Shengyao Hydrargyri Oxydum
The source is from the compound prepared from equal amount of mercury, nitre and alum through sublimation. The medicine may be red or yellow in color, the red one is called Hongsheng; the yellow one Huangsheng. It is mainly produced in Hebei, Hunan, and Jiangsu provinces. It is ground into powder for medicinal use and more effective if stored over a long time.
Medicinal Properties Pungent in flavor and hot in nature, toxic and attributive to the lung and spleen meridians.
Actions Remove toxin and necrotic tissue to regenerate tissues.
Application
In treating ulceration from carbuncle or phlegmon failing to evacuate pus smoothly and necrotic tissue, it is often used in combination with Duanshigao (Gypsum Fibrosum Usta), which is ground into powder for external use. The ratio of Duanshigao (Gypsum Fibrosum Usta) and Hongsheng is 9 : 1, which is called Jiuyi Dan (Pill) with weak action of removing toxin. When the ratio of the two is 1 £º1, the composition is called Wuwu Dan (Pill) with strong action of removing toxin. When the ratio is 1 £º9, the composition is called Jiuzhuan Dan (Pill), its action of removing toxin being strongest. These can be selected according to disease conditions. They can be applied to the local area, or stuck to a paper spill and inserted into the vomica.
Usage and Dosage Proper amount is for external use. It is usually used in combination with other Chinese herbs and is not used singly.
Notes It has strong toxicity, is only for external use but not for oral use. It is not suitable for pyocutaneous dosease without necrotic tissues or pus.
Luganshi Calamina
The source is from smithsonite of carbonate of calcite group, mainly containing zinc carbonate. The medicine is mainly produced in Guangxi, Hunan, and Sichuan. Impurity is removed from the material after being collected. It is calcined, or quenched with vinegar or with Sanhuang Tang (Decoction), containing Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis ), Huangbai ( Cortex Phellodendri ) and Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei )) and then dried in the sun and ground into fine powder with water for use.
Medicinal Properties Sweet in flavor, mild in nature, and attributive to the liver and stomach meridians.
Actions Remove nebula to improve eyesight, eliminate dampness and promote tissue regeneration.
Application
1. It can be used to treat eye diseases. For conjunctivitis, equal amount of the Chinese medicinal herbs such as Fenghuaxiao (Natrii Sulfas, weathering) and Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) can be elutriated and used as eye drops. For nebula, it is used in combination with Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) to wash the local area, and also with Haipiaoxiao (Os SepieUae seu Sepiae) and Pengsha (Borax) as eye drops.
2. For ulceration that does not heal and purulent skin lesion, together with Hai' ercha (Catechu) it is ground into powder after mixed with sesame oil and applied to the local area. For yin ulcer and damp itching due to yin perspiration, it is alone ground into powder and applied to the local area.
Usage and Dosage Proper amount is used for external application. It can be elutriated and used as an eye drops. The powder can be applied externally or mixed with water for application.
Mingfan Alumen
The source is from the refined product of the mineral Alunite of sulphate, mainly containing potassium aluminium sulfate. The medicinal material is mainly produced in Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces. The crude or calcined one (the latter called kufan in Chinese) is used for medication.
Medicinal Properties Sour in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung, liver, spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians.
Actions Remove toxin and kill parasites, eliminate dampness and relieve itching, stop bleeding and diarrhea, clear away heat and eliminate phlegm.
Application
1. For pyocutaneous disease, scabies and tinea, eczema with itching. In treating malignant sore, equal amount of Mingfan (Alumen) and Huangdan ( Minium ) can be ground into powder for application, such as Erxian San (Powder). In treating pustulosis bullous, equal amount of the calcined one, Shusongxiang (Colophonium Praeparata) and Huangdan (Minium) is ground into powder that is mixed with sesame oil and applied to the local area. In treating scabies and tinea, and eczema with itching, it is often used together with Liuhuang (Sulphur) and Xionghuang (Realgar). When taken orally, it is effective in subduing swelling and removing toxin. The drug together with Huangla (yellow wax) is taken orally with liquor to treat all syndroms of carbuncle, phlegmon, and malignant boil, such as La Fan Wan (Pill).
2. For haematemesis and bleeding due to trauma, epistaxis, prolonged diarrhea. In treating haematemesis and epistaxis, it is ground together with Hai'ercha ( Catuchu) into powder for external or oral use. In treating the old man's prolonged diarrhea, the calcined one with Weihezi (Fructus Chebulae, roasted) is ground into powder for oral use.
3. It is used for epilepsy. In treating epilepsy due to wind and phlegm, it is used in combination with Xicha (Fine tea), such as Huatan Wan (Pill). In treating accumulation of phlegm-heat in the interior manifested as in-sanity, it is prepared with Yujin (Radix Curcumae) into pill for oral use, such as in Baijin Wan (Pill).
Usage and Dosage For external application, its powder can be applied to the local area or mixed with water for application, The amount should be proper. 0.6 - 1.5 g is used in pills or powder for oral administration.
Notes It is contraindicated in those with debility of the stomach or those without damp-heat and phlegmfire.
