Lian Qiao — The Bright Bloom That Clears the Way

Plant Spirit Letter - A series on the spirit and medicine of Chinese herbs

She blooms before the world is ready.
Bright yellow petals opening from bare wood while winter still clings to the air.
Lian Qiao—Forsythia—is not shy.
She arrives when she is needed, not when it is comfortable.

And this is her medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lian Qiao is known for clearing heat, especially from the upper burner: the Heart, Lung, and sensory orifices. She is often called when there is toxicity, inflammation, or internal pressure that has no outlet.

But like all true plant teachers, she offers more than physiology.