What are the benefits and effects of egg flower?

Eggflower (Plumeria rubra), as a traditional Chinese herb, has various therapeutic effects including clearing heat and relieving summer-heat, promoting diuresis and stopping diarrhea, moistening the lungs and suppressing cough, detoxifying and reducing swelling, as well as soothing the liver and regulating qi. It is commonly used to manage discomforts related to summer dampness and disorders of the respiratory and digestive systems, but should be used according to medical guidance with proper pattern differentiation. If symptoms persist or worsen, timely medical consultation is recommended for accurate diagnosis.

1. Clearing Heat and Relieving Summer-Heat: Eggflower is cool in nature and sweet in taste, capable of clearing excess summer-heat. It is suitable for conditions caused by summer heat such as dizziness, headache, dry mouth, irritability, and fatigue. It can be decocted into a soup or steeped as tea to help alleviate discomfort from summer dampness.

2. Promoting Diuresis and Stopping Diarrhea: It helps eliminate dampness from the body and regulates diarrhea and dysentery caused by summer-dampness. It can improve symptoms such as loose stools, abdominal distension, and anal burning sensation. It is often combined with other dampness-resolving herbs to enhance efficacy.

3. Moistening the Lungs and Suppressing Cough: Eggflower has the effect of moistening the lungs and alleviating dryness, helping to relieve cough and expel phlegm. It is suitable for lung-heat with dry cough, sore throat, and scanty, sticky sputum. It soothes dryness of the respiratory mucosa and reduces coughing symptoms.

4. Detoxifying and Reducing Swelling: Whether used internally or externally, eggflower exhibits detoxifying properties. It can be used to treat skin sores, swellings, and redness from insect bites. Applying crushed herb topically or washing the affected area with its decoction may help reduce swelling and pain.

5. Soothing the Liver and Regulating Qi: It helps regulate liver qi and alleviate stagnation. It provides some relief for chest and rib distension, emotional depression, and belching caused by impaired liver function, thus improving discomfort due to liver qi stagnation.

When using eggflower, individual constitution and syndrome differentiation are essential. People with deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach should use it cautiously. Dosage should be controlled when preparing decoctions or teas to avoid excessive intake. Store in a dry, well-ventilated place to prevent mold. It should not replace prescribed medications; seek professional medical advice for severe symptoms.