Borneol (Bingpian)- Blumea balsamifera DC.

Borneol (Bingpian)

Pharmaceutical Name: Borneolum Syntheticum

Mineral Name: 1. Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.; 2. Blumea balsamifera DC.

Common Name: Borneol

Source of Earliest Record: Xinxiu Bencao.

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: The stems of dryobalanops aromatica are steamed and then cooled into crystals.

Properties & Taste: Pungent, bitter and slightly cold.

Meridians: Heart, spleen and lung.

Functions: 1. To open the orifices and clear the mind; 2. To clear heat and stop pain

Indications & Combinations:

1. Unconsciousness due to high fever. Borneol (Bingpian) is used with Musk (Shexiang) in the formula Angong Niuhuang Wan.

2. Red, swollen and painful eyes. Borneol (Bingpian) can be used alone as eye drops.

3. Sore throat or ulc eration of the mouth. Borneol (Bingpian) is used with Sodium borate (Pengsha) and the compound of Licorice root (Gancao) and Glauber's salt (Mangxiao), also called Xuanming Fen, in the formula Bing Peng San.

Dosage: 0.03-0.1 g (in pill form).

Cautions & Contraindications: This substance should be used with caution during pregnancy.