What are the effects of honeysuckle?
Disease description:
I am 26 years old. Recently, possibly due to fluctuating weather conditions, I caught a cold accompanied by a severe sore throat, which has been quite uncomfortable. A friend suggested that I could take some honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) to relieve the symptoms. May I ask, what are the medicinal properties of honeysuckle?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
Honeysuckle, scientifically known as Lonicera japonica, is a commonly used traditional Chinese herb that clears heat and detoxifies, and dispels wind-heat. It has a sweet and cold nature, and enters the lung, heart, and stomach meridians. It is used to treat various heat-related illnesses and infectious diseases. Its main functions include:
Honeysuckle clears heat and detoxifies, effectively relieving symptoms such as sore throat, abscesses, and skin infections. It also shows significant therapeutic effects on symptoms like fever, headache, and thirst at the early stages of exogenous wind-heat or warm diseases. Honeysuckle can also disperse wind-heat and improve symptoms caused by heat illnesses, such as rashes and skin spots. Additionally, it detoxifies and stops dysentery, and can be used to treat heat-toxin dysentery and symptoms such as bloody and purulent diarrhea.
Honeysuckle exhibits inhibitory effects against various pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and hemolytic streptococcus. It also has certain antiviral properties. Moreover, honeysuckle enhances the body's immunity, promotes lymphocyte transformation, and improves the phagocytic capacity of white blood cells, thus aiding in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
Individuals with deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach, as well as pregnant women, should use honeysuckle cautiously to avoid worsening symptoms or causing adverse effects on the fetus.
