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Knowledge baseHerbs

Zhang Nao樟腦

CamphoraCamphor

  • Toxic

Also known asCinnamomum · Camphor Flake

Category
Herbs for topical application
Nature
hot
Taste
pungent
Channels entered
Heart, Spleen
Secondary channels
Lung, Kidney, Liver, Large Intestine, Bladder
Dosage
0.03–0.2 g

Usual doses

Dosage
0.03–0.2 g
Pill
0.25–1 g
Tincture
0.25–0.5 ml
Decoction of the wood or bark
15–30 g
Essential oil
1–2 drops

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

Contraindications

  • Not to be used during pregnancy.
  • Not for use in infants.
  • Avoid in Qi Deficiency.
  • Avoid in Yin Deficiency.
  • Avoid in insomnia.
  • Avoid with seminal emission.
  • Avoid in nephritis.
  • Avoid in Yang Excess with Heat.
  • Avoid in those prone to epilepsy.
  • Use internally with caution.
  • Avoid prolonged solo use because of cumulative toxicity.
  • Applying it topically over a wide area can cause irritation and pain.

Combinations

Notes

  • Toxicity presents with dizziness, headache, a sensation of warmth, loss of appetite, a dry or sore throat and restlessness.
  • Doses above 2g cause brief sedation followed by cerebral cortex stimulation with tonic-clonic spasms, and respiratory arrest may follow.
  • An oral dose of 7-15g is lethal.
  • For burns it may be used by itself or blended with sesame oil, though the oil should be left out once blistering has occurred.
  • It is used for sudden stroke and sudden loss of consciousness.
  • For frostbite, simmer 10g of Zhang Nao with 30g of lard for ten minutes into a gel and apply it externally.
  • For assorted swellings, combine 9g of Zhang Nao with 500 ml of 60% alcohol and apply topically.
  • For fungal foot infections, mix 3g of Zhang Nao with two pieces of tofu and apply externally.
  • Zhang Nao absorbs rapidly through any body surface, including the gastric mucosa.
  • Although Hot in nature, its dispersing action on Yang produces a cooling sensation on the skin.
  • Indications include distending chest and abdominal pain, leg Qi (placed in the shoes), sores, scabies and tinea, toothache, traumatic injury, scalds and burns, and sudden turmoil disorder.
  • According to one source it also addresses Heart and Kidney Yang Deficiency, Devastated Yang, Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Heart, External Wind-Cold with head Dampness, Cold Phlegm blocking Lung Qi, Qi Stagnation in the Bladder, and Spleen Dampness.
  • Zhang Zao finds external use for scabies, tinea and itching sores, its principal action being to dispel Wind and turbidity; it is also applied topically for injuries from falls, fractures, contusions and sprains, and for the pain and swelling of Blood Stasis. Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi dries Dampness, kills parasites and relieves itching, and is commonly used externally for any weeping, itchy skin lesion, particularly in the genital region.

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