✵The article gives records of the herb Alum, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its mineral source, ①.alum stone mineral, with a detailed introduction to the physical properties of this mineral, the natural environment, distribution of this mineral, the features of the herb Alum, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Alumen(Alum).
Pin Yin Name: Bái Fán.
English Name: Alum.
Latin Name: Alumen.
Property and flavor: cold nature, tastes sour, puckery, toxic.
Brief introduction: The herb Alumen is a crystalline mineral salt, hydrated potassium aluminum fulfate, used (1).externally to kill parasites, stop discharges and relieve itching in cases of scabies, tinea, neurodermatitis, and eczematous lesions, and (2).internally to dispel wind-phlegm for treating epilepsy and mania. The herb is commonly known as Alumen, Alum, Alunite, white alum, Bái Fán.
Mineral source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Alumen (Alum) as crystalline mineral processed and purified from the mineral alum stone (Alunite). This commonly used mineral is introduced:
Alumstone(Alunite).
Mineral description: The mineral is commonly known as alum stone mineral, alunite, calafatite, or Míng Fán Shí. Its crystal structure is a trigonal system. The crystals are small rhombohedra or clintheriform, usually compact blocks, granular, earthy, etc. Colorless or white, often with a light yellow or pink color. The streaks are white. Vitroclastic luster (glassy luster), cleavage surface sometimes has slight pearl lustre, lumpy one has dim luster, or slight ceraceous (waxy) luster. The fracture crystals are conchoidal; the blocks are multichip, jagged, and sometimes earthy. Its hardness value is 3.5~4, and its relative density is 2.6~2.8, crispy.
Natural Environment: Alkaline feldspar metamorphism by low-temperature sulfate solution, mostly in volcanic rocks. It is mainly distributed in the north, northwest, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The herb is an irregular crystalline block, colorless or white, transparent or translucent, with vitroclastic luster (glassy luster). The surface is slightly smooth or uneven, has fine longitudinal edges, and is covered with white fine powder. The texture of the herb is hard, brittle (crisp), and easily smashed. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes slightly sweet and extremely puckery. The herb of a better grade is in big blocks, colorless, transparent, and free of impurities.
Pharmacological actions: The herb Alumen has ①.antibacterial effect: the herb has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus anthracis, Shigella dysenteriae, and other bacteria; ②.inhibit trichomonas vaginalis effect; ③. coagulate protein effect; ④.choleretic effect; ⑤.local stimulation effect; ⑥.anti-inflammatory; ⑦.astringent; ⑧.antiseptic effects.
Medicinal efficacy: Externally functions detoxification and killing parasite, drying dampness and relieve itching, indicated for eczema (tetter), wet sore, scabies, pharyngitis (throat obstruction), hemorrhoids, ulcer and pyogenic infections, scald burn of fire and boiling water, sore of mouth and tongue, eye of wind, pus from the ear; Internally functions stanch bleeding, antidiarrheal, dispel wind phlegm, indicated for unstoppable chronic diarrhea, hemafecia (hematochezia, passing blood in one's stool), metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (uterine bleeding), epistaxis (nose bleeding or bleeding from five aperture or subcutaneous tissue), bleeding due to trauma, apoplexia (paralytic stroke), epilepsy, delirium (mania), morbid leukorrhea and itching of genital region, archoptosis (anal prolapse), hysteroptosia, etc.
Administration of Alumen (Bái Fán):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Alumen (Bái Fán)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:0.6~1.5 grams. Externally:proper amount, prepare to finely ground herb powder, apply stick, or dissolve in water and wash the affected area;②.Internally:prepare to pill, powder, 0.2~1 qian (about 0.6~3 grams). Externally:prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply, or mixed and apply stick; ③.Internally:prepare to pill, powder, 0.2~1 qian (about 0.6~3 grams). Externally:prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply, or mixed and apply stick.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The herb Alumen should not be combined with Concha Ostreae.
Alumen Ustum(Calcined Alumen).
Pin Yin Name: Kū Fán.
English Name: Calcined Alumen.
Latin Name: Alumen Ustum.
Property and flavor: cold nature, tastes sour, puckery, toxic.
Brief introduction: The herb Alumen Ustum is calcined potassium aluminum sulfate, used to stop discharges, promote the healing of ulcers, stop bleeding, and cause cauterization, externally for the treatment of eczema, excessive leukorrhea with pudendal itching, and nasal polyp, and internally as an astringent for chronic diarrhea and bloody stool. The herb is commonly known as Alumen Ustum, Calcined Alumen, Kū Fán.
Medicinal efficacy: The Alumen ustum functions collecting dampness and healing ulcer, stanch bleeding and reduce rotten part. It is indicated for eczema (tetter), wet sore, archoptosis (anal prolapse), hemorrhoids, pus from the ear, morbid leukorrhea and itching of genital region, hemorrhinia (nose bleeding), gringival hemorrhage (gum bleeding, bleeding from the gum), rhinopolyp (nasal polyp), etc.
✵The article gives records of the herb Alum, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its mineral source, ①.alum stone mineral, with a detailed introduction to the physical properties of this mineral, the natural environment, distribution of this mineral, the features of the herb Alum, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Bái Fán.
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