Herbs For External Application

The herbs in this category are mainly used as an external application. They will be applied for cases of bleeding, itching, swelling, inflammation and oozing sores.  These herbs can be prepared as powders, ointments, washes, steams or soaks depending on the individuals need for the application.  Some of these herbs may be taken internally for specific manifestations if they are combined with other herbal substances.  Most of the substances in this category need to be prescribed with caution due to possible side effects of their toxic properties.

Liu Huang

Properties: SOUR  – HOT/TOXIC

Dosage: 1.5 – 6g.

Sulphur

Meridian: KIDNEY, LARGE INTESTINE

-relieve toxicity, kill parasites, stop itching

-topically – scabies, ringworm, damp sores, ulcers, carbuncles

-tonify vitality gate fire, strengthen yang – interior yin cold symptoms

-kidney yang deficiency – cold lower back and knees, impotence

-spleen deficiency cold – asthma, constipation (elderly + Ban Xia)

Xiong Huang

Properties: PUNGENT BITTER  – WARM/TOXIC

Dosage: 0.15 – 0.6g.

Realgar

Meridian: HEART, LIVER, STOMACH

-relieve toxicity, kill parasites, skin itchiness, inflammation, abscess

-topically scabies, ringworm, dam rashes

-kills parasites accumulation symptoms with roundworms

-dries dampness, expel phlegm – wheezing, seizures, malarial conditions

Read More: Relieve Cough And Wheezing Herbs

Lu Gan Shi

Properties: SWEET  – NEUTRAL

Dosage:  TOPICAL

Smithsonite

Meridian: LIVER, STOMACH

EXTERNAL USE

(Calamine)

-brighten eyes superficial visual obstruction, red-swollen eyes

-dry dampness, generate flesh – chronic draining pus from open sores

Ming Fan

Properties: SOUR, ASTRINGENT  – COLD

Dosage: 0.6 – 3g.

Alum

Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, LIVER, LUNG, SPLEEN, STOMACH

-relieve toxicity, kills parasites, dry damp, alleviate itch

-topical wash for scabies, ringworm, damp or damp heat rash

-swollen painful eyes-throat and jaundice

-stop bleeding, alleviate diarrhea – chronic blood in diarrhea/urine, hemorrhoidal bleeding, nosebleed, bleeding gums, any external bleeding

-clear heat, expel phlegm, wind phlegm – irritability, delirium, convulsions, cough with thick sticky sputum

Ban Mao

Properties: PUNGENT  – COLD/TOXIC

Dosage: 0.03 0.06g.

Cantharides

Meridian: LARGE INTESTINE, LIVER, SMALL INTESTINE

(Mylabris)

 -attack toxins, wears away sores  – topically – sores, carbuncles, scrofula

-greatly irritates skin producing blisters and redness

-breaks up blood stasis, disperse clumps – palpable non-moving masses

She Chuang Zi

Properties: PUNGENT, BITTER  – WARM

Dosage: 3 – 12g.

Cnidium Seeds

Meridian: KIDNEY

-dry damp, kills parasites, stop itch – topically – weeping, itchy skin lesion, scabies, ringworm

-warm kidney, strengthen yang – impotence, infertility, cold womb

-disperse cold, expel wind, dry damp – leucorrhea, lower back pain

Ma Qian Zi

Properties: BITTER  – COLD/TOXIC

Dosage: 0.3 – 0.9g.

Nux-Vomica Seeds

Meridian: LIVER, SPLEEN

-unblock channels, disperse clumps – reduce swelling, alleviate pain – abscess, yin-type ulcers, pain due to trauma, wind-damp obstruction

Lu Feng Fang

Properties: SWEET  – NEUTRAL/TOXIC

Dosage: 6 – 12g. decocted

Hornet Nest

Meridian: LUNG, STOMACH

POWDERS 1.5 3g.

-relieve toxicity, expel wind, alleviate pain – tooth ache (gargle)

-topically skin rash, itching, scabies, ringworm, sores, carbuncles

-expel wind, dry damp – painful obstruction, wind rash

Xue Jie

Properties: SWEET, SALTY  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 0.3  1.5g.

Dragons Blood

Meridian: HEART, LIVER

-dispel blood stasis, relieve pain – traumatic injuries causing fractures, contusion, sprains,  bruising and stops bleeding (topically)

-protect decay of ulcers surface, generate flesh, chronic non-healing sores

Si Gua Luo

Properties: SWEET  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 6 12g.

Dried Vegetable Sponge

Meridian: LUNG, STOMACH, LIVER

-expel wind, damp heat obstructing channels – sore chest and flank areas

-sore muscles and sinews, stiff joint, traumatic injury, breast abscess

-expel phlegm, lung heat high fever, chest pain, sticky sputum

-expel summer heat – promote urination

-breasts swollen-painful breasts, insufficient lactation

(Hai) Er Cha

Properties: BITTER, ASTRINGENT  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 3 – 12g.

Black or Brown  Cutch Paste Meridian: LUNG

-drain damp absorb seepage for sores, chronic non-healing sores

-stop bleeding applied topically to external areas

-clear lung, transform  phlegm generate fluids, stop diarrhea, lung heat, thirst, summer heat

Wa Leng Zi

Properties: SWEET, SALTY  – NEUTRAL

Dosage: 9 – 15g.

Cockle Shell Meridian: LIVER, SPLEEN

(Ark Shell)

-invigorate blood, dissolve phlegm – dissipate nodules, abdominal masses (all types)

-absorb acid, alleviate pain – chronic stomach pain, ulcer, vomiting acid