Suifan's Kwang Tze Solution (China Brush)

Kwang Tze Solution, also called China Brush, is a concentrated topical blend of Chinese herbs made exclusively by Suifan's Medicine Company. The recipe dates back about a hundred years. It comes as a small 3 ml engraved bottle with a wooden applicator and an instruction pamphlet. It is for external use only and is never taken by mouth.

In Chinese medicine it is described as a formula that invigorates qi and invigorates the blood. Warming, aromatic herbs such as cinnamon bark, clove and Chinese pepper are traditionally used to stimulate local circulation. The shop describes it as formulated to support stamina for men who want a traditional herbal topical.

The blend contains Fructus Cnidii, Cinnamon bark (Rou gui), Clove (Ding xiang), Ginger rhizome, Atractylodes (Cang zhu), Chinese pepper (Hua jiao), Angelica dahurica (Bai zhi) and Panax ginseng (Ren shen). Many of these are warming, pungent herbs, which is why a little goes a long way and why too much can feel hot on the skin.

Use the wooden applicator to apply a small amount externally to the local area, then follow the pamphlet in the box. The most common mistake is using too much. This concentrated solution should give a mild numbing feeling, and overdoing it causes a burning sensation instead. Start with less than you think you need.

It is for external use only, so never swallow it and keep it away from eyes and broken skin. Try a small patch test first, since warming herbs like clove and pepper can irritate sensitive skin. Avoid it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and stop using it if you notice redness or rash. If you have a skin condition, ask your doctor before use.

A burning feeling almost always means too much was applied. Gently wash the area with mild soap and cool water to remove the solution, and let the skin settle. Next time use a smaller amount. When applied correctly, the solution should feel like a mild numbness rather than heat or stinging.

One bottle gives about 15 applications. The bottle is small, 0.1 fl oz or 3 ml, but the formula is concentrated and only a little is used each time. Using more than needed will not make it work better and will empty the bottle faster.

Each box includes one engraved glass bottle of the solution, a wooden applicator and an instructional pamphlet. Read the pamphlet before the first use, since it explains how much to apply. The engraved bottle is part of the traditional Suifan's packaging and is one way to recognize the genuine product.