OMP 508 Materials & Methods by Sami Rank, L.Ac. Liniments Handout Herbal liniments are used to treat both acute and chronic injuries. They help resolve bruising and may prevent the formation of scar tissue. Following are some common liniments that you will come across in your practice: DIT DA JIAO If you practice martial arts, this is what you are looking for. A specially-formulated blend of herbs which promotes the circulation of Blood and Qi and relieves Blood Stagnation. An old-time tradition among marital artists throughout the orient is to rub a dit da jiao into the hands, wrists, forearms, shins, ankles, and feet, prior to striking and blocking practice to minimize the bruising due to traumatic injury. Does not heat up like Zheng Gu Shui, and can be used for areas that feels hot and swollen to the touch, especially after a workout or an injury. There are many different recipes based on tradition, but following are the common ones found across the spectrum: carthamus flower, angelica dang gui, sanguis draconis, rhubarb root, frankincense, myrrh, pseudoginseng, and other herbs. ZHENG GU SHUI "Bone-correcting Water" Promotes Blood circulation, reduces swelling, relieves pain, promotes regeneration of broken bone tissue, and promotes healing of fractures. It is used to treat fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains and contusions from sports, martial arts, and other traumatic injuries. The application feels cool initially, then heats up. This is similar to the recommended treatment for traumatic injuries; apply cold for the first 12-72 hours, then apply heat, or alternate the two. This is a highly volitile liniment, so avoid flames and sparks, as well as any open sore, wound, or oriface of your body. Do not use on your face. Contains, alcohol, pseudoginseng root, croton seed, cinnamon bark, angelica root, gentiana qin jiao, inula flower, menthol crystal and camphor crystal. The herbal ingredients are not listed on the labels, and may vary from batch to batch. PO SUM ON MEDICATED OIL For aches and pains in joints due to Wind-Cold or Blood Stagnation. Po Sum On Oil is an all-purpose liniment that is primarily used to warm up muscles, improve circulation, and relieve pain. It can also be used to treat muscle aches, symptoms from the common cold, bites, scratches, burns, or to warm up the body prior to exercising. Simply massage the oil into muscles to relieve pain and provide deep penetrating warmth. Traditionally used for rheumatic joint pain, and chronic and acute traumatic injury. Also used as a menthol rub for chest cough by massaging into the chest. Ingredients: Menthol, Baikal Skullcap Root(Huang Qin), Chinese Licorice Root(Gan Zao), Cinnamon Oil, Dragon's Blood Resin(Xue-Jie), Peppermint Oil, Tea Oil WHITE FLOWER OIL Moves qi, eases muscles, transforms phlegm, opens the orifices. Used in a similar fashion to Po Sum On, but cooler in effect. The most common used is for rubbing into the temples for throbbing headaches, under the nose for sinus congestion, rubbed on the chest and throat for chest congestion. Stops itching from insect bites. Contains camphor oil, menthol crystals, eucalyptus oil, wintergreen oil, peppermint oil, and lavender oil. KWAN LOONG OIL Same as White Flower but stronger. WOOD LOCK OIL Dispels wind cold damp, warms the channels, stops pain. Ingredients: Camphor, Menthol, Methyl Salicylate, Turpentine Oil, Radix Dipsaci, Rhizoma Curcumae, Cortex Eucommiae, Radix Saposhnikoviae, Flos Carthami, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, Rhizoma Drynariae, Rhizoma Corydalis, Radix Clematidis, Radix Zanthoxyli CHING WAN HUNG Promotes the circulation of Blood and Qi, cool Heat, stop pain, and promote tissue growth. It is a topical ointment commonly used for burns. It may reduce pain swelling, and blistering. Chinese also use topically for hemorrhoids, bedsores, acne, as well as sunburn and heat rashes. It is applied topically, and can be covered with a clean bandage. Clean and change daily. It may discolor clothes. Contains chaenomeles fruit, sanguisorba root, frankincense, lobelia, myrrh, carthamus flower, angelica dang gui, and borneol. SALONPAS Plaster adhesive used for minor relief of pain, especially for pain due to sprains and arthritis, but also for muscular pain and stiffness. Its ingredients promote the circulation of Qi and Blood, and are slightly cooling in nature. Contains methyl salicylate, menthol, camphor, glycol salicylate, thymol, tocopherol acetate. YANG CHENG BRAND PLASTER FOR BRUISE AND ANALGESIC "Traumatic Injury Stop Pain Plaster" Another "medicated" plaster-adhesive applied externally to promote circulation of Blood, stimulate healing and stop pain. Use for acute bruises, sprains, fractures, and traumatic swelling. Also efficacious in muscle strain, neuralgia, and musculoskeletal pain due to Wind (rheumatism). This is a nice plaster because of its large size, and the fact that it contain some of the same healing herbs found in dit da jiao formulations. Contains menthols crystals, mylabris, dragon blood resin, dragon tooth, carthamus flower, wintergreen oil, rhubarb root, taraxacum, acacia resin, myrrh resin, drynaria root, dipsacus root.
