Formula 70 Ointment Developed by Anhui Provincial Hospital for Radiation Dermatitis
Anhui Provincial Hospital (the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China) developed a hospital preparation called "Formula 70 Ointment" in 1970. The composition and preparation method are: nuzhen (Ligustrum lucidum) leaves 250g, sesame oil 500g, yellow wax (9g in summer, 7.5g in winter). The sesame oil and Ligustrum leaves are placed together in an iron pot and decocted. After the Ligustrum leaves become charred, they are removed; yellow wax is added. Once the yellow wax melts, the mixture is poured into an iron bucket to cool into an ointment for later use.
According to the records of Dr. Zhu Yongxian from this hospital, Formula 70 Ointment has been used externally at their hospital to treat burns, radiation skin damage in tumor patients, ulcers of the lower extremities or those caused by skin diseases, infection from trauma, insect dermatitis, and hemorrhoids, all with a certain degree of efficacy. In addition, Dr. Wu Xiangshan of the hospital added an appropriate amount of borneol (Borneol) to Formula 70 Ointment and had patients slowly swallow it to treat esophagitis; it could also eliminate esophagitis symptoms.
The Formula 70 Ointment recipe was also introduced on page 38 of the first issue of Henan Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1983; the preparation method and uses are consistent with the above. Dr. Zhu recorded that when oncology patients at Anhui Provincial Hospital developed skin damage during radiotherapy, Formula 70 Ointment was mostly applied externally. Generally, degree 1 skin damage caused by radiotherapy healed in an average of 10 days after medication.
The Ligustrum leaves used in Formula 70 Ointment are the leaves of Ligustrum lucidum of the Oleaceae family, also known as holly leaves. The fruit of Ligustrum is called nuzhenzi (Ligustrum fruit), a commonly used TCM herb for supplementing the liver and kidney. Besides nuzhenzi, Ligustrum leaves, roots, and bark can all be used medicinally.
Ligustrum leaves have the effects of improving cardiovascular function, suppressing cough, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action, and lowering serum alanine aminotransferase. Injections made from Ligustrum leaves have a certain effect on coronary heart disease and angina pectoris; decoctions of Ligustrum leaves can also treat pediatric pneumonia and acute bacillary dysentery.
Ligustrum leaves have a long history of treating burns and skin damage caused by skin diseases. The Ming Dynasty Prescriptions for Universal Relief (Pu Ji Fang) records that burning Ligustrum leaves into ash or extracting the juice and applying it to the affected area can treat vitiligo and also eliminate scars caused by skin diseases.
Formula 70 Ointment uses Ligustrum leaves as the main ingredient. Although sesame oil and yellow wax in the formula are mainly excipients, they also have a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on skin-damaging diseases. Yellow wax in particular is very effective in repairing skin ulcers.
Formula 70 Ointment has the effects of clearing heat and reducing inflammation, moisturizing the skin, and promoting tissue regeneration. Its mechanism is related to its antibacterial action. To confirm the antibacterial effect of Formula 70 Ointment, Anhui Provincial Hospital once conducted experiments: at a 512-fold dilution, Formula 70 Ointment was extremely sensitive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus, and Staphylococcus aureus.