Alum Classic Formulas — Natural Herb Library

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Dries Dampness and stops discharge — diarrhea, dysentery, leucorrhea, and excessive sweating from Damp accumulation; astringent sulfate ions contract mucous membranes and reduce pathological secretions
Resolves toxicity and kills parasites — scabies, tinea, eczema, and dermatophyte infections; topical application creates strongly antiseptic, desiccating environment hostile to fungi and bacteria
Stops bleeding — hematemesis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and uterine bleeding from Heat forcing Blood out of vessels; astringent hemostatic action on bleeding mucous membranes
Transforms Phlegm and opens orifices — epilepsy, convulsions, and phlegm obstruction of the Heart orifices; classical pairing with Zhu Dan (pig bile) for phlegm-type epilepsy

Bai Fan San (白矾散) — classical formula for Phlegm-type epilepsy; Bai Fan combined with Zhu Dan (pig bile) as pill; pungent dispersing of Phlegm obstruction in the Heart orifice; one of the earliest documented therapeutic uses of alum in TCM
Er Miao San variant (二妙散加白矾) — topical powder for Damp-Heat skin conditions: Bai Fan added to Huang Bai and Cang Zhu for weeping eczema and tinea with Damp-Heat; desiccates the lesion and clears Damp-Heat

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: lists Fan Shi (矾石, alum stone) in the middle grade — 'sour, cold — clears Heat, dries Dampness, kills insects (parasites), stops the discharge of white matter; used externally for sores and internally for abdominal Heat-Damp patterns'
Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Bai Fan (white alum) — sour, cold, astringent; purges Heat-Fire, dries Dampness, kills worms, stops bleeding; distinguishes four types of alum (white, yellow, black, green); Bai Fan is the principal medicinal form; Ku Fan (枯矾, calcined/roasted alum) has greater astringency after loss of crystalline water — the calcined form is preferred for external use in sores and hemorrhoids'
MINERAL NOTE: Bai Fan (白矾) is potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate (KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O) — an inorganic mineral drug, not a plant herb. Ming Fan (明矾, herb #97) is the common market synonym for the same substance (Ming = 'clear/bright', referring to the transparent crystal); the XLSX source filed both names as separate entries. Ku Fan (枯矾) is the calcined form produced by heating to 100–200°C, removing crystalline water and increasing astringency; it is the preferred form for external use.