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Cura x Cura

Hua Chong Wan化虫丸

Dissolve Parasites Pill

Expelling Parasites 驱虫剂

Ingredients5 herbs

苦Ku Lian Gen Pi苦楝根皮equal part with the other chief herbs君 ChiefThe principal parasiticide — toxic and hepatotoxic, limited to 3–6 g and avoided in liver disease鹤He Shi鹤虱equal part with the other chief herbs君 ChiefKills several kinds of intestinal parasite — slightly toxic, limited to 3–9 g槟Bing Lang槟榔equal part with the other chief herbs臣 DeputyKills parasites and drives qi downward so they are passed out; limited to 3–10 g枯Ku Fan枯矾（白矾煅）one quarter of the chief herbs' weight佐 AssistantDries damp in the intestines and is classically said to make the environment hostile to worms; internal use only in very small amounts
胡Qian Fen (Hu Fen)胡粉（铅粉）historical only — omitted from every modern preparation佐 AssistantLead carbonate, used in the Song original; a cumulative neurotoxin with no safe internal dose and never used today

Indications

Kills and expels intestinal parasitesMoves qi downward to drive the parasites outRelieves the abdominal pain that parasites causeDries damp in the intestines

Intestinal parasites obstructing the qi dynamic of the intestines, the classical excess-pattern picture: pain that recurs around the navel and eases between attacks, with signs of malnourishment developing over time.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Classical intestinal parasite patterns with periumbilical pain
  • Gnawing abdominal pain that comes and goes
  • Appetite that is either excessive or absent, with weight loss
  • Sallow complexion and dull eyes in a child
  • Worms seen in the stool
TonguePale with a white or greasy coating; classical texts also describe white spots on the face and inner lips
PulseIrregular in strength during attacks; often wiry

Health Categories

Digestive HealthSkin HealthImmune Support

Modern Applications

AscariasisEnterobiasisHookworm infectionTaeniasisIntestinal parasitesAbdominal pain

Common adjustments

  • Constipation with the accumulation — add Da Huang 大黄 to carry the parasites out — a practitioner's decision
  • Marked deficiency, thin and weak — the parasiticides are reduced and Spleen tonics such as Bai Zhu 白术 are given first
  • Severe abdominal pain — add Bai Shao 白芍 with Gan Cao 甘草
  • Any modern preparation — (lead carbonate) is omitted entirely — lead has no safe internal dose

Contraindications

Contraindicated in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Contraindicated in liver disease because Ku Lian Pi is hepatotoxic, and not used in the frail, the very young or the elderly without close supervision. (lead carbonate) is not used at all. The dose ceilings are absolute rather than advisory — Ku Lian Pi 3–6 g, He Shi 3–9 g, Bing Lang 3–10 g — and the course is short, with the formula stopped as soon as the treatment ends. Severe abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, vomiting that will not stop or signs of obstruction require emergency medical care, not a herbal prescription.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Ku Lian Pi is toxic and hepatotoxic, Bing Lang drives qi strongly downward, He Shi is graded slightly toxic and traditionally prohibited in pregnancy, and lead in the historical crosses the placenta. Parasitic infection in pregnancy is managed by a physician, because antiparasitic drug choice and timing during pregnancy is a medical decision.

References

Source Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang 《太平惠民和剂局方》 · Song

  1. 《太平惠民和剂局方》(classical source, public domain) — the historical composition, including the lead-containing 胡粉 now omitted.
    2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
    3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.
    4. 《中华人民共和国药典》(2020 ed.) — dose ceilings and toxicity gradings for 苦楝皮, 鹤虱, 槟榔 and 白矾.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.