Borneolum Syntheticum
Aliases：Hé Chéng Lóng Nǎo (Synthetic Borneol); Méi Piàn (Plum Tablet); Lǎo Méi Piàn (Old Plum Tablet); Lóng Nǎo (Dragon Brain); Méi Huā Bīng Piàn (Plum Blossom Borneol); Ài Piàn (Blumea Borneol); Piàn Nǎo (Tablet Brain); Nǎo Xiāng (Brain Fragrance).
Bīng Piàn (Borneol) is a Chinese medicinal substance. According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, borneol is classified into three types: natural borneol (levo-borneol), natural borneol (dextro-borneol), and synthetic borneol. Natural borneol is a natural crystalline compound obtained from the resin of Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertner f. (Dipterocarpaceae), or a crystalline product extracted from the fresh leaves of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (Asteraceae), known as Ài Piàn. Synthetic borneol is processed from raw materials such as turpentine oil and camphor.
Efficacy & Actions
Opens the orifices, awakens the mind, clears heat, and relieves pain.
Indications
Used for febrile diseases with loss of consciousness, convulsions, stroke with phlegm syncope, sudden collapse due to qi stagnation, coma due to pathogenic attack, chest impediment with heart pain, red eyes, mouth sores, sore throat, and purulent ear discharge. It is also used for sores and toxic swellings, hemorrhoids, nasal polyps, toothache, burns and scalds, among other conditions.
Modern Pharmacology
Central nervous system effects: Exhibits bidirectional (excitatory and inhibitory) regulation of the CNS, protects nerve cells, protects against cerebral and myocardial ischemia, and possesses sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsant effects. Permeation-enhancing effect: Increases blood-brain barrier permeability, promotes transdermal, mucosal, and corneal absorption of co-administered drugs, and affects drug distribution. Borneol nanoformulations as permeation enhancers have become a research hotspot. Anti-inflammatory effect: Exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Analgesic effect: Possesses analgesic effects via multi-target mechanisms involving receptor mediation and immunomodulation. Antibacterial and antiviral effects: Exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activities. Cardiovascular protection: Protects against cerebral and myocardial ischemia, improves myocardial blood supply.
Ingredients
Synthetic Borneol: The main components are borneol and isoborneol, with small amounts of camphor. Borneol content is approximately 59.78%–58.93%, isoborneol approximately 38.98%–37.52%, and camphor approximately 2.70%–2.09%. Natural Borneol (from Dryobalanops): The main component is d-borneol (dextro-borneol). Ai Pian (Blumea Borneol): The main component is l-borneol (levo-borneol).
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Synthetic Borneol: in pills or powder, 0.15–0.3g Natural Borneol: in pills or powder, 0.3–0.9g Not suitable for decoction; mostly used in pills or powder. As this product is fragrant and volatile, it should only be taken in pills or powder for internal use, and not in decoctions. Topical Application: Appropriate amount, ground into powder and applied directly to the affected area.
Contraindications
Contraindicated during pregnancy: This herb has a significant excitatory effect on the uterus and may cause miscarriage. Contraindicated in cases of syncope due to blood deficiency with upward hyperactivity of yang. Not suitable for use in eye drops in patients with liver-kidney deficiency and blurred vision. Not suitable for long-term use in patients with external wind-cold, internal cold-dampness injury, spleen-stomach yang deficiency, or kidney yang deficiency. Infants, young children, and the elderly should not use it long-term (as it easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and affects the central nervous system). When used together with central nervous system depressants such as sedatives or anesthetics, the dosage should be reduced to avoid or reduce cerebral toxicity. Topical application may cause mild irritation to sensory nerve endings; rare allergic reactions may occur in some patients.
Selected Formulas
For heat syncope due to phlegm-heat blocking the interior, sudden collapse from summer heat, and infantile convulsion (Wenbing Tiaobian, Angong Niuhuang Wan) Take Bingpian (Borneol) combined with Niuhuang (Bovine bezoar), Shexiang (Musk), and Huanglian (Coptis). Make into pills and take. For cold syncope with loss of consciousness (Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang, Suhexiang Wan) Take Bingpian combined with Suhexiang (Styrax), Anxixiang (Benzoin), and Dingxiang (Clove) as a warm-opening formula. Make into pills and take. For sore throat and oral ulcers (Waike Zhengzong, Bingpeng San) Take Bingpian, Pengsha (Borax), Zhusha (Cinnabar), and Xuanmingfen (Sodium sulfate). Grind into fine powder and blow or apply to the affected area. For acute stroke with trismus and inability to take medicine (Shengji Zonglu, Kaiguan San) Take Bingpian and Tiannanxing (Arisaema) in equal parts. Grind into powder, rub on the teeth or blow into the nose. For red, swollen eyes (National Prescription Collection of Chinese Patent Medicines, Babao Eye Drops) Take Bingpian with Luganshi (Calamine), Pengsha, and Xiongdan (Bear bile) to make eye drops. For headache (Shouyu Shenfang) Take 1 qian of Bingpian, roll in paper as a stick, burn and smoke the nose. Expel phlegm and the pain will subside. For internal and external hemorrhoids (Jianbian Danfang) Take 1–2 fen of Bingpian, dissolve in scallion juice and apply externally.
Daily Consumption
Taken in pills or powder: Borneol is not used in decoctions. It is mostly taken in pills or powder, or ground into powder and taken with water. The standard dosage is 0.15–0.3g (synthetic borneol) or 0.3–0.9g (natural borneol).
Medicinal Parts
Natural Borneol (from Dryobalanops): A natural crystalline compound obtained from the resin of Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertner f. (Dipterocarpaceae). Ai Pian (Blumea Borneol): A crystalline product extracted and processed from the fresh leaves of Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (Asteraceae). Synthetic Borneol: Synthesized from raw materials such as turpentine oil and camphor.
Selection & Storage
Store in an airtight container in a cool place, protected from volatilization.
