Source: Product information sheet
Category: Formulas that are Applied Externally
Pattern: Wind-Heat Obstruction of the Channels and Sinews
Key Symptoms: Headaches, muscular aches and pains
Ingredients
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Bo He You
| 16% | | (dementholised mint oil)
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Pinyin: Bo He
Chinese: 薄荷
Pharmaceutical: Herba Menthae haplocalycis
Taxonomy: Mentha haplocalyx
English: Field Mint / Wild Mint |
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Tastes: Pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat
Wind-Heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and a sore throat
- Vents rashes
Early-stage rashes e.g. measles
- Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi
Liver Qi Stagnation with pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability and gynecological problems
- Expels turbid filth
Exposure to unclean Qi in the Summertime leading to gastric distress with abdominal pain, vomiting. diarrhoea and a thick, yellow, greasy tongue coat
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Bai Qian Ceng You
| 13% | |
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Pinyin: Bai Qian Ceng
Chinese: 白千层
Pharmaceutical: Folium Melaleucae Leucadendrae
Taxonomy: Melaleuca Leucadendra
English: Cajeput leaf |
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Tastes: None given
Meridians Entered: None given |
Actions & Indications:
- Dispels Wind and Release the Exterior
Common cold with fever
Wind-Damp bone pain
- Drains Damp and alleviates itching
Abdominal pain
Wind papules, eczema
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Standard Dosage: None given.
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Zhang Nao
| 11% | |
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Pinyin: Zhang Nao
Chinese: 樟脑
Pharmaceutical: Camphorae
Taxonomy: Cinnamomum camphora
English: Camphor |
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Tastes: Pungent, hot, slightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart and Spleen |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels Wind and Dampness and kills parasites
Wind-Damp skin lesions
Scabies, tinea and itching sores
- Opens the Orifices and expels turbidity
Delirium and loss of consciousness due to Hot disorders
- Invigorates the Blood, Disperses Cold and alleviates pain
Topically for Blood Stagnation due to traumatic injury (injuries from falls, fractures, contusions, sprains pain and swelling)
Toothache
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Standard Dosage: 0.06-0.15g as powder or pills. It should not be decocted.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for qi deficiency and pregnant women. It should be used very carefully for people with skin allergy. It should not be overdose for qi deficiency when taking orally. |
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Bo He Nao
| 8% | | (menthol)
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Pinyin: Bo He
Chinese: 薄荷
Pharmaceutical: Herba Menthae haplocalycis
Taxonomy: Mentha haplocalyx
English: Field Mint / Wild Mint |
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Tastes: Pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat
Wind-Heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and a sore throat
- Vents rashes
Early-stage rashes e.g. measles
- Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi
Liver Qi Stagnation with pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability and gynecological problems
- Expels turbid filth
Exposure to unclean Qi in the Summertime leading to gastric distress with abdominal pain, vomiting. diarrhoea and a thick, yellow, greasy tongue coat
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Ding Xiang You
| 1.5% | |
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Pinyin: Ding Xiang
Chinese: 丁香
Pharmaceutical: Flos Caryophylli
Taxonomy: Caryophyllus aromaticus / Syzygium aromaticum
English: Clove |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Kidney |
Actions & Indications:
- Warms the Middle Jiao, relieves pain and descends Qi
Stomach Cold with vomiting, hiccup, abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Spleen and Stomach Deficiency Cold with anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea
Bad breath (chew whole clove), toothache (apply oil to gum)
- Warms the Kidneys and assists Yang
Impotence or clear vaginal discharge from Cold in the Womb (usually accompanied by weak legs) due to Kidney Yang Deficiency
- Kills Parasites and expels Demons
Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
Can also be used as an insect repellent.
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Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.
Cautions: It is incompatible with Yu Jin (nineteen incompatibilities). It should be used with cautions for heat syndrome and yin deficiency with interior heat. |
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| Petroleum Jelly base | | | |
Preparation:
Actions: Expels Wind-Heat and invigorates Qi and Blood
Contraindications: Excessive use during pregnancy or breastfeeding should be avoided.
Do not apply to damaged, wounded or irritated skin or mucous membranes.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
