INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Alumen |
| Common English: | Alum Potash Alum |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sour Astringent |
Cold (Toxic) |
Large Intestine Liver Lung Spleen (Stomach) |
Decoctions: 1-3g Pills and Powders: 0.6-1.5g |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
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 |
|
INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Fr. Cnidii |
Rx. Stemonae |
Powdered Realgar |
As an external wash for chronic vaginal discharge with itching and eczema |
External wash for eczema |
As a paste with concentrated tea for Wind-Damp-Heat toxin in the mus-cles and skin with severe itching that results in a yellow exudate after scratching |
Sulfur |
Cx. Phellodendri |
|
Topically as a powder for scabies |
As a sitz bath for profuse vaginal discharge and itching from Damp-Heat pouring downward |
Intestinal parasites |
Faeces Trogopterori |
Rz. Coptidis |
|
Topically for developing fistulas |
Topically for non-healing ulcers |
Topically for sores of the mouth and ears |
Borneolum |
Catechu |
Fr. Chebulae |
Redness, swelling and pain of middle and outer ear |
Internally and topically for epistaxis, hemoptysis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding or bleeding from trauma |
Internally as a powder for chronic, recalcitrant diarrhea in the elderly |
Fr. Gleditsiae |
Rx. Curcumae |
|
Continuous uterine bleeding |
As an enema for the Phlegm Collapse type of Wind-Stroke |
Irritability, delirium, and convulsions with accompanying gurgling in the throat |
Fr. Cnidii |
Bul. Allii Fistulosi |
Fr. Chebulae |
As a wash for genital itching due to vaginal candidiasis in women Intense itching of eczema, damp scrotum and other pruritic disorders |
Swelling without pus or suppuration |
Chronic diarrhea or dysentery |
Rx. Curcumae |
Hb. Artemisiae Scopariae |
|
Wind-Phlegm disorders |
Jaundice |
|
- It is almost always applied topically because of its strong action on tissues.
- Overdose can cause ulceration, vomiting, diarrhea and shock.
- Dried Alumen, Alumen Dehydratum Ku Fan has reduced sour and cold properties with an enhanced ability to restrain and inhibit sores , generate flesh, stop diarrhea and bleeding and transform putrefication and is the form most commonly used externally for sores and abscesses, oral sores, or eye problems. It is prepared so that it is light, spongy, and not translucent.
- It is used internally as an astringent and externally for skin conditions.
- It is used in small amounts for infantile spasms.
- Both Bai Fan and Catechu Er Cha drains Dampness and absorb seepage. Bai Fan resolves toxicity kills parasites, dries Dampness and alleviates itching and is primarily used for Dampness. Er Cha but is more transformational and can be used for sores that are filled with prurulent fluid and chronic non-healing sores. It also stops bleeding due to external trauma.