Shuò Jié is the Chinese name for the whole plant or root of the honeysuckle plant in the Caprifoliaceae family. It has the effects of anti-inflammatory, heat-clearing and detoxifying, dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, and promoting menstruation and bone healing. It is mainly used to treat various inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbago and leg pain, bruises, fractures, etc.
1. Promoting blood circulation and relieving pain
This herb has a sweet taste that nourishes the blood and also has a bitter taste that promotes bowel movement. It has the effect of promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, dispersing blood stasis, and relieving pain. It is a good medicine for treating fractures, strains, and bone healing. It can be used in combination with natural copper (Shuò Jié - natural copper) for better blood circulation and healing effects, such as the Bone Healing Formula (Gu Shou Fang) in The Essential Collections of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zheng Ti Lei Yao), which includes honeysuckle (Shuò Jié), frankincense, red peony, angelica, chuanxiong, and natural copper. The bone healing effect of this herb is achieved through promoting blood circulation, dispersing blood stasis, and promoting the growth of new tissues. In clinical practice, it is often used in combination with blood-activating and stasis-removing herbs.
External application can also be effective. For example, in the National Compendium of Chinese Herbal Medicine, this herb is combined with Chinese fevervine, madder, gastrodia, and clove to make a plaster for the treatment of closed fractures and joint injuries.
2. Dispelling wind and dampness
This herb has a bitter taste that can dispel wind and dampness, and it also has the effect of promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. It has a good therapeutic effect on rheumatic pain in the muscles and bones and can be used in combination with wind-damp-dispelling herbs. It is often used for fumigation and washing externally, such as the Washing Formula (Xian Shou Li Shang Xu Duan Mi Fang), which includes honeysuckle, Photinia serrulata leaves, white atractylodes, white willow bark, spring onion, Polygonum multiflorum, Chinese angelica, Schizonepeta, Chuanxiong spikes, and Gastrodia.
3. Diuresis and reducing swelling
This herb can promote diuresis and reduce swelling. It is suitable for edema caused by water stagnation and urinary dysfunction. It can be used alone to treat systemic edema, such as the recipe in Mei Shi Ji Yan Fang, which uses the peeled root of honeysuckle, mashed into juice, and taken with wine. It can also be used in compound formulas.
In summary, Shuò Jié can promote blood circulation, relieve pain, dispel wind and dampness. It is commonly used in orthopedics to treat bruises, swelling, and pain caused by falls or injuries, as well as rheumatic pain in the muscles and bones. It can be taken internally or used externally.
