Why Yunnan Baiyao Should be in Every First Aid Kit

Yunnan Baiyao was formulated in China by a Chinese physician Qu Huanzhang, from Yunnan Providence. After exploring the Yunnan region and tasting the many herbs available there, in 1902 Huanzhang formulated the Yunnan Baiyao formula. He then provided the Chinese government with it for soldiers fighting in the Chinese-Japanese war as Yunnan Baiyao has the ability to stop bleeding whether from an injury or ailment. There are reports that North Vietnamese soldiers were found carrying Yunnan Baiyao powder to sprinkle on battlefield wounds to stop bleeding during the Vietnam War.

Traditional Use of Yunnan Baiyao

The formula was sprinkled on soldier’s battle wounds on the field during the war. The formula is a closely guarded secret and is produced by a state-owned pharmaceutical company in China, called Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd. Yunnan Baiyao Jiaonang or Capsules are available only by export from this company.

Yunnan Baiyao which translates as the white herbal medicine from the province of Yunnan is a famous remedy from China known for its ability to stop bleeding, whether caused by injury or ailment It is taken internally as a capsule and/or applied topically as a powder.

Why is it an excellent addition to your first aid kit?

Yunnan baiyao is used for any kind of traumatic injury or internal bleeding. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) terms, Yunnan Baiyao stops bleeding, disperses blood stasis, activates blood circulation, alleviates pain, clears away toxins, and reduce swelling.

Yunnan baiyao can be used internally or topically in capsule, powder, or plaster form.

This formula can be used for:

• First-aid for any kind of traumatic injury
• Internal bleeding, whether one has a small cut, bruise or swelling for the closure of wounds
• Decrease in scarring
• The encouragement of flesh regeneration
• Menstrual disorders such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, or excessive menstrual bleeding.

How do I take Yunnan Baiyao?

Yunnan Baiyao Jiaonang (Capsules) are 250 mg: capsules are usually taken in doses of 2 capsules each time to two to four times daily (a sheet of 16 blister-packed capsules has 4 grams of the powder, sufficient for a 2–4 day supply, which is usually the intended course of therapy). Each strip of 16 capsules is accompanied by one bonus red pill.

In many cases, Yunnan Baiyao Jiaonang is used for only 2–4 days; however, some of the applications are for disorders that may require several days of treatment. Generally, Yunnan Baiyao Jiaonang is not intended to be used regularly for more than about 15 days.

For adults, take 0.25 g – 0.5 g (1-2 capsules) each time, 4 times daily.

Ingredients

The Yunnan Baiyao formulation is a closely guarded State secret of China although certain ingredients are said to be reliably established. This is under the : Law on Guarding State Secrets” and the production and exact ingredients are considered so secret that they are not printed on packaging in China nor are the workers in the factory told of the production process. ⁽²⁾

The herb sanqi (Panax notoginseng) is a principal ingredient of the product. The TCM properties of the herb are for arresting bleeding by resolving blood stasis and promoting blood circulation to relieve swelling and pain.

Panax notoginseng, also known as san qi, is commonly known as Chinese ginseng.  Panax means “cure-all” in Latin and grows naturally in China.  It is a perennial herb that is both cultivated and gathered.  In traditional Chinese medicine panax notoginseng is a warm in nature, as well as sweet and slightly bitter in taste.

Other Ingredients

Ajuga Forrestii Diels
Ajuga forrestii is a perennial plant used traditionally around the world for medicinal purposes. It is native to southwest China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Xizang) and Nepal. This plant has astringent properties. ⁽⁴⁾

Dioscoreae Parviflora Ting
Dioscorae Paryflora Ting has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years for wound care.⁽⁵⁾

Herba Geranii & Herba Erodii
Herba Geranii is a pungent, bitter and neutral herb that actions include expelling wind, activating blood, clearing heat and removing toxicity. It is often used for traumatic injury, sores, boils, and dysentery traditionally. Herba Erodii is used to remove the obstruction of channels and collaterals and arrest diarrhea.

Herba Inulae Cappae

Radix Notoginseng
Radix notoginseng is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation and for clotting. ⁽⁶⁾

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae
Rhizoma Dioscorea Nipponicae is used often in traditional Chinese medicine to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. ⁽⁷⁾ This herb is bitter in taste. it is used to dispel wind, eliminate dampness, invigorate the Blood, unblock the collaterals, relax the sinews, transform phlegm and alleviates cough.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae

Caution

• Yunnan Baiyao has been safely used with few adverse effects when it is used as directed.
• Not for use during pregnancy.
• Allergy Info: Yunnan Baiyao is gluten-free
• Keep out of touch with children.

Reference

1 Chak K-F, Hsiao C-Y, Chen T-Y. “A Study of the Effect of Shiunko, a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, on Fibroblasts and Its Implication on Wound Healing Processes.” Advances in Wound Care. 2013;2(8):448-455. doi:10.1089/wound.2012.0368.

2 Lu, Zhang. “Protecting Tradition.”  China Daily. China Business.  10 October 2005.  Web.

3 “Yunnan Baiyao Plaster”. Itmonline.com

4 Tong Chen, Qing-Yan Diao, Hai-Zhou Yu, Chun-Li Jiao & Jian Ruan. “Phytochemical, cytotoxic and chemotaxonomic study on Ajuga forrestii Diels (Labiatae).” Natural Product Research Formerly Natural Product letters, volume 32, 2018, Issue 8. Pages 977-981 | Received 22 May 2017, Accepted 18 Aug 2017, Published online: 06 Sep 2017

5 Kin-Fu Chak,1,2,* Chia-Yen Hsiao,1 and Ting-Yu Chen1. A Study of the Effect of Shiunko, a Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, on Fibroblasts and Its Implication on Wound Healing Processes.” Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2013 Oct; 2(8): 448–455.
doi: 10.1089/wound.2012.0368.

6 Roy Chi-Yan Choi, Zhiyong Jiang, Heidi Qun Xie, Anna Wing-Han Cheung, David Tai-Wai Lau, Qiang Fu, Tina Tingxia Dong, Jijun Chen, Zhengtao Wang and Karl Wah-Keung Tsim. “Anti-oxidative effects of the biennial flower of Panax notoginseng against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in cultured PC12 cells.” Chinese Medicine 2010 5:38 Published on: 28 October 2010.

7 Lu F1, Liu L, Yu DH, Li XZ, Zhou Q, Liu SM. “Therapeutic effect of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae on gouty arthritis based on the SDF-1/CXCR 4 and p38 MAPK pathway: an in vivo and in vitro study.” Phytother Res. 2014 Feb;28(2):280-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4997. Epub 2013 Apr 26.