Heritage Lineage
The Li Family Herbal Comfort Patch traces its origins back to 1862, during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, and has been passed down through generations for over 160 years. Recognized as a Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage in Henan, China, and honored as a time-honored brand, it continues a long lineage of traditional herbal patch craftsmanship.
Our guiding philosophy is “Inspired by Nature, Returning to Nature.” We select botanical ingredients from the natural world and combine time-honored preparation methods with modern techniques—creating a gentle, comforting, and lifestyle-friendly external-use experience.
Li Kexun (1860 - 1945)
The first-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
Li Kexun, the son of Li Zhende, is recognized as the first-generation successor of Li’s Poultice. He was born in Xiaolongmiao Village, Ruzhou City, Henan Province, during the final years of the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the nation was weakened by corruption, foreign invasions, and recurring natural disasters. Ordinary people endured immense hardships, and illness spread widely among the population. Amid this turbulent backdrop, many patriotic individuals sought ways to reform society, build schools, and establish industries to bring relief and progress.
Growing up in such an era, Li Kexun was deeply moved by the suffering of his people. Inspired by the Traditional Chinese Medicine principle of “healing the wounded and rescuing the dying with noble medical ethics,” he devoted himself to medicine under the guidance of his brother-in-law, Liu Zhankui. Through years of diligent study and practice, he mastered medical skills and eventually created Li’s Wu Ming Poultice and the Golden Wound Unguent.
Carrying these remedies, Li Kexun traveled from village to village to treat those in need. The remarkable effectiveness of his poultices and unguents earned him the heartfelt praise of the people, who revered him as a “celestial healer.” More than just a physician, he embodied the spirit of compassion, integrity, and innovation. His work not only brought comfort and relief to countless patients but also laid the foundation for the enduring legacy of Li’s Poultice, a tradition that continues to be passed down through generations.
Li Changchun (1899 - 1976)
The second-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
Li Changchun, the eldest son of Li Kexun, was the second-generation successor of Li’s Poultice. From an early age, he was immersed in the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine, learning under the guidance of his father and steadily acquiring profound medical knowledge and practical skills. Once he became able to practice independently, countless patients benefited from his exceptional treatments. For the poor, he often offered care free of charge, which earned him deep gratitude and widespread respect across different communities.
Because of his medical contributions and the trust he had gained among the people, Li Changchun was later accepted as an adopted son by the abbot of Feng Xue Temple in Ruzhou and was subsequently elected as a local leader (Baochang). His role reflected both his social influence and the esteem in which he was held by the public.
However, after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Baochang neighborhood administrative system was abolished. Due to his former position, Li Changchun was unjustly arrested. As a result, the transmission of Li family’s medical practice was forced into suspension during that period.
Li Sanhe (1937 - 1994)
The third-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
Li Sanhe, the third son of Li Changchun, was the third-generation successor of Li’s Poultice. Intelligent, studious, and forthright by nature, he grew up under the guidance of private mentors, receiving both a solid education and the cultural influence of his family’s medical tradition.
At the age of 18, inspired by the literacy movement after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Li Sanhe established a traditional-style private school to expand educational opportunities for local children.
Two years later, he was elected to work as an accountant in the village’s communal dining hall, but after its dissolution he faced unemployment. This turning point, though difficult, became pivotal for the revival of the Li family’s medical heritage.
Encouraged and supported by his clansmen, Li Sanhe returned to the study of medicine and began treating patients at the commune’s medical station. Later, he founded the Xiaolong Chinese & Western Pharmacy, where he integrated the legacy of Li’s Poultice into modern practice. Through his efforts, the poultice once again entered the public eye, bringing comfort and relief to increasing numbers of villagers and reestablishing the family’s reputation in medicine.
Li Xianjie (1972 - )
The fourth-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
Li Xianjie, style name Songzhang, is the fourth-generation successor of Li’s Poultice and the third son of Li Sanhe. He is a member of the Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party, an associate researcher, and a master of poultice with a formal college education.
By the age of sixteen, Li Xianjie was already able to treat patients independently. At twenty-four, he graduated from Henan Medical College and began teaching in Zhengzhou. Three years later, at
twenty-seven, he founded the Zhengzhou Xianjie Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, serving as its president.
With more than a decade of dedicated medical research and clinical practice, Li Xianjie has established broad influence in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint conditions, the research and development of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the advancement of the pharmaceutical industry. Importantly, he pioneered the mechanized production techniques of black poultice, a milestone that transformed traditional craftsmanship into modern large-scale production.
Through his achievements, Li Xianjie has not only expanded the scope of the family’s heritage but also set an example of devotion to Traditional Chinese Medicine, inspiring the next generation of practitioners.
Li Bo (1996 - )
The fifth-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
Li Bo, the fifth-generation successor of Li’s Poultice, holds dual master’s degrees in Public Administration and Applied Economics. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Zhengzhou Xianjie Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is recognized as a senior Chinese pharmacist. His academic focus lies in the intersection of Traditional Chinese Medicine, health policy, and economic studies.
Li Bo has actively contributed to scholarly research and standard-setting in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He participated in the revision of the Group Standard on Health Product Production Technology Specifications, published by the Economic Daily Press in May 2022. He also served as an editorial board member for Chinese Herbal Processing Science, published by Zhengzhou University in June 2022. In addition, he was deputy chief editor for Research on Li’s Poultice and Sanfu Application, published by the Economic Daily Press in December 2023, and an editorial board member of Gazette of Poultices, published by Beijing Thread-Binding Press in August 2025.
Through these academic contributions, Li Bo represents the new generation of the Li family’s legacy—bridging traditional medical heritage with modern scholarship and ensuring that the story of Li’s Poultice continues into the future.
Li Guangyao (2007 - )
The fifth-generation successor of Li’s Poultice
As the fifth-generation inheritor of the Li’s poultice tradition, Li Guangyao continues the lineage of herbal craftsmanship that began more than a century and a half ago.
He graduated in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Pingle Orthopedic School in Luoyang, Henan Province, and received hands-on clinical training at both Luoyang Pingle Orthopedic Hospital and Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital.
Through years of study and practice, he has developed a deep understanding of how traditional poultices are applied in the care of bones and joints.
Having already mastered the essential methods of poultice preparation, he is now preparing to further his medical education at Henan University of Chinese Medicine—continuing the Li family’s enduring devotion to care, knowledge, and tradition.