QICAOGANGMU Cream: A Deep Dive into Its Natural Ingredients
QICAOGANGMU ingredient research profile
QICAOGANGMU is a topical botanical cream built around five named ingredients: Cnidii Fructus 3%, Borneolum Syntheticum 2%, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix 1.5%, Stemonae Radix 0.5% and Menthol 0.5%. Each ingredient has a different traditional role and a different modern research profile.
Formula at a glance
| Ingredient | Concentration | Traditional context | What researchers found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cnidii Fructus | 3% | Traditionally associated with Dampness and itch | Osthole has antipruritic TRPV3 research; Cnidium extracts also have laboratory antifungal findings |
| Borneolum Syntheticum | 2% | Traditionally used in aromatic topical preparations | Human sensory research plus experimental penetration-enhancement work |
| Sophorae Flavescentis Radix | 1.5% | Traditionally associated with Damp-Heat and itching | Flavonoids and alkaloids show anti-inflammatory and psoriasis-related findings |
| Stemonae Radix | 0.5% | Traditional external-use herb | Isolated alkaloids have anti-inflammatory laboratory findings |
| Menthol | 0.5% | Cooling sensory ingredient | Activates TRPM8, the cold-sensing receptor involved in cooling sensation |
1. Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Ku Shen) - 1.5%
Ku Shen is one of the better-studied ingredients in the formula. Modern work has examined flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens for anti-inflammatory activity.
A 2024 study reported that selected compounds reduced inflammatory activity and improved psoriasis-like skin changes in experimental models. PMID 38358770
Kushenol F has also been studied in relation to TSLP signaling, a pathway relevant to inflammatory and allergic skin biology. PMID 36355519
What this means: Ku Shen has a substantial ingredient-level research base around inflammatory skin pathways.
2. Cnidii Fructus (She Chuang Zi) - 3%
She Chuang Zi is traditionally associated with itch and Dampness. Osthole, one of its best-known compounds, has been studied in itch models involving TRPV3.
In experimental research, osthole reduced scratching by inhibiting TRPV3 signaling. PMID 30108138
A separate study of Ku Shen and She Chuang Zi found complementary anti-itch mechanisms when the herb pair was studied together. PMC6151778
Cnidium extract has also shown antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum in laboratory research. PMC8417377
What this means: She Chuang Zi has both itch-related and antimicrobial research behind it, although the evidence type varies by study.
3. Borneolum Syntheticum - 2%
Borneol has a dual research profile: sensory effects and topical-delivery science.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human study, topical borneol produced significantly greater postoperative pain relief than placebo. The same research identified TRPM8 as an important molecular target. PMC5452010
Separate formulation research has examined borneol as a penetration enhancer for topical and transdermal delivery systems.
What this means: borneol is not only a traditional aromatic ingredient. It also has human sensory evidence and a modern formulation-science role.
4. Stemonae Radix (Bai Bu) - 0.5%
Stemonae Radix has traditional external-use history and a modern alkaloid research profile. Researchers isolated multiple alkaloids from Stemona tuberosa and tested them for anti-inflammatory activity.
Several compounds reduced inflammatory signals in laboratory cells, with some showing stronger activity than others. PMID 35295975
What this means: Stemona contains compounds with genuine anti-inflammatory laboratory findings that support continued research into its skin-relevant pharmacology.
5. Menthol - 0.5%
Menthol activates TRPM8, one of the body's cold-sensing ion channels. That receptor activation explains the familiar cooling sensation associated with menthol.
Human research using a different TRPM8 agonist cream found anti-itch effects in atopic dermatitis, supporting cooling receptors as a real target in itch research. PMID 30067875
What this means: cooling is not just a marketing description. It reflects a well-characterized sensory mechanism.
Why concentration matters
Listing the concentration of each named ingredient makes it easier to understand the formulation. A study on a purified compound does not automatically tell us what concentration is required in a finished cream, but concentration disclosure still improves transparency and allows readers to compare the formula with published research.
In this formula, Cnidii Fructus is present at the highest named botanical concentration at 3%, followed by Borneolum Syntheticum at 2% and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix at 1.5%. Stemonae Radix and Menthol are each declared at 0.5%.
How the ingredients fit together
The formula combines several research themes rather than relying on one mechanism:
- Inflammation: Ku Shen and Stemona contain compounds studied for anti-inflammatory activity.
- Itch pathways: She Chuang Zi and menthol connect to TRPV3 and TRPM8 sensory research.
- Topical sensory effects: borneol and menthol both interact with sensory pathways.
- Formulation science: borneol has been studied in penetration-enhancement systems.
- Antimicrobial research: Cnidium has laboratory antifungal findings against selected organisms.
Research themes across the formula
The five named ingredients cover several distinct research themes. That matters because a multi-ingredient topical is not built around one single biological pathway.
| Research theme | Relevant ingredients | What the research contributes | Practical interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammation | Ku Shen, Stemonae Radix | Experimental reductions in inflammatory signaling | Supports the anti-inflammatory research rationale of the formula |
| Itch pathways | She Chuang Zi, Menthol | TRPV3 and TRPM8 sensory-pathway research | Explains why these ingredients are relevant to itch and cooling research |
| Sensory effects | Borneol, Menthol | Human and mechanistic work on cooling and sensory pathways | Helps explain immediate sensory characteristics after topical use |
| Antimicrobial research | She Chuang Zi | Laboratory antifungal findings against selected organisms | Adds antimicrobial context to the ingredient profile |
Traditional TCM context
Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ku Shen and She Chuang Zi are commonly discussed in relation to itching and Damp-Heat or Dampness patterns, while Bai Bu has traditional external-use associations. These concepts belong to the TCM framework and can be presented alongside modern pharmacology without treating them as biomedical equivalents.
Ingredient transparency and testing
QICAOGANGMU's international formula declares Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Cnidii Fructus 3%, Borneolum Syntheticum 2%, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix 1.5%, Stemonae Radix 0.5% and Menthol 0.5%.
Independent laboratory testing can add another layer of transparency by showing which named substances were assessed in a specific batch and the detection limits used. See the Purity Assured page for the applicable test information.
Base ingredients: water, glycerin and petrolatum
The international formula also contains water, glycerin and petrolatum. These are not the headline botanical ingredients, but they matter to how the cream behaves on skin.
- Water: provides the aqueous phase of the cream.
- Glycerin: is a humectant that helps attract and retain water in the outer skin layer.
- Petrolatum: is an occlusive ingredient that reduces transepidermal water loss and helps support dry skin.
These base ingredients give the formulation a conventional moisturizing structure around the botanical actives.
Frequently asked questions
Which ingredient is present at the highest botanical concentration?
Cnidii Fructus is declared at 3%, followed by Borneolum Syntheticum at 2%, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix at 1.5%, and Stemonae Radix and Menthol at 0.5% each.
Which ingredients have itch-related research?
She Chuang Zi has osthole/TRPV3 research, while menthol activates TRPM8. Borneol also has sensory-pathway research.
Which ingredients have anti-inflammatory research?
Ku Shen and Stemonae Radix have notable anti-inflammatory findings, although the study types differ.
Why is borneol included?
Its research profile includes topical sensory effects and penetration-enhancement/formulation science.
Related articles
Clinical references
- Lin CF et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens. PMID 38358770
- Sun XY et al. Antipruritic effect of osthole through selective inhibition of TRPV3. PMID 30108138
- Dai H et al. Topical borneol-induced analgesia. PMC5452010
- Xu Y et al. Alkaloids from Stemona tuberosa and anti-inflammatory activity. PMID 35295975
- Misery L et al. Anti-itching effects of a TRPM8 agonist cream. PMID 30067875