Gou pi gao
Encyclopedia
Gou Pi Gao is a medicinal herbal plaster that is often used in Chinese medicine. Gou Pi Gao, translated word for word, literally means dog skin plaster, which is indicative of its history.
In recent years, the plaster has changed quite drastically. Instead of herbs being smeared on patches of dog skin, patches of linen and fabric are used, due to the fact that dog skin is much more expensive and hard to obtain (animal rights
). In addition, modern chemicals are often added to the adhesive "herbal" mixture on the plaster, including ingredients such as menthol and camphor.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the herbs used to make the paste of Gou Pi Gao include Radix Aconiti (生川乌), Radix Aconiti Preparata (制川乌), Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii (羌活), Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (独活), Caulis Sinomenii (青风藤), Cortex Periplocae (香加皮), Radix Saposhnikoviae (防风), Radix Smilacis (土茯苓), Rhizoma Atractylodis (苍术), Fructus Cnidii (蛇床子), Herba Ephedrae (麻黄), Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum (高良姜), Fructus Foeniculi (小茴香), Cortex Ramuli Cinnamomi (桂枝), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (当归), Radix Paeoniae Rubra (赤芍), Fructus Chaenomelis (木瓜), Lignum Sappan (苏木), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (大黄), Radix Dipsaci (续断), Rhizoma Chuanxiong (川芎), Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (白芷), Olibanum (乳香), Myrrha (没药), Borneolum Syntheticum (冰片), Camphora (樟脑), Flos Caryophylli (丁香), and Cortex Cinnamomi (桂皮).
and tendon
pains, caused by muscle sprains, tears, rheumatism
, tendinitis and various other conditions. The adhesive plaster is applied to the area in pain, and left on for 3–5 hours (preferably with heat treatment in order to increase the medicine's effectiveness). Afterwards, it is removed, and the skin is left to rest for 2–3 hours, after which the Gou Pi Gao is reapplied.
However, Gou Pi Gao should only be used properly. It is an external plaster, and ingesting it may result in various complications (and one should contact a poison control center immediately upon ingestion). Certain medical conditions, such as pregnancy, may result in a higher risk factor in taking the medicine, and one should contact his/her doctor to prevent the risk of complications. Gou Pi Gao may also aggravate skin allergies caused by dermatitis
. In addition, it may result in stains or smells.
History
Gou Pi Gao was traditionally literally a dog skin plaster, with herbal medicines smeared onto a dog skin. It has been used for thousands of years, and used to treat various diseases. Various herbs are used in the plaster, and the plaster is adhesive.In recent years, the plaster has changed quite drastically. Instead of herbs being smeared on patches of dog skin, patches of linen and fabric are used, due to the fact that dog skin is much more expensive and hard to obtain (animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
). In addition, modern chemicals are often added to the adhesive "herbal" mixture on the plaster, including ingredients such as menthol and camphor.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the herbs used to make the paste of Gou Pi Gao include Radix Aconiti (生川乌), Radix Aconiti Preparata (制川乌), Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii (羌活), Radix Angelicae Pubescentis (独活), Caulis Sinomenii (青风藤), Cortex Periplocae (香加皮), Radix Saposhnikoviae (防风), Radix Smilacis (土茯苓), Rhizoma Atractylodis (苍术), Fructus Cnidii (蛇床子), Herba Ephedrae (麻黄), Rhizoma Alpiniae Officinarum (高良姜), Fructus Foeniculi (小茴香), Cortex Ramuli Cinnamomi (桂枝), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (当归), Radix Paeoniae Rubra (赤芍), Fructus Chaenomelis (木瓜), Lignum Sappan (苏木), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (大黄), Radix Dipsaci (续断), Rhizoma Chuanxiong (川芎), Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (白芷), Olibanum (乳香), Myrrha (没药), Borneolum Syntheticum (冰片), Camphora (樟脑), Flos Caryophylli (丁香), and Cortex Cinnamomi (桂皮).
Treatment
Gou Pi Gao can be used to treat primarily muscleMuscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
and tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
pains, caused by muscle sprains, tears, rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, tendinitis and various other conditions. The adhesive plaster is applied to the area in pain, and left on for 3–5 hours (preferably with heat treatment in order to increase the medicine's effectiveness). Afterwards, it is removed, and the skin is left to rest for 2–3 hours, after which the Gou Pi Gao is reapplied.
However, Gou Pi Gao should only be used properly. It is an external plaster, and ingesting it may result in various complications (and one should contact a poison control center immediately upon ingestion). Certain medical conditions, such as pregnancy, may result in a higher risk factor in taking the medicine, and one should contact his/her doctor to prevent the risk of complications. Gou Pi Gao may also aggravate skin allergies caused by dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
. In addition, it may result in stains or smells.