Ming Fan (明矾) is alum, a mineral salt, recorded as Alumen. It is sour and astringent in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Liver, Spleen and Large Intestine channels. The catalogue files it among the substances for external application.

Pinyin

ming fan

Chinese

明矾

Latin Name

Alumen

English Name

Alum

Japanese

byakuban

Korean

baekban

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, dries Damp, kills parasites and stops itching

Damp-Heat rashes such as scabies and tinea, as an external wash
Eczema and other damp rashes, ringworm, sores and carbuncles, and mouth ulcers, as a wash or powder
Painful swelling of the throat or eyes
Damp-Heat jaundice

Restrains sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefaction

Topical use for blockage and stagnation where toxins and pathogens have lodged in the muscles, channels and collaterals
Toxic sores (Chuang Yung), applied topically

Stops bleeding and checks diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea or dysentery, including with blood
Blood in the stool, uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
Vomiting of blood
Nosebleed, bleeding gums, hemorrhoidal bleeding and wounds from injury, applied topically

Clears Heat and expels Phlegm

Wind-Phlegm with Heat, causing irritability, delirium and convulsions
Wind-Phlegm with seizures or epilepsy, copious Phlegm and excess salivation
Cough with sputum that is hard to bring up

Combinations

she chuang zi

External wash: chronic vaginal discharge with eczema and itching; genital itching from vaginal candidiasis in women. Eczema with intense itching, damp scrotum and other itching skin disorders

bai bu

External wash for eczema.

xiong huang

Paste made with strong tea: Wind-Damp-Heat toxin in the skin and muscles with severe itching and a yellow exudate once scratched

liu huang

Powder applied topically for scabies

huang bai + ku shen + she chuang zi

Damp-Heat pouring downward with profuse, itchy vaginal discharge, used as a sitz bath

he shi + bing lang

Intestinal parasites.

wu ling zhi

Topically for developing fistulas.

huang lian + xue jie

Non-healing ulcers, applied topically

qing dai + bing pian

Mouth and ear sores, applied topically

bing pian

Red, swollen, painful middle and outer ear

er cha

Epistaxis, hemoptysis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding or traumatic bleeding, used internally and topically

he zi

Chronic, stubborn diarrhea in the elderly, taken internally as a powder

wu bei zi + di yu

Continuous uterine bleeding.

zao jiao + zhi ban xia

Wind-Stroke of the Phlegm Collapse type, given as an enema

yu jin

Convulsions, delirium and irritability with a gurgling sound in the throat

yin chen hao

Jaundice.

cong bai

Swellings that have not formed pus or suppurated

he zi + liu huang + bai tou weng + huang lian

Chronic diarrhea or dysentery.

yu jin + zao jiao + bo he

Wind-Phlegm disorders.

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any Decoctions: 1-3g; Pills and Powders:; 0.6-1.5g

1-3 g

—

Cautions

caution Slightly toxic, mainly when taken internally or in overdose; internal use is kept small, brief and under a qualified practitioner, and topical use is the main and better-tolerated route

caution Too much taken internally irritates or ulcerates the gut lining, causing vomiting, nausea and diarrhea, and a severe overdose has been tied to shock

caution Not for prolonged internal use, because aluminium can build up

contraindication Weak digestion (Spleen and Stomach deficiency)

contraindication Absence of Damp-Heat

contraindication Yin deficiency with internal Heat, or blazing Fire with a sore throat

contraindication Eye pain arising from Yin deficiency with Blood Heat

pregnancy One source contraindicates it in pregnancy and when trying to conceive; this is not confirmed across sources, but toxic minerals are generally kept out of internal use in pregnancy

Interactions

Antagonistic with

ma huang Works against Ma Huang (ephedra)
mu li Antagonistic with Mu Li (oyster shell)

Drug interactions

Aluminium-containing products such as antacids: aluminium intake adds up; take extra care in significant kidney impairment, as the kidneys clear aluminium (precautionary; no interaction demonstrated)

ming fan

About ming fan

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, dries Damp, kills parasites and stops itching

Restrains sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefaction

Stops bleeding and checks diarrhea

Clears Heat and expels Phlegm

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with

Drug interactions

About ming fan

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity, dries Damp, kills parasites and stops itching

Restrains sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefaction

Stops bleeding and checks diarrhea

Clears Heat and expels Phlegm

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Antagonistic with

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 1 formula