Realgar (XIONG HUANG)
XIONG HUANG
Pharmaceutical Name:
Realgar
Latin Name:
Realgar
Common Name:
Realgar
Part Used:
Realgar is the mineral realgar. It occurs mainly in the provinces of Hu Nan, Gui Zhou, Yun Nan, and Si Chuan. Realgar is ground into a powder, which can be mixed with water for use.
Properties Taste & Meridians:
Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in property, acts on the Heart, Liver, and Stomach channels.
Functions:
Removes toxins and is an antihelminthic.
Indications & Combinations:
1. To relieve swelling and pain of carbuncles and gangrene, it is used with Gummi Olibanum (Ru Xiang), Myrrha (Mo Yao), and Moschus (She Xiang). For rooted furuncles, it is applied locally. For snakebite, an equal amount of the mineral and Faeces Trogopterorum (Wu Ling Zhi ) are ground into a powder, and 6 g of the powder is taken with wine each time. The powder may also be applied locally.
2. For abdominal pain, it is used with Semen Pharbitidis (Qian Niu Zi ) and Semen Arecae (Bing Lang).
3. For asthma, malaria, or infantile convulsions due to accumulation of Phlegm.
Dosage and administration:
0.2–0.9 g, used in pill or powder form. Appropriate amount for external use.
Precautions:
Contraindicated during pregnancy. Not to be taken internally for long periods of time.
