Trumpet Creeper Flower

Trumpet Creeper Flower (ling xiao hua, 凌霄花), also known as Flos Campsis, refers to the flower of Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K. Schum. or Campsis radicans (L.) Seem., which are plants that belong to the bignoniaceae family. In China, these plants can be found in provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Trumpet Creeper Flower falls under the category of ‘Herbs that invigorate the blood’. Such herbs can stimulate the blood flow and aid blood circulation in cardiovascular conditions or menstrual irregularities, and to treat acute pains, certain tumours, cysts and hardened clots caused by blood stagnation.

Slightly cold in nature, Trumpet Creeper Flower can help individuals with too much Heat in their body, such as those experiencing a yang excess or a yin deficiency, to restore a harmonious yin-yang balance. Pungent in taste, Trumpet Creeper Flower can promote the circulations of qi and body fluids. In particular, Trumpet Creeper Flower targets the Liver and pericardium.

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows that Trumpet Creeper Flower has the following health benefits.

Trumpet Creeper Flower can dispel blood stagnation, unblock channels and vessels, as well as disperse abdominal masses. Thus, this herb is often used to relieve blood stasis syndromes, including postpartum breast lumps, abdominal masses, amenorrhea and trauma. 

Trumpet Creeper Flower is also useful in governing disorders among women due to childbirth and breastfeeding.

Also, as Trumpet Creeper Flower can cool blood and disperse Wind, it is used to relieve Blood Heat syndromes, such as itching. 

The recommended daily dosage of Trumpet Creeper Flower is 3 – 6g, when used as a decoction or made into powder. Trumpet Creeper Flower is often used in prescriptions and teas. For external application, you may pound the herb into powder or decoct it into a wash. Do consult your healthcare provider on the appropriate dosage to be used on the desired area for your condition.

Trumpet Creeper Flower and its supplements, such as powder and pills, may be found in herbal stores and Asian specialty markets.

Trumpet Creeper Flower should not be used by individuals experiencing qi and blood deficiencies or pregnancy.

We strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare provider before deciding to add Trumpet Creeper Flower to your healthcare routine!

Here is a summary for Trumpet Creeper Flower:

• Herb name (Chinese): 凌霄花
• Herb name (Pin Yin): líng xiāo huā
• Herb name (English): Trumpetcreeper Flower
• Herb name (Botanical): Flos Campsis
• Origin of species: Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K. Schum.; Campsis radicans (L.) Seem.
• Part(s) of herb used: Flower
• Geo-specific habitat(s): Jiangsu, Zhejiang
• Taste(s) & Properties: Pungent; Slightly cold; Administrates the Liver and Pericardium Meridians
• Actions: Relieves menstrual and urinary bleeding or other related discomforts; Eases skin irritations; Relieves little or no menstrual discharge and menstrual pain

Liu, H., Shi, Y., Wang, D., Yang, G., Yu, A., & Zhang, H. (2003). MECC determination of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid isomers in Ligustrum lucidum Ait. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis, 32(3), 479-485. [Accessed on 24th August 2023]

Lu, Y., Ju, B., Gao, L., & Wang, J. (2017). Identification of Campsis Flos and its common adulterants using ITS2 sequence of DNA molecular barcoding. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 11(23), 373-379.[Accessed on 24th August 2023]

Qian, Y. F., & Wang, X. J. (2009). Effects of blood-activating and stasis-resolving drugs on tumor formation and metastasis. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 29(4), 301-310.[Accessed on 24th August 2023]