QICAOGANGMU Cream Ingredients: A Deep Dive into Its Natural Actives and the Research Behind Them
Ingredient research profile
QICAOGANGMU is a steroid-free Chinese herbal cream with five named active ingredients: She Chuang Zi 3%, Bing Pian (borneol) 2%, Ku Shen 1.5%, Bai Bu 0.5% and menthol 0.5%, in a moisturising glycerin and petrolatum base. Together they combine the classic TCM anti-itch herb pair with two cooling ingredients, each backed by published research.
What ingredients are in QICAOGANGMU cream?
The full declared formula is water, glycerin, petrolatum, Cnidii Fructus 3%, Borneolum Syntheticum 2%, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix 1.5%, Stemonae Radix 0.5% and menthol 0.5%.
| Ingredient | Amount | Traditional TCM role | Key research |
|---|---|---|---|
| She Chuang Zi Cnidii Fructus |
3% | Dries Dampness, stops itch | Osthole reduced scratching via the TRPV3 itch channel in mice |
| Bing Pian Borneolum Syntheticum |
2% | Cooling; eases pain and itch | Beat placebo for pain relief in a 122-patient randomised trial |
| Ku Shen Sophorae Flavescentis Radix |
1.5% | Clears Heat, dries Dampness, stops itch | Flavonoids reduced skin inflammation and psoriasis-like thickening in lab and mouse studies |
| Bai Bu Stemonae Radix |
0.5% | External use for parasites and itch | Alkaloids reduced an inflammatory marker in lab studies |
| Menthol | 0.5% | Cooling (from mint, Bo He) | Activates TRPM8; within the FDA's 0.1% to 1% range for anti-itch products |
She Chuang Zi (Cnidii Fructus) 3%
She Chuang Zi is the highest-concentration herb in the formula. In TCM it is a classic external herb used to dry Dampness and stop itching. Its best-studied compound, osthole, selectively blocks TRPV3, an itch-related channel in skin cells, and reduced scratching in mouse itch models (Sun et al., 2018). She Chuang Zi extract has also shown antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum, a common cause of athlete's foot and ringworm, in laboratory tests (Yanyun et al., 2021). Read the full She Chuang Zi research guide.
Bing Pian (Borneolum Syntheticum) 2%
Borneol is an aromatic, cooling ingredient that TCM uses to ease pain and itch on the skin. It is one of the few traditional topical ingredients tested in a rigorous human trial: in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 122 patients, topical borneol gave significantly greater pain relief than placebo, working mainly through the TRPM8 cold receptor (Wang et al., 2017). In mice, it also relieved itch through TRPM8 and TRPA1 nerve channels (Tian et al., 2023). Formulation scientists also study borneol as an enhancer that helps other ingredients pass into the skin (Tang et al., 2025).
Ku Shen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) 1.5%
Ku Shen is one of the most important herbs in Chinese dermatology, traditionally used to clear Heat, dry Dampness and stop itching. Its flavonoids lowered inflammatory signals in human skin cells, and one flavonoid applied to the skin reduced psoriasis-like thickening in mice by 47% (Lin et al., 2024). Another Ku Shen compound, kushenol F, reduced scratching and eczema-like inflammation in mice by lowering TSLP, a key itch and allergy signal (Jo et al., 2022). Ku Shen was also the most frequently used herb in topical Chinese formulas assessed in a meta-analysis of psoriasis trials (Deng et al., 2014). See our Ku Shen guide.
Bai Bu (Stemonae Radix) 0.5%
Bai Bu has a long history of external use in TCM against lice, parasites and itch. Researchers isolated 29 alkaloids from Stemona tuberosa, and several reduced nitric-oxide production, a marker of inflammation, in laboratory immune cells (Xu et al., 2022). More in our Bai Bu guide.
Menthol 0.5%
Menthol creates QICAOGANGMU's signature cooling feel by activating TRPM8, the skin's cold-sensing receptor. Cooling is a proven way to calm itch: in a real-life study, people with eczema reported less itch with a cream containing a menthol-derived TRPM8 activator (Misery et al., 2019). At 0.5%, menthol sits within the 0.1% to 1% range the US FDA permits in over-the-counter anti-itch products (FDA Monograph M017).
Five declared actives in one cream. QICAOGANGMU pairs Ku Shen and She Chuang Zi with cooling borneol and menthol, tested steroid-free by TÜV SÜD PSB. Rated 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. See the formula
Why the moisturising base matters
The herbs sit in a base of water, glycerin and petrolatum. Glycerin is a humectant that draws water into the outer skin layer, and petrolatum is an occlusive that seals moisture in and reduces water loss. This gives QICAOGANGMU a moisturising structure, which matters because a healthy skin barrier is central to calming dry, itchy and irritated skin.
How do the ingredients work together?
QICAOGANGMU is built on two pairings rather than a single active:
- The classic anti-itch herb pair. Ku Shen and She Chuang Zi are paired in TCM for itchy skin. A network-pharmacology study predicted that they work in complementary ways: Ku Shen mainly on inflammation-related itch and She Chuang Zi on nerve-related itch (Zhong et al., 2017).
- The cooling duo. Borneol and menthol both act on TRPM8 for fast cooling comfort, and borneol has been studied for helping other ingredients pass into the skin.
- Supporting herb. Bai Bu adds a traditional external herb with anti-inflammatory alkaloids.
- Barrier support. Glycerin and petrolatum keep the skin hydrated.
Is QICAOGANGMU tested for steroids?
Yes. QICAOGANGMU contains no corticosteroid, and finished batches are independently tested by TÜV SÜD PSB, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory in Singapore. The latest report (batch QCGM-202605, July 2026) found Not Detected for all eight corticosteroids tested at a 50 ppm detection limit. See the Purity Assured page and our safety and side effects guide.
Where QICAOGANGMU fits
QICAOGANGMU Steroid-Free Herbal Cream
4.7/5 (243 ratings) and 4.5/5 (666 ratings) on Amazon. Read reviews
QICAOGANGMU puts all five declared actives in one steroid-free cream: She Chuang Zi 3%, Bing Pian (borneol) 2%, Ku Shen 1.5%, Bai Bu 0.5% and menthol 0.5% in a moisturising glycerin and petrolatum base. Use it as daily care for dry, itchy and irritated skin.
- Steroid-free: TÜV SÜD PSB found none of 8 corticosteroids (lab reports)
- Fully declared formula: every active ingredient and its percentage on the label
- 100-day money-back guarantee
- US shipping in 2 to 6 business days, free over US$20
Patch test on a small area first, use a thin layer on intact skin and avoid the eyes, lips and genitals. How to use it · Product details
Frequently asked questions
What are the main ingredients in QICAOGANGMU?
She Chuang Zi 3%, Bing Pian (borneol) 2%, Ku Shen 1.5%, Bai Bu 0.5% and menthol 0.5%, in a base of water, glycerin and petrolatum.
Why does QICAOGANGMU feel cooling?
Menthol and borneol activate TRPM8, the skin's cold-sensing receptor. The cooling feel is an expected part of the formula and helps calm itch.
Which QICAOGANGMU ingredients help with itch?
She Chuang Zi and Ku Shen are the classic TCM anti-itch pair. Osthole from She Chuang Zi blocks the TRPV3 itch channel in research, and menthol and borneol provide cooling itch relief through TRPM8.
Does QICAOGANGMU contain steroids?
No. It contains no corticosteroid, and independent TÜV SÜD PSB testing of the latest batch found Not Detected for eight corticosteroids.
Why is borneol in the formula?
Borneol is a traditional cooling ingredient that relieved pain in a randomised human trial and itch in mouse studies. It is also studied for helping other ingredients pass into the skin.
Related articles
References
- Sun XY, Sun LL, Qi H, et al. Antipruritic effect of natural coumarin osthole through selective inhibition of thermosensitive TRPV3 channel in the skin. Mol Pharmacol. 2018;94(4):1164-1173. PMID 30108138
- Yanyun C, Ying T, Wei K, Hua F. Preliminary study on antifungal mechanism of aqueous extract of Cnidium monnieri against Trichophyton rubrum. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:707174. PMC8417377
- Wang S, Zhang D, Hu J, et al. A clinical and mechanistic study of topical borneol-induced analgesia. EMBO Mol Med. 2017;9(6):802-815. PMID 28396565
- Tian W, He D, Liu J, et al. Topical borneol relieves nonhistaminergic pruritus via targeting TRPA1 and TRPM8 channels in peripheral nerve terminals of mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2023;953:175833. PMID 37290679
- Tang M, Zhong W, Guo L, Zeng H, et al. Role of borneol as enhancer in drug formulation: a review. Chin Herb Med. 2025;17(3):473-483. PMID 40734902
- Lin CF, Lin MH, Hung CF, et al. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens alleviates psoriasiform lesions. Phytother Res. 2024;38(4):1951-1970. PMID 38358770
- Jo S, Gong EY, Yoo W, et al. Anti-itching and anti-inflammatory effects of kushenol F via the inhibition of TSLP production. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022;15(11):1347. PMID 36355519
- Deng S, May BH, Zhang AL, Lu C, Xue CC. Topical herbal formulae in the management of psoriasis: systematic review with meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):480-497. PMID 23817996
- Xu Y, Xiong L, Yan Y, et al. Alkaloids from Stemona tuberosa and their anti-inflammatory activity. Front Chem. 2022;10:847595. PMID 35295975
- Misery L, Santerre A, Batardière A, et al. Real-life study of anti-itching effects of a cream containing menthoxypropanediol, a TRPM8 agonist, in atopic dermatitis patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019;33(2):e67-e69. PMID 30067875
- Zhong J, Liu Z, Zhou X, Xu J. Synergic anti-pruritus mechanisms of action for the Radix Sophorae Flavescentis and Fructus Cnidii herbal pair. Molecules. 2017;22(9):1465. PMID 28869563
- US Food and Drug Administration. OTC Monograph M017: External Analgesic Drug Products.
Educational information only. This ingredient profile is for general education. Persistent or severe skin conditions should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.
