To study allergic medicines,reactions and susceptible people in external use of Chinese materia medica,and how to prevent them.Methods:Literature retrieval was used to summarize specific medical cases of allergic reactions caused by external use of Chinese materia medica.The information involved in the cases was recorded in EXECL,and analyzed statistically with SPSS Clementine 12.0.Results:Taking “external use” as the first key word and “allergic reactions” as the second key word,130 literatures were found,among which 31 medical cases about specific allergic reactions of external use of Chinese materia medica were selected.There were 16 kinds of Chinese materia medica,including Fructus Crotonis,Fructus Bruceae,Borneolum Syntheticum,Fructus Psoraleae,Olibanum,Ranunculus Sceleratus,Fructus Cannabis,Radix Polygoni Multiflori,Eupolyphaga Seu Steleophaga,Rhizoma Corydalis,Ficus Carica leaves,Realgar,Bombyx Batryticatus,Herba Lycopi,Radix Angelicae Dahuricae and Radix Clematidis.There were 15 kinds of Chinese materia medica in compound prescriptions for external use.The most frequently used medicines were Phryma Leptostachya,Herba Lycopodii and Cortex Cinnamomi(5 times,8.4%).Conclusion:Allergic medicines used alone are blood-activating and stasis-removing ones.The stimulating effect of pungent Chinese materia medica on skin is more obvious than that of the other 4 flavors.Instant and delayed skin allergic reactions are most likely to occur,including anaphylactic shock and allergic dermatitis,2 most common allergic reactions of external use of Chinese materia medica.Females,aged between 30-39 years old,with a history of allergy are the characteristics of people who are easily allergic to external use of Chinese materia medica,which should be paid attention to in the future clinically external use.