Honeysuckle Flower
Even in these modern times, some people still turn to medicines from a Chinese Herb Shop to treat common ailments. This is because herbal medicine generally does not undergo any chemical process in the drying process and is caffeine-free, making it much safer to consume.
A splitting headache and other symptoms of the common cold and flu can be very annoying, especially for working people. Being down with such ailments can affect not just your physical performance, but also your mental performance. And one of the known medicinal herbs widely used in Asia that can help treat these common ailments is the Honeysuckle or called Jin Bu Hua in China.
What is Honeysuckle?
Honeysuckle flower or Japanese Honeysuckle (Flos Lonicerae ) is an edible and healing plant. Its seeds, leaves, and flowers are all used for medicine. This beautiful plant is native to northern and eastern China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Honeysuckle, as well as its derivative products, tea and oil, have medicinal benefits that it has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We will be discussing the flower part of the plant called Jin Yin Hua in Mandarin Pin Yin
What are the benefits of Honeysuckle Flower?
Honeysuckle is known to relieve the common cold and flu symptoms because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. If you have a sore throat and severe headache, a cup of honeysuckle tea can make you feel better almost instantly. It can also help cool down your body temperature if you have a fever.
Properties: sweet, cold
Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine
Aside from the benefits mentioned above, honeysuckle can also help with the following:
Pain and inflammation
– Intestinal infections
– Viral and bacterial infections
– Boils
– Sores
– Itching skin
– Urinary disorders
– Blood sugar levels
It is important to note that this product may support healthy overall well-being but is not in any way a cure to any illness.
How do you consume Honeysuckle?
There are many ways to consume this wonderful herb — a cup of hot tea, a glass of refreshing iced tea, or a cold-brewed drink.
To prepare a cup of hot Honeysuckle tea, you will need to boil 250 mL of water. Put one to two teaspoons of dried honeysuckle and let it steep for three to five minutes.
If you prefer consuming it as a refreshing glass of iced tea, follow the instructions above, and simply pour over a glass with ice. Add honey or your preferred sweetener.
For cold brewing, you will need a tumble or a mason jar with a lid. Put three teaspoons of honeysuckle and store in the fridge for 24 hours.
What does Honeysuckle tea taste like?
Honeysuckle tea is sweet-tasting when hot and slightly bitter when cold. That is why you would need sweeteners if you want to consume it cold and if you are not used to bitter drinks. You also can add milk, tapioca pearls, or mint to make it more enjoyable.
Honeysuckle Stem
Another important part of this plant family is the stems and vines which are named Ren Dong Teng (Caulís Lonicerae), this also clears heat as well as wind and dampness and is used frequently in various Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm liniment formulas, it has the ability to help with Bi Zheng or painful obstruction syndrome caused by wind, heat or dampness. It is milder in its actions to clear heat than Jin Yin Hua.