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Borneol: Its Name, Origin, and Medicinal Uses

Borneol, named for its icy appearance and cooling properties, is a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the steam distillation and recrystallization of the stems and leaves of the Blumea balsamifera (a member of the Asteraceae family) or the leaves of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora). It is also known as dragon's brain incense, plum blossom borneol, and jambula, among others. This versatile herb finds frequent application in daily life, and it is essential to understand its efficacy and functions in detail. Let's delve into the benefits and applications of borneol.

Efficacy of Borneol

Borneol possesses the abilities to arouse consciousness, clear heat and dispel toxins, improve eyesight and alleviate eye disorders, as well as reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Its aliases include Pian Nao, Jie Pian, Mei Hua Borneol, Jie Bu Luo Xiang, and Mei Bing. It is used for treating closed-syndrome unconsciousness, red and swollen eyes, sore throat and mouth ulcers, as well as swollen sores that fail to heal after rupturing.

1. Combination with Phellodendron amurense (Huang Bai): Borneol's bitter and pungent nature, coupled with its cooling properties, makes it adept at clearing orifices, dispelling stagnant heat, and improving vision while externally applied, it can clear heat, reduce swelling, and alleviate itching and pain. Phellodendron amurense, on the other hand, specializes in clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying. When used together externally, they exhibit a synergistic effect in clearing heat, purging fire, detoxifying, reducing swelling, drying dampness, healing sores, and alleviating pain and itching, particularly effective in treating oral erosions, ulcers, sore throats, and swollen throats caused by internal heat.

2. Combination with Musk: This pairing enhances the ability to arouse consciousness, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain. It is commonly used internally to treat conditions such as stroke with phlegm obstruction and high fever-induced unconsciousness. Externally, it is applied to treat abscesses, carbuncles, traumatic injuries, and the like.

3. Combination with Borax: This combination clears heat, detoxifies, reduces swelling, and alleviates pain, making it suitable for treating conditions like oral erosions, sore throats, chronic cough with phlegm-fire, and hoarseness.

4. Combination with Arisaema erubescens (Tian Nan Xing): Borneol's bitter and pungent nature, coupled with its cooling properties, awakens consciousness, clears heat, and alleviates pain. It excels in clearing orifices, dispelling stagnant heat, eliminating foulness, improving vision, and reducing swelling and pain. Tian Nan Xing, with its bitter and pungent yet warm nature, specializes in drying dampness, resolving phlegm, dispelling wind, calming convulsions, and reducing swelling and nodules. Together, they significantly enhance the effects of arousing consciousness, dispelling wind, and opening orifices, particularly effective in treating conditions such as heat invading the pericardium, stroke with phlegm obstruction, or convulsions marked by unconsciousness and locked jaws.

Applications of Borneol

1. Treating Pea-sized Sores and Red Sores: For cases where the sores have not fully erupted, accompanied by restlessness, shortness of breath, and delirium, a recipe involves finely grinding borneol and mixing it with pig's heart blood to form pills. Taking one pill with lithospermum soup can calm the mind, induce sleep, and promote the eruption of sores.

2. Treating Heat Accumulation in the Heart: For conditions like unconsciousness due to heat accumulation in the heart, mistaken ingestion of hot medicines, convulsions, and unconsciousness, or sunken and blackened sores, a recipe involves grinding raw borneol and mixing it with fresh pig's heart blood to form large pills. Taking these pills with a small amount of freshly drawn water can alleviate symptoms. For sunken sores, warm wine can be used instead.

3. Treating Acute Stroke with Closed Eyes and Locked Jaws: A recipe combines raw Tian Nan Xing (