)
9. For initial onset of furuncles: 1/2 jin of honeysuckle, decoct in 10 bowls of water until 2 bowls remain, add 2 liang of angelica, and continue decocting until 1 bowl remains, take in one go. (From “Secrets of the Cave”)
10. For heat strangury: 1 liang each of honeysuckle, sea silk vine, coriander, golden thread root, and white grass root. Decoction, one dose per day, for 5 to 7 days as a course of treatment. (From “Jiangxi Herbal Medicine”)
11. For deep abscesses: 3 qian each of honeysuckle, wild chrysanthemum, sea silk vine, and malan, and 1 liang of daqingye. Decoction. Also effective for abscesses and carbuncles. (From “Jiangxi Herbal Medicine”)
12. For gas gangrene and osteomyelitis: 1 liang of honeysuckle, 2 liang of centella, 1 liang of red dot, 1 liang of wild chrysanthemum, 1 liang of white grass root, 2 liang of white flower snake tongue grass, and 1 liang of earth gall. Decoction. Additionally, use appropriate amounts of privet fruit and佛甲草 (Buddha’s hand) (both fresh) for external application. (From “Jiangxi Herbal Medicine”)
13. For dysentery: 5 qian of honeysuckle (roasted in a copper pot until dry). For red dysentery, mix with white honey water; for white dysentery, mix with sand sugar water. (From “Experience Formula of Huizhi Tang” – Rén Dōng Powder)
14. To prevent Japanese encephalitis and epidemic encephalitis: 1 liang each of honeysuckle and forsythia, and 3 qian each of daqing root, reed root, and licorice. Decoction as a tea, one dose per day, for 3 to 5 consecutive days. (From “Jiangxi Herbal Medicine”)
15. For bile duct infections and wound infections: 1 liang of honeysuckle, and 5 qian each of forsythia, daqing root, huangqin, and wild chrysanthemum. Decoction, one dose per day. (From “Jiangxi Herbal Medicine”)
16. For large intestine abscesses, cannot be pressed, right foot bent and not extended: 3 liang of honeysuckle, 2 liang of earth elm, 1 liang of diyu, 1 liang of ophiopogon, 1 liang of black shao, and 3 qian of raw licorice, 5 qian of huangqin. Decoction. (From “Secrets of the Cave” – Qing Chang Decoction)
【Contraindications of Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua)】Contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold and qi deficiency with clear pus.
Dietary Therapy Methods
1Honeysuckle Cold Prevention Tea
Ingredients: 50 grams each of banlan root and daqing leaves, and 30 grams each of wild chrysanthemum and honeysuckle.
Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies.
Preparation: Place the four herbs in a large tea pot, pour boiling water over them, and drink after a moment.
Usage: Drink frequently as a tea.
Indications: Suitable for preventing influenza and other conditions. This formula is not only used for preventing and treating influenza but also has good preventive effects against epidemic hepatitis, epidemic encephalitis, and epidemic respiratory infections (especially viral infections).