Honeysuckle and the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora are both types of tea that clear and release lung qi. It is fine to steep honeysuckle and the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora together in water, and it can effectively relieve hoarseness and lung-heat cough. It also has a certain therapeutic effect on treating tonsillitis.
Can honeysuckle and the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora be steeped together?
1. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora is cold in nature and sweet in taste, with two main functions: one is to clear and release lung qi, which can be used for acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by wind-heat attacking the lungs, such as fever, sore throat, dry mouth, and a dry cough during a cold; the other is to clear the intestines and relieve constipation, used for constipation caused by "internal heat." Modern pharmacological research shows that the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora has a certain toxicity and is not suitable for long-term use.
2. Regarding the diet for the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora: It is suitable for patients with lung-heat cough, swollen gums, red eyes, sore throat, acute tonsillitis, chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, dry cough without phlegm, hoarseness, bloody stools, internal heat from deficiency, triple burner fire symptoms, vomiting blood, and bleeding. Additionally, it can be consumed as a heat-clearing and summer-heat-relieving drink during hot summers.
3. Honeysuckle is cold in nature and belongs to the lung, heart, and stomach meridians. It clears heat and resolves toxins, and cools to disperse wind-heat. It is used for carbuncles, sores, throat obstruction, erysipelas, dysentery due to heat-toxin, wind-heat common cold, and febrile epidemic diseases. Its main indications include upper respiratory tract infections, influenza, and tonsillitis. People with a weak spleen and stomach constitution due to cold deficiency are not suitable for taking it.
4. Steeping honeysuckle, the seed of the Sterculia lychnophora, and chrysanthemum together can reduce "internal heat," clear heat, and resolve toxins. It is beneficial for chronic pharyngitis by moistening the throat and opening the voice, and clearing heat and moistening the lungs. However, they are all cooling in nature. If you have a constitution of deficiency-cold, it is still not advisable to use them preventively in winter.
5. The medicinal effects of honeysuckle are as follows:
1. Antibacterial and antiviral. It has a significant inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, dysentery, typhoid, meningococcus, pneumococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and influenza virus.
2. It has the function of enhancing immunity. Honeysuckle can promote the transformation of lymphocytes and enhance the phagocytic function of white blood cells.
3. Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic. Honeysuckle can promote the release of adrenal cortical hormones and has a significant inhibitory effect on inflammation.