Peng Sha (硼砂) is borax, a borate mineral, recorded as Borax. It is sweet and salty in flavour and cool in temperature, entering the Lung and Stomach channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances.

Pinyin

peng sha

Chinese

硼砂

Latin Name

Borax

English Name

borax

Japanese

hosha

Korean

bungsa

Actions and indications

Resolves toxicity and prevents putrefaction

Sore, swollen throat and mouth sores, taken internally or applied
White, weeping vaginal lesions or vaginal discharge
Mouth and gum ulcers, thrush, stomatitis and tonsillitis, as a gargle

Resolves toxicity, reduces swelling and benefits the eyes

Red, painful, swollen eyes and superficial visual obstruction; may be used alone

Clears Heat and transforms Phlegm

Stubborn Phlegm-Heat cough with sputum that is hard to bring up, taken internally in the past

Dries Damp and dissolves stones

Blistering between the toes from Damp
Stones with painful urination

Combinations

bing pian + ming fan

Swollen, ulcerated mouth, tongue and throat

xiong huang + gan cao

Thrush.

gua lou + zhe bei mu

Phlegm-Heat cough with sputum that is hard to bring up

tian men dong + xuan shen

Yin Deficiency with Internal Heat, and cough with thick, sticky sputum

mang xiao + bing pian + zhen zhu + zhu sha

Mouth ulcers or sore throat, applied topically as a powder

er cha + zhen zhu

Disorders of the mouth in general

qing dai + huang lian

Oral disorders in general with Heat and toxins

bing pian + mang xiao

Red, swollen, painful eyes; powdered and applied to the corner of the eye

pu huang

Bleeding lesions.

nan sha shen + zhe bei mu + gua lou + sang bai pi + huang qin

Chronic cough and sore throat with yellow, sticky Phlegm that is hard to expectorate

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 1.5-6g; Powder and Pills: 1.5-3g

1.5-6 g

—

Cautions

caution Now considered obsolete because of its toxicity: it is classed as a reproductive toxicant and has caused serious poisoning; never take it internally without supervision

caution Where internal use is still described, it is limited to a few days under professional supervision

caution Long-term use can harm the kidneys

caution Calcine it before external use

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy; it is classed in the EU as toxic to reproduction

paediatric Infants have been poisoned, some fatally, by accident; keep it out of household and self-care use

contraindication Lung atrophy with Heat and distension, arising when Yin deficiency has dried the Yang fluids, exhausted the marrow and parched the Ying

contraindication Painful obstruction with a stifling sensation where Qi cannot flow freely

peng sha

About peng sha

Names

Classification