Discussing the production process of medicinal plasters, which is a unique and effective treatment method developed over thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to combat diseases.
The plaster therapy has a long history and significant efficacy. Many diseases enter the body from the outside, and TCM has external treatments to address this, hence the focus on external applications. Medicinal plasters have various advantages such as portability, ease of use, confirmed efficacy, and high patient acceptance. The early market introduced ointments made from rubber and excipients (such as zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, oil agents, lanolin, etc.) as a matrix, combined with volatile oils or refined pastes from Chinese herbs. The current dominant production model of medicated plasters has played an important role in promoting the development of traditional TCM plasters.
Medicinal plasters consist of two parts: the base and the medicine. The base is straightforward, while the medicine is more complex, with each individual having their own classic formulations, methods, and combinations. The optimal combination of base and medicine achieves the best results. There are numerous methods for making medicinal plasters, and they are constantly being innovated and experimented with. With the integration of modern technology, new dosage forms have emerged, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Currently, medicinal plasters can be divided into hard and soft plasters:
1: Traditional black plasters: Made by frying with hemp oil and lead powder, they can be categorized based on the type of powder used (black plasters, white plasters). The production process includes frying materials, refining oil, adding powder, collecting the paste, detoxifying, and spreading. Advantages: Traditional black plasters are widely used in clinical practice, have confirmed efficacy, and are highly recognized. Disadvantages: The process is cumbersome, the technology is complex, there is environmental pollution, production is not standardized, the appearance is not consistent, heavy metal content is high, and seasonal production makes it difficult to control.
2: Traditional oil wax plasters: Made by boiling hemp oil to extract medicinal oil, then adding white, yellow, and paraffin wax to collect the paste. The production process includes frying materials, refining oil, adding wax, collecting the paste, and spreading. Advantages: No heavy metals, easy to control, suitable for learning and use, good shaping properties. Disadvantages: High-temperature refining pollutes the environment, poor adhesion, and instability.
3: Modern rubber plasters: Made from zinc oxide, lanolin, and ethanol extracts. The production process includes extracting the drug with ethanol, collecting the base paste, spreading, and cutting. Advantages: Modern technology, convenient to use, easy to carry. Disadvantages: Low drug loading, cannot be reused, high sensitization rate, complex production equipment.
4: Soft plasters: Made by mixing powdered medicine with petroleum jelly, honey, and other oily substances. The production process includes grinding powder, adding oily substances, collecting the paste, and using. Advantages: Simple process, easy to make, flexible use. Disadvantages: Not suitable for fixation, weak adhesion strength, relies on adhesive dressings for fixation.
5: Powdered preparations: Made by placing powdered medicine in powder bags. The production process includes grinding powder and bagging. Advantages: Simple production, not prone to contamination, no residue on the skin, aesthetically pleasing, flexible use, and convenient (for better effect, sprinkle a permeating agent on the powder before use). Disadvantages: Powder bags should not directly contact the skin, large amount of raw medicine affects efficacy, relies on adhesive dressings for fixation.
6: Rosin plasters: Made by melting rosin and camphor, then adding powdered medicine to collect the paste. The production process includes adding materials, melting, adding medicine, collecting the paste, and spreading. Advantages: Simple production, easy to control, low-temperature melting, easy to peel off, good shaping properties, lead-free. Disadvantages: Too many grades of rosin, flammable at high temperatures, seasonal production.
7: Medicated plasters: Made by melting hot melt adhesive and water-soluble adhesive, then adding raw medicinal materials. The production process includes adding materials, melting, adding medicine, spreading, and cutting. Advantages: Convenient production, good peeling strength, good adhesion, quick shaping, does not run or fall off. Disadvantages: Poor absorption, low permeability, high sensitization rate, poor stability (hot melt adhesive is now used for the compatibility of plaster matrix and adhesive dressings, but the sensitization rate is still not well controlled, while water-soluble adhesive has stable performance but high production costs).
8: Glutinous wood fiber plasters: Made by mixing wood fiber as the base with medicinal materials. The production process includes adding wood fiber, adding medicine, mixing, and collecting the paste. Advantages: Made at room temperature, simple process, maximum drug loading, no pollution, no irritation, does not stain clothes, and no seasonal production. Disadvantages: Low peeling strength, too low adhesion, should be used with adhesive dressings.
1. Composition of the Five Tiger Bi Syndrome Plaster
A group: Sheng Ma Qian Zi (Strychnos nux-vomica) 60g, Sheng Chuan Wu (Aconitum carmichaelii) 30g, Sheng Cao Wu (Aconitum kusnezoffii) 30g, Sheng Nan Xing (Arisaema cumingii) 30g, Sheng Ban Xia (Pinellia ternata) 30g, Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis) 30g, Wu Jia Pi (Acanthopanax gracilistylus) 30g, Tou Gu Cao (Hedyotis diffusa) 30g, Rou Gui (Cinnamon) 30g, Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong) 45g, Xi Xin (Asarum sieboldii) 15g, Gan Jiang (Zingiber officinale) 30g, Hong Hua (Carthamus tinctorius) 30g, Du Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides) 30g, Bing Pian (Borneol) 30g, Indomethacin tablets 25mg x 80 tablets, Diphenhydramine tablets 25mg x 40 tablets. B group: Rosin 720g (1.5 times the amount of A group powder), Camphor 144g in summer (20% of rosin amount), 158g in winter (22% of rosin amount), Vaseline 43g (6% of rosin amount), Far infrared ceramic powder 72g (10% of rosin amount), “New Me” nitrogen 29mL (4% of rosin amount).
2. Production Method Grind the above A group medicines into fine powder, sieve through 80-100 mesh, weigh and mix evenly, seal and set aside. Crush the rosin into coarse powder and place it in an iron pot or electric pot, heat over low heat until completely melted, add camphor and Vaseline, stir to completely melt, then add the mixed A group powder, and finally add far infrared ceramic powder and nitrogen, stir evenly before spreading the paste to make each patch of 40g Five Tiger Bi Syndrome plaster, bag and seal, and store in a cool place.
3. Indications Neck, shoulder, waist, and leg pain.
4. Treatment Effects Cervical spondylosis 20 patients, cured 12, improved 6, ineffective 2. Shoulder periarthritis 19 patients, cured 12, improved 5, ineffective 2. Lumbar disease 23 patients, cured 7, improved 14, ineffective 2. Osteoarthritis 28 patients, cured 18, improved 8, ineffective 2. Calcaneal bone hyperplasia 38 patients, cured 34, improved 3, ineffective 1. Tennis elbow 20 patients, cured 14, improved 3, ineffective 3. Soft tissue injury 40 patients, cured 32, improved 7, ineffective 1.
5. Precautions ① During medication, it can be treated together with traction, acupuncture, and massage methods. ② Avoid eating raw, cold, and greasy foods. ③ Pregnant women should not use.
6. Fast-acting black plaster (for pain relief)
1. Composition Sheng Chuan Wu 10g, Sheng Cao Wu 10g, Scorpion 10g, Centipede 10g, Frankincense 10g, Myrrh 10g, Hong Hua 10g, Xue Jie 10g, Pangolin 10g, Tou Gu Cao 10g.
2. Production Method Sesame oil 4 taels, tung oil 3 taels, cottonseed oil 3 taels, yellow lead 4 taels, heat sesame oil, tung oil, and cottonseed oil in a pot to 40-80 degrees, then add Sheng Chuan Wu, Sheng Cao Wu, Scorpion, Centipede, Hong Hua, Pangolin, and Tou Gu Cao into the oil and fry until the surface of the medicine is dark brown and the inside is yellow, at about 200-250 degrees, then remove from heat, cool, and filter. Then return the medicinal oil to the pot, first on low heat and then on high heat, stirring constantly. This process is crucial for making the plaster, as the proper frying of the oil determines the quality of the plaster. If the oil is not fried enough, the plaster will be loose and cannot adhere to the affected area when heated; if the oil is over-fried, not only will the yield be low, but the plaster will also be hard, with weak adhesion, making it easy to fall off or become waste. The sign of properly fried oil is that water droplets form beads. Once the water droplets form beads, immediately remove the pot from the heat, and when the oil cools to about 200-250 degrees, add yellow lead while stirring constantly for about 5-10 minutes. After adding the lead, perform a tenderness test after about 3-5 minutes, and once it is ready, remove from heat, cool, and add Frankincense, Myrrh, and Xue Jie powder, stirring evenly. Then pour the plaster into prepared cold water, soak for 3-7 days, changing the water 1-2 times a day to remove fire toxins. During production, the detoxified plaster can also be heated and melted in the pot. Stir evenly, then mix in the fine materials and stir evenly before spreading and storing.
3. Indications Fractures, postoperative sprains and strains, and labor injuries. Effective for pain caused by invasion of wind, cold, and dampness in the neck, shoulder, waist, leg, joints, rheumatism, and rheumatoid arthritis.
4. New Method Modification Sheng Chuan Wu and Sheng Cao Wu each 50g, whole insect 30g, centipede 30g, Frankincense and Myrrh each 45g, Hong Hua 45g, Xue Jie 30g, Pao Shan Jia 45g, Tou Gu Cao 60g, base 1200g. Method: Grind the above medicines into powder and mix into the base to make the plaster.
5. Bone Spirit Plaster
1. Composition Xi Xin 10g, Xu Chang Qing 20g, Sheng Chuan Wu 10g, Mu Guo 20g, Tou Gu Cao 20g, Hong Hua 15g, Frankincense 10g, Tu Yuan 10g, Zhi Zi 10g, Ling Xian 10g, Sheng Da Huang 5g, Chi Shao 15g, Hong Teng 10g, Bing Pian 5g, Ma You 240g, Song Xiang 120g.
2. Production Method Heat sesame oil to 40-80 degrees, add rosin and fry until water droplets form beads, then remove from heat and cool to 240-260 degrees, add Frankincense to melt, then remove from heat and cool to 70 degrees, add the powdered medicines and stir until the temperature drops to 40 degrees, then add Bing Pian.
3. Indications Activates blood circulation, reduces swelling, and relieves pain. Suitable for bone hyperplasia, lumbar disc herniation, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, shoulder periarthritis, lumbar muscle strain, and sciatica.
4. New Method Modification Grind the above medicines into powder and mix into the base to make the plaster.
5. Bone Spur Plaster
1. Composition Soap pod 300g.
2. Production Method Grind into fine powder and mix into the base 1000g, reserve the plaster.
3. Indications Treats bone hyperplasia in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine, heel, knee joints, and fingers.
4. Precautions This plaster can eliminate local pain after two applications, but it is still necessary to apply one more time to consolidate the effect.
6. Cervical Spondylosis Plaster (Blood Activating and Pain Relieving Plaster)
1. Composition A: Sheng Chuan Wu 60g, Sheng Cao Wu 60g, Xi Xin 40g, Bai Jie Zi 40g, Hua Jiao 40g, Pao Shan Jia 40g, Chen Xiang 40g, Frankincense 50g, Myrrh 50g, Ci Shi 50g. B: Hong Hua 60g, Zhen Jiao 60g, Du Huo 60g, Chuan Xiong 60g, Dang Gui 60g, Shen Jin Cao 60g, Gong Ying 60g, Tou Gu Cao 60g, Ling Xian 120g, Qiang Du 20g. Sesame oil 1000g, lead powder 500g (base).
2. Production Method Grind into fine powder and mix into the base to reserve the plaster.
3. Treatment Range Cervical spondylosis.
4. Lumbar Disc Herniation Plaster
1. Composition Frankincense 120g, Myrrh 120g, Ma Huang 100g, Ma Qian Zi 60g, Sheng Chuan Wu, Sheng Cao Wu each 60g, Guo Sui Bu 200g, Zi Ran Tong 100g, Sheng Du Zhong 120g, Di Long 300g, Xue Jie 120g, Huang Lian 120g, Guang Dan 1500g, Xiang You 3Kg.
2. Production Method Grind into fine powder and mix into the base to reserve the plaster.
3. Treatment Range Lumbar disc herniation.
4. Recovery Plaster
1. Composition A: Sheng Nan Xing 100g, Tu Bie Chong 50g, Sheng Ban Xia 100g, Sheng Ma Qian Zi 50g, Zhi Ru Mei, A Wei, Rou Gui, Pao Xin each 30g. B: Dang Gui, Du Huo, Sheng Chuan Wu, Sheng Cao Wu, Zhi Bai Fu Zi, Qian Nian Jian, Chuan Niu Xi each 50g.
2. Production Method Grind into fine powder and mix into the base to reserve the plaster.
3. Treatment Range Avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
4. Pine Camphor Ling Xian Plaster
1. Composition A: Sheng Ma Qian Zi 60g, Sheng Chuan Wu 75g, Sheng Cao Wu 60g, Sheng Nan Xing 60g, Sheng Ban Xia 60g, Gu Yu 30g, Qing Feng 30g, Sheng Bai Jie Zi 30g, Yang Jin 45g, Gan Sui 30g, Sheng Rou Gui 45g, Sheng Mo Yao 45g, San Qi Fen 30g, Pao Shan Jia 30g, (Liao) Xi Xin 45g, Qi Ye Yi Zhi Hua 45g, Bing Pian 15g, Pu Er Min 100 tablets, Yan Tong Xi Kang 150 tablets, totaling 875g (Pu Er Min, Yan Tong Xi Kang not counted). B: Chan Su 25g, Wu She 60g, Gui Zhi 90g, Sang Zhi 90g, Sheng Ma Huang 60g, Fang Yi 30g, Qin Jiao 45g, Sheng Tao Ren 60g (crushed), Hong Hua 45g, Fang Feng 45g, Cang Zhu 30g, Ji Xue Teng 90g, Dang Gui 60g, Bai Zhi 60g, Qiang Du Huo each 45g, Ji Jin Zi 60g (crushed), Su Mu 50g, Guang Long 45g, Wei Ling Xian 60g, Pian Jiang Huang 50g, Niu Xi 50g, Mu Guo 45g, Sheng Xiang Fu 60g, Chuan Xiong 45g, Ling Zhi 60g, Tou Gu Cao 75g, San Ling 60g, Wen Zhu 60g, Chuan Shan Long 90g, Jiang 60g, Lu Han Cao 60g, Xun Gu Feng 60g, totaling 1879g (after drying, about 50g). C: Rosin 540g, camphor 338g (summer); 462g (winter), Xian Shi Fen 308g, Vaseline 92.4g, clove oil 385ml (winter), nitrogen 6ml, mint 46g.
2. Production Method (1) For group A, grind Sheng Ma Qian Zi to Yan Tong Xi Kang, respectively, into fine powder through 80-100 mesh, weigh and mix evenly for later use. (2) For group B, Wu She to Xun Gu Feng, decoct twice, mix the two decoctions, and concentrate into a thick paste. The thick paste is dried at low temperature, crushed into fine powder, and added to group A powder, repeatedly sieved to mix evenly, sealed for later use. (3) Crush the rosin into coarse powder, place it in a bucket, heat over low heat (or water bath) until completely melted, add Vaseline to dissolve, stir in the medicinal powder evenly, add Xian Shi Fen to mix evenly, and finally add camphor to stir until completely melted. The above medicines can be made into 100 patches of 40g each of Pine Camphor Ling Xian Plaster.
3. Indications Neck, shoulder, waist, leg pain, bone hyperplasia, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, acute sprains.
4. Usage Method Pine Camphor Ling Xian Plaster is a white plaster made from rosin and Xian Shi Fen as the base material. Before applying, cut off the four corners of the plaster, remove the plastic film on the medicinal side, and apply it directly to the affected area. After applying, press down with your hand for a moment.
5. Precautions 1. If the skin itches or small red rashes appear after application, it is due to the medicinal power penetrating the lesion and irritating the skin. For severe itching, temporarily remove the plaster and gently wipe with a warm towel, do not scratch with hands, and wait for the itching to stop and the rash to disappear before reapplying. 2. Do not apply to open wounds or various skin diseases. 3. Pregnant women should avoid applying to the waist and abdomen. 4. Store in a cool, dry place, sealed.
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