In the realm of medicinal herbs, there are those that disperse cold and those that warm or cool the body. Generally, herbs that affect Qi treat Qi-related issues, while those that affect taste treat blood-related issues. Forsythia (Lian Qiao) is known for its fragrant properties that can help expel toxic evils.
—— “Shen Nong’s Materia Medica”
The name Forsythia is likely familiar to many, as it is a common ingredient in household remedies like Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian, which primarily contains Forsythia.
Many people underestimate the value of Forsythia.
Today, I have compiled various effects and uses of Forsythia for everyone.
Let’s take a look!
Understanding Forsythia
Herb Name: Forsythia (Lian Qiao)
Alias: Yellow Flower Stem, Huang Shou Dan
Properties: Bitter, Cool.
Meridians: Enters the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians.
Effects: Clears heat and detoxifies, disperses nodules and reduces swelling.
Indications: Treats warm heat, carbuncles, rashes, abscesses, and urinary blockages.
Choosing Forsythia: Forsythia is categorized into Qing Qiao (young) and Lao Qiao (old) based on harvest time. The best Qing Qiao is green and uncracked; the best Lao Qiao is yellow, with large petals and thick shells.
Forsythia also has protective effects on the liver, assisting in lowering transaminases and ensuring the content of liver glycogen and ribonucleic acid. Therefore, Forsythia plays an important role in alleviating liver cell degeneration and necrosis.
Forsythia Tea: Reducing Heat and Acne
Forsythia Tea
Main Ingredients: 10g Forsythia, 6g Chrysanthemum, 6g Honeysuckle.
Preparation:
1. Crush Forsythia and dried Honeysuckle together, then mix in the prepared Chrysanthemum and pack into a tea bag.
2. Brew the tea bag with boiling water, cover, and wait for 5 minutes to infuse before drinking. It can be brewed 4-5 times.
Forsythia, Honeysuckle, and Chrysanthemum all have heat-clearing and detoxifying properties, which can help eliminate acne caused by internal heat and fire. Honeysuckle also promotes circulation and beautifies the skin, making this tea suitable for consumption in autumn and winter.
Forsythia in Food: Dispersing Wind Heat
Honeysuckle and Forsythia Porridge
Ingredients: 10g Forsythia, 40g fresh Honeysuckle, 20g rice, appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Preparation: Wash Forsythia and fresh Honeysuckle separately; rinse the rice. In a pot, add fresh Honeysuckle and Forsythia with an appropriate amount of water, simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, strain to obtain the liquid. In a clay pot, add rice and an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 minutes, add the herbal liquid and rock sugar, and cook for another 20 minutes.
Honeysuckle and Forsythia are commonly used together in clinical practice, as seen in the Yin Qiao San from “Differentiation of Warm Diseases,” which treats the initial symptoms of warm diseases with fever. During the Qing Dynasty, this remedy played a significant role in treating epidemics.
Forsythia Foot Soak: Clearing Heat and Promoting Diuresis
The theory of meridian entry has a significant influence in the “Pearl Bag”, which mentions Forsythia: “The uses of Forsythia are three: to drain heat from the Heart, to eliminate heat from the upper jiao, and as a holy medicine for sores.”
Soaking feet in hot water can improve local blood circulation, expel cold, promote metabolism, and ultimately achieve health maintenance.
“Wei Daifu’s Damp Heat Relief Foot Bath Health Paste” is primarily made with Forsythia and extracts the essence of herbs such as Huang Bai (Phellodendron), Huang Lian (Coptis), Ding Xiang (Clove), Qin Pi (Melia), Zi Cao (Lithospermum), Bai Tou Weng (Pulsatilla), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), Ku Shen (Sophora), Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia), and Hei Hu Jiao (Black Pepper), using a unique process to create a health foot bath liquid.
Usage:
For external use. Boil 2000ml of water in a pot, pour into a foot bath basin, add one bag of this product into the hot water and stir well. After the water cools down, soak your feet for 15 minutes, twice a day, for three consecutive days.
Using the foot bath liquid for foot soaking or bathing is simpler and more convenient. The most suitable water temperature for foot soaking is around 42°C, and the water should cover the San Yin Jiao (Spleen 6) acupuncture point, with a slight sweat being the best outcome.
“Wei Daifu’s Damp Heat Relief Foot Bath Health Paste” can regulate gastrointestinal function and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort caused by damp heat, promoting health.
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