Click the blue text to follow us
Powder
Formulation
The field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Among the various forms of Chinese herbal medicine, there exists an ancient and traditional solid dosage form widely used, known as powder formulations (散剂, san ji).
What are Traditional Chinese Medicine Powder Formulations?
Traditional Chinese Medicine powder formulations refer to powdered preparations made from one or more medicinal substances that have been crushed and mixed.
Powder formulations can be divided into oral powders and topical powders.
1
Oral Powders
Oral powders are generally dissolved or dispersed in water, diluents, or other liquids for consumption, and can also be taken directly with water.
2
Topical Powders
Topical powders can be applied to the skin, oral cavity, throat, and other cavities. For example, our hospital’s formulation for synovitis is a topical powder that can be used externally. The appropriate amount of powder is mixed with vinegar or honey and applied to the affected area, which can promote blood circulation, dispel blood stasis, relax tendons and meridians, and reduce swelling and pain.
What are the advantages of powder formulations?
1
Powder formulations have a small particle size, large specific surface area, are easy to disperse, and act quickly;
2
Topical powders cover a large area and can simultaneously provide protective and astringent effects;
3
The preparation process is simple, dosage is easy to control, and they are convenient for storage, transportation, and carrying.
Production and Preparation of Powder Formulations
According to the “Shennong Bencao Jing” (The Classic of Herbal Medicine), “First cut finely and dry, then pound; there are those who pound separately and those who pound together…” This discussion on the pulverization of powders is still in use today.
#Preparation Process of Powder Formulations#
Select qualified and clean medicinal materials, dry them, crush them into fine powder, sieve, sterilize, mix, and after meeting microbial limits, package them to obtain the final product.
Modern Advances in Powder Formulations
Using ultra-fine pulverization technology, TCM can be processed to break cell walls, resulting in powder formulations. Ultra-fine pulverization is generally conducted in a fully enclosed, dust-free system, effectively avoiding external contamination and controlling microbial content and dust.
This technology maximizes the retention of active ingredients in the herbal pieces, significantly increasing the dissolution of effective components in clinical applications, which is beneficial for enhancing the bioavailability of TCM.
Powder formulations produced using ultra-fine pulverization can improve the specific surface area of the medicinal materials and enhance the uniformity of the particles. The application of this technology can alsoreduce the dosage of TCM, retain volatile active components, and enhance pharmacological effects.
Powder formulations obtained through ultra-fine pulverization can be taken directly, eliminating the need for decoction, making them convenient to carry and ensuring quality control, thus reflecting the inheritance and development of TCM preparations.
——————————
END
——————————-
Some images in this article are sourced from the internet; we thank the original authors. If there are any issues, please contact us for removal.
Author: Pharmacy Department, Gui Shumin
Editor: Xi Xinxin, Gui Shumin
Reviewer: Cao Junling, Zhang Ruyuan
-Scan the code to follow us-
