Forsythia and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Liliana Usvat
Blog 159-365

Common Names - Forsythia , golden bells , lian qiao , weeping forsythia.

It is in flower from March to April. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by insects. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland), semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.
 
Forsythias are popular early spring flowering shrubs in gardens and parks. Two are commonly cultivated for ornament, Forsythia × intermedia and Forsythia suspensa. They are both spring flowering shrubs, with yellow flowers. They are grown and prized for being tough, reliable garden plants. Forsythia × intermedia is the more commonly grown, is smaller, has an upright habit, and produces strongly coloured flowers. 
 
It is a flowering shrub producing yellow gold-like flowers. Growing up to 10 feet high, this shrub has a fountain-like beautiful look making it ideal for your garden. Lighting requirements of this shrub include either full sun or light shade and as far as soil is concerned, it should be well-drained and have additional water.

There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. The common name is also forsythia; the genus is named after William Forsyth.

Forsythia viridissma, meanwhile, had overtaken it in European gardens. The Scottish plant-hunter Robert Fortune "discovered" it— in a mandarin's garden of the coastal city of Chusan (Zhoushan)— before he ever saw it growing wild in the mountains in Chusan's province, Zhejiang.

Propagation

Commercial propagation is usually by cuttings, taken from green wood after flowering in late spring to early summer; alternatively, cuttings may be taken between November and February. Low hanging boughs often take root, and can be removed for transplanting. A common practice is to place a weight over a branch to keep it on the ground, and after it has rooted, to dig up the roots and cut the rooted part from the main branch, this can then be planted.

Medicinal Uses - Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

The flowers have a broad-spectrum antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, haemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus, Bacillus typhi, Mycobacterium tuberculi etc.

The leaves are febrifuge and are also poulticed onto ulcerated glands and haemorrhoids. A decoction of the leaves and twigs is used in the treatment of breast cancer.

The root is used in the treatment of cancer, colds, fever and jaundice.

 

It has been documented that the ancients in China ground up the fruit and gave it to the gravely ill to treat symptoms of fever and chest pain.

 Forsythia, known as lian qiao in China, is classified as bitter and cold, and is associated with the heart, lung, and gall bladder meridians. Practitioners prescribe it as a blood detoxifier, and for fevers, headaches and viral infections. Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends the green fruit, which is steamed and dried for medicinal use. Forsythia is often combined with honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) in remedies.

Forsythia fruits are also reputedly used as a diuretic and as a cardiovascular tonic.
 

Antiviral forsythia, honeysuckle, and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) share proven antiviral compounds. Prepare a tea from all three herbs for viral infections such as cold and flu. The tea is most effective when taken at the first sign of a viral infection.

Bronchitis In China, forsythia is a respected remedy for chest ailments such as bronchitis.

Antibiotic Chinese practitioners recommend forsythia as an antiseptic antibiotic. Its antibiotic properties make it a popular remedy in China for ear infection. It is recommended  forsythia for earache relief. Although the powdered herb is effective as a tea,  it can be sprinkled on applesauce when given to children.
 
Prepare a decoction by adding the powdered fruit to boiling water. Do not take more than 6 to 15 grams of forsythia daily.

In China, the fruit has been most often combined with flowers of the honeysuckle, and it still is one of the most-used herbal formulas there to treat colds, allergies and flu symptoms.

It has been documented by Chinese herbalists for 3,000 years to be helpful as a detoxicant to treat what they called toxic or hot conditions. These are better known to us as inflammatory and infectious diseases that include viral and bacterial infections, including cold and flu.

It appears that the plant enhanced the levels of good cholesterol in the body while also helping in lowering the bad cholesterol.