Properties: Pungent, slightly cold, toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Heart and Liver
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Expels toxins, generates flesh, promotes healing and stops itching
Toxic ulcers and sores (topically in pellets and pastes)
Eczema and body odor
- Attacks toxins, kills parasites, absorbs Dampness and stops itching
Topically for damp, itching skin rashes
- Descends Phlegm, suppresses spasms and stops malarial disorders
Internal Wind (seizures) and malarial disorders (internally)
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the inferior class of stones which can, with protracted taking, enable one to communicate withe Spirit Light (Shen Ming 神明). This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). This one is unusual for being the only stone of an inferior class that is recommended for protracted use.
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.3-0.6g as powder or pills for internal use. No dose is considered safe today due to its lead content.
Cautions: It is toxic so it should not be used overdose or for a long time to prevent cumulative toxication.
Appears in 1 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
