- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Mineral; mined in China and elsewhere
- Traditions
- Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Mineral · № 799
Realgar (arseensulfide)
Mineral · Asia
Realgar (xiong huang)
Realgar (arseensulfide)
Traditionally attributed effects: was used externally against parasites, itching and sores; contains arsenic.
Safety notes
Toxic or risky: only under expert supervision. Deliberately no dosage is given here. Contains arsenic, a heavy metal that accumulates in the body and can irreversibly damage the nervous system, kidneys and liver. Products with arsenic are not permitted in the EU as a medicine or food supplement. Do not use, not even externally; keep out of the reach of children. Arsenic is also absorbed through the skin; heating forms the extremely toxic arsenic trioxide. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Arsenic: do not use.
Preparation
Powder. Deliberately no dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Described in the classical Chinese materia medica, in the group 'substances for external use'. Realgar (xiong huang) is arsenic sulphide. At the Dragon Boat Festival wine with realgar was drunk and smeared on children's foreheads against snakes and illness, a custom now discouraged. In modern medicine arsenic trioxide, related to realgar, is used for one form of leukaemia.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- bitter, pungent, warm, toxic
- Meridians
- heart, liver, stomach
Attributed effects
The book describes external use for scabies, eczema, shingles, nasal polyps, snakebites and sores, and internal use for malaria.
Preparation and amount
Deliberately no dosage is given here: only under the supervision of a qualified therapist.
Caution: Arsenic: do not use.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Powder and kitchen
- Formulas
- An gong niu huang wan