How Does Yunnan Baiyao Actually Work?

Are you interested in trying out Yunnan Baiyao to see if it works for you? This traditional Chinese medicine is marketed as a hemostatic product, which can be used for both humans and animals.

Yunnan Baiyao was developed by Qu Huanzhang from Yunnan Province. He set out to explore the area and study the herbs in the region. He formulated "Qu Huanzhang Panacea,” which later became Yunnan Baiyao in 1902. It is believed that he donated over 30,000 bottles of Yunnan Baiyao to the Chinese National Revolutionary Army to save the lives of numerous soldiers.

This herbal medication first gained its reputation as a miracle remedy when an army commander named Wu Xuexian, who was advised to have his leg amputated, turned to Qu for help. Qu recommended Yunnan Baiyao. To everyone’s surprise, the army commander recovered without needing amputation.

This herbal medication is valued highly in China that the exact ingredients of this medication remain as one of China’s state secrets. The original formula, however, is believed to contain various herbs including notoginseng, which is its major ingredient. This herb has hemostatic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory qualities. It also demonstrates anticoagulant properties.

The Uses of Yunnan Baiyao

Yunnan Paiyao is used to treat bleeding. It helps minimize blood loss and was historically used by soldiers to treat traumatic hemostatic injuries. In China, this medication is a go-to first aid treatment for small cuts or bruises. It has also been used in martial arts to help speed the healing of bruises and injuries.

Yunnan Baiyao is also believed to improve the blood’s clotting ability, disperses blood stasis, supports normal homeostasis, and activates blood circulation. It also provides relief from muscle and joint pain associated with arthritis, sprains, strains, backache, and bruises. Yunnan Baiyao showed anti-inflammatory effects, which help with arthritis.

It is effective in treating bleeding and ulcers in the uterus, colon, and skin. This also helps minimize potential blood loss in surgical procedures. It is also great in providing relief for frostbite.  It can also help promote healing.

This herbal medication also helps promote good oral health. It prevents the breakdown of bone tissues. There are also reports that Yunnan Baiyao also helps with decreasing blood loss in cancer patients. However, there are still no definite lab studies to prove this.

How Does Yunnan Baiyao Work?

Yunnan Baiyao activates blood circulation to the various regions of the body to stop any bleeding. The ingredients in this medication help remove toxins and reduce pain and inflammation. Since it contains natural ingredients, the medication is not addictive. 

It removes rapidly through areas of the body that it is applied to; and in the process, it removes toxins, debris, and dead body tissues without resulting in irreparable damage.

Is It Safe for Humans?

As with any medication especially a natural supplement, it is important to check with your physician first before use.  This is particularly important if you are taking any medication for any serious medical conditions.

It is not advisable to take this medication if you:

• Take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. Notoginseng stimulates further bleeding when it’s used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
• Take drugs, which are substrates of CYP1A2 and 2E1. The ingredients of Yunnan Baiyao, particularly Notoginseng saponins decrease the effects of these drugs.
• Take drugs that are substrates of Glutathione-S-transferase. Yunnan Baiyao increases the side effects of these drugs.
• Suffer from a bleeding disorder because the ingredients of Yunnan Baiyao increases the risk of bleeding.
• Are pregnant.

What are the Ingredients?

The exact formulation of Yunnan Paiyao is secret and obscure; although certain ingredients are already known and established. The herb sanqi (notoginseng) can be found in Yunnan Province, and it is traditionally used to stop bleeding. This ingredient is the principal anti-hemorrhage component of Yunnan Paiyao.

Other analyses of the medicine also showed that it contains saponins, geranium, borneol, and musk. The manufacturers of Yunnan Baiyao may get borneol from the plant Blumea balsamifera, which grows in Yunnan. Borneol helps open orifices, eliminate swelling, facilitate blood flow, and remove the pain.

Musk may be obtained from the dried sexual secretion of the musk deer, which is a native animal of Yunnan and other nearby provinces like Sichuan and Tibet. This ingredient helps open orifices, induce parturition, promote circulation, and stimulate blood circulation. Borneol and musk do not stop bleeding, but it helps with blood stasis and pain.

Further analysis of the medication suggested that the stop-bleeding capability of Yunnan Baiyao may have been due to the presence of nanofibers or microscopic plant fibers. This component stimulates platelet formation and aggregation.

Yunnan Baiyao can be taken in the form of 1-2 capsules, 4 times a day. For bleeding, the capsules are taken with warm water. For swelling to blood stasis, the medication is taken with a small amount of wine. The powder is applied topically for external bleeding.

How Long Is Treatment?

In many cases, this herbal medicine is used only for 2-4 days. However, some disorders or cases may need several days of treatment.  Generally, however, Yunnan Baiyao is not intended to be used for longer than 15 days. If the disorder needs longer treatment, you would probably need to switch to a different remedy and cease using Yunna Baiyao. Although it has been established that longer treatment might be harmful in any way, but Yunnan Baiyao is rarely used for a long or indefinite period.

Is Yunnan Baiyao Effective?

The clinical studies of Yunnan Baiyao between the period of 1986 to 1995 showed that this medication is a valuable treatment against injuries as well as surgical, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital disorders. Recent research by the Peking University confirmed the usefulness of Yunnan Baiyao in surgical applications.

The study showed that the administration of Yunnan Baiyao a few days before and immediately after surgery decreases the risk of bleeding during surgery and reduces swelling after surgery. The study also revealed that herbal medication did not trigger allergic reactions or clot formations.

Chinese literature has revealed that Yunnan Baiyao is regarded as an emergency remedy when severe bleeding occurs, and other remedies have failed. It is also a personal household remedy for bleeding in cases of accidents or injuries.