Scar Tissue is the Body's Self-Protection Mechanism

When an area of the body is injured, the tissues react by strengthening their defenses, leading to the formation of hard scar tissue, similar to patching a hole. During the body's repair process, the tissue often cannot return to its original state, much like a rope that has broken and needs to be tied in a knot to reconnect—this knot is akin to the lump formed by a scar.

Scar tissue, or keloids, is not inherently a disease, but because the blood flow is often restricted due to the nodules, symptoms such as itching and redness can occur during rainy weather. Moreover, since scars can affect one's appearance, they are often undesirable.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment of Scars

The primary TCM approach to treating scars focuses on promoting blood circulation, unblocking the meridians, reducing swelling, and promoting skin regeneration. Two traditional formulas used by TCM practitioners are Tie Shan San (Iron Fan Powder) and Ji Bai San (Chicken White Powder).

Tie Shan San (Iron Fan Powder)

This powder is used for external injuries and is particularly effective for cuts, burns, and scalds. When applied to unhealed wounds, it accelerates healing and helps the skin return to its original state, with results often described as miraculous.

Formula: There are various versions of the formula passed down, but the one taught by my master goes as follows:

• Burnt Alum (Ku Fan), Pine Resin (Song Xiang), Aged Lime (Gu Shi Hui) – 10 parts each

• Dragon Bone (Long Gu), Elephant Skin (Xiang Pi) – 1 part each

• Coptis (Huang Lian) – for burns only, not for cuts

Burnt Alum is calcined white alum, known for its astringent properties that help to remove moisture and heal wounds. Pine Resin is the sap of pine trees, effective against abscesses and ulcers. Aged Lime is lime that has aged and transformed, used to remove dead flesh and promote healing. Dragon Bone, buried deep in the earth and enriched by its energy, helps to nourish the essence. Elephant Skin is the primary ingredient in this formula and promotes skin regeneration. Coptis is added when treating burns, first boiling it in water to wash the burn before applying the powder.

Preparation: Grind the ingredients into a fine powder, mix them, and store in a bottle for future use.

Ji Bai San (Chicken White Powder)

This powder is used for scars that have already healed but left marks.

Formula: The main ingredient is Chicken Manure White, with the mnemonic for the formula being:

• Two Whites, Three Insects, Five Galls, Moutan Bark, Ze Lan, and Clematis

Ingredients:

• Two Whites: Chicken Manure White and Hawk Manure White, both the white parts of the droppings. Chicken Manure White is obtained by feeding chickens with pork fat, resulting in whiter droppings.

• Three Insects: Centipede, Silkworm, and Booklice. Silkworm refers to the dried white silkworm, and Booklice refers to the white insect found in old books.

• Five Galls: Five Chinese Galls.

Preparation: Mix Chicken Manure White, Hawk Manure White, and Five Galls in equal parts (10 each), and the Three Insects (1 part each), grind them into a fine powder, and store in a bottle for future use.

Usage: To use, first rub the scar area with a cloth until it turns red, then apply the powder mixed with honey or pork fat. Start by applying it around the edges, and as the scar shrinks, gradually apply it to the entire scar. For typical scars, this treatment is sufficient. However, if the scar has hardened into a lump, first prepare a thick decoction using:

• 2 parts Clematis Root (Wei Ling Xian)

• 1 part each of Moutan Bark (Dan Pi) and Ze Lan

Use the decoction in combination with the paste for application.