Caprifoliaceae
Honeysuckle Flower
Lonicera japonica
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: China, Japan, Korea (invasive elsewhere)
Also known as: Japanese Honeysuckle, Jin Yin Hua, Double Silver Flower
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Flower
Therapeutic Uses
Acute febrile infections (TCM wind-heat), sore throat, respiratory infections, skin infections. Central in Yin Qiao San formula. Clinically validated for influenza.
Herbal Actions
Antimicrobial (chlorogenic acid), antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, immunostimulant
Active Constituents
Flavonoids (luteolin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid — primary antimicrobial), caffeic acid derivatives, saponins, volatile oil (linalool, geraniol), iridoids
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture🍵 Decoction
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 6–15g dried flowers per 500ml, steep 15 min, 3–4x daily during illness |
| Tincture | 3–5 ml (1:5, 45% ethanol), 3–4x daily acutely |
| Notes | Yin Qiao San (with forsythia): most used TCM acute respiratory formula. Best at first symptoms. Chlorogenic acid: broad antimicrobial. Traditional: pick just-opening flowers for maximum potency. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
None known
Contraindications: Avoid in cold/deficient constitutions (TCM). Caution in pregnancy. Generally safe.
Side Effects: GI upset. Very well tolerated.