Chinese: 冰硼散
Pinyin: Bīng Péng Sǎn
Other names: Borneal and Borax Powder
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: External formulas for External disorders
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MumpsThrushImpetigo and seven other conditions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Dispels putrescence
- Reduces swellings and relieves pain
Contraindications: Application to the throat and oral cavity may result in ingestion of small... Application to the throat and oral cavity may result in ingestion of small amounts of the formula. Therefore, it is important that natural Borneol is used in this formula. The chemically-produced item is unsuitable for internal use. In addition, some action should be taken to ensure that the powder is not contaminated with bacteria or other pathogens if it is to be applied to mucous membranes or to open sores. see more
Source date: 1617 AD
Source book: Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Bing Peng San is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Borneol (Bing Pian) and Borax (Peng Sha) as principal ingredients.
Invented in 1617 AD, it belongs to the category of external formulas for External disorders. Its main actions are: 1) clears Toxic-Heat and 2) dispels putrescence.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Bing Peng San is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Heat or Toxic-Heat. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as thrush, gingivitis or mandibular osteomyelitis for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Bing Peng San, we review the patterns and conditions that Bing Peng San helps treat.
The four ingredients in Bing Peng San
Bing Pian is a king ingredient in Bing Peng San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Borneol (Bing Pian)
Part used: Organic compound obtained from plant extracts
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: SpleenHeartLung
Category: Herbs that open the Orifices
In general Bing Pian's main actions are as follows: "Opens the Orifices and awakens the spirit. Clears Heat and relieves pain."
In the context of Bing Peng San, it is used because it reduces swelling and alleviates pain.
Peng Sha is a king ingredient in Bing Peng San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
2. Borax (Peng Sha)
Part used: The mineral
Nature: Cool
Meridian affinity: StomachLung
Category: Herbs for external application
In general Peng Sha's main actions are as follows: "Applied topically for Toxic-Heat. Clears Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs. "
In the context of Bing Peng San, it is used because it clears Heat, reduces swelling, and disperses clumps.
Xuan Ming Fen is a deputy ingredient in Bing Peng San. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
3. Exsiccated Sodium Sulfate (Xuan Ming Fen)
In general Xuan Ming Fen's main actions are as follows: "Clear Heat and unblock the stools. Reduce swelling. "
In the context of Bing Peng San, it is used because it softens hardness and drains Fire.
Zhu Sha is an assistant ingredient in Bing Peng San. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Cinnabar (Zhu Sha)
Part used: The mineral itself
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: Heart
Category: Herbs that anchor and calm the Spirit
In general Zhu Sha's main actions are as follows: "Calms the spirit and Heart. Stops convulsions. Clears Heat and toxins."
In the context of Bing Peng San, it is used because it unblock the vessels and resolve Toxicity.
Conditions and patterns for which Bing Peng San may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Bing Peng San is used by TCM practitioners to treat two different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Thrush Gingivitis Mandibular osteomyelitis Acute middle ear infections Chronic middle ear infections Acute rhinitis Chronic rhinitis Impetigo Mumps Dermatitis bullosa
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Bing Peng San treats thrush" for instance. Rather, Bing Peng San is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind thrush.
Now let's look at the two patterns commonly treated with Bing Peng San.
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Thirst Sneezing Coughing Sweating Headaches Runny nose Sore throat Yellow mucus Fear of wind Blocked nose Itchy throat Swollen tonsils Aversion to cold Occipital stiffness Occipital headaches
Bing Peng San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu) pulses.
Within the Four-Levels theory, Wind-Heat is the first level of invasion of External Pathogens, when it still resides in the body's Exterior.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Cold, but the Wind is together with Heat rather than Cold. The common symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny... read more about Wind-Heat
'Heat' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Heat pattern in Chinese Medicine
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
Symptoms: Pus Fever Boils Sores Eczema Thirst Pustule Coughing Erythema Swellings Carbuncles Dark Urine Sore throat Mouth ulcers Constipation Abdominal pain Swollen tonsils Feeling of heat Lower back pain Perineum swollen Prostate swollen Testicle swollen Red skin eruptions Shortness of breath Yellow vaginal discharge Smelly Vaginal discharge Sticky vaginal discharge Bloody vaginal discharge Five colour vaginal discharge
Bing Peng San is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Toxic-Heat. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, swellings, pus and boils. Patients with Toxic-Heat typically exhibit rapid (Shu) pulses as well as Red tongue with yellow coating.
There are two types of Toxic-Heat. One type is called Toxic-Heat Stagnation, which mainly happens in Channels or other surfaces like skins, throat, lymph or mouth. The symptoms include pain, redness and swollen in throat as well as skin pustule and rush. Acne during teenage time is mainly due to... read more about Toxic-Heat
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