Blood-Activating Ointment，*Selected Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Beijing*.，For contusions and bruises, boils, abscesses, and carbuncles—whether already ruptured or not—characterized by severe redness, swelling, and protrusion; those that have become ulcerated over time; and those that have failed to heal for a long period.
Blood-Activating Ointment
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All references in this article to TCM syndrome differentiation, herbal medicines, teas, and decoctions are intended to promote TCM culture and are provided solely for educational and reference purposes.
Formulas Name : Blood-Activating Ointment
Chinese Name : 活血膏
Drug Formulation
4 qian of mercuric oxide, 1 qian of red powder, 4 qian of ground frankincense, 4 qian of ground myrrh, 2 qian of ground catechu, 4 qian of ground dragon’s blood, 2 liang of orpiment, 2 liang of beeswax, 2 qian of human hair, 2 qian of snake shed, 8 liang of sesame oil, 2 fen of musk, and 1 qian of borneol.
Source
*Selected Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Beijing*.
Processing
First, grind the six ingredients—mercury oxide, red powder, frankincense, myrrh, catechu, and dragon’s blood—into a fine powder and sift through a sieve; grind the musk and borneol into an extremely fine powder and mix thoroughly. Place the sesame oil in a ladle, heat until boiling, then add the snake shed andand the two ingredients made from human hair. Fry until charred, remove the residue, and filter. Slowly sprinkle in the orpiment and beeswax while stirring constantly. Once the mixture turns black, add the fine powder mixture of the six ingredients (including bismuth subnitrate), stir until uniform, and remove from heat for a moment. Separately, mix the fine powder of musk and borneol until uniform, then pour the mixture into a basin of cold water to neutralize the heat toxicity. Form into an ointment, with each box weighing 5 qian.
Benefits
For contusions and bruises, boils, abscesses, and carbuncles—whether already ruptured or not—characterized by severe redness, swelling, and protrusion; those that have become ulcerated over time; and those that have failed to heal for a long period.
Instructions for Use
Apply to the affected area.
Copyright: Excerpt from *Selected Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine from Beijing*., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 25, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 25, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 25, 2026
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Blood-Activating Ointment,For contusions and bruises, boils, abscesses, and carbuncles—whether already ruptured or not—characterized by severe redness, swelling, and protrusion; those that have become ulcerated over time; and those that have failed to heal for a long period.