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Knowledge baseHerbs

(Bai) Ming Fan明礬

AlumenAlum

  • Toxic

Also known asPotash Alum

Category
Herbs for topical application
Nature
cold
Taste
sour, astringent
Channels entered
Large Intestine, Liver, Lung, Spleen
Secondary channels
Stomach
Dosage
1–3 g

Usual doses

Decoctions
1–3 g
Pills and Powders
0.6–1.5 g

Actions & indications

Relieves toxicity (Purges Fire), dries Dampness, kills parasites and alleviates itching
  • External wash for Damp-Heat rashes (scabies, tinea)
  • Swollen, painful throat or eyes
  • Jaundice
Restrains and inhibits sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefication
  • Topically for problems where toxins and pathogens have collected and clogged the channels, collaterals and muscles leading to blockage and Stagnation
  • Topically for toxic sores (Chuang Yung)
Stops bleeding and alleviates diarrhea
  • Chronic diarrhea, hemafecia, uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
  • Topically for epistaxis, hemorrhoidal bleeding, bleeding gums and bleeding due to external trauma
Clears Heat and expels Phlegm
  • Wind-Phlegm (Heat) disorders with irritability, delirium, and convulsions
  • Cough with sputum that is difficult to expectorate

Contraindications

  • Use caution when taking it internally.
  • Contraindicated for those with a weak digestive system.
  • Contraindicated for those without Damp-Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency, Internal Heat and Fire Blazing with sore throat.
  • Contraindicated for those with eye pain from Yin Deficiency and Blood Heat.

Incompatibilities

  • Antagonizes Concha Ostreae Mu Li.
  • Counteracts Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang.

Combinations

  • As an external wash for chronic vaginal discharge with itching and eczema, for genital itching from vaginal candidiasis in women, and for intense itching from eczema, damp scrotum and other pruritic conditions.

  • External wash for eczema.

  • Made into a paste with strong tea for Wind-Damp-Heat toxin in the muscles and skin, with severe itching that produces a yellow exudate after scratching.

  • Applied topically as a powder for scabies.

  • Used as a sitz bath for heavy vaginal discharge and itching from Damp-Heat pouring downward.

  • Intestinal parasites.

  • Applied topically for developing fistulas.

  • Applied topically for non-healing ulcers.

  • Applied topically for sores of the mouth and ears.

  • Redness, swelling and pain of the middle and outer ear.

  • Used internally and topically for epistaxis, hemoptysis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or bleeding from trauma.

  • Used internally as a powder for chronic, stubborn diarrhea in the elderly.

  • Continuous uterine bleeding.

  • Given as an enema for the Phlegm Collapse type of Wind-Stroke.

  • Irritability, delirium and convulsions accompanied by gurgling in the throat.

    • Yin Chen Hao

    Jaundice.

  • Swelling without pus or suppuration.

  • Chronic diarrhea or dysentery.

Notes

  • Because it acts strongly on tissue, it is almost always applied topically.
  • Taking too much can cause ulceration, vomiting, diarrhea and shock.
  • This substance has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
  • It serves as a hemostatic and analgesic, healing wounds and promoting granulation.
  • Internally it acts as an astringent, and externally it addresses skin conditions.
  • Small amounts are used for infantile spasms.
  • It is said to resolve carbuncles, cellulitis, furuncles and malignant boils.
  • It is used as a purgative to cleanse the Stomach and Intestines.
  • It is formed into wax boluses to treat pyogenic infections.
  • For a swollen, rigid tongue, powder equal parts of this herb and Arillus Longan Long Yan Rou and place the mixture under the tongue.
  • To ease vulvar pain, parch and powder 3 parts Ming Fan with 1.5 parts Rx. Glycyrrhizae Gan Cao, wrap in cloth, and apply topically.
  • Both Bai Fan and Catechu Er Cha drain Dampness and absorb seepage: Bai Fan resolves toxicity, kills parasites, dries Dampness and relieves itching, and is used mainly for Dampness, whereas Er Cha is more transformative and treats sores filled with pus and chronic non-healing sores, and also stops bleeding from external trauma.
  • Dried Alumen, Alumen Dehydratum Ku Fan, has weaker sour and cold properties but a stronger ability to restrain sores, generate flesh, stop diarrhea and bleeding, and transform putrefaction; prepared light, spongy and opaque, it is the form most often used externally for sores, abscesses, oral sores or eye problems.

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