Lian Qiao
Lian Qiao, a traditional Chinese medicinal material, is the fruit of the plant Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, belonging to the Oleaceae family. The fruit is harvested when it is immature or fully ripe. The immature fruit is steamed and dried while still green, and is referred to as “Qing Qiao”; the fully ripe fruit is dried after harvesting, with seeds and impurities removed, and is called “Lao Qiao”; the seeds are known as “Lian Qiao Xin”. It is distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, and other regions, and is now cultivated. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, dissipating nodules, and reducing swelling. It is used to treat warm heat, erysipelas, rashes, abscesses, lymphadenitis, and urinary obstruction.
Lian Qiao Images
Lian Qiao Images
Lian Qiao Images
Lian Qiao Images
Introduction to Lian Qiao
Medicinal Name: Lian Qiao
Pinyin: Lián Qiáo
Alias: Lian Ke, Huang Hua Tiao, Huang Lian Tiao Hua, Huang Qi Dan, Qing Qiao, Luo Qiao
Source: This product is the dried fruit of the plant Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl of the Oleaceae family. The fruit is harvested in the autumn when it is immature and still green, impurities are removed, it is steamed and dried, commonly referred to as “Qing Qiao”; when the fruit is fully ripe, it is harvested, dried, and impurities 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 many raised small spots, with a distinct longitudinal groove on each side. The tip is sharp, and the base has a small fruit stalk or has fallen off. Qing Qiao is mostly uncracked, with a greenish-brown surface and fewer raised grayish-white spots, and is hard; the seeds are mostly yellow-green, elongated, with a wing on one side. Lao Qiao cracks from the top or splits into two lobes, with a yellow-brown or red-brown surface, the inner surface mostly light yellow-brown, smooth, with a longitudinal partition; it is brittle; the seeds are brown and mostly fallen off. It has a slight fragrance and a bitter taste.
Chemical Components: The fruit contains Lian Qiao phenol, steroid compounds, saponins (non-hemolytic), flavonoid glycosides, and resin glycosides. The fruit skin contains oleanolic acid. Qing Lian Qiao contains 4.89% saponins and 0.2% alkaloids.
Properties: Bitter; slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung; Heart; Gallbladder
Storage: Store in a dry place.
Contraindications: Avoid in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency, qi deficiency with fever, and in cases of abscesses that have already ruptured with thin, pale pus.
Effects of Lian Qiao
Clears heat and detoxifies, reduces swelling and dissipates nodules. Used for abscesses, lymphadenitis, mastitis, erysipelas, wind-heat colds, initial stages of warm diseases, heat entering the nutritive level, high fever with thirst, delirium with rashes, and heat stranguria.
Functions of Lian Qiao
1. Antibacterial. The effective component is Lian Qiao phenol. It has the strongest antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae. It also has strong antibacterial effects against hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, etc. It significantly inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has therapeutic effects on experimental tuberculosis in mice.
2. Antiviral, with inhibitory effects on influenza viruses.
3. Cardiotonic and diuretic. The effective component is oleanolic acid.
Usage of Lian Qiao
Internal use: 6-15g. — “Chinese Pharmacopoeia”
Internal use: decoction, 3-5 qian; or in pills or powders. — “Dictionary of Chinese Medicine”
External use: decoction for washing. — “Dictionary of Chinese Medicine”
Internal use: decoction, 6-15g; or in pills or powders. — “Compendium of Materia Medica”
Formulas with Lian Qiao
Note: The following formulas should be used under the guidance of a physician.
① For Taiyin wind-heat, warm heat, warm epidemic, and winter warmth, at the initial stage with heat but no aversion to cold and thirst:
Lian Qiao 1 liang, Jin Hua 1 liang, Ku Ju Gen 6 qian, Bo He 6 qian, Zhu Ye 4 qian, Sheng Gan Cao 5 qian, Jie Sui 4 qian, Dan Dou Chi 5 qian, Niu Bang Zi 6 qian. Grind into a powder, take 6 qian each time, decoct with fresh reed root soup, when the aroma is strong, take it, do not overboil. For severe cases, take every two hours, three times a day, and once at night; for mild cases, take every three hours, three times a day, and once at night; if the illness does not resolve, take again. (“Differentiation of Warm Diseases” Yin Qiao San)
② For all types of heat in children:
Lian Qiao, Fang Feng, Gan Cao (roasted), and Shan Zhi Zi in equal parts. Grind and sift into a powder, take 2 qian each time, with 1 cup of water, decoct to 7 parts, remove the dregs and take warm. (“Clinical Evidence of Life” Lian Qiao Drink)
③ For red rashes and toxins:
Lian Qiao alone, decoct and drink. (“Yuqiao Medical Order”)
④ For mastitis and breast lumps:
Lian Qiao, Xiong Shu Shi, Pu Gong Ying, and Chuan Bei Mu each 2 qian. Decoction for oral use. (“Yuqiao Medical Order”)
⑤ For lymphadenitis that does not resolve:
Lian Qiao, Gui Jian Yu, Qu Mai, and Gan Cao (roasted) in equal parts. Grind into a fine powder, take 2 qian each time, mix with rice wash before bed. (“Yang’s Family Collection” Lian Qiao Powder)
⑥ For tongue ulcers:
Lian Qiao 5 qian, Huang Bai 3 qian, Gan Cao 2 qian. Decoction for gargling. (“Yuqiao Medical Order”)
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