The Healing Benefits of Evil Bone Water

Evil Bone Water, or Zheng Xie Gu Shui, is an herbal liniment made with Chinese herbs to relieve pain and inflammation. It was created by Dr. Mark Brinson, an acupuncturist and herbalist from Georgia. Based on a 500 year old Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recipe initially intended to heal broken bones, his Evil Bone Water is made with the highest quality Empirical Chinese herbs for optimal healing. Evil Bone Water is known for its analgesic properties, as well as for soothing inflammation. This recipe is rooted in the martial arts tradition of China and is used to treat bumps and bruises from the practice, meaning Evil Bone Water is great for athletes to use to heal injuries.

Common Treatments

  • Sports and accidental injuries

  • Sprains

  • Muscle cramps

  • Insect bites

  • Tick repellant

  • Broken bones

  • Bruises

  • Inflammation

  • Carpal Tunnel

  • Arthritis

  • Mild topical anesthetic

  • Stop bleeding

  • Prevents Facial Staph

  • Antiviral and Antifungal

How to Use

  • Lightly moisten a cotton ball or gauze, or spray directly on the affected area if you have a spray nozzle.

  • You should experience relief fairly quickly and a numbing effect for around 45 minutes. Repeat 2-4x a day.

  • Do not apply to open wounds.

  • For topical use only. Do NOT ingest.

  • EBW changes skin permeability, meaning that it quickly penetrates the skinand also draws other things in with it. If you are using anything else topically, like essential oils, they will permeate the skin faster if used with EBW.

  • EBW can be used on the entire body or in foot baths, and again will enhance absorption of anything else used in the bath. If using a muscle soak formulated with magnesium and essential oils, the healing properties of the ingredients will reach the muscles faster when paired with EBW.

  • Bathe dogs in a bath with a small amount of EBW to repel ticks and soothe skin irritation.

Super Ingredients and their Benefits

  • San Qi (Notoginseng, Pseudoginseng): stops bleeding, reduces swelling, relieves pain.

  • Gui Pi (Cinnamon Bark): relaxes the muscles, promotes circulation, and warms channels.

  • E Zhu (Zedoary Rhizome, Rhizoma Curcumae): promotes the circulation of qi and blood, alleviates pain.

  • Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma): anti-inflammatory, decreases swelling, alleviates pain.

  • Hu Zhang (Knotweed Rhizome): invigorates blood and stops pain.

  • Bai Nui Dan (Inula Cappa DC): reduces joint pain, dispels wind, reduces dampness.

  • Qian Jin Ba (Philippine Flemingia Root): strengthens connective tissue, decreases inflammation, relieves arthritis and bone pain.

  • Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root, Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis): decreases inflammation, reduces swelling.

  • Zhang Nao (Camphor): topical analgesic, helps improve circulation.

  • Bo He Nao (Menthol): topical analgesic, cooling, heat clearing, and allows other herbs to permeate the skin.

Limitations and Contraindications

  • Since EBW is a topical analgesic, it works best for treating more surface level injuries or ailments than deep internal injuries or ailments.

  • EBW is considered broad-spectrum, but if you use it repeatedly enough and notice little effect, it might not be the proper treatment.

  • Do not use over sacrum or abdomen while pregnant.

  • Do not wrap in plastic and use as a compress

  • Is safe for use on children, but watch for irritation. Can be used on the face with care.

Resources

Brinson, Mark. “Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from http://podcast.tcmstudy.net/podcast/evil-bone-water.

Budiash, Elyse. “Evil Bone Water—Chinese Herbal Liniment Magic for Pain Relief”. Retrieved from https://www.cherryblossomhealingarts.com/chronic-and-acute-pain/evil-bone-water.

“Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from ttps://www.evilbonewater.com/.

“Evil Bone Water (Zheng Gu Shui) FAQ”. Retrieved from https://valleyhealthclinic.clarkfivedesign.opalstacked.com/evil-bone-water-zheng-gu-shui-faq/.

“Pain Relief: Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from https://theacupuncturistni.com/pain-relief/evil-bone-water.

“Stop Pain With Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from https://optimal-movement.com/evil-bone-water/.

Benefits of Chinese Foot Baths

Foot Baths are an Ancient Chinese practice of soaking your feet in hot water and herbs before bed each night. It is believed to have many health benefits, that of which change with the seasons. In Spring, foot baths tone the Yang (energy), and prevent the depletion of Qi (life force).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that if the human body were a tree, the head is the branches, the body is the trunk, and the feet are the roots, so in order to treat our illnesses, we must water our roots. Seeing as how one quarter of the body’s bones are in the feet, as well as 72,000 nerve endings and 6 meridians, it is important to consider and take care of our feet for overall well being.

Foot baths also increase circulation, which is highly beneficial in colder regions. Soaking your feet increases the heart rate the same way as exercising, which is helpful for those who are physically inhibited. Cardiovascular activity is essential for our body to process efficiently, so foot baths are highly effective for those with more sedentary lifestyles.

How to do at home:

There are several stages to the foot bath process, and the real healing begins after several baths. If one struggles with poor circulation, the first few baths might only warm the feet. After several baths, if circulation improves, one will feel the heat from the bath rising up the legs, through the body where one might feel an increase in heart rate, to the head. At this point, one may start sweating, and this signals the end of the bath session. To do this at home, follow the steps below.

1. Boil water to 104℉, or a comfortable temperature, with desired herbs

2. Pour liquid into foot bath- use any container that holds water and that your feet can fit in

3. Soak feet before bed for 20 minutes, or until you break a sweat

4. After soak, dry your feet and keep them warm

Common foot bath herbs:

Herbs, salts, and oils enter the bloodstream through the skin and affect our systems with their terpenes, alkaloids, and volatile oils. Their medicinal properties are only effective if there is significant blood circulation, which comes from the warmth of the bath opening the pores. Below is a list of herbs and salts to use for a soothing Spring bath soak:

  • Epsom Salt: alleviates constipation, relieves pain, reduces fatigue, improves sleep

  • Himalayan Salt: relieves pain

  • Ginger and Dandelion: good for flu relief

  • Mugwort: promotes blood circulation, relieves pain, soothes menstrual cramps, regulates qi

  • Chrysanthemum: anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, relieves stress, sadness, anger

  • Skullcap: relieves tension headaches

Conditions foot baths can treat:

  • Insomnia

  • Bunions and athlete’s foot

  • Colds

  • Eczema and other skin allergies

  • Joint pain

  • Heart disease

  • Menstruation

  • Alzheimer’s

  • Gastrointestinal disease

  • Kidney disease

  • Constipation

  • Sexual appetite

Long-term health benefits:

  • Reduce fatigue

  • Calm the mind and improve sleep quality

  • Lower blood pressure

  • Improve skin condition and beauty

  • Strengthen muscles and bones

  • Increase blood circulation

Do NOT do foot baths if:

  • You are pregnant

  • Have metastatic cancer

  • Have an active infection

  • Have a disease made worse with increasing circulation

  • Have had recent surgery/have an open wound

References:

“Benefits of a TCM Foot Bath”. Retrieved from https://www.susannekaufmann.com/blogs/journal/benefits-of-a-tcm-foot-bath.

“DIY Chinese herbal foot soak”. Retrieved from https://acupuncturefitzroy.com/2019/06/02/herbal-foot-soak/.

“History of the Foot Soak”. Retrieved from https://naturallylondon.com/blogs/from-feet-to-face/92107590-first-post.

“How Chinese Foot Baths Can Improve Your Health”. Retrieved from https://daoistgate.com/how-chinese-foot-baths-can-improve-your-health/.

“Treating Chronic Pain with Tibetan Foot Soaks”. Retrieved from https://valleyhealthclinic.com/tibetan-herbal-foot-soaks/.

“Why do Chinese people love foot bath?” Retrieved from https://wuhealing.com/blog/2020/9/16/why-do-chinese-people-love-foot-bath.