Yichen Zhou,1,* Xinyue Mei,1,* Changming Wang2 

1School of Elderly Care Services and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Changming Wang, Email bychangming@163.com

Abstract: Chronic pain affects over 10% of the global population, yet current analgesics face limitations such as addiction and systemic toxicity. Borneol, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with over a millennium history, has emerged as a promising alternative due to its multi-target mechanisms. This review synthesizes preclinical evidence demonstrating borneol’s dual analgesic pathways: (1) receptor-mediated actions (eg, TRPM8 activation, GABA agonism) and (2) immune modulation (eg, NF-κB suppression, ROS inhibition). Notably, comparative analysis with menthol reveals borneol’s superior TRPM8 specificity and lack of opioid-related side effects. By elucidating these mechanisms, we advocate for borneol’s integration into modern pain management strategies, highlighting its potential as a safe, multi-modal therapeutic.

Keywords: Borneol, analgesia, TRPM8, immune modulation, neuropathic pain, Traditional Chinese Medicine