Spring's "Northern Gold"

One of the spectacular earliest spring blooms are the little golden flowers of the Forsythia bush. The little four petaled, lobed corollas emerge before the leaves and is in a genus of flowering plants from the olive family. There are many species and varieties world wide. The fruit is a dry capsule, containing several winged seeds. Forsythia is a key TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) herb used for over 2,000 years to "clear heat," remove toxins, and reduce inflammation, often for sore throats and skin issues. It is also one of the main ingredients in Yin Chiao (Yin Qiao San), an important classical herbal formula that emerged in 1798 for acute upper respiratory infections where there are obvious signs of "wind-heat" like a sore throat. It was a popular home remedy before the advent of antibiotics but has regained popularity as a natural remedy. It is one of the most prescribed formulas in TCM.