What are the effects of alum?

Many people may be familiar with alum. It is an irregular crystalline block with a glass-like luster and is almost translucent in color. It is a mineral Chinese medicine and is used in many aspects clinically. Alum can be used externally to kill insects and relieve itching. It can also be taken internally to help stop bleeding, prevent and treat diarrhea, treat epilepsy, mouth sores, hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse and nasal polyps, etc. It can be said that it has a variety of uses.

What is alum?

Alum is a crystal formed by processing and refining the mineral alum stone. The main chemical component is potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate. Mineral Chinese medicine, external use can detoxify, kill insects, dry dampness and relieve itching; internal use can stop bleeding, stop diarrhea and resolve phlegm. Indications: stroke; epilepsy; throat paralysis; scabies and eczema; carbuncle and swelling; burns from water or fire; mouth and tongue ulcers; ulcers and eye ulcers; pus from the ear; nasal polyps; pain from hemorrhoids; metrorrhagia; epistaxis; bleeding from injuries; chronic diarrhea and dysentery; leucorrhea and vulvar itching; rectal prolapse; uterine prolapse, etc. Alum is sour and astringent in nature, cold, slightly toxic, and can be eaten in small amounts. Therefore, it has antibacterial and astringent effects, and can be used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Grind alum and soak your feet in water with a ratio of 10:90 twice a week to treat athlete's foot. Melt alum with fire, grind it into foam, and apply it to the armpits to remove body odor (it cannot cure body odor).

Pharmacological Action

1. Antibacterial effect: It has inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus (test tube method). It also has obvious inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus anthracis, Shigella dysenteriae (French, Shigella), Salmonella typhi, Bacillus paratyphi A, Proteus, as well as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans (paper disc and plate method); it has the strongest effect on viridans streptococci, hemolytic streptococci, pneumococci and diphtheria cortisone; it has the second strongest effect on bovine Brucella, Bordetella pertussis and meningococci, and has no effect on influenza bacilli (paper disc method). High concentration alum solution also has an inhibitory effect on human (H37RV) and bovine tuberculosis bacteria.

2. Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis effect: 10% alum solution in a test tube (the ratio of culture medium to drug solution is 1:1) has a significant anti-Trichomonas vaginalis effect.

3. The effect of coagulating protein: Alum has a strong effect of coagulating protein. When a few drops of alum water are added to the serum, it can be seen that the substances immediately combine to form insoluble substances and precipitate. Low concentrations have astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects, while high concentrations can cause tissue ulceration. Due to its high irritation when taken internally, it is generally only used externally.

4. Choleretic effect: Intraduodenal administration of 0.6g/kg alum significantly increased the bile flow in anesthetized rats.

5. Local irritation: The local irritation is very strong. Local injection of 0.3-0.5ml of 15% solution will make the rabbit manic and restless, with local swelling and ulceration. Intravenous injection of 0.3ml will cause the rabbit to shiver and breathe rapidly, and the peripheral blood vessels will turn purple and show hypoxia.

6. Other effects: Alum has an astringent effect and is very irritating when taken internally. Therefore, in addition to being used for lead colic, it is generally used externally. It can stop sweating and harden the skin (especially the feet); it can also be used for excessive leucorrhea and ulcers (at a concentration of 1-5%). If used in binding membrane, it needs to be made into an albumin binder. In addition, it can be used to stop bleeding by placing an alum stick or powder directly on the bleeding point. For example, in case of nosebleed, you can use a cotton ball soaked in alum solution to plug the nostrils.