Traditional Chinese medicine, Sterculia lychnophora, is sweet and bland in taste, and cool in nature. It functions to moisten the lungs and open the voice, and to clear heat and resolve toxicity. It is primarily indicated for dry cough without phlegm, sore throat, hoarseness, red eyes, and toothache. Due to its effects of moistening the lungs and opening the voice, people often consume it as tea. However, what they don't realize is that Sterculia lychnophora also has certain toxic side effects, and allergic reactions are not uncommon.
Firstly, Sterculia lychnophora is a traditional Chinese medicine, and every Chinese herb has its own nature and flavor. When using it, one must select it based on their individual body constitution or the nature of their illness (cold, heat, deficiency, or excess). Traditional Chinese medicine holds that Sterculia lychnophora is cool in nature and sweet in taste, and it has two main functions: one is to clear and diffuse lung qi, which can be used for acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and the feeling of fever, dry mouth, and sore throat accompanied by a dry cough caused by wind-heat invading the lungs; the second is to clear the intestines and promote bowel movements, used for constipation caused by "internal heat". [China Food]
The following conditions are not suitable for the use of Sterculia lychnophora: First, deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach, manifested as decreased appetite, abdominal cold pain, and loose stools. Taking Sterculia lychnophora in this case can easily cause diarrhea and damage vital qi. Second, cough and sore throat caused by wind-cold cold, characterized by aversion to cold, fear of cold, coughing with white, sticky phlegm. Third, cough caused by lung yin deficiency, also characterized by dry cough without phlegm and hoarseness, which often belongs to chronic respiratory diseases.
Secondly, there is the common saying, "all medicines have some toxicity." If the defatted dry powder of Sterculia lychnophora seeds is taken continuously for 10 to 15 days, it may lead to fatal pulmonary congestion and edema and hepatic lipidosis.
Clinical pharmacological studies have shown that Sterculia lychnophora can promote intestinal peristalsis and produce a mild laxative effect. Therefore, people with poor gastrointestinal health should not take it long-term. The medicine also has a blood pressure-lowering effect. Therefore, if people with normal or low blood pressure take it long-term, they may face the danger of hypotension. Additionally, the water-extracted extracts from the pericarp, soft shell, and kernel of Sterculia lychnophora have certain analgesic effects. The mechanism of its analgesia is currently unknown, but it can be certain that if its pain-relieving effect is due to the inhibition of the central nervous system, long-term use also carries potential risks. Clinically, some people have been found to be allergic to it, causing allergic reactions manifested as generalized itching skin, diffuse flushing, the body covered with large wheals and hives, lip edema, accompanied by dizziness, palpitations, chest tightness, nausea, and a drop in blood pressure. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
Thus, it is clear that Sterculia lychnophora can only be used as medicine, not as tea. The principle for using it as medicine is: use it according to the specific symptoms and stop once it is effective. For example, for treating acute tonsillitis, use 3 to 5 pieces of Sterculia lychnophora, steeped in boiling water for consumption; stop after two to three days when the symptoms are relieved. For treating dry throat pain, dry cough without phlegm, and hoarseness caused by wind-heat cold, use 5 pieces of Sterculia lychnophora and 3 grams of licorice, steeped as tea... drink the tea, generally for two to three days. Once the medicine works and the illness is cured, stop the treatment. If it is ineffective, one should see a doctor promptly and follow the doctor's advice for treatment.