Lián Qiào (连翘), known in English as Forsythia fruit (Forsythia suspensa), is a cool, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Lung, Heart and Gallbladder channels. Its main action: clears Heat, resolves toxicity.
| Pinyin | Lián Qiào (Lian Qiao) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 连翘 |
| English | Forsythia fruit |
| Botanical name | Forsythia suspensa |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cool |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Lung, Heart, Gallbladder |
| Dosage | 6–15g |
| Cautions | Spleen deficiency; no Fire toxicity |
Actions
- Clears Heat, resolves toxicity
- Disperses lumps and nodules
- Clears Heart Heat
Indications
- Carbuncles
- Scrofula
- Ying-level Heat
- Wind-Heat exterior — often paired with Jin Yin Hua
How to remember Lián Qiào
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cool, Bitter: like most Clear heat herbs
- Heart channel: from its action “Clears Heart Heat”
- Learn by heart
- Lung and Gallbladder channels: nothing in its group or its actions points to them
Formulas containing Lián Qiào
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Bǎn Lán Gēn
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Lián Qiào?
Lián Qiào is cool and bitter.
Which channels does Lián Qiào enter?
Lián Qiào enters the Lung, Heart and Gallbladder channels.
What are the actions of Lián Qiào?
Clears Heat, resolves toxicity; Disperses lumps and nodules; Clears Heart Heat.
What is Lián Qiào used for?
Carbuncles; scrofula; Ying-level Heat; Wind-Heat exterior — often paired with Jin Yin Hua.
Which formulas contain Lián Qiào?
Yín Qiào Sǎn, Sāng Jú Yǐn, Qīng Yíng Tāng, Bǎo Hé Wán and Gān Lù Xiāo Dú Dān.
Practise Lián Qiào and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.