The Vine

The healing nature of Mother Nature is all around us. Many ancient remedies have used plants and herbs to heal, yet many of those traditions have been lost in Western society. 

Insider.com recently published an article discussing how Forsythia could be used as an herbal remedy since research has shown that the flower may have antibacterial and antiviral properties.   

Forsythia is a shrub that produces fruits called Lian Qiao and has been used as a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese Medicine. The Lian Qiao fruit has been used to help treat various symptoms in the past including fever, nausea, and sore throat. It's commonly combined with other herbs to maximize the benefits.

"Due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, forsythia is typically used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat bacterial and viral infections, and it's even been studied in treating certain cancers, says Deborah Ann Ballard, MD, MPH, internal medicine doctor at Duke Integrative Medicine."

Herbs can react with other medications, so when experimenting with plant medicine remedies, (especially those not yet backed by have enough research) be sure to consult a doctor, or traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. To read the entire article on Insider visit this LINK.