This product is a processed resin from the evergreen tree of the Dipterocarpaceae family, Dryobalanops aromatica (Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.), or crystals obtained by distilling and cooling the trunk of Dryobalanops aromatica, known as "borneol" or "Mei Pian". It is also made by processing and splitting the sublimates from the leaves of the perennial herb of the Asteraceae family, Blumea balsamifera (Blumea balsamifera DC.), known as "borneol". Currently, it is mostly synthesized chemically using Knotty Pine Wood oil, camphor, etc., known as "mechanically produced borneol". Dryobalanops aromatica is mainly produced in Southeast Asia, and has been introduced to Taiwan; Blumea balsamifera is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and other regions. The finished borneol product should be stored in a cool place, tightly sealed. It is used by grinding into powder.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and bitter, slightly cold. act on heart, spleen and lung channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Resuscitation awakens the spirit, clearing heat to stop pain.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for syndrome/pattern of obstruction unconsciousness. This product has the effect of resuscitation and awakening the spirit, but is deficient in musk, the two often mutually reinforce each other in use. However, borneol is cold in nature, a cool-opening product, suitable for treating Rebing unconsciousness, phlegm-heat internal obstruction, summer-heat sudden syncope, infantile convulsion, and other heat blockages, often combined with Cow-Bezoar, musk, Coptis Rhizome, and other combinations of medicinals, such as Peaceful Palace Bovine Bezoar Pill. If combined with warming interior and dispelling cold and warm-heat resuscitative stimulant combinations of medicinals, it can also treat cold blockages.
2. Used for red eye swelling and pain, pharyngitis aphtha. This product is bitter and cold, has the effect of clearing heat to stop pain and reducing swelling, and is commonly used in five sense organs medicine.
3. For treating red eye swelling and pain, using it alone as eye drops is effective: it can also be made into eye drops with calamine, borax, bear gall, etc., such as Eye Drop with Eight Precious Ingredients. For treating throat swelling and pain, mouth and tongue sores, it is often ground into a fine powder with borax, Cinnabar, 玄明粉 and applied to the affected area, such as Borneol and Borax Powder. For treating wind-heat pharyngitis (acute pharyngitis), "Binhu Collection of Simple Formulas" uses it with Rush Pith, Phelloendron Bark, Alum as a powder, blown onto the affected area for effect.
4. Used for sore and ulcer swelling and pain, non-healing after ulceration. This product also has the effects of clearing heat and removing toxins, antiseptic and promoting tissue regeneration. Made into a reddish-brown medicinal paste with silver vermilion and sesame oil for external use, it can treat burns and scalds; used with elephant hide, Dragon's Blood Resin, frankincense, etc., it treats sores and ulcers that do not heal after ulceration, such as Granulation-Promoting Powder. Recently, dissolving this product in walnut oil and dropping it into the ear has shown good efficacy in treating acute and chronic suppurative otitis media.
5. In addition, this product has certain efficacy in treating coronary heart disease heart colicky pain and toothache.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Xinxiu Bencao: "Mainly treats pathogenic qi in the heart and abdomen, wind-dampness abdominal mass, deafness, improves vision, removes red eye and skin nebula."
2. Bencao Gangmu: "Treats pharyngitis, brain pain, nasal obstruction, toothache, cold-damage disease with tongue protrusion, and smallpox depression in children. Opens all orifices, disperses stagnant fire."
3. Yilin Zuanyao Tanyuan: "Borneol mainly disperses stagnant fire, can penetrate bone heat, treats fright epilepsy, phlegm confusion, pharyngitis, tongue swelling, toothache, deafness, nasal breath, red eye with floating nebula, inward invasion of smallpox toxin, kills worms, treats hemorrhoids, promotes childbirth, its nature is moving and not stationary, also can generate flesh and relieve pain. However, it disperses easily and exhausts, ultimately leading to pudendal coldness."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Take 0.03-0.1g in pill or powder form each time. Apply an appropriate amount externally. Not suitable for decoction.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Use with caution during pregnancy.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Borneol contains dextroborneol, as well as sesquiterpenes such as humulene, β-elemene, and caryophyllene, as well as triterpenoids such as oleanolic acid, alphitolic acid, asiatic pennywort herb acid, borneol alcohol, and erythrodiol. Borneol contains levo-borneol. The mechanism of borneol is a racemic mixture of borneol.

Topical application of borneol has a mild stimulating effect on sensory nerves, providing certain analgesic and mild antiseptic effects. It is rapidly absorbed through the intestinal membrane, crossing the blood-brain barrier within 5 minutes of administration, and accumulates in the brain for a long time at relatively high levels, providing preliminary experimental evidence for the resuscitation with aromatics effect of borneol. Higher concentrations (0.5%) inhibit Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and some pathogenic skin fungi. It has an abortifacient effect on mid- and advanced-stage pregnant mice.