Zi Yun Gao (Purple Cloud Ointment)

What It Is

Zi Yun Gao (紫雲膏, “Purple Cloud Ointment”) is a classical Chinese herbal salve used externally for damaged skin. The classical base formula contains

• Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root)
• Zi Cao (Arnebia or Lithospermum root — gives the purple color)
• Bai Ji (Bletilla rhizome)
• with the herbs extracted into sesame oil and then thickened with beeswax; additional herbs are sometimes added in modern commercial versions.

It is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics and in East Asian households for burns, irritant dermatitis, hemorrhoids, fissures, perineal tears, and other non-infected skin lesions.

How It Works

From a TCM mechanism view:

• Zi Cao clears “heat/toxin” in the skin and generates new tissue.
• Dang Gui nourishes and moves blood to accelerate wound repair and reduce scar formation.
• Bai Ji astringes to stop oozing and supports epithelialization.
• Oil + wax provide an occlusive barrier reducing transepidermal water loss and protecting the lesion from friction.

From a biomedical perspective (based on constituents and observed effects):

• Anti-inflammatory: naphthoquinones in Zi Cao reduce inflammatory mediators.
• Antimicrobial: sesame oil + herbal compounds suppress certain bacteria on the wound surface.
• Moist wound healing: the ointment keeps the wound bed moist and protected — a known factor improving re-epithelialization vs drying/scab formation.
• Barrier + analgesic support: the occlusive layer reduces nerve exposure and friction-based pain.

Why It’s Important

Zi Yun Gao occupies a useful niche wherever you want gentle, topical, non-steroidal, non-systemic support for skin repair without drying the lesion. It is particularly valued in:

• Acute burns (superficial and partial-thickness) to cool, reduce inflammatory injury, and speed closure
• Chronic dermatitis/fissures where barrier impairment perpetuates a flare cycle
• Post-procedure wound care (e.g., laser, perineal tear after childbirth) where steroid use may be undesirable
• Hemorrhoids/fissures where local inflammation + friction drive pain and slowing of repair

Its role is not just symptomatic relief — it modifies the conditions of the wound (moisture, inflammation, micro-environment) that determine healing speed and scar quality.

Considerations

1) Stop if signs of infection appear

It is occlusive. If the wound becomes hot, rapidly more painful, very red, or produces foul discharge, the ointment can trap exudate — discontinue and switch to evaluation or antimicrobial care.

2) Sterility matters for burns

Do not apply unsterile product to open or complicated burns. For larger burns, first aid (cool running water 20 min) and medical triage come before ointments.

3) Allergy and sensitization risk

Beeswax, sesame oil, and botanicals can trigger hypersensitivity. Discontinue if dermatitis worsens after application.

4) Do not use on deep or ischemic wounds without guidance

Purple Cloud is suited for superficial/partial-thickness, well-perfused, clean wounds. Deep, diabetic, or vascularly compromised wounds require different protocols.

5) Interference with procedures

Because it is dark and occlusive, it can obscure wound bed inspection by clinicians. Remove fully before evaluation.

6) Quality variation

Commercial versions vary in base oils, herb ratios, solvent residues, and heavy metal/herb adulteration risk. Medical-grade or reputable TCM pharmacy sources are preferred.