Alum (Ming Fan) — Classic Formulas
Ming Fan · Alumen
Primary Actions
- Dries Dampness and stops discharge — excessive leucorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery, and sweating; astringent action through Al³⁺ ion binding to mucosal proteins; functionally identical to Bai Fan (herb #96) — same compound, same indications
- Resolves toxicity and kills parasites — external use for tinea, scabies, trichomonas vaginitis, and infected skin ulcers; topical antiseptic and antifungal
- Stops bleeding — haemostatic for haemoptysis, haematuria, and uterine bleeding from Heat patterns; astringent-cold action contracts bleeding surfaces
- Transforms Phlegm and opens orifices — combined with Zhu Dan for Phlegm-type epilepsy; classical two-herb formula Bai Fan San shared between both names
Classic Formulas
- Bai Fan San (白矾散) — Ming Fan combined with Zhu Dan (pig bile) for Phlegm-type epilepsy; Ming Fan is the common commercial market name used interchangeably with Bai Fan in pharmacy dispensing
- Ming Fan external wash — 3–5% Ming Fan solution used as topical soak or compress for tinea pedis, weeping eczema, and haemorrhoids; Ming Fan is the preferred name for topical preparations in contemporary Chinese pharmacy
Classical Text References
- SYNONYM NOTE: Ming Fan (明矾, 'bright/clear alum') is the standard commercial market name for potassium aluminum sulfate KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O in modern Chinese pharmacy and food industry — synonymous with Bai Fan (白矾, 'white alum', herb #96); both names refer to the same mineral drug Alumen; the XLSX source filed both as separate entries reflecting two commonly used names; in clinical dispensing they are interchangeable; Ming Fan is the name typically used on commercial packaging and in food applications (where alum was historically used as a baking leavener and food firming agent), while Bai Fan is more common in TCM materia medica texts
- Ben Cao Hui Yan (Ni Zhumo, 1624 CE): notes Ming Fan (明矾) as equivalent to Bai Fan in action — 'the name Ming (bright/clear) refers to the transparent crystals; the two names refer to the same stone with identical medicinal properties'