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Knowledge baseHerbs

Lian Qiao连翘

Fructus ForsythiaeForsythia Fruit

Also known asWeeping Forsythia Capsule

Category
Herbs That Clean Heat and Detoxify; Target Warm and Heat Diseases
Nature
slightly cold
Taste
bitter, slightly pungent
Channels entered
Heart, Lung, Gallbladder
Secondary channels
Liver, San Jiao
Dosage
6–30 g

Usual doses

Dosage
6–30 g
Tincture
2–5 ml

Actions & indications

Clears Heat (especially in the Upper Jiao) and relieves toxicity
Wind-Heat with high fever, slight chills and sore throat
Reduces abscesses and dissipates clumps
Toxic Heat sores and swellings (Chuang Yung), carbuncles, erysipelas, pustules under the skin, Lung abscess, scrofula and throat Bi
Clears Blood Heat
Blood Heat
Promotes urination
Lin syndrome, dysuria, hematuria, acute nephritis

Contraindications

  • Avoid in diarrhea or loose stools caused by Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.
  • Avoid in carbuncles that have already ulcerated.
  • Avoid in Yin-type ulcers.
  • Avoid in purulent abscesses.
  • Avoid in Blood Heat arising from Yin Deficiency.

Combinations

Notes

  • Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao and Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua are both cooling, toxin-resolving herbs that vent Heat outward while cooling internally. Lian Qiao clears Heart Fire, moves stagnant Qi at the Blood level, addresses Lin syndrome, and acts against shigella and staphylococcus, whereas Jin Yin Hua disperses surface Heat, is sweet and cold with less impact on the Stomach, and acts against salmonella and streptococcus.
  • It ranks among the key herbs for draining Heart Fire.
  • Most inflammation formulas include it.
  • It acts similarly to Jin Yin Hua, and the two are commonly paired.
  • The plant is reputed to cure cancer.
  • It is particularly effective for skin conditions, whether acute or chronic.
  • It is typically combined with Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao.
  • It addresses microbial toxicosis.
  • It treats externally contracted Wind-Heat, or a Warm pathogen invading the Pericardium, presenting with irritability, fever, delirium, or Blood-Heat rashes.
  • It further promotes urination, draining Heart Fire out via the urine.
  • It is reported to treat tuberculosis, herpes simplex, and hepatitis.
  • It is used for gangrene affecting the limbs.
  • It eliminates Phlegm.
  • It suits any case where Lung Heat or Heart Fire is obstructing fluids.
  • It also addresses morphine toxicity.
  • For cooling and resolving toxicity, Green Forsythia Qing Lian Qiao or Forsythia with Seeds Dai Xin Lian Qiao work best.
  • Yellow Forsythia Huang Lian Qiao or Clean Forsythia Jing Lian Qiao is preferred for reducing boils and dispersing clumps.
  • Forsythia Seeds Lian Qiao Xin are used when Heat has entered the Pericardium, causing impaired consciousness and delirious speech.

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