Qu Huanzhang originally hailed from the Jiangchuan area in Yunnan, known as a renowned orthopedic doctor. Having apprenticed under the Daoist physician Yao Hongjun at Wudang Mountain, he successfully formulated “Baiyao” (Hundred-Treasure Pill) in 1902. In 1916, Qu submitted the Baiyao prescription to the Health Department of the Yunnan Provincial Police Department for inspection, receiving the highest rating and official approval for public sale. In 1917, he traveled to Xingyi County to practice medicine and expand the market for Baiyao. In 1918, after being adopted by Zhao Yongquan, the general manager of Tonghai Fudian Bank, as a godfather, Qu transitioned from paper packaging to porcelain bottles for Baiyao, officially starting its commercial sale.
In 1922, due to successfully treating the military commander Tang Jiyao of Yunnan, Wu Xuesian, Tang’s subordinate, invited Qu Huanzhang to Kunming. Qu then established an orthopedic clinic on Nanqiang Street in Kunming, attracting a steady stream of patients. In 1923, Tang Jiyao appointed Qu as the Director of the Dian Medical Department at Donglu Hospital, and personally bestowed the plaque “Medicine Crown of Southern Yunnan.” In 1927, amidst political changes in Yunnan, Long Yun replaced Tang Jiyao, but Qu Huanzhang was not dismissed. Instead, he continued to delve into medical theory and formulas, enhancing the efficacy of Baiyao. This led to the development of the “One Medicine, Three Pills, One Elixir” system, including the Ordinary Hundred-Treasure Pill, the Reinforced Hundred-Treasure Pill, the Three-Up Hundred-Treasure Pill, and the Insurance Elixir. Since then, bottled Baiyao entered the market in large quantities, enjoying nationwide popularity and even establishing sales outlets in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Japan, and Bangkok.