Honeysuckle, also known as Jin Yin Hua (金银花), is a common traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is native to the southern regions of China and has high medicinal value, having been widely used since ancient times. It offers numerous benefits for our bodies; let’s explore them together!
What Nutritional Components Does Honeysuckle Contain?
Honeysuckle, also referred to as Ren Dong Hua (忍冬花), Shuang Hua (双花), and Yin Hua Er Bao (银花二宝花), has a fragrant aroma and a slightly bitter taste. It is considered a new health tea, with a fragrant and sweet cooling brew. Regular consumption can help clear heat, detoxify, and promote circulation.
Honeysuckle contains effective components such as Chlorogenic Acid (大犀草素), Inositol (肌醇), Saponins (皂甙), and Tannins (鞣质). From a dietary perspective, honeysuckle is sweet and cold in nature, entering the Stomach (胃), Lung (肺), and Heart (心经) meridians, and is known for its heat-clearing and detoxifying properties.
What Are the Effects and Benefits of Honeysuckle?
1. Reduces Blood Lipids
The effective components in honeysuckle can bind with cholesterol, thereby reducing the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and lowering its levels in the plasma.
Additionally, it helps the body clear fats and harmful substances from the blood, increasing blood flow in the vessels and effectively lowering blood lipids.
2. Clears Heat and Detoxifies
The first well-known benefit is its ability to clear heat and detoxify. In hot weather, many people experience symptoms of heat and inflammation.
Regular consumption of honeysuckle can significantly reduce internal heat and help prevent heatstroke. For those engaged in mental work, it can also provide a refreshing effect.
3. Antibacterial
Components such as Hexahydroxydiphenyl (环己六醇), Chrysanthemum Indicum Flavonoids (木樨草黄素), and Inositol can inhibit various pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (金黄葡萄球菌) and Hemolytic Streptococcus (溶血性链球菌), as well as bacteria causing upper respiratory infections.
4. Eliminates Dampness and Cold
As spring warms up, people may sweat more, leading to an increase in internal coldness if not careful.
Excess dampness and cold can adversely affect our health.
For women, regularly drinking honeysuckle tea can effectively eliminate dampness and cold, which is particularly beneficial for health and weight loss.
5. Treats Blood in Stool and Diarrhea
Drinking honeysuckle tea can cool the blood and stop diarrhea, as well as detoxify. If there is severe pus and blood in diarrhea, combining Huang Lian (黄连), honeysuckle, and Chi Shao (赤芍) can yield unexpected results.
Honeysuckle and Its Perfect Partners: Drinking for Better Health Over Time
1. Red Dates
In daily life, we can pair honeysuckle with red dates. Red dates are known for their ability to tonify Qi and nourish blood, helping to alleviate anemia.
This combination is a golden pairing that can effectively enhance liver function and promote toxin elimination. It helps nourish the liver and improve vision, as well as promote the circulation of Qi and blood, benefiting women’s health and providing beauty and nourishment.
2. Dandelion
Honeysuckle has heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, and when paired with dandelion, it helps eliminate liver fire and reduce the burden on the liver.
3. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum tea with honeysuckle has a cooling and blood-stopping effect. Patients with heat toxin dysentery, blood in diarrhea, or sore throat can benefit from drinking chrysanthemum-infused honeysuckle tea. Those with excessive internal heat can try drinking honeysuckle and chrysanthemum tea for noticeable effects.
4. Astragalus
It is well known that honeysuckle has heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. If one experiences excessive liver fire and sore throat, drinking honeysuckle tea is a good choice.
Combining honeysuckle with astragalus can enhance liver health significantly, helping to quickly eliminate toxins and waste from the body, reducing liver fire and giving the liver a cleansing effect.
5. Rose
Rose has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, and its most notable effects include regulating Qi, relieving depression, promoting blood circulation, and alleviating menstrual pain. Honeysuckle has heat-clearing, detoxifying, and broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral properties, and is found in over 70% of cold and anti-inflammatory Chinese patent medicines. Women should avoid consuming honeysuckle tea during their menstrual period.
6. Clove
Many people enjoy brewing clove tea in their daily lives, which is beneficial for liver protection and stomach health.
For those with stomach coldness, regularly drinking clove tea can be very beneficial for stomach care.
Moreover, combining clove with honeysuckle can help neutralize the cold nature of honeysuckle, alleviating stomach coldness.
It also helps protect the liver and reduce the damage caused by alcohol, aiding in sobriety.
Precautions When Drinking Honeysuckle Tea
1. Cold Nature, Not Suitable for Drinking Cold
Considering the cold nature of dandelion, it is generally recommended to brew it with hot water. Drinking it warm can better neutralize the cold nature of dandelion, preventing excessive stimulation to the stomach.
If dandelion is soaked for a long time and then cooled before drinking, it can easily irritate the stomach and lead to diarrhea.
2. Not Suitable for Those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold or Wind-Cold Flu
Patients with spleen and stomach deficiency cold, or those experiencing wind-cold flu, are advised against drinking dandelion tea.
This tea may exacerbate internal coldness, which is detrimental to recovery from diseases caused by external wind and cold. Drinking it may not only worsen the condition but also lower immunity.
3. Avoid Overconsumption
Honeysuckle is cold in nature, and excessive consumption can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea. Overuse or prolonged consumption can lead to symptoms of spleen and stomach deficiency cold. Therefore, honeysuckle tea should be consumed in moderation.
4. Not for Daily Consumption
Honeysuckle should only be consumed when experiencing symptoms of heat. Use about 10 grams per brew with boiling water. It is best not to drink it daily, as it can place a significant burden on the spleen and stomach.
5. Do Not Drink Overnight Tea
If you do not finish the honeysuckle tea on the first day, it should not be consumed the next day. After sitting for a day, the tea can easily spoil, affecting health. Generally, honeysuckle can be brewed 2-3 times.
6. Best Consumed in Summer
Honeysuckle tea is most suitable for consumption in summer, as the hot weather can easily lead to heatstroke and thirst, making it effective for generating fluids and clearing heat.
In summary, honeysuckle has many benefits, but also numerous precautions. As the hot summer approaches, drinking honeysuckle tea can help cool down and reduce heat, but it should not be consumed daily.
Pay attention to the precautions mentioned above, and if you have special conditions, it is advisable to avoid it. You can also choose milder teas according to your needs to maintain good health.