Categories:Heat-clearing Herbs – Heat-clearing and Detoxifying
Source:This product is the dried fruit of the plant Forsythia suspensa, belonging to the Oleaceae family. The fruit is harvested in autumn when it is initially ripe and still green, impurities are removed, steamed, and dried, commonly referred to as “Qing Qiao”; when the fruit is fully ripe, it is harvested, dried, and impurities are removed, commonly referred to as “Lao Qiao”.
Characteristics:The product is elongated oval to oval in shape, slightly flattened, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm in length and 0.5 to 1.3 cm in diameter. The surface has irregular longitudinal wrinkles and numerous small raised spots, with a distinct longitudinal groove on each side. The apex is sharply pointed, and the base has a small fruit stem or has fallen off. Qing Qiao is mostly uncracked, with a greenish-brown surface and fewer raised grayish-white spots, and is hard in texture; the seeds are mostly yellow-green, slender, with a wing on one side. Lao Qiao cracks from the apex or splits into two lobes, with a yellow-brown or reddish-brown surface, and the inner surface is mostly light yellow-brown, smooth, with a longitudinal septum; it is brittle; the seeds are brown and mostly fallen off. It has a faint fragrance and a bitter taste.
Taste and Properties:Bitter, slightly cold.
Meridian Affinities:Enters the Lung, Heart, and Small Intestine meridians.
Functions and Indications:Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and disperses nodules. Used for abscesses, scrofula, mastitis, erysipelas, wind-heat colds, initial stages of warm diseases, heat entering the nutritive level, high fever with thirst, delirium with rashes, and heat strangury with urinary retention.
Storage:Store in a dry place.
Herbal Pairings:
Lian Qiao + Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower)
【Taste and Meridian Affinities】
Jin Yin Hua, sweet, cold. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Lian Qiao, bitter, cool. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians.
【Herbal Functions】
Jin Yin Hua, clears heat and detoxifies. Treats febrile diseases, heat-toxicity with blood dysentery, abscesses, swellings, scrofula, and hemorrhoids. Lian Qiao, clears heat, detoxifies, disperses nodules, and reduces swelling. Treats warm heat, erysipelas, rashes, abscesses, swellings, scrofula, and urinary retention.
【Compatibility Mechanism】
The two herbs work together, ascending lightly and dispersing, clearing qi and cooling blood. The combination of Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao enhances the heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, capable of releasing heat and resolving exterior conditions, as well as clearing interior heat, promoting qi and blood circulation, and alleviating swelling and pain.
【Clinical Applications】
1. Wind-heat colds, sore throat, red eyes with tearing. 2. Wind-heat rashes, abscesses, and boils.
【Dosage and Administration】
Internal use: decoction. Jin Yin Hua 10-30 grams, Lian Qiao 10-15 grams.
【Commentaries】
“Shi Jin Mo Dui Yao” by Lü Jing Shan: “The two herbs combined work together, ascending lightly and dispersing, enhancing the power of clearing heat and detoxifying. The combination also promotes qi and blood circulation, alleviating swelling and pain.”
【Source of Herbal Pairing】
The combination of Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao is found in “Wen Bing Tiao Bian” in the Yin Qiao San formula.
Lian Qiao + Niubangzi (Burdock Seed)
【Taste and Meridian Affinities】
Lian Qiao, bitter, cool. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. Niubangzi, pungent, bitter, cool. Enters the Lung and Stomach meridians.
【Herbal Functions】
Lian Qiao, clears heat, detoxifies, disperses nodules, and reduces swelling. Treats warm heat, erysipelas, rashes, abscesses, swellings, scrofula, and urinary retention. Niubangzi, disperses wind-heat, clears the Lung, and promotes rashes, detoxifying. Treats wind-heat cough, sore throat, rashes that do not surface, itchy wind rashes, and abscesses.
【Compatibility Mechanism】
Lian Qiao disperses wind-heat and clears heat and detoxifies. Niubangzi disperses wind and resolves exterior conditions, clearing heat and promoting rashes. Both herbs have properties of dispersing and descending. Niubangzi tends to ascend, effectively clearing heat and toxins from the head, face, and throat; Lian Qiao tends to descend, effectively clearing the Heart and promoting urination. The combination enhances the effects of dispersing wind-heat, clearing heat and detoxifying, and promoting urination.
【Clinical Applications】
1. Wind-heat colds, headache, sore throat. 2. Abscesses and boils.
【Dosage and Administration】
Internal use: decoction or in pills and powders. Lian Qiao 9-15 grams, Niubangzi 9-15 grams.
【Commentaries】
“Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu”: “Lian Qiao has the power to ascend and disperse, circulating qi and blood, treating blood stasis and qi stagnation in the twelve meridians, making it an essential herb for abscesses. It can release the exterior and clear heat, and is also a key herb for treating wind-heat. It effectively expels toxins and is also a key herb for treating rashes and itching.” Li Gao: “Treats wind-heat rashes, sore throat from wind-heat, disperses toxins from abscesses, and promotes the flow of qi in the waist and knees.”
【Source of Herbal Pairing】
The combination of Lian Qiao and Niubangzi is found in “Zheng Zhi Zhun Sheng” in the Lian Qiao Bai Du San formula.