INDIVIDUAL HERBS

NAME: ZHANG NAO - 樟腦 - CAMPHORA

Pharmaceutical Latin: Camphora
Common English: Camphor
Cinnamomum
Camphor Flake

CATEGORY

Substances for Topical Application

PROPERTIES

Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Acrid
Hot
Toxic
Heart
Spleen
(Lung)
(Kidney)
(Liver)
(Large Intestine)
(Bladder)
0.03-0.2g
Pill: 0.25-1g
Tincture: 0.25-0.5ml (6-12 drops)
Decoction of the wood or bark: 15-30g
Essential oil: 1-2 drops in warm water

ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS

Actions Indications/Syndromes

Expels Wind and Dampness and kills parasites

Wind-Damp skin lesions

Scabies, tinea and itching sores

Opens the Orifices and expels turbidity

Delirium and loss of consciousness due to Hot disorders

Invigorates the Blood, Disperses Cold and alleviates pain

Topically for Blood Stagnation due to traumatic injury (injuries from falls, fractures, contusions, sprains pain and swelling)

Toothache

CONTRAINDICATIONS, INCOMPATIBILITIES AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated during pregnancy.
  • Contraindicated for infants.
  • Contraindicated for those with Qi Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yin Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated for those with insomnia.
  • Contraindicated for those with seminal emission.
  • Contraindicated for those with nephritis.
  • Contraindicated for those with Yang Excess with Heat.
  • Contraindicated for those prone to epilepsy.
  • Caution with internal use.
  • Do not use continuously by itself due to cumulative toxicity.
  • Topical application over a large area may cause irritation and pain.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

MAJOR COMBINATIONS

Sulfur
Liu Huang
Alumen Dehydratum
Ku Fan

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Per. Zanthoxyli
Chuan Jiao

Myrrh
Mo Yao
Olibanum
Ru Xiang

Scabies and skin itchiness.

Topically for sores.

As a powder with tea for unremitting vomiting and diarrhea along with delirium.

Moschus
She Xiang
Borneolum
Bing Pian

Sulfur
Liu Huang
Calomelas
Qing Fen

Sulfur
Liu Huang
Alumen
Ming Fan

In pill or powder form for sudden loss of consciousness

Itching.

Topically for scabies or sores and furuncles.

Rz. Arisaematis
Zhi Tian Nan Xing
Sm. Momordicae
Mu Bie Zi
Mylabris
Ban Mao
Venenum Bufonis
Chan Su

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian
Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae
Bai Zhi
Per. Zanthoxyli
Chuan Jiao
Calomelas
Qing Fen

Alumen
Ming Fan
Calomelas
Qing Fen

Topically, mixed with rubbing alcohol fungal infection.

Mixed with vegetable oil for itching eruptions.

Mixed with sesame oil for dry sores on the feet.

Apply as a powder for wet sores on the feet.

Cinnabaris
Zhu Sha

 

 

Apply topically for toothache.

 

 

NOTES

  1. Symptoms of toxicity include: dizziness, headache, a feeling of warmth, anorexia, dry or sore throat and restlessness.
  2. Over 2g leads to transient tranquilization followed by stimulation of the cerebral cortex with tonic-clonic spasms. Respiratory arrest can occur.
  3. Oral administration of 7-15g is fatal.
  4. It can be used alone, mixed with sesame oil for burns. If the burns have blistered, omit the sesame oil.
  5. It is used for sudden stroke and sudden loss of consciousness.
  6. For frostbite cook 10g of Zhang Nao and 30g of lard for ten minutes to make a gel and apply topically.
  7. For various swellings, mix 9g of Zhang Nao with 500 ml of 60% alcohol and apply topically.
  8. For fungal infections on the feet, mix 3g of Zhang Nao with two pieces of tofu and apply topically.
  9. Zhang Nao is quickly absorbed through any body surface including the gastric mucosa.
  10. Even though it is Hot, its Yang dispersal provides a sense of coolness to the skin.
  11. It treats distending pain in the chest and abdomen, leg Qi (place in the shoes), sores, scabies and tinea, toothache, traumatic injury, scalds and burns and sudden turmoil disorder.
  12. One source says that this herb treats Heart and Kidney Yang Deficiencies, Devastated Yang, Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Heart, External Wind-Cold with Dampness in the Head, Cold Phlegm Blocking the Lung Qi, Qi Stagnation in the Bladder and Spleen Dampness.
  13. Zhang Zao is used externally for scabies, tinea, and itching sores but its main action is to expel Wind and turbidity. It can also be used topically for injuries from falls, fractures, contusions, sprains and the pain and swelling associated with Blood Stasis. Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi dries Dampness, kills parasites and stops itching and is commonly used externally for any kind of weeping, itchy skin lesion, especially in the genital area.