Traditional Chinese medicine has many secrets, but one of the most closely guarded is the formula for Yunnan Baiyao. For a long time, the ingredients of this legendary remedy, used to stop bleeding and heal wounds, remained a state secret. However, part of the composition was made public on American websites and in FDA documents — and the information surprised many.
Why the formula was considered secret
Developed in 1902 by Qi Huangzhang from Yunnan, Yunnan Baiyao is officially protected by Chinese law as a state secret. Its production is strictly regulated, and the ingredients were not listed on the packaging in China.
Leak through the US
In 2002, Yunnan Baiyao was sold in the US as a dietary supplement. According to FDA requirements for such drugs, the composition must be disclosed — and thanks to this, the data was published and became available to the public.
Detailed ingredients are also available in the product listings on Amazon and on the Yunnan Baiyao USA website.
What’s inside?
Among the active ingredients listed in American sources are:
- Radix Notoginseng (pseudo-ginseng, Panax pseudoginseng) – ~200 mg;
- Ajuga forrestii – ~85 mg;
- Rhizoma Dioscoreae Nipponicae – ~57.5 mg;
- Herba Geranii & Erodii – ~36 mg;
- Dioscoreae Parviflora Ting – ~30 mg;
- Inula cappa – ~25 mg;
- Borneol (synthetic or camphor healer).
Additionally, the formulas contain camphor, menthol, galangal, mint leaves, camphor crystal, myrrh, dragon’s blood, and other auxiliary herbal components.
The Chinese side is against double standards
Official representatives of the Yunnan Baiyao Group claim that disclosure of the composition in the US is not a contradiction, since the ingredients are “only communicated to regulatory authorities” and “ingredients ≠ formula.” In China, it is the recipe that is protected: proportions, processing, and the manufacturing process.
Why this is important
- Transparency: disclosure of the composition in foreign markets allows consumers to know what they are taking.
- Safety: Poisonous ingredients such as aconite are often found in the composition and require clear registration and control.
- Scientific basis: Active substances such as pseudo-ginseng and borneol have been proven by research to be effective in treating bleeding and inflammation.
Conclusion
- The formula was originally kept completely secret in China since 1902 and protected as a state secret.
- The composition was disclosed in American sources (FDA, Amazon, Yunnan Baiyao USA), where a list of active ingredients was made public.
- The Chinese side insists that only the production technology is kept secret, not the ingredients themselves.
- The active ingredients — pseudo-ginseng, borneol, and dioscorea — have been scientifically proven to have hemostatic and wound-healing properties.
