Can Fengyoujing be taken orally?
Under normal circumstances, it is not recommended to ingest essential balm. The specific analysis is as follows:
Essential balm mainly contains ingredients such as menthol, methyl salicylate, camphor, eucalyptus oil, and eugenol. Among these, components like camphor, eucalyptus oil, and eugenol may irritate the gastrointestinal tract when taken orally and could produce certain toxic effects, posing risks to health. Moreover, essential balm has a strong, pungent odor and taste; ingestion may cause discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which are detrimental to recovery. Therefore, essential balm is intended for external use only. Oral intake does not conform to proper medication guidelines and may lead to adverse reactions, so it is generally not recommended.
Patients are advised to use essential balm appropriately under the guidance of a physician, avoiding unsupervised use that might lead to adverse effects, thus ensuring safe and proper medication use. Additionally, patients should follow the product instructions, applying it topically to acupoints such as the temples, philtrum, or finger joints to help relieve symptoms like headaches or motion sickness.