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Jin Yin Hua金银花

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos · Honeysuckle Flower · Lonicera Flower

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《新修本草》

Overview

Sweet and cold but light in texture, honeysuckle flower clears heat and resolves toxin without the heaviness of the bitter cold herbs, so it can be given in quantity and over a longer course. Two roles dominate in practice: dispersing wind-heat at the onset of a febrile illness — classically paired with Lian Qiao 连翘 — and treating hot, painful sores and abscesses. Dry-fried Jin Yin Hua is less cold and easier on a weak middle burner.

Nature & Flavor

Sweet · Cold

Channels

Lung · Heart · Stomach

Typical Dosage

6–15 g in decoction
金银花Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxinCarbuncles, boils, sore throat and hot painful swellings, at any stage.
  • Disperses wind-heatFever, sore throat and headache at the beginning of a wind-heat or warm-disease illness.
  • Cools the blood, checks dysenteric disorderDamp-heat dysenteric disorder with blood in the stool — the charred form is preferred here.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Jin Yin Hua

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Early-stage wind-heat with fever and sore throat
    - Carbuncles, boils and other hot toxic sores
    - Summerheat with thirst and irritability
    - Damp-heat dysenteric disorder with bloody stool

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Upper respiratory infectionPharyngitisCellulitisFever

Contraindications

Cautions

Cold in nature: not suited to Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold with loose stool, nor to yin-type sores that are pale, flat and cool to the touch.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: No specific restriction — practitioner judgment applies

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Ben Cao Gang Mu《本草纲目》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.