Dit Da Jow: Iron hit wine in Traditional Chinese medicine

Iron Hit Wine (Dit Da Jow) is a traditional herbal liniment common in Chinese households and martial arts. It contains a variety of Chinese herbs, fungi, and insects and is used to treat many ailments such as bruises and arthritis pain. The closely guarded recipes are typically passed down through families.  We determined the chemical composition of a traditional liniment aged one and five years and a commercial formulation using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.  Results indicate that all formulations contain bioactive compounds with analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties.  The younger preparation and the commercial formulation contained fewer bioactive compounds than the older, traditionally prepared liniment.  The older liniment contained compounds involved in skin elasticity, cell-signaling, and preventing osteoporosis. Our results support the traditional knowledge that Dit Da Jow contains bioactive compounds that are beneficial for treating impact trauma. We will discuss the history and application of Dit Da Jow and study results.