Honeysuckle Flowers

Common Name

Standardized: Japanese honeysuckle

Botanical Name

Lonicera japonica Thunb.
Plant Family: Caprifoliaceae

Overview

The fragrant yellow flowers of the honeysuckle vine are used in herbal medicine around the world for cleansing, consuming, and digesting. Chinese folklore says that it is useful for snakebites. Other folklore surrounding honeysuckle seems to center around love. It is said to be a living symbol of love, the flowers looking like two lovers intertwined. The fragrance is said to induce dreams of passion and love. One of the most enduring folk tales is that if one brings a honeysuckle in bloom into their home, a wedding will follow within a year. The buds and flowers are made into puddings and syrups.

Parts Used

The dried flowers, harvested just before the bud opens. Some products used to treat boils and abscesses include honeysuckle bark.

Typical Preparations

Teas and tinctures. Traditionally combined with mint for rashes or outbreaks on the skin following nervous tension, and with scutellaria to treat boils.

Summary

In Traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle flowers are among the important herbs for clearing heat and relieving toxicity.

Precautions

Specific: No known precautions.
General: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.