Lian Qiao
Lian Qiao (Forsythia, Yi Qiao, Lan Hua, Gen Ming Lian Yao, Han Lian Zi, San Lian, Zhu Gen)
Lian Qiao is the dried fruit of the plant Forsythia suspensa, which can be cultivated or found in the wild. It is primarily produced in Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Liaoning provinces. The original plant grows in shrublands, sparse forests, and grasslands, thriving in warm and humid climates, and is resistant to cold and poor soil conditions. It prefers full sunlight and has low soil requirements. The taste is bitter, and its nature is slightly cold. It belongs to the Lung, Heart, and Small Intestine meridians. Its effects include clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling, and dispersing nodules. Clinical names include Lian Qiao and Lian Qiao Xin.
Lian Qiao: The long branches sway, transmitting sound like golden bells and jade chimes.
【Bencao Huiyan】
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing”: Lian Qiao has a bitter and neutral taste. It is used for treating cold and heat, mouse abscesses, scrofula, carbuncles, foul sores, goiters, heat accumulation, and toxic substances. It is also known as Yi Qiao, Lan Hua, Zhi, and San Lian. It grows in valleys.
The “Ming Yi” states: It is also called Zhe Gen, grows in Taishan, and is harvested in August, then dried in the shade.
According to the “Erya”: Lian refers to Yi Qiao. Guo Pu states: It is also called Lian Tiao, and the Bencao mentions it.
The “Ming Yi Bie Lu”: It is non-toxic and expels white worms.
The “Yaoxing Lun”: It is effective for unblocking the five lin, treating urinary obstruction, and clearing heat from the heart.
The “Rihua Zi Bencao”: It unblocks the small intestine, expels pus, treats sores and scabies, alleviates pain, and regulates menstruation.
The “Yaolei Faxiang”: It treats cold and heat scrofula, various foul swellings, clears heat from the heart, expels white worms, and unblocks the five lin.
The “Bencao Yanyi”: It does not grow in damp places and is abundant in the valleys of Taishan. Currently, only its fruit is used. When broken, the pieces resemble a swaying shape, hence the name. It is particularly effective for clearing heat from the heart, especially in children.
The “Tangye Bencao”: It has a neutral qi and a bitter taste. Bitter, slightly cold, with a light flavor, it is yin within yang, and is non-toxic. It is a medicine for the hand and foot Shaoyang and Yangming meridians.
The “Xiang” states: It treats cold and heat scrofula, various foul swellings, clears heat from the heart, expels stomach worms, and unblocks the five lin.
The “Xin” states: It clears heat from the heart, and is essential for all families, being a sacred medicine for sores.
The “Zhen” states: It clears heat from all meridians, and cannot be replaced by anything else.
The “Bencao” states: It treats cold and heat mouse abscesses, scrofula, carbuncles, goiters, heat accumulation, and expels white worms.
The “Ye” states: It is for hand and foot Shaoyang. It treats sores, ulcers, tumors, goiters, and has miraculous effects. It works similarly to Chai Hu, but differentiates between qi and blood.
The “Dian Nan Bencao”: Bitter Lian Qiao has a bitter taste and a cold nature. It clears the six meridians of excess heat, dispels wind-heat, alleviates sore throat, treats internal and external breast swellings, and clears heat and brightens the eyes.
(Additional formula) For unbearable tooth root swelling and pain, chew the root of bitter Lian Qiao at the swollen area. Use the root and leaves (two qian) with a little Sichuan pepper, decoct and gargle, or stew and consume.
Earth Lian Qiao has hard branches, crushed leaves, and yellow flowers. It has a bitter taste and a cold nature. It treats excess heat in the five meridians, alleviates throat pain, and is effective for women with breast lumps, children with fevers, and mumps. It can be used to treat fire sores and heat toxins.
The “Bencao Huifai”: Jie Gu states: Lian Qiao is slightly bitter and cold, with a light and clear flavor, and it ascends. Its uses are threefold: to clear heart heat, to eliminate upper jiao heat, and to treat sores and ulcers.
The “Bencao Yanyi Buzhi”: Bitter, slightly yang within yin, it ascends. It enters the hand Shaoyin meridian, clears heart fire, and reduces spleen and stomach damp-heat and heart heat. It is essential for treating abscesses, and for blood conditions, it is used with Feng Wei as the primary agent, Lian Qiao as the middle agent, and Di Yu as the lower agent. It is important to note that the “Yanyi” states that for diarrhea with slight blood, it should not be heated. Lian Qiao is a bitter and drying agent, and those who are deficient should be cautious, while those who are excess can use it.
The “Bencao Mengquan”: It has a bitter taste, neutral qi, and is slightly cold. Its flavor is light and clear, and it ascends, being yang. It is non-toxic. The stem is short and slightly red, with narrow evergreen leaves and small deep yellow flowers. The fruit is yellow-black. When harvested, it should be selected carefully. Those from Sichuan are the best. Remove the stems and grind them, and store them tightly to prevent loss of flavor. It enters the hand Shaoyin, hand Shaoyang, and Yangming meridians. It has special effects in clearing heart heat, reducing spleen and stomach damp-heat, and treating ear deafness caused by qi and fire inflammation. It is effective in clearing heat and dispersing nodules, and it is essential for treating blood stasis and qi accumulation.
The “Bencao Gangmu”: Lian Qiao resembles a human heart, with two pieces combined, and contains a fragrant kernel, which is the main medicine for the heart and pericardium. All painful and itchy sores belong to heart fire, making it a sacred medicine for the twelve meridians, and it also treats heat in the hand and foot Shaoyang and Yangming meridians. Lian Qiao treats cold and heat in the body.
The “Yaodian”: It is cold, bitter, and non-toxic, entering the heart, liver, gallbladder, stomach, Sanjiao, and large intestine meridians. It clears blood heat from the six meridians, disperses swellings and sores, benefits the small intestine, kills white worms, regulates menstruation, treats five lin, breaks goiters, and detoxifies. Mouse sticky seeds are used as an assistant. Note: Lian Qiao is bitter and cold, and while it clears the six meridians, it is most effective for the heart meridian. All sores and urinary blockages belong to heart fire, hence its efficacy.
The “Yaoxing Jie”: Lian Qiao has a bitter taste, is slightly cold, and is non-toxic, entering the heart, liver, gallbladder, stomach, Sanjiao, and large intestine meridians. It clears blood heat from the six meridians, disperses swellings and sores, benefits the small intestine, kills white worms, regulates menstruation, treats five lin, breaks goiters, and detoxifies. Burdock seeds are used as an assistant.
Note: Lian Qiao is bitter and cold, and while it clears the six meridians, it is most effective for the heart meridian. All sores and urinary blockages belong to heart fire, hence its efficacy.
The “Bencao Chengya Banji”:
【Taste and Properties】 Bitter and neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】 Treats cold and heat, mouse abscesses, scrofula, carbuncles, foul sores, goiters, heat accumulation, and toxic substances.
【Nucleus】 It grows in the valleys of Taishan, and is found in Bianjing, Hezhong, Jiangning, Run, Zi, Ze, Yan, Ding, Yue, and Li provinces. The best quality is from Sichuan. There are two types: large and small. The large type grows in damp places or on hills, with leaves resembling elm leaves, a stem height of three to four feet, and slightly red color. It blooms yellow flowers in the spring and produces fruit in the autumn, resembling lotus fruit. The small type grows on hills, with flowers, leaves, and fruit resembling the large type but smaller.
【 】 It is said that the “Neijing” compares the pulse to a car cover, stating that a flourishing cover indicates yang accumulation. The “Bencao” names Lian Qiao as a medicine for yang accumulation. It is also called Lian Yao, which means a small cart; the cover of a car symbolizes the balance of yin and yang, and is indeed the key to opening and closing. Therefore, it treats heat accumulation in the body, for cold and heat mouse abscesses, with the root in the organs and the end in the neck and armpits. For toxic substances, it sinks into the organs; for goiters and carbuncles, it floats in the pulse, all belonging to cold and heat as the cause of disease, with heat accumulation as the manifestation. Its efficacy is comparable to Xia Ku Cao, but Xia Ku Cao is more focused on the root, while Lian Qiao is more focused on the end, hence its ability to clear heat and disperse nodules.
The “Bencao Yidu”: Lian Qiao is slightly bitter, spicy, and cold, non-toxic. It enters the hand and foot Shaoyang, hand Yangming, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians. It expels pus, reduces swelling and toxins, regulates menstruation, and treats five lin. It disperses blood stasis and qi accumulation, clears heart and lung heat and dampness. Goiters and toxic substances are treated. It is a sacred medicine for the twelve meridians. The leaves and stems treat heart and lung heat accumulation. It is found everywhere. There are two types: large and small. The large type grows in damp or hilly areas, with green leaves resembling elm leaves, a slightly red stem height of three to four feet, and yellow flowers blooming in spring. The small type grows on hills, with flowers, leaves, and fruit resembling the large type but smaller.
The “Bencao Chongyuan”: It has a bitter and neutral taste, non-toxic. It treats cold and heat mouse abscesses, scrofula, carbuncles, foul sores, goiters, heat accumulation, and toxic substances. (Lian Qiao is found in Bianjing, Hezhong, Jiangning, Run, Zi, Ze, Yan, Ding, Yue, and Nankang provinces, with the best quality from Sichuan. There are large and small types. The large type grows in damp places, with leaves resembling elm leaves, a slightly red stem, and yellow flowers blooming in spring. The small type grows on hills, with flowers, leaves, and fruit resembling the large type but smaller.)
Lian Qiao has a bitter taste and a cold nature, resembling the heart and kidney, embodying the qi transformation of Shaoyin. It treats cold and heat mouse abscesses and scrofula. The internal cause is mouse abscesses, and the external cause is scrofula, with the root in the organs and the end in the pulse. Mouse abscesses arise from kidney toxicity, while scrofula arises from cold damage to the body’s meridians. Lian Qiao resembles the heart and kidney, hence its efficacy in treating mouse abscesses and scrofula. Carbuncles and foul sores arise from disharmony in the muscles. Goiters and heat accumulation arise from disharmony in the meridians. Lian Qiao has a bitter taste and fragrant qi, which can unblock the meridians and benefit the muscles, hence its efficacy in treating carbuncles, foul sores, and goiters. For those affected by toxic substances in the abdomen, the source of toxicity is in the heart. Bitter and cold, it clears the heart and treats the source of toxicity. Its fragrant nature awakens the spleen, treating the abdomen affected by toxicity, hence it also treats toxic substances.
The “Lingshu: Cold and Heat Theory” states: Mouse abscesses are the toxic qi of cold and heat, which remain in the pulse and do not disperse. The root is in the water organs, hence the name mouse. It connects to the heart’s pulse, causing neck and armpit ulcers, hence the name abscess. The toxic qi of mouse abscesses is due to water toxicity, hence it is called mouse abscess. The pulse is trapped, leaving the flesh and skin, while the external cause is cold evil affecting the flesh and skin, hence it is called scrofula. Mouse abscesses arise from kidney toxicity, remaining in the blood vessels of the heart. Scrofula arises from cold weather, harming the body’s meridians. Lian Qiao resembles the heart and kidney, hence its efficacy in treating mouse abscesses and scrofula. Carbuncles and foul sores arise from disharmony in the muscles. Goiters and heat accumulation arise from disharmony in the meridians. Lian Qiao has a bitter taste and fragrant qi, which can unblock the meridians and benefit the muscles, hence its efficacy in treating carbuncles, foul sores, and goiters. For those affected by toxic substances in the abdomen, the source of toxicity is in the heart. Bitter and cold, it clears the heart and treats the source of toxicity. Its fragrant nature awakens the spleen, treating the abdomen affected by toxicity, hence it also treats toxic substances.
The “Bencao Xinjian”: Lian Qiao has a bitter taste, neutral qi, and is slightly cold, light and floating, ascending, and non-toxic. It enters the Shaoyin heart, hand and foot Shaoyang, and Yangming meridians. It clears heart heat, damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, and treats carbuncles and toxins, expels white worms, regulates menstruation, and treats five lin. It disperses blood stasis and qi accumulation. It is essential for treating sores and is a sacred medicine for the twelve meridians. It is a bitter and cold substance, and excessive consumption can reduce appetite. It should not be taken after carbuncles have ruptured. It is contraindicated for those with weak stomachs and low appetite.
The “Bencao Haili”: 【Harm】 It is a clearing and non-tonifying substance, and should not be taken after carbuncles have ruptured. It is contraindicated for those with heat due to deficiency. Bitter and cold substances can hinder the stomach, and excessive consumption can reduce appetite. Those with weak spleen and stomach should avoid it.
【Benefit】 Bitter and cold, it enters the heart, pericardium, gallbladder, Sanjiao, and large intestine, being the main medicine for the hand Shaoyin. It clears heart heat, Yangming damp-heat, disperses blood stasis and qi accumulation, and benefits water and regulates the meridians. All painful sores belong to heart fire, hence it is a sacred medicine for sores. Lian Qiao is even more bitter and cold, and is especially effective in clearing heart fire. Warmth and heat enter the heart, and without this, it cannot be treated.
【Preparation】 It is harvested in August, dried in the shade, and used by hand rubbing. Note that Lian Qiao clears blood heat, while Shan Zhi treats fire accumulation, although both enter the blood, their treatment methods differ.
The “Bencao Fenjing”: Bitter, slightly cold. It ascends, entering the heart and pericardium to clear fire, and also eliminates damp-heat from the Sanjiao, large intestine, and gallbladder meridians. It can disperse blood stasis and qi accumulation, benefit water, and kill worms. It is an essential medicine for the twelve meridians. Excessive consumption can reduce appetite.
The “Bencao Zeyao Gangmu”: 【Taste and Properties】 Bitter, neutral, and non-toxic. Light, clear, and floating, it ascends. It is yin within yang. It enters the hand and foot Shaoyang and Yangming meridians, and also enters the hand Shaoyin meridian.
【Indications】 It clears heart heat, eliminates upper jiao heat, and is a sacred medicine for sores. It treats sores, ulcers, tumors, and goiters. It has miraculous effects for those with heat accumulation.
The “Yixue Zhongzhong Canxi Lu”: It has a slightly bitter and cold taste, with ascending and floating properties, and can flow through qi and blood, treating blood stasis and qi accumulation in the twelve meridians, making it an essential medicine for sores. It can penetrate the surface and resolve muscle tension, clear heat, and expel wind, making it an essential medicine for treating wind-heat. Its cooling and floating nature also makes it effective for head and eye diseases, including headaches, eye pain, toothaches, nasal congestion, or runny nose leading to brain leakage. It is effective for promoting urination, hence it is also effective for treating urinary tract inflammation.
The Lian Qiao used in Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas refers to the root of Lian Qiao, which is also known as Lian Gen in the “Shennong Bencao Jing”. Its properties are similar to Lian Qiao, but its ability to promote urination is superior to that of Lian Qiao. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing’s formula of Ma Huang Lian Yao Chi Xiao Dou Tang uses it to treat internal heat accumulation, leading to jaundice.
Lian Qiao is known for its ability to induce sweating, and when used in a dose of one or two qian, it can effectively induce sweating. Its sweating effect is gentle and prolonged. It has been used to treat a young person with a mild wind-heat condition, allowing them to sweat overnight, resulting in a complete recovery by the next morning.
Lian Qiao is effective in regulating liver qi, as it can both relieve liver qi stagnation and calm excessive liver qi. It has been used to treat an elderly woman in her seventies, whose arms and hands had been swollen and painful for several years. Her pulse was wiry and strong, so Lian Qiao was added to the heat-clearing and swelling-reducing medicine, resulting in the swelling and pain resolving within ten days. Her family noted that she had previously been easily angered, but after taking this medicine, not only did her condition improve, but her anger disappeared entirely. This demonstrates Lian Qiao’s effectiveness in regulating liver qi.
【Source and Production Area】
The “Bencao Jing Jizhu” by Tao Hongjing states: It grows in the valleys of Taishan. It is harvested in February and dried in the shade. It is found everywhere, and currently, the stem, flower, and fruit are used.
The “Zhongyao Dacidian” states: It is the fruit of the plant Forsythia suspensa. The fruit is harvested when it is initially ripe or fully ripe. The initially ripe fruit is steamed and dried, retaining a green color, and is called “Qing Qiao”; the fully ripe fruit is dried after harvesting, with seeds and impurities removed, and is called “Lao Qiao”; the seeds are referred to as “Lian Qiao Xin”.
It grows abundantly in wild and uncultivated areas, and is also cultivated in various regions, including Liaoning, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Hubei, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu.
【Preparation】
The “Zhongyao Dacidian” states: Remove impurities, rub open, and remove branches and stems.
【Modern Pharmacological Research】
1. Lian Qiao has antimicrobial properties. In vitro experiments show that the volatile oil emulsion of Lian Qiao seeds inhibits both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as Candida albicans, tropical strains, and various viruses.
2. Lian Qiao has significant anti-inflammatory effects.
3. Lian Qiao has antipyretic effects. Lian Qiao decoction or compound Lian Qiao injection can lower body temperature in both artificially induced fever and normal animals.
4. Lian Qiao has effects on the cardiovascular system. Lian Qiao injection has a strong positive inotropic and pressor effect on cats in toxic shock. It significantly inhibits the permeability of capillaries induced by acetic acid. A 100% concentration of Lian Qiao injection at 0.25g/kg intravenously can significantly lower blood pressure in anesthetized dogs.
5. Lian Qiao has hepatoprotective effects.
6. Lian Qiao has antiemetic effects.
7. Lian Qiao also has diuretic and hemostatic effects.
（Compiled by Yan Xinyu）
（Proofread by Xiao K）
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