Zhang Nao - 樟腦 - Camphora

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Camphora
Common English:	Camphor Camphor Flake Cinnamomum

Category

Substances for Topical Application

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid	Hot Toxic	Heart Spleen (Lung) (Kidney) (Liver) (Large Intestine) (Bladder)	0.03-0.2g Pill: 0.25-1g Tincture: 0.25-0.5ml (6-12 drops) Decoction of the wood or bark: 15-30g Essential oil: 1-2 drops in warm water

Actions And Indications

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Expels Wind and Dampness and kills parasites	Wind-Damp skin lesions Scabies, tinea and itching sores
Opens the Orifices and expels turbidity	Delirium and loss of consciousness due to Hot disorders
Invigorates the Blood, Disperses Cold and alleviates pain	Topically for Blood Stagnation due to traumatic injury (injuries from falls, fractures, contusions, sprains pain and swelling) Toothache

Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions

Major Combinations

Sulfur Liu Huang Alumen Dehydratum Ku Fan	Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao	Myrrh Mo Yao Olibanum Ru Xiang
Scabies and skin itchiness.	Topically for sores.	As a powder with tea for unremitting vomiting and diarrhea along with delirium.
Moschus She Xiang Borneolum Bing Pian	Sulfur Liu Huang Calomelas Qing Fen	Sulfur Liu Huang Alumen Ming Fan
In pill or powder form for sudden loss of consciousness	Itching.	Topically for scabies or sores and furuncles.
Rz. Arisaematis Zhi Tian Nan Xing Sm. Momordicae Mu Bie Zi Mylabris Ban Mao Venenum Bufonis Chan Su	Rz. Coptidis Huang Lian Rx. Angelicae Dahuricae Bai Zhi Per. Zanthoxyli Chuan Jiao Calomelas Qing Fen	Alumen Ming Fan Calomelas Qing Fen
Topically, mixed with rubbing alcohol fungal infection.	Mixed with vegetable oil for itching eruptions.	Mixed with sesame oil for dry sores on the feet. Apply as a powder for wet sores on the feet.
Cinnabaris Zhu Sha
Apply topically for toothache.

Notes

1. Signs of toxicity are dizziness, headache, a sensation of warmth, anorexia, a dry or sore throat and restlessness.
2. Doses above 2g produce brief tranquilization, followed by stimulation of the cerebral cortex with tonic-clonic spasms. Respiratory arrest is possible.
3. Taken orally, 7-15g is a fatal dose.
4. For burns it can be applied alone or mixed with sesame oil; leave out the sesame oil if the burns have blistered.
5. It is used for sudden stroke and abrupt loss of consciousness.
6. To treat frostbite, cook 10g of Zhang Nao with 30g of lard for ten minutes to form a gel, then apply it to the skin.
7. To treat various swellings, combine 9g of Zhang Nao with 500 ml of 60% alcohol and apply externally.
8. To treat fungal infections of the feet, combine 3g of Zhang Nao with two pieces of tofu and apply externally.
9. Absorption of Zhang Nao is rapid through any body surface, the gastric mucosa included.
10. Although it is Hot, its dispersing Yang nature gives the skin a cooling sensation.
11. Its indications include distending pain in the chest and abdomen, leg Qi (placed in the shoes), sores, scabies and tinea, toothache, traumatic injury, scalds and burns, and sudden turmoil disorder.
12. According to one source, this herb treats Heart and Kidney Yang Deficiencies, Devastated Yang, Phlegm-Dampness Obstructing the Heart, External Wind-Cold with Dampness in the Head, Cold Phlegm Blocking the Lung Qi, Qi Stagnation in the Bladder and Spleen Dampness.
13. Externally, Zhang Nao is applied for scabies, tinea and itchy sores, although its primary action is to expel Wind and turbidity. It may also be applied topically for injuries from falls, fractures, contusions and sprains, and for the pain and swelling that accompany Blood Stasis. Fr. Cnidii She Chuang Zi dries Dampness, kills parasites and relieves itching, and it is widely used externally for any weeping, itchy skin lesion, particularly in the genital region.