Forsythia is in the Oleaceae family, the same as olives. Eleven species of forsythia are native to Eastern Asia, with one variety being native to Southeastern Europe. The most commonly used variety is Forsythia suspensa. Forsythia is one of the 50 Fundamental Herbs in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).
The fruit, flower, seeds, and leaves are used and have bitter, slightly acrid, and cooling properties. Among its attributes, forsythia helps Clear Heat and has important antimicrobial properties.
Forsythia is one of the three key ingredients in the widely used TCM formula called Shuang Huang Lian. This formula was widely used during the COVID-19 outbreak in China.
Forsythia is also a treatment for acne, boils, and redness of the skin. In TCM, it is considered the “King Herb” for treating abscesses.
