lian qiao

连翘·Fructus Forsythiae

Forsythia Fruit

About lian qiao

Lian Qiao (连翘) is the fruit of weeping forsythia, recorded as Fructus Forsythiae. It is bitter and slightly acrid in flavour, slightly cold, and enters the Heart, Lung and Gallbladder channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity.

Names

Pinyinlian qiao
Chinese连翘
Latin NameFructus Forsythiae
English NameForsythia Fruit·weeping forsythia capsule
Japaneserengyo
Koreanyeongyo

Classification

Channels
Lung, Heart, Gallbladder
Flavour
Bitter, Slightly Acrid
Temperature
Slightly Cold
Family
Oleaceae
Species
forsythia Suspensa
Tags
Chinese Herbs, Common

Actions and indications

Clears Heat, especially in the Upper Jiao, and resolves toxicity

  • Wind-Heat with high fever, mild chills and a sore throat
  • Onset of a Wind-Heat cold or Warm disease, with fever, headache and sore throat
  • Heat at deeper levels in advanced febrile illness: high fever, thirst, and delirium or mental disturbance

Reduces abscesses and dissipates nodules

  • Carbuncles, abscesses and toxic sores or swellings from Heat (Chuang Yung), for which it is a leading herb
  • Erysipelas and pustules beneath the skin
  • Lung abscess
  • Scrofula and other lumps of the neck from Heat toxin
  • Throat Bi

Clears Blood Heat

  • Blood Heat

Promotes urination

  • Lin syndrome, painful urination, blood in the urine and acute nephritis

Combinations

Dosage

AgeRawGranuleTinctureConcentrateFrequency
Any 6-30g; Tincture: 2-5ml6-30 g2-5 ml

Cautions