This product is the fruit of the deciduous shrub Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl.) from the Oleaceae family. It is produced in the northeastern, northern regions, and the Yangtze River basin to Yunnan in mainland China. Both wild and cultivated varieties exist. The initially ripe fruits, still green in color, are harvested before White Dew (15th solar term) and are called Qingqiao. The fully ripe fruits harvested before Cold Dew (17th solar term) are called Huangqiao. After harvesting, Qingqiao is steamed and sun-dried, and the seeds are sieved for use as Forsythia heart. Qingqiao is considered superior and is used in its raw form.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, slightly cold. Act on lung, heart and gallbladder channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Clearing heat and removing toxins, dispersing abscesses and resolving nodules, releasing the exterior with pungent-cool herbs.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for carbuncles, sores, and scrofula subcutaneous nodules. This herb is bitter and cold, primarily entering the heart meridian. "All pains, itches, and sores belong to the heart." This herb can clear heart fire, resolve sores and toxins, disperse qi and blood stagnation, and has the effect of dissipating abscesses and dispersing nodules, hence it is known as the "sacred herb for sores." For treating carbuncles and sores, it is often used with Lonicera, Dandelion, wild chrysanthemum flower, and other herbs that remove toxins and disperse swelling. For treating scrofula subcutaneous nodules, it is often used with Prunella, Fritillaria Bulb, Scrophularia Root, oyster shell, and other herbs that clear the liver, disperse nodules, resolve phlegm, and reduce swelling.
2. Used for external contraction of wind-heat and the initial stage of warm disease. This herb is bitter and can purge fire, cold and can clear heat, entering the heart and lung meridians, excelling in clearing heart fire and dispersing upper energizer wind-heat. It is often used with Lonicera, Mentha, Great Burdock Achene, etc., such as Lonicera and Forsythia Powder. For treating heat entering the nutrient-blood aspect, crimson tongue, and unconsciousness, it is often used with Scrophularia Root, Moutan Bark, Lonicera, etc., to clear heat and remove toxins, eliminate heat in the nutrient aspect through the qi aspect, such as Nutrient-Clearing Decoction. For treating heat invading the pericardium, high fever, and unconsciousness, it is often used with Forsythia heart, Ophiopogon Tuber, lotus plumule, etc., such as Palace-Clearing Decoction.
3. This herb can also be used to treat heat stranguria with painful urination, often used with Bamboo Leaf, Akebia Stem, lalang grass rhizome, and other diuretic and urination-promoting herbs, also having the effect of clearing the heart and promoting urination.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Treats cold and heat, scrofula, scrofula, abscesses, malignant sores, goiters, heat accumulation, parasitic toxins."
2. Rihuazi Bencao: "Treats sores and boils, relieves pain."
3. Zhenzhunang: "Forsythia has three uses: to purge heat from the heart meridian, first; to remove heat from the upper energizer, second; to be a sacred medicine for sores, third."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 6-15g.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach, as well as qi deficiency, should not be used when the pus is clear.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains triterpenoid saponins, and the peel contains sterols, phenolic components (Forsythia phenol), alkaloids, saponins, oleanolic acid, coumarins, as well as abundant vitamin P and a small amount of volatile oil.

1. Forsythia has broad-spectrum antibacterial effects, with strong inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae, and certain inhibitory effects on other pathogenic bacteria, influenza viruses, and fungi.
2. It has anti-inflammatory effects.
3. The oleanolic acid contained in this product has cardiotonic, diuretic, and antihypertensive effects.
4. Vitamin P can reduce vascular permeability and fragility, preventing hemolysis.
5. The decoction has antiemetic and anti-liver injury effects.