Honeysuckle Treats Sore Throat
Honeysuckle has long been known as a good medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying. It has a sweet and cold nature and a fragrant aroma. It can clear heat without harming the stomach and expel evil. Honeysuckle can dispel wind and heat, as well as clear blood toxins. It is effective in treating various hot diseases, such as fever, rash, spots, heat-toxic sores, and sore throat.
At a gathering with friends, one of them had a dry and itchy throat and a sore throat. I asked why, and he pointed to his throat and said he was suffering from inflammation and was very uncomfortable. I asked if he had taken any medicine. He told me he had taken a lot of medicine, but it didn't work. I told him to come to my house at night and I would give him a miraculous medicine that would make him feel better. He was skeptical but came to my house that night.
I took out a handful of honeysuckle from a porcelain jar, soaked it in boiling water, and brought it to my friend. Without asking, he took it and started drinking. After a while, he asked about the miraculous medicine I mentioned. I told him that what he drank was it. My friend was filled with doubts and carefully examined the tea cup for a moment before saying, "Are you kidding me?"
I said, "This is honeysuckle, it has the effect of clearing the throat and soothing the throat, as well as clearing heat and detoxifying. My friend, still full of suspicion, said, "How come it's not bitter like medicine and feels as refreshing as drinking tea?" I said, "That's the special thing about honeysuckle. It's everywhere in my hometown in the mountains. It's picked and dried in early summer and stored for use in case of need. Before he left, I also packed some for him to take with him and brew and drink. Three days later, my friend called and said that my medicine was amazing and he felt much better now. I smiled in relief after hearing that.
Honeysuckle is everywhere in my hometown, with its presence seen everywhere along the field ridge and riverbank. The slender vines hide in the weeds and are rarely noticed. It is only in early summer that it blooms its beauty, with flowers resembling ancient wine cups, quietly blooming in the early summer wind. People walking in the fields and farmland unintentionally smell the refreshing fragrance and can't help but say, "What a fragrant flower!"
When honeysuckle first blooms, it is white in color, but after two or three days, it turns yellow, forming a combination of gold and silver. Hence the name "honeysuckle". In addition, it is also a precious medicinal herb. Therefore, in early summer, my mother would pick some honeysuckle, dry it in the sun, and store it for later use.
When I was a child, I was weak and often had colds and fevers. Whenever a sore throat caused by a cold, my mother would grab a small handful of honeysuckle and soak it for me to drink. Among many medicines, I especially liked honeysuckle. Ginger soup was spicy, tangerine peel was pungent, and I hated drinking them. If I was forced to drink them, I would even vomit. I only had a soft spot for honeysuckle, and my mother knew my temperament. Every time I had a cold and inflamed throat, she would brew a cup of honeysuckle for me. After brewing with boiling water, the honeysuckle would occasionally emit bubbles, and the petals would gradually stretch out, as if they were coming back to life, blooming as beautiful as ever. Gradually, the broth turned amber, and when placed next to the lips, it had a faint fragrance mixed with the taste of the sun, reaching deep into my lungs. I took a small sip gently, and it was refreshing and sweet. This was not a medicinal broth for treating illness, but a tea-like enjoyment.
