Shiny Prickly Ash Powder (Zanthoxylum Nitidum)

Shiny Prickly Ash Powder (Zanthoxylum nitidum) is the finely milled root and stem bark of a potent aromatic herb traditionally used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Liáng Miàn Zhēn (两面针). Known for its strong pain-relieving, blood-invigorating, toxin-resolving, and wind-damp–dispelling properties, this herb has long been used for oral discomfort, toothache, sore gums, traumatic injury, and inflammatory swellings. Its nature is bitter, pungent, and warm, with a penetrating action that helps move qi and blood, relieve pain, and clear localized heat and toxin.

In TCM, Liang Mian Zhen enters the Liver and Stomach channels, where it helps promote circulation, alleviate sharp or fixed pain, disperse swelling, and reduce inflammation. It is especially known for its ability to relieve dental and oral pain, making it a popular remedy for toothache, gum swelling, and mouth sores. It is also used for joint discomfort, traumatic bruising, abdominal pain from qi stagnation, and wind-damp obstruction. Its warm, aromatic nature helps open the collaterals, allowing qi and blood to flow freely.

In folk herbal practice, Shiny Prickly Ash is often used both internally and externally. Powdered forms are applied as pastes or washes to soothe swelling, insect bites, topical infections, and localized pain, while decoctions help ease digestive stagnation, abdominal fullness, or epigastric discomfort due to qi obstruction.

Modern research shows that Zanthoxylum nitidum contains alkaloids, lignans, flavonoids, and essential oils with strong analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and circulation-enhancing effects. These bioactive compounds support its classical use for pain relief, oral health, anti-swelling actions, and microcirculation improvement.

Each batch of Shiny Prickly Ash Powder (Zanthoxylum nitidum) is carefully processed to preserve its aromatic warmth, fine texture, and strong dispersing activity. When used in decoctions or applied externally, it produces a pungent, warming, circulation-promoting preparation traditionally used to relieve localized pain, reduce swelling, move qi and blood, and clear toxin-related inflammation.