Fr Forsythiae

[Guest guest]

This is a good herb to do this time of year because forsythia is blooming in

many parts of the country. This is one of the earlier spring flowers. It's that

bush with yellow flowers.

 

These remarks apply to Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl., the weeping forsythia.

I don't know if the informaiton applies to other species of forsythia.

 

The fruit (Fr), seed (S) or the root (Rx) of the weeping forsythia can be used

in medicine. It's usually the fruit that gets used, so I'm going to concentrate

remarks on it.

 

The main use of Fr Forsythiae (Lian Qiao) is to Clear Heat Toxin. This is one

that " clears Heat and Poison and dissipates nodules (i.e., boils, lymph node

enlargements), and disperses Exterior Wind Heat. " (Wicke, vol 2, p. 50) Warner

J.W. Fan, M.D., says in A Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine that Lian Qiao is

used to " cool fever and eliminate poison, to release blaockage and suppress

swelling. " (p. 198) Smae thing as Wicke but different wording.

 

Fan list Lian Qiao as targeting the Heart, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians.

Wicke lists these and the Lung and Triple Heater meridians.

 

The energy of Fr (Frutus) Forsythiae (Lian Qiao) is Cool, and the taste is

bitter and slightly spicy. (Remember that spicy tasting herbs tend to have

dispersing qualities, and Fr Forsythiae (Lian Qiao) does have some uses in

dispersing Exterior Wind Heat.

 

On the other hands the seeds (S, semen Forsythia - Lian Qiao Xin) of the

Forsythia suspensa and the root (Rx, Radix Forsythia - Lian Qiao Gen) have Cold

energy. The seed is more effective for cooling the heart and stopping vomiting

than the fruit. The root is more effective for Cold injury and for early

jaundice than the fruit.

 

The contraindications for Fr Forsythiae (Lian Qiao) Spleen and Stomach

Deficiency with diarrhea, Qi Deficiency with fever, and draining abscesses

(carbuncles which have already ulcerated and Yin type ulcers).

 

Fr Forsythiae has broad-spectum antibiotic properties. It frequently is

prescribed with Fl Lonicerae which also has broad-spectum antibiotic properties

but has Cold energy, sweet taste, and targets the Lung, Stomach, and Large

Intestine. The two together can provide quite an anti-bacterial punch. (Fl

Lonicerae Japonieae (Jin Yin Hua) is honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.

species).

 

Victoria

 

 

 

--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--

Share what you know. Learn what you don't.