Description

Recommend for external use only

Origin:
The processed product of the resin of Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn. f. (common gurjun), an evergreen arbor of the family Dipterocarpaceae, or the crystal obtained from the distillation and cooling of the trunk of the gurjun, or the final product from the processing and cutting of the sublimate of the leaf of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (balsamiferous blumea), a perennial herb of the family Compositae. Now most borneol is synthesized chemically from turpentine, camphor, etc.; this is referred to as “machine-made borneol”.

The tree species Dipterocarpus turbinatus is found in the rain forests in South and Southeast Asia, and it has been introduced into Taiwan of China, while Blumea balsamifera is mainly produced in the provinces Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, etc.

Borneol is a crystalline cyclic alcohol C10H17OH that occurs in two enantiomeric forms, is found in essential oils, and is used especially in perfumery.

the finished product of borneol should be packed and sealed tightly and stored in a cool and shady place. Grind into powder for use.

Properties:
Pungent and bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, it is related to the heart, spleen and lung channels.

Functions:
Induces and promotes resuscitation, clears away heat and kills pain.

Applications:
1. Treats coma in excess syndrome of stroke:

This herb can induce and promote resuscitation, but it is inferior to musk in this respect, so the two drugs are often used in mutual reinforcement with each other. However, as borneol is rather cold or cool in nature, it is a heat-clearing resuscitative that is applicable to an excess syndrome of stroke of the heat type, such as coma in a febrile disease, accumulation of heat-phlegm in the body, sudden syncope due to summer-heat, infantile convulsions, etc.

a) Coma in a febrile disease, accumulation of heat-phlegm in the body, sudden fainting due to summer-heat, infantile convulsions, etc.:

Borneol is often used in combination with bezoar, musk, Chinese goldthread rhizome (Rhizoma Coptidis), etc., e.g., Angong Niuhuang Wan.

b) Excess syndrome of stroke of heat type:

This herb can also be used for the treatment of an excess syndrome of cold type when it is used in combination with resuscitatives that warm the interior, dispel pathogenic cold and are rather warm or hot in nature.

2. Treats conjunctivitis, inflammation of the throat and aphthae (roundish pearl-coloured specks or flakes in the mouth, on the lips, etc.):

Bitter in taste and cold in nature, this drug can clear away heat, kill pain and subdue swelling, so it is a common drug in the department for the eyes, ears, nose and throat.

a) Conjunctivitis:

Borneol is effective when used alone to drip into the eyes or it can also be made with smithsonite, borax, bear gall,
etc. into eye drops, e.g., Babao Yanyaoshui.

b) Sore throat and aphthae of the mouth and tongue:

It is often ground together with borax, cinnabar and a compound of Glauber’s salt and licorice into fine powder for
blowing onto the affected part, e.g., Bing Peng San.

c) Inflammation of the throat due to wind-heat:

In the book entitled ‘Binhu’s Collection of Concise Recipes’, borneol is ground together with rush pith (Medulla Junci),
corktree bark (Cortex Phellodendri) and alum for blowing onto the affected part, producing good effects.

3. Treats ulcers with pyogenic infections, refusing to heal after ulceration:

The drug can also clear away heat and toxic substances, preventing corrosion and promoting tissue regeneration.

a) Scalds and burns:

It is made together with brown mercuric sulfide and sesame oil into a reddish brown ointment for external use.

b) Ulcers refusing to heal after ulceration:

Borneol is used together with elephant hide, dragon’s blood resin, olibanum, etc., e.g., Shengji San.

c) Acute and chronic otitis media suppurativa:

The drug has recently been stirred and dissolved in walnut oil to drop into the ears in the treatment of acute and chronic otitis media suppurativa, yielding better curative effects.

4. Miscellaneous:

In addition, this drug is used for the treatment of coronary angina pectoris and toothache, producing certain curative effects.

Dosage and Administration:
0.03-0.1 g. recommand use for external only

It should not be included in any decoction.

Cautions on Use: This drug should be avoided by pregnant women.

“Dispersing evil fire, destroying parasites and expelling heat from bones. Being migratory and not maintaining
in property, borneol can also promote tissue regeneration and kill pain. However it is so dispersing as to be
liable to exhaustion, so it eventually turns yin-cold.”

“Epilepsy due to fright, impairment of consciousness caused by invasion of phlegm into the heart, inflammation
of the throat, glossocele, toothache, deafness, nasal polyps, conjunctival congestion, nebula, inward sinking of
smallpox toxins and hemorrhoids.”

Toxic or Side Effects:

Modern Researches:
Gurjun borneol contains d-borneol and also such sesquiterpenes as humulene, b-elemene, caryophyllene, etc.,
and such triterpenoids as pleanolic acid, alphitolic acid, Asiatic acid, dipterocarpol, erythrodiol, etc. Aipian
contains L-borneol. Machine-made borneol consists of racemic mixed borneol.

The local use of borneol can gently stimulate the sensory nerves and has a certain analgesic effect and a mild
antiseptic effect. It is quickly absorbed through the mesentery. It can pass the blood-cerebral barrier 5 minutes
after administration and can be accumulated in the brain in a considerably high amount for a long time, which has
provided preliminary experimental bases for the aromatic resuscitative effect of borneol.

A rather high content of this drug can inhibit staphylococci, streptococci, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus coli
and some pathogenic dermatomyces.