Forsythia
Forsythia suspensa
Category
Heat-clearing and detoxifying
Properties
Bitter, slightly cold
Meridians
Lungs, Heart, Small Intestine meridians
Dosage
Decocted in water, 6-15g
Functions
Clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and disperse lumps
Indications
Exterior wind-heat or initial stage of warm diseases, dysentery due to heat-toxicity, carbuncles and furuncles, scrofula
Contraindications
Not suitable for those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold and qi deficiency with thin purulent discharge
Description
Forsythia is the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. Harvested when the fruit is still green in autumn, removed impurities, steamed, and dried, known as 'Qingqiao'; harvested when fully ripe, dried in the sun, and removed impurities, known as 'Laoqiao'.