Bing Pian
StarDryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.
☯ TCM Properties
Opens the Orifices and Revives Consciousness; Clears Heat and Resolves Toxicity; Brightens the Eyes and Removes Visual Obstructions; Reduces Swelling and Alleviates Pain; Promotes Tissue Regeneration and Heals Sores
Traditional Chinese Uses
Bing Pian (borneol) is an aromatic crystalline substance used in Chinese medicine to open the orifices and revive consciousness in emergencies such as high fever with delirium and loss of consciousness. Applied topically, it clears Heat toxin for throat ulcers, eye inflammation, and skin sores. As a penetrating aromatic, it serves as a "guide substance" in many formulas, helping other ingredients penetrate more deeply into the body's tissues. It is never taken in large doses due to its volatile and dispersing nature.
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Dryobalanops aromatica is a massive evergreen tropical tree in the family Dipterocarpaceae, native to the lowland and hill dipterocarp rainforests of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo. Mature trees commonly reach 50-65 meters in height, with straight, cylindrical, buttressed trunks and high, columnar crowns. The bark is grayish, scaly, and aromatic when cut. The alternate, leathery, lanceolate to ovate leaves are glossy dark green with a pointed tip and pale undersides. Small, fragrant, white five-petaled flowers are borne in axillary panicles, developing into two-winged dipterocarp fruits with persistent, enlarged calyx lobes. The trunk's resin canals yield a crystalline exudate of d-borneol, harvested as Bing Pian and prized for its penetrating camphoraceous aroma.
Active Constituents
D-Borneol (dextro-borneol)
Bicyclic monoterpene alcoholConcentration: Principal component; the sole borneol isomer in natural borneol and a major component of synthetic borneol
The primary active constituent. Enhances blood-brain barrier permeability, acts as an aromatic orifice-opening agent, and provides anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial effects; widely used as a penetration-enhancing 'guide' substance.
Isoborneol
Bicyclic monoterpene alcohol (stereoisomer)Concentration: Present in synthetic borneol (Borneolum syntheticum) together with D-borneol
Stereoisomer of borneol contributing antimicrobial and antioxidant activity; a marker distinguishing synthetic from natural borneol.
Camphor
Bicyclic monoterpene ketoneConcentration: Minor accompanying monoterpene in some borneol preparations
Aromatic monoterpene ketone with mild local analgesic, counter-irritant and antimicrobial properties.
Camphene
Monoterpene hydrocarbonConcentration: Trace volatile constituent
Volatile terpene contributing to the aroma and mild antioxidant/antimicrobial activity.
Bornyl acetate
Monoterpene esterConcentration: Trace ester constituent
Ester of borneol with anti-inflammatory and mild sedative activity noted in volatile-oil studies.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Antiepileptic drugs (valproate, phenobarbital)
In mouse maximal-electroshock and tonic-clonic seizure models, borneol produced synergistic anticonvulsant interactions and raised total brain concentrations of both valproate and phenobarbital, consistent with its ability to increase blood-brain barrier permeability.
Clinical note: Preclinical evidence; theoretical potential to potentiate CNS depressants and antiepileptics in humans.
P-glycoprotein / efflux-transporter substrate drugs
Borneol inhibits P-glycoprotein and other ABC efflux transporters, loosens tight junctions and modulates ion channels, thereby increasing intestinal absorption and brain/tissue delivery of co-administered drugs (demonstrated for notoginsenosides, puerarin and tetramethylpyrazine).
Clinical note: May increase exposure of co-administered P-gp substrates; monitor for exaggerated effects of narrow-index drugs.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| powder | 0.3-1g | Daily | — | — | — |
Preparation Methods
Powder / pill (internal, never decocted)
Parts: resin/crystalline borneol
Very small doses (about 0.15-0.3 g) of the crystalline substance are ground into powder and taken in pills or powders, or dissolved separately and added to a finished decoction. It is never boiled, as its volatile aromatic component would be lost.
Topical / ophthalmic application
Parts: crystalline borneol
Incorporated into eye drops, throat and mouth lozenges, ointments and medicated patches for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating actions on sores, eyes and gums.
Clinical Studies
Borneol, a messenger agent, improves central nervous system drug delivery through enhancing blood-brain barrier permeability: a preclinical systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled analysis of animal studies showing that co-administration of borneol reproducibly increases blood-brain barrier permeability and enhances delivery of CNS-active drugs in a dose- and time-dependent manner without raising peripheral tissue drug levels.
Effects of Borneol on Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Notoginsenoside R1 and Ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in Panax notoginseng in Rabbits
Co-administration of borneol significantly increased the bioavailability and tissue distribution of notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in rabbits, indicating enhanced intestinal absorption and inhibited metabolism of the co-administered saponins.
Historical Texts
Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica / Tang Materia Medica)
Tang dynasty (659 CE)Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen
Ming dynasty (1578)References
- Zhang QL, Fu BM, Zhang ZJ. Borneol, a novel agent that improves central nervous system drug delivery by enhancing blood-brain barrier permeability . Drug Delivery (2017) [DOI]
- Wang S, Zang W, Zhao X, Feng W, Zhao M, He X, Liu Q, Zheng X. Effects of Borneol on Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of Notoginsenoside R1 and Ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in Panax notoginseng in Rabbits . Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry (2013) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
📝 Notes
Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Bing Pian.
No notes yet.