Medicinals
péng shā / 硼砂 / 硼砂 / borax
Latin pharmacognostic name: Borax
Alternate English names:
Alternate Chinese names: 大朋砂 dà péng shā; 蓬砂 péng shā; 鹏砂 péng shā; 盆砂 pén shā; 月石 yuè shí; 西月石 xī yuè shí
Origin: Mineral
Use: medicinal
Category: External medicine agents / Toxin-drawing, putridity-transforming, and flesh-engendering agents
Properties: Sweet, salty; cool; toxic when taken orally. (Some sources list bitter and slightly cold.)
Channel entry: lung and stomach channels.
Indications:
- Clears heat and resolves toxin (external use): Painful swollen throat, mouth and tongue sores, red eyes and eye screens.
- Clears the lung and transforms phlegm (internal use): Cough from phlegm-heat congesting the lung.
Dosage & Method:
Topical: Grind to a powder and sprinkle on or apply mixed. Oral: Use in pills and powders (1.5–3g).
Warning:
Péng shā is mostly used externally; it should be used internally with care.
Product Description:
Opaque or semi-translucent white or sometimes pale yellow, blue, or green crystals obtained cooling a water solution of crude borax. Its chemical constitution is Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O. It has a hardness of 2–2.5 and a specific gravity of 1.69–1.72.
Product Area:
Sìchuān, Tibet, Qīnghǎi, Yúnnán, Xīnjiāng, Gānsū, and Shǎnxī (Shaanxi).
Etymology:
The original name péng shā 蓬砂, interpreted as ""fluffy gravel,"" may reflect the puffing up that occurs on initial heating. The homophone 硼砂 is now standard, and the alternate name yuè shí 月石, ""moon stone,"" is probably a writing simplification.