Understanding
Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower)
Jin Yin Hua was first recorded in the “Bencao Bie Lu” (The Classic of Herbal Medicine) and classified as a superior herb, originally named “Ren Dong” (Lonicera japonica). The name Jin Yin Hua is discussed under the Ren Dong entry in the “Bencao Gangmu” (Compendium of Materia Medica), where Li Shizhen states: “…when the flower first blooms, both the petals and the stamens are white; after two or three days, they turn yellow, mixing old and new, hence the name Jin Yin Hua, which has a very fragrant aroma.” This herb is derived from the dried flower buds or newly opened flowers of the Lonicera japonica plant. It is distributed throughout China, with major production in provinces such as Henan and Shandong.
Among them, the Jin Yin Hua from the Yimeng Mountain area in Shandong is called “Ji Yin Hua,” while the Jin Yin Hua from Mixian County in Henan is referred to as “Mi Yin Hua,” both of which are of the highest quality and considered authentic medicinal materials.
Classical Texts
1. “Bencao Shiyi”: “It is used for heat toxins, blood dysentery, and watery dysentery; decoct and take it in concentrated form.”
2. “Bencao Fengyuan”: “Jin Yin Hua detoxifies and removes pus, has a cooling effect with some tonifying properties, and is a sacred medicine for carbuncles and sores; however, it should not be used by those with qi deficiency and clear pus, or those with poor appetite and diarrhea.”
Summary of Effects
1. Carbuncles and sores. This herb is sweet and cold, clears heat and detoxifies, disperses carbuncles and reduces swelling, making it essential for treating all internal and external carbuncles. It can be used in combination for initial stages of carbuncles, furuncles, intestinal carbuncles with abdominal pain, and pulmonary carbuncles with purulent blood.
2. Externally contracted wind-heat and initial stages of epidemic diseases. This herb is sweet and cold, aromatic and dispersing, effectively dispersing lung heat pathogens and reaching the surface. It is often used with Lian Qiao (Forsythia) and Bo He (Peppermint) to treat externally contracted wind-heat or initial stages of warm diseases; it also clears heart and stomach heat toxins, has the ability to transform heat and promote qi, and is often combined to treat heat entering the nutrient and blood levels; it can also be used to treat summer heat.
3. Heat toxin blood dysentery. This herb is sweet and cold, has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, and cooling blood to stop dysentery, thus it is commonly used to treat heat toxin dysentery with purulent blood; it can be effective on its own or used in combination to enhance the effect of stopping dysentery.
Additionally, it can be used to treat sore throat, pediatric heat sores, and prickly heat.
Dosage and Administration: Decoction for oral administration, 6-15g. For dispersing wind-heat and clearing internal heat, the fresh product is preferred, while charred is suitable for heat toxin blood dysentery. Jin Yin Hua Lu (Honeysuckle Flower Dew) is made by selecting Jin Yin Hua, removing impurities, rinsing with clean water, soaking, and performing steam distillation to collect the distillate, mainly used for pediatric prickly heat and summer heat thirst.
Precautions: Avoid use in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency cold and qi deficiency with clear pus.
Ren Dong (Honeysuckle vine) is also medicinal; its dried stems and branches can be used, known as Ren Dong Teng, also called Yin Hua Teng. The tender branches with leaves are harvested in autumn and winter, dried, and used raw. It is sweet in taste, cold in nature, and enters the lung and stomach meridians. Its effects are similar to Jin Yin Hua. This herb has detoxifying properties that are not as strong as Jin Yin Hua, but it can clear heat, disperse wind, open the meridians, and relieve pain, commonly used for warm disease fever, rheumatic heat bi syndrome, joint redness, swelling, and pain, and limited movement. Decoction for oral administration, 9-30g.
References: “Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China” 2015 Edition Part One, “Clinical Medication Guidelines of the People’s Republic of China” 2015 Edition.
Special Formulations from Leshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
Throat Soothing Mixture:
Ingredients: Bo He (Peppermint), Da Qing Ye (Isatis Leaf), Jie Geng (Platycodon), Gan Cao (Licorice), Ren Dong Teng (Honeysuckle Vine), Mu Die (Wood Butterfly), Niu Bang Zi (Burdock Seed), Shan Dou Gen (Sophora Root), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia). Excipients include sodium hyaluronate and sodium benzoate.
Characteristics: This product is a brown-black clear liquid; it has a slight fragrance and a slightly bitter taste.
Functions and Indications: Clears heat and releases the exterior, benefits the throat and soothes the throat. Used for upper respiratory infections, acute pharyngitis, chronic pharyngitis with acute exacerbation, sore throat with redness and swelling, and throat itch with dry cough.
Dosage and Administration: Oral administration. One tube per dose, three times a day.
Adverse Reactions: Not yet clear.
Contraindications: Not yet clear.
Precautions: Not yet clear.
Storage: Sealed, stored in a cool place.
Specifications: Each tube contains 10ml.
Please read the instructions carefully and use under the guidance of a physician.
This formulation is for use only in this medical institution.
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Contributed by: Pharmacy Department
Reviewed by: Cai Xuemei
Issued by: Zhang Jian
Submission Email: [email protected]
