A good medicine for clearing away heat and detoxification: the medicinal value and daily application of honeysuckle

In this fast-paced era, people often get angry easily due to the pressure of life, bad living habits and environmental pollution, feel that their resistance is reduced and they are prone to illness. While seeking nature and health, we can't help but look back to the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine and look for natural treasures that can bring physical and mental balance. Honeysuckle, this name is like a shining star among many medicinal plants. With its unique medicinal value and its wide application experience, it has become an important part of people's pursuit of a healthy life.

1. Medicinal value of honeysuckle

Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica·Herb·Lonicera": "Honeysuckle is good at detoxification and is an essential medicine for rheumatism and other toxins." It can be seen that honeysuckle has the effects of clearing heat and detoxification, treating all rheumatism and swelling. Modern pharmacology believes that honeysuckle has the effects of antipyretic and anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogenic microorganisms and improving immunity. Most of the Chinese patent medicines on the market for treating wind-heat colds and inflammation contain honeysuckle, which is known as "Chinese medicine antibiotics" and "green antibiotics".

Chlorogenic acid contained in honeysuckle has significant antiviral activity and can effectively inhibit the development of various viruses such as influenza virus and enterovirus. Studies have shown that honeysuckle extract can play an antiviral role by affecting the adsorption and entry process of the virus and blocking the combination of the virus and the host cell.

In addition to antiviral effects, honeysuckle also has a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. It can inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria, including common pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Ingredients such as chlorogenic acid and honeysuckle in honeysuckle can destroy the cell walls of bacteria and prevent their growth and reproduction. Studies have shown that the antibacterial range of honeysuckle and forsythia suspensa can be complementary; when used in combination with penicillin, it can enhance the antibacterial effect of penicillin on drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which may have a synergistic effect in inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria.

Honeysuckle also has anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce inflammatory reactions caused by various reasons. It can regulate the immune system, enhance the body's immune function, and improve resistance. For chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, honeysuckle also shows a good auxiliary treatment effect. The polyphenol compounds in honeysuckle have strong antioxidant capacity. These antioxidants can remove free radicals in the body and protect cells from oxidative damage, thereby preventing chronic diseases and anti-aging.

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, honeysuckle is often used to clear away heat and detoxify. It can be used to treat wind-heat colds, swollen and painful gums, sores, boils, etc. The heat-clearing effect of honeysuckle can also help lower body temperature and has a good effect on treating various fevers.

2. Daily application of honeysuckle

Honeysuckle tea is one of the most common daily applications. It not only has a fresh smell, but also can clear away heat and detoxify, prevent colds, and refresh the mind. In the hot summer, honeysuckle tea can be used as a pure natural cooling drink to help relieve heat and relieve fever. In addition, honeysuckle can also be paired with other Chinese medicines such as chrysanthemum, licorice, mint, etc. to make herbal teas with different effects. In daily life, you can enhance your body's resistance and prevent respiratory infections by drinking honeysuckle tea. The active ingredients such as chlorogenic acid contained in honeysuckle have a positive effect on promoting the phagocytic function of white blood cells, thereby enhancing immunity. Daily health tea reference: 1. Three-flower tea: 10 grams of honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, 5 grams of jasmine, add boiling water to make tea for drinking. It can clear away heat and detoxify, relieve dry throat, thirst, and sore throat. 2. Three-flower sea tea: 5 grams each of chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, and frangipani, 3 sterculia lychnophora, appropriate amount of rock sugar, brew with boiling water for 5 minutes, drink, 1 dose per day, drink for 3 consecutive days, can clear away heat and detoxify, and relieve throat pain. 3. Honeysuckle mint tea: 10 grams each of honeysuckle and mint, brew with boiling water, cover for 15 minutes, add appropriate amount of honey and drink. It is used to clear away heat and relieve summer heat, and remove prickly heat in summer. 4. Golden flower licorice tea: 15 grams of honeysuckle and 3 grams of raw licorice, brew tea with boiling water, and use it to prevent heatstroke, cool down, clear heat and quench thirst in summer. This tea can also be used to gargle with water, and can also treat pharyngitis and oral ulcers. Note that because honeysuckle is cold in nature, people with spleen and stomach deficiency and sores belonging to Yin should be cautious when taking it.

Honeysuckle is not only a traditional Chinese medicine, but also a good product for beauty and skin care. The antioxidant ingredients contained in honeysuckle can be used for anti-aging, and its extracts are often added to cosmetics, such as facial masks and skin creams, to help improve skin problems and delay the aging process. Honeysuckle can also be used as facial dressings after being cleaned and ground, which has a certain effect on reducing acne and skin inflammation.

The unique aroma of honeysuckle makes it a good choice for food additives. Honeysuckle can be used to make candies, cakes and other foods to increase the aroma of food, while also bringing health benefits. Honeysuckle can be used as part of diet therapy, and various exquisite desserts can be made with honeysuckle, which can not only increase the flavor, but also play its role in clearing heat and detoxifying. In addition, honeysuckle can also be used to make health drinks and jellies. These foods not only have the unique flavor of honeysuckle, but also have health functions.

External use of honeysuckle is also part of its daily health care application. Using honeysuckle water to clean the skin can not only keep the skin clean, but also beautify the skin. Honeysuckle decoction can also be used for eczema bath treatment. Honeysuckle water not only clears away heat and detoxifies, but also relieves skin inflammation, and has a certain effect on preventing and treating skin infections.

Conclusion

In summary, honeysuckle is not only a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of diseases, but also a natural treasure that can adapt to the daily health care of modern people. Through the introduction of this article, we know that honeysuckle can not only clear away heat and detoxify, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, but also play its unique role in beauty, diet therapy and health care. With the deepening of scientific research and the improvement of people's health awareness, the medicinal value and application scope of honeysuckle will surely be more widely recognized and promoted. In the near future, with the development of science, this precious Chinese medicine will continue to play an irreplaceable role in human health and disease prevention. At the same time, the daily application of honeysuckle will also be more diversified and become an indispensable part of people's lives. Whether as a tea, diet therapy, or as an external Chinese medicine, honeysuckle will continue to add color to people's healthy life with its unique charm.

Author: Huang Guifen, Chinese Medicine Pharmacy, Panyu District Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou