Er Qing Gao

Er Qing Gao (Double-Dark Plaster), from Orthodox Lineage of External Medicine (1617).

Actions: Clears heat; Resolves toxicity; Disperses swelling; Relieves pain

Indications: Red, hot swellings with or without a head; first-stage trauma such as strains, sprains, relocated dislocations, bruises and bumps

Pattern: Yang toxic swellings and first-stage trauma with heat

Cautions:

• Do not apply to open wounds

Modifications:

• First-stage trauma: mix with rice wine and honey, or sesame oil and rice wine
• Stasis and heat as trauma approaches the second stage: add ru xiang and mo yao
• Greater efficacy for trauma or heat-toxin swellings: add fresh pu gong ying or ma chi xian

Commentary: Stronger than Jin Huang Gao at dispersing firm heat-toxin accumulations and first-stage trauma, but slower at bringing a swelling to a head.

Category: External Formulas for External Disorders.

Source: Scheid V, Bensky D, Ellis A, Barolet R. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. Eastland Press, 2009, p. 899.

Grind to powder and mix with an adjuvant (honey and vinegar for yang-toxin swellings; rice wine and honey or sesame oil for trauma; petroleum jelly or glycerin cream today); spread on gauze, change daily.