Yunnan Baiyao

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Yunnan Baiyao (Simplified Chinese: 云南白药, Traditional Chinese: 雲南白藥) also known as Yunnan Paiyao is a hemostatic powdered medicine famous for being carried by the Vietcong to stop bleeding during the Vietnam War. ^[1] The medicine, developed by Qu Huangzhang in 1902, is designated as one of two Class-1 protected traditional medicines, which gives it 20 years protection. In China, its reputation is equal to that of penicillin in the U.S.^[2] It is founded and manufactured by an state-owned enterprise, Yunnan Baiyao Group (SZSE: 000538) in Yunnan, China.

The inventor was a Chinese from Jiangchuan County in Yunnan Province, and had set out to explore the entire region and taste its hundreds of herbs. In 1902 he formulated "Qu Huanzhang Panacea" which became Yunnan Baiyao ("White powder from Yunnan")^[3]In the massive Taierzhuang Battle of 1938 (between Chinese and Japanese forces), Mr. Qu Huanzhang donated more than 30,000 bottles of Yunnan Baiyao to the army, thereby saving the lives of many soldiers.

As an indication of its value, it is noted that during the 1940s, army commander Wu Xuexian was seriously injured in his right leg. The French hospital in Kunming (capital of Yunnan) recommended amputation to save Wu's life. Mr. Wu turned to Mr. Qu for help, and to everyone's surprise, recovered without the need for an amputation. Yunnan Baiyao gained the reputation as a miracle remedy. After the death of Mr. Qu, his wife, Liao Lanying, donated the secret prescription to the government.^[4]

Although its main ingredients are steamed and raw Sanqi (Tienchi ginseng, Notoginseng roots of Panax pseudoginseng) used to normalize blood flow, enhance poor circulation and heal internal bleeding in injuries and bleeding ulcers, and Rhizoma Dioscoreae ^[5], The two tienchi ginsengs are combined with astringent herbs that absorb excess bleeding, invigorate the blood and enhance healing including myrrh and “dragon’s blood” another resinous herb for internal bleeding.^[6] Its exact formula is a closely guarded secret. The company website mentions that progesterone has been analyzed from the formula, several saponins, alkaloids and the pharmacologically active compound calcium phosphate. ^[7] However the progesterone may not exist in that state provided that the formula is still the traditional formula since Dioscorea requires laboratory alteration to become progesterone. ^[8]The separate herbal ingredients are reportedly made up by thirteen separate teams, none of whom have any knowledge of the ingredients the other teams are mixing. The individual mixed components are then combined by a further team, who have no knowledge of what constitutes them but knows the proportions in which they are combined. The formula is so closely guarded that only one copy of it reportedly exists – locked in the safe of the General commanding the Chinese armed forces.^[9]