Herb Laxative herbs that drain downward

Feng Mi

Honey | 蜂蜜

Honey

TCM Properties

Temperature

Neutral

Taste

Sweet

Organ Affinity

Stomach, Large Intestine, Lungs

Parts Used

Honey

TCM Actions & Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine properties and applications of Feng Mi

Traditional Actions

Reinforces the spleen and stomach.
Moistens dryness, relieves pain, and detoxifies.

Key TCM Concepts

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Feng Mi belongs to the 'Laxative herbs that drain downward' category. The herbs in this category are those whose main purpose is to treat constipation. They're called 'laxative' because they're often rich in oils. This allows them to lubricate the Intestines in order to help it remove the stools from the body.

 

Furthermore Feng Mi is Neutral in nature. This means that Feng Mi typically doesn't affect the balance in your body. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Eating too many "Hot" (Yang) ingredients can lead to an imbalance whereby one has a Yang Excess. The inverse is true as well: too many "Cold" (Yin) ingredients can lead to a Yin Excess. The Neutral nature of Feng Mi means that you don't have to worry about that!

 

Feng Mi also tastes Sweet. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Sweet ingredients like Feng Mi tends to slow down acute reactions and detoxify the body. They also have a tonic effect because they replenish Qi and Blood.

 

The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Feng Mi is thought to target the Stomach, the Large intestine and the Lung. In TCM the Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine. The Large Intestine on the other hand receives the "impure" parts of the digested food from the Small Intestine, absorbs the remaining fluids and excrete the remainder as feces. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.

Common Applications

Abdominal pain Dry cough Constipation Hemorrhoids Burns

Research Studies

Scientific research and clinical studies on Feng Mi

Evidence suggests that sterilized honey may help healing in skin wounds after surgery and mild (partial thickness) burns.1

Honey is recommended for children over the age of one for the treatment of coughs. It is deemed as effective as dextromethorphan and more effective than diphenhydramine.2

Honey may be useful for controlling side effects of radiation therapy or chemotherapy applied in cancer treatment.3

Sources:

1. Jull, Andrew B.; Cullum, Nicky; Dumville, Jo C.; Westby, Maggie J.; Deshpande, Sohan; Walker, Natalie (2015). "Honey as a topical treatment for wounds". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (3): CD005083. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005083.pub4.

2. Goldman, Ran D. (2014). "Honey for treatment of cough in children". Canadian Family Physician (Systematic review). 60 (12): 1107–1110. PMC 4264806. PMID 25642485.

3. Bardy J, Slevin NJ, Mais KL, Molassiotis A (2008). "A systematic review of honey uses and its potential value within oncology care". J Clin Nurs. 17 (19): 2604–23. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02304.x.

Safety & Contraindications

Important safety information and precautions for Feng Mi

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before using any herb or supplement.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Like many herbs, Feng Mi may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in herb-drug interactions.

Related Educational Resources

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