INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Camphora |
| Common English: | Camphor Cinnamomum Camphor Flake |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Acrid |
Hot Toxic |
Heart Spleen (Lung) (Kidney) (Liver) (Large Intestine) (Bladder) |
0.03-0.2g Pill: 0.25-1g Tincture: 0.25-0.5ml (6-12 drops) Decoction of the wood or bark: 15-30g Essential oil: 1-2 drops in warm water |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
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 |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Rz. Coptidis |
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Scabies and skin itchiness. |
Topically for sores. |
As a powder with tea for unremitting vomiting and diarrhea along with delirium. |
In pill or powder form for sudden loss of consciousness |
Itching. |
Topically for scabies or sores and furuncles. |
Rz. Arisaematis |
Rz. Coptidis |
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Topically, mixed with rubbing alcohol fungal infection. |
Mixed with vegetable oil for itching eruptions. |
Mixed with sesame oil for dry sores on the feet. Apply as a powder for wet sores on the feet. |
Cinnabaris Zhu Sha |
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Apply topically for toothache. |
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- Symptoms of toxicity include: dizziness, headache, a feeling of warmth, anorexia, dry or sore throat and restlessness.
- Over 2g leads to transient tranquilization followed by stimulation of the cerebral cortex with tonic-clonic spasms. Respiratory arrest can occur.
- Oral administration of 7-15g is fatal.
- It can be used alone, mixed with sesame oil for burns. If the burns have blistered, omit the sesame oil.
- It is used for sudden stroke and sudden loss of consciousness.
- For frostbite cook 10g of Zhang Nao and 30g of lard for ten minutes to make a gel and apply topically.
- For various swellings, mix 9g of Zhang Nao with 500 ml of 60% alcohol and apply topically.
- For fungal infections on the feet, mix 3g of Zhang Nao with two pieces of tofu and apply topically.
- Zhang Nao is quickly absorbed through any body surface including the gastric mucosa.
- Even though it is Hot, its Yang dispersal provides a sense of coolness to the skin.
- It treats distending pain in the chest and abdomen, leg Qi (place in the shoes), sores, scabies and tinea, toothache, traumatic injury, scalds and burns and sudden turmoil disorder.
- One source says that this herb treats Heart and Kidney Yang Deficiencies, Devastated Yang, Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Heart, External Wind-Cold with Dampness in the Head, Cold Phlegm Blocking the Lung Qi, Qi Stagnation in the Bladder and Spleen Dampness.
- Zhang Zao is used externally for scabies, tinea, and itching sores but its main action is to expel Wind and turbidity. It can also be used topically for injuries from falls, fractures, contusions, sprains and the pain and swelling associated with Blood Stasis. Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi dries Dampness, kills parasites and stops itching and is commonly used externally for any kind of weeping, itchy skin lesion, especially in the genital area.