Medicinally alum, also known as aluminum potassium sulfate and Ming Fan, is a Chinese mineral medicine that can be applied topically or taken internally. Actually alum crystals once meant so much to Chinese breakfast table. This is all because of one popular morning snack called Youtiao (fried breadstick). This is kind of deep-fried dough that is elongated, twisted, hollow, and golden-brown. For people there, twisted cruller and soy milk or plain porridge is a perfect match for breakfast. The secret of this crunchy chewy temptation actually comes from the leavening agent used – the alum. Clinically, it is widely used for many ailments, among which athletic foots, unpleasant body odor, and mouth sores are the most common three ones. And people usually buy alum in local grocery store there.

Medicinally it is mainly processed and refined from alunite, one type of sulfate mineral. It contains mainly potassium aluminum sulfate [KAl(SO4)2?12H2O]. And other name of this mineral medicine include Alumen, Bai Fan, Ku Fan, Alumen mineral, alum herb, aluminum potassium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, alum powder, powdered alum, Alunite, white alum, and so on. In China, alunite is mainly produced in Anhui, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Hubei and other places. It can be mined all year round. After the mining, dissolve it in water, filter, heat and concentrate the filtrate, and let it cool down and crystalize. And the crystals are the desired alum. It is normally used raw or calcined. And the calcined one is called Ku Fan.

ALUM HEALTH BENEFITS 
Long gone are the days when alum was frequently used in cooking. But it is gaining more and more popularity on body odor removal. As a matter of fact, it was first used as antiperspirant by Romans. And later years of use has made it also a reliable deodorant in underarm odor remedies. The mechanism behind is that it can effectively prevent the propagation of bacteria and reduce perspiration by keeping the skin pH low. Similarly, it also works for fungal infection toes or extreme athlete’s foot. What’s more, clinically it is widely used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, such as hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, chronic otitis media, tinea capitis, hydrocele, infectious hepatitis, chronic dysentery, hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis, the ulcer of stomach and duodenum, manic psychosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in burn wounds, epilepsy, canker sores, acne, cold sores, etc.

Alum

ALUM FORMULAS ON HERBAL REMEDIES
The Chinese Materia Medica shows that it is sour in flavor and astringent, cold and toxic in nature. It enters meridians of lung, spleen, liver, large intestine, and bladder. Main functions are dispelling phlegm, eliminating dampness, relieving internal heat, and killing parasites. Basic alum block uses and indications include stroke, epilepsy, pharyngitis, scabies, eczema, carbuncle-abscess, pyogenic infections, burn due to hot liquid or fire, tongue and mouth sores, blepharitis ciliaris, acute or chronic suppurative ear disease, nasal polyp, hemorrhoid pain, Metrorrhagia and Metrostaxis, Epistaxis, bleeding injury, prolonged diarrhea and dysentery, morbid leucorrhea, Pruritus Vulvae, prolapse of anus, and uterine prolapse. Recommended dosage is from 0.6 to 1.5 grams in internal use.

1. Bai Jin Wan from Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang (Prescriptions for Universal Relief). It is coupled with Yu Jin (Tumeric Tuber) to treat manic depression due to sputum blocking pericardium;

2. Hua Tan Wan from Wei Sheng Za Xing (Spontaneous Thought on Hygiene). It is used with fine tea dust to treat wind-phlegm epilepsy.

3. Fan Shi Wan from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet). It is combined with Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) to cure inhibited menstrual flow and white vaginal discharge.