Nature Science

HONEYSUCKLE: SWEETER THAN EVER NOW

HONEYSUCKLE

Honeysuckle (Lonicera), official “birth flower” for the month of June, delivers more beauty than what meets the eye and the nose. Like the rose (the other June birth flower), the honeysuckle is a strong sweet symbol for everlasting love. Recent studies have found that this lovely flower has powerful health benefit as well.

Honeysuckle flowers have frilly trumpet shaped blossoms, ranging from white to yellow to pink to bright red in color. They are prized, by humans, birds, bees, and butterflies for their sweet fragrance and nectar.

And while honeysuckle adds delicate decoration to any landscape, it can also be used to help heal your body.

In one study, Chinese researchers, led by Dr. Chen-Yu Zhang, of Nanjing University, have recently discovered a “virological penicillin” in honeysuckle blossoms. This is exciting news because there is currently no natural medicinal treatment on the market for viral infections.

Bright pink and white honeysuckle blossom.

Image: by John Sheldon (on sabbatical). “Honeysuckle Carousel.”

Honeysuckle, known as Jin Yin Hua in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has long been used to help relieve symptoms of cold and flu, but Zhang’s studies have shown even more promise, including the flower’s ability to prevent the influenza virus from replicating.

Someone With Tiny Handset-shaped coral honeysuckle blossoms.

Image: by Eleanor. “Coral honeysuckle.”

Zhang and his team finally identified exactly what it is about honeysuckle that fights viruses, a molecule called MIR2911 (honeysuckle-encoded atypical microRNA2911).

MIR2911 directly targets multiple strains of influenza, including swine and avian flu. It represses two genes, PB2 and NS1, required for replicating the virus.

White honeysuckle flowers loaded with pollen.

Image: by Pauline Rosenberg. Honeysuckle.

This discovery could be comparable to Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin to fight bacterial infections almost a century ago, which has since saved millions.

The study was published recently in the journal Cell Research.

Xiao Er Ke Chuan Ling Oral Liquid (KCL), an herbal preparation that uses honeysuckle and nine other plants, was also found to help treat acute bronchitis in children.

Image: by J. Michael Raby. “Japanese Honeysuckle.”

A study in the Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine reported that Xiao Er Ke Chuan Ling Oral Liquid (KCL), an herbal preparation that uses honeysuckle and nine other plants, was found to help treat acute bronchitis in children, citing antiviral, antibacterial and potent pharmacological actions.

Hot pink honeysuckle blossom: Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans (Caprifoliaceae).

Image: by Brent Miller. “Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans (Caprifoliaceae); California honeysuckle.”

Honeysuckle was also found to have wound-healing properties, according to the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal.

Healing Honeysuckle Tea, offered by Piper and Leaf Artisan Tea Company.

Image: “Healing Honeysuckle Tea.” Courtesy of Piper and Leaf Artisan Tea Company.

You don’t need to leave honeysuckle’s sweet nectar for the sole pleasure of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Honeysuckle Tea is easy to make -- just steep a handful of fresh blossoms in boiling water and enjoy hot or iced. You can also dry the blossoms for future use when fresh honeysuckle is not in season. Piper and Leaf Artisan Tea Company offers Healing Honeysuckle Tea online.

Lush pink, yellow and white honeysuckle flowers in full bloom.

Image: by Marise Caetano. “Uma madressilva inglesa nessa quinta-flower! Saudade dos amigos!”

You can enjoy honeysuckle in shrub form, such as L. fragrantissima, and vine form, such as L. sempervirens. You’ll be happy to know that hummingbirds love them both. Together, they include about 200 species, growing primarily in temperate zones of both hemispheres, around the world. So you are sure to find plenty to add sweet delight to your life, wherever you live.

Image: by dw_ross. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).

Read more about Beautiful June all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Yellow and white Japanese honeysuckle flowers.

Image: by Carol Foil. Japanese Honeysuckle.

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Fuschia and yellow Japanese honeysuckle blossoms.

Image: by Jon Sullivan. Japonica Flower.

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