I first learned about Wan Hua Oil over 20 years ago when my seven-year old son ran into a doorpost. A huge lump immediately rose on his forehead above his right eyebrow, turning black and blue before my eyes. Thankfully, I was at a friend’s acupuncture clinic and he immediately pulled out a bottle of Wan Hua Oil and dabbed it on. Within 10 minutes the bump was nearly gone and the next day there was no bruising at all.
While arnica oil is similarly effective for bruising and trauma, Wan Hua Oil has many other applications. In fact, the name Wan Hua Oil means “Traumatic Injury Ten-Thousand Flowers Oil,” which may refer to its “thousands” of potential applications just as much as to its multiple flower ingredients.
I have used it on people with 20-year old lumps the size of a fist and seen it substantially soften and shrink over a couple of months. I’ve used it on people with severe bruising weeks after an accident when nothing else worked and had it clear the black and blue lumps. I even recently put it on my stubbed toe and felt the pain immediately recede and swelling diminish. As well, it is excellent for arthritis, aches, sprains, fractures and torn or inflamed ligaments with or without swelling and used on septic and necrotic infections following an open wound and on burns, even if they’re infected.
Wan Hua Oil is a type of dit dat jiao medicine used by folk and martial arts traditions. Like most of these liniments, it is loaded with Blood-moving herbs that also stop pain, such as tien qi, safflower, frankincense and myrrh, as well as drynaria to heal bones and some less well-known herbs that are hardly mentioned in various Chinese material medicas, such as emilia and pyrolusitum.
Wan Hua Oil ingredients (by Jing Xiu Tang Brand, Guangzhou Jing XiuTang Pharmaceutical Company Limited):
-
Wan Hua Oil Ingredients “” by the Jing Xiu Tang Brand, Guangzhou Jing XiuTang Pharmaceutical Company Limited:Carthamus (hong hua)7.25%Moutan (mu dan pi)1.81%Sparganii (san leng)3.62%Drynaria (gu sui bu)5.43%Ledebourella (fang feng)5.43%Gardenia (zhi zi)3.62%Clematidis (wei ling xian)5.43%Oleum eucalypti (an ye)5.43%Cortex Gossampini (mu mian hua)5.43%Hylote lepphir verticillati3.62%Radix Rumicis japonica (yang ti)5.43%Radix Berchemiae lineatae (tie bao jin)7.25%Flos Chimonanthi praecocis (la mei hua)5.43%Oleum Terebinthinae (ma you “” turpentine oil)13.04%In a base of plant oils21.78%
Carthamus (hong hua) 7.25%
- Moutan (mu dan pi) 1.81%
- Sparganii (san leng) 3.62%
- Drynaria (gu sui bu) 5.43%
- Ledebouriella (fang feng) 5.43%
- Gardenia (zhi zi) 3.62%
- Clematidis (wei ling xian) 5.43%
- Oleum eucalypti (an ye) 5.43%
- Cortex Gossampini (mu mian hua) 5.43%
- Hylote lepphir verticillati 3.62%
- Radix Rumicis japonica (yang ti) 5.43%
- Radix Berchemiae lineatae (tie bao jin) 7.25%
- Flos Chimonanthi praecocis (la mei hua) 5.43%
- Oleum Terebinthinae (ma you “” turpentine oil) 13.04%
- In a base of plant oils 21.78%
- Wintergreen (Note: This ingredient has JUST been added to the formula above, so this oil is no longer odorless! — edited 8/29/11)
Another incredible benefit of Wan Hua Oil is that it doesn’t contain strong-smelling herbs or oils as do most liniments, such as camphor. It is very mild and so may be used by those taking homeopathy. Because it is oil-based instead of alcohol-based, some use it on open wounds.
If your are not up to making this on your own, Wan Hua Oil may be purchased at Chinese herbal pharmacies or from our East West store. To apply, rub directly into the affected area two or three times a day. If desired, put on cotton first and then apply. For septic burns, apply to gauze and cover the affected area.
Cautions: Caution must be taken with those who have sensitive skin. Wan Hua oil should be removed if someone reacts with heat or itching. As well, avoid contact with the eyes and do not place over the lower abdomen and lumbar areas of pregnant women. Do bear in mind that Wan Hua Oil is oily and can stain; take necessary precautions for clothing and bedding (remove with rubbing alcohol).