Introduction: External herbal powders are one of the forms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas. These powders are made from various precious Chinese herbs that are ground into a very fine powder in specific proportions and formulas. External herbal powders utilize the principle of channeling herbs to the affected areas, using the properties of certain herbs to guide and lead the other herbs, breaking stagnation and directly reaching the disease site. They can penetrate the skin to invigorate blood circulation, resolve stasis, open meridians, and dispel wind and cold. When applied to the skin, the herbal powder stimulates nerve endings, causing vasodilation, promoting local blood circulation, and improving the nutrition of surrounding tissues, achieving the effects of reducing swelling, alleviating inflammation, and relieving pain. At the same time, the herbs penetrate through the skin to the subcutaneous tissues, creating a relative concentration of the medicine in the local area, thus exerting a strong pharmacological effect.
This article introduces four external herbal powder formulas from the fifth-generation descendant of the Chen family, Sun Hao, along with clinical cases.
Sheng Tian Nan Xing (Fresh Arisaema) Vinegar Paste for Abscesses
Sheng Tian Nan Xing 9-15g, ground into a fine powder, mixed with vinegar to form a paste, and applied to the affected area 1-2 times daily. This external formula has the effect of dispersing swelling and resolving abscesses, primarily treating pediatric abscesses. Sheng Tian Nan Xing is pungent and bitter, warm, and toxic. According to the “New Materia Medica,” it can “disperse wind, invigorate blood, and eliminate stasis,” and is commonly used externally for treating abscesses, scabies, and bites from poisonous snakes and insects. The “Iron Hoop Powder” in the “Comprehensive Guide to Ulcer Medicine” uses this herb to treat various swellings and toxins.
Clinical Case: Liu, male, 1.5 years old. The child had excessive sweating during the summer and did not wash promptly, leading to summer heat and sweat damaging the skin, resulting in over ten abscesses of varying sizes on the head, neck, and chest, with five larger ones becoming soft and purulent but not yet ruptured, red, swollen, and painful, causing the child to cry and be restless. The child was given Sheng Tian Nan Xing 15g, ground into powder, divided into 10 doses mixed with vinegar to form a paste, disinfected the area, and applied to the abscesses twice daily for five days. The larger ones gradually shrank until they ruptured and discharged pus, and the others all dissipated.
Huang Yu You (Yellow Elm Oil) for Pemphigus
Sheng Da Huang (Fresh Rhubarb) and Sheng Di Yu (Fresh Rehmannia) each 15g, ground into a fine powder, after cleaning the wound, sprinkle or mix with sesame oil and apply to the affected area several times a day. This external formula has the effect of detoxifying and healing wounds, primarily treating pemphigus. According to the “Authentic Text of Surgery,” “Pemphigus is caused by the reckless movement of heart fire, with spleen dampness following…” The disease is due to the dual causes of “fire” and “dampness.” Da Huang is a bitter and cold herb, known for its ability to clear heat and detoxify, especially effective in clearing heart fire, and can also dispel dampness. Di Yu is bitter, sour, and cold, with a sinking and astringent nature, functioning to stop bleeding and heal wounds. The combination of these two herbs serves both to detoxify and to heal wounds, providing a dual approach.
Clinical Case: Wang, male, 1 year old. During the hot and humid season, the child experienced reckless heart fire damaging the skin, resulting in blisters on the abdomen and lower limbs, with the blisters being translucent and containing clear fluid, some already ruptured, with bright red wounds that were painful and uncomfortable. The formula was applied with sesame oil to the affected area, and after three days, the wounds dried and scabbed over, healing completely.
Lu Dai San (Aloe Powder) for Oral Ulcers
Lu Dai San consists of Aloe 3g and Qing Dai (Indigo) 1.5g. The herbs are ground into a fine powder, stored in a clean, sealed bottle, and applied to the affected area with a disinfected cotton swab 3-5 times daily. Lu Dai San has the effect of detoxifying, decomposing necrotic tissue, and promoting tissue regeneration, primarily treating oral ulcers. Aloe is bitter and cold, used externally for treating skin diseases, hemorrhoids, rhinitis, and scrofula. Qing Dai is salty and cold, with the ability to clear heat, detoxify, and cool the blood, used externally for treating skin diseases, ear infections, and nosebleeds. Both herbs are cold in nature, effective in clearing heat, detoxifying, and resolving ulcers, particularly effective for oral ulcers caused by heat.
Clinical Case: Wang, male, 11 years old, presented with oral ulcers. Upon examination, the lips were red, with ulcers on the tip of the tongue and lower lip, each about the size of duckweed, causing burning pain, fear of eating, dry mouth, and a foul odor. The diagnosis indicated accumulation of heat in the heart and spleen, scorching the mouth, leading to oral ulcers. The formula was applied externally. After two days of treatment, the ulcers on the lips and tongue had healed.
Sheng Lu San (Raising Furnace Powder) for Eczema
Sheng Lu San consists of Huang Sheng (Lead Red) 3g, Lu Gan Shi (Calamine) 15g, Ku Fan (Alum) 6g, Bing Pian (Borneol) 1.5g, and Ku Shen (Sophora) 9g. The herbs are ground into a fine powder, applied to the rash area with disinfected cotton, or if the area is dry, mixed with sesame oil to form a thin paste and applied with a clean brush 1-2 times daily. Sheng Lu San has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, and stopping itching, primarily treating eczema. Huang Sheng can detoxify and draw out toxins, promoting tissue regeneration and resolving stasis, effective for treating “wind, scabies, leprosy, and blood wind lesions” (as per “Selected Works of Ulcer Medicine”); Lu Gan Shi stops moisture and heals wounds, effective for ulcers that do not heal, skin dampness, and itching; Ku Fan dries moisture and stops bleeding, particularly effective for eroded, oozing, and itchy wounds; Bing Pian disperses heat and reduces swelling, relieving itching and pain, essential for treating external wind sores, damp sores, and abscesses; Ku Shen clears heat and dries dampness, effective for treating “scabies, pus-filled sores, skin itching, and blood wind lesions” (as per “Yunnan Materia Medica”). Sheng Lu San is particularly suitable for eczema caused by wind, dampness, and heat.
Clinical Case: Cui, female, 5 years old. The child had dense papules and vesicles on the limbs and perineum, with severe itching, constantly scratching, and yellow fluid oozing, with some areas already scabbed. Initially, wild chrysanthemum and plantain (fresh or dried) were used to prepare a decoction to clean the wounds, then the above powder was sprinkled on the affected areas. The itching stopped on the same day, and after five days, the rash completely disappeared.
Source: China Medical News, Authors: Shi Le, Gao Jun, Jiangsu Province Yizheng City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Copyright belongs to the original authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for removal.
Note: The various formulas and prescriptions mentioned in this article are for reference and learning purposes only for professional TCM practitioners. They should not be used as prescriptions, and do not self-medicate. If you have related symptoms, please consult a formal medical institution!If you find our content helpful, please take a moment to:1. Set the “Gansu Province Famous TCM Inheritance Research Association” public account as a starā2. After reading each article, remember to click “Looking” at the bottom right corner.