Ling Xiao Hua
StarCampsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K.Schum.
☯ TCM Properties
Dispels Blood Stagnation, u nblocks the channels and vessels and d isperses abdominal masses; Cools Blood and d isperses Wind
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ling Xiao Hua, the flower of Campsis grandiflora (Flos Campsis), is sweet, sour and cold, entering the liver and pericardium channels. As a blood-invigorating herb it dispels blood stasis, unblocks the channels and vessels and disperses abdominal masses, while also cooling the blood and dispelling wind. Its principal use is in gynecology for blood-stasis patterns: amenorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, and palpable abdominal masses (zheng jia). Because it cools the blood and expels wind, it is also valued for blood-heat and wind skin disorders, including stubborn itching, wind-rashes, acne and rosacea. It is commonly combined with other blood-moving and cooling herbs. Owing to its strong stasis-dispersing action it is traditionally contraindicated during pregnancy.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Ling Xiao Hua (凌霄花) is the dried flower of Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K. Schum. and, in some pharmacopoeial editions, Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. (Bignoniaceae) — woody climbing vines reaching 5–10 m by means of aerial rootlets, with opposite, pinnate leaves of 7–11 ovate, coarsely toothed leaflets. In summer they bear striking pendulous panicles of large funnel-shaped flowers 5–8 cm long, with five flaring orange to red-orange lobes and a yellowish throat marked with darker veins, much visited by sunbirds and hummingbirds in their respective ranges. The fully opened flowers are picked at peak bloom, sun-dried, and used to invigorate the blood, cool the blood, and dispel wind. Recorded indications include irregular menstruation, climacteric heat, and certain pruritic skin conditions.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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