Holy Medicine for Sores—Lian Qiao
—.Knowledge of Chinese Medicine.—
In the Book of Songs, it is written: “A thousand steps of Lian Qiao are not stained by dust, the incense descends lazily painting the spring of the moth’s brow. With a sincere heart, I only wish for the blessing of the immortal, to heal the wandering and distant aspirations.” This is not only a praise of the external beauty of Lian Qiao but also an affirmation of its internal medicinal value. Lian Qiao has high medicinal value and is widely used in medicine. It is a common Chinese medicinal material in clinical practice and is one of the ingredients in several Chinese medicine formulas, such as Shuang Huang Lian Oral Liquid, Qing Re Jie Du Oral Liquid, and Yin Qiao Jie Du Granules, all of which contain Lian Qiao. Today, the Pharmacy Department of Handan People’s Hospital will introduce the Chinese medicine Lian Qiao, known as the “Holy Medicine for Sores”.
NO.1
Lian Qiao and Forsythia
Upon seeing the image, most people might first think this is Forsythia. However, this is not the case. Although Lian Qiao and Forsythia look similar, they are not the same plant. Both Lian Qiao and Forsythia belong to the Oleaceae family, but only Lian Qiao is included in the “Chinese Pharmacopoeia”.
How to distinguish Lian Qiao from Forsythia?
1. Lian Qiao bears fruit, while Forsythia only flowers and does not bear fruit (even if it does, it usually falls off after the flowers wither).2. Lian Qiao leaves have serrated edges, while Forsythia leaves have smoother edges.3. Lian Qiao has four petals, while Forsythia usually has six petals.
NO.2
Introduction to Lian Qiao
Source
Dry fruit of Forsythia from the Oleaceae family.
Alias
Han Lian Zi (《Yao Xing Lun》), Da Qiao Zi (《Tang Ben Cao》), Kong Ke (《Zhong Yao Zhi》).
Properties and Channels
Bitter, slightly cold.Enters the Lung, Heart, and Small Intestine meridians.
Origin
Distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan, and other regions.
Characteristics of the Medicinal Material
Lian Qiao is named for its shape resembling ancient vehicles, hence the name.The product is long oval to oval, slightly flattened, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long, and 0.5 to 1.3 cm in diameter. The surface has irregular longitudinal wrinkles and many small raised 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.Green Lian Qiao is mostly uncracked, with a greenish-brown surface and fewer raised grayish-white spots; it is hard; the seeds are mostly yellow-green, slender, and winged on one side.Old Lian Qiao cracks from the tip 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 faint fragrance and a bitter taste.
NO.3
Effects and Functions of Lian Qiao
Classical Texts
1. “Bitter and neutral. It treats cold and heat, mouse fistula, scrofula, carbuncles, foul sores, goiter, heat accumulation, and toxic substances.” (《Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing》)2. “All pain and itching sores belong to the heart.” (《Su Wen·Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun》)3. Lian Qiao has three uses: to drain heat from the heart, to eliminate heat from the upper jiao, and as the holy medicine for sores. (Jin Dynasty, Zhang Yuanshu’s “Zhen Zhu Nang”)4. Lian Qiao: slightly bitter, spicy, “is the main medicine for the Shaoyin Heart and Jueyin Pericardium Qi. All pain, itching, sores, and ulcers belong to heart fire, hence it is the holy medicine for sores in the twelve meridians. It also treats heat in the Qi of the Shaoyang of the hands and Yangming of the hands.” (《Ben Cao Gang Mu》)
Functions
Clears heat and detoxifies, disperses wind-heat, reduces swelling and dissipates nodules, promotes urination.This product is bitter and can disperse, slightly cold and can clear, light and can float upwards, entering the Lung, Heart, and Small Intestine meridians. It clears heat toxins, disperses wind-heat, dissipates nodules, promotes urination, and reduces swelling. The medicinal power is strong, primarily clearing, with a combination of clearing and penetrating, and can also dissipate nodules and promote urination, suitable for heat toxins, wind-heat, damp-heat, and swelling.
Indications
(1) Externally contracted febrile diseases, wind-heat exterior syndrome.(2) Carbuncles and sore toxins, breast abscess, lung abscess, scrofula phlegm nodules.(3) Heat stranguria with pain.NO.4
Preparation and Usage of Lian Qiao
Preparation
Green Lian Qiao is harvested in the autumn when the fruit is initially ripe and still green, impurities are removed, steamed, and dried.
Old Lian Qiao or Yellow Lian Qiao is harvested when the fruit is fully ripe, dried, and impurities removed.
The heart of Lian Qiao is harvested after steaming and drying, and the seeds are removed.
Usage
Lian Qiao is generally used in decoctions, boiled for oral administration, and can also be made into powders or pills.
The common dosage for Lian Qiao when taken orally is 6 to 15 grams. When used externally, an appropriate amount of Lian Qiao, licorice, and Huang Bai is boiled in water for gargling, which has therapeutic effects on tongue sores.
Lian Qiao heart is effective in clearing heart fire, treating heat entering the pericardium syndrome often associated with heart use.
Different preparation methods can produce Green Lian Qiao, Old Lian Qiao, and Lian Qiao heart as medicinal slices. Different preparation methods have different effects, but the usage remains consistent; specific usage should follow medical advice.
Precautions for Use
This product is bitter and slightly cold, so it is not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency cold and qi deficiency with clear pus.
END
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