The efficacy and function of arsenic

Arsenic is a traditional Chinese medicine. This type of medicine can cover many aspects of disease treatment, so before choosing arsenic, you must have a good understanding of it. Let us introduce it in detail below.

[Other names] Arsenic yellow (Rihuazi Bencao), Xin arsenic (Sun Yonghe), human words (Benshi Fang), Xin stone (Jiuji Yifang).

[Source] It is an ore of the oxide mineral arsenic . Currently, most of them are processed products of arsenic-containing ores such as arsenopyrite and realgar. A few are selected from natural arsenic ores, and most are processed. There are many processing methods, here are the old method and the new method as follows:

【Original form】 ① Arsenic

[Properties] There are two types of realgarite and white realgarite, and red realgarite is the main one used for medicinal purposes.

[Chemical composition] The main component of arsenic stone is arsenic trioxide or arsenic anhydride, which is white, octahedral crystals. Arsenic trioxide can sublime when heated to high temperatures, so it is relatively easy to purify; the sublimate is commonly known as arsenic trioxide, and its composition is still As2O2. Red arsenic is a type of arsenic stone that contains red minerals in addition to As2O2.

[Pharmacological action] Arsenic trioxide has the basic pharmacology and toxicology of arsenic agents. Arsenic has protoplasmic toxicity and can paralyze capillaries, inhibit the activity of sulfhydryl enzymes, cause fatty changes in the liver, central necrosis of the liver lobule, congestion of the heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines, necrosis of epithelial cells, and dilation of capillaries. Kuzhi Powder contains white arsenic. If it is applied to rabbit ears daily, it can cause dry necrosis and even ear shedding. Experiments have shown that products that do not contain arsenic trioxide do not have this effect. The arsenic content in Kuzhi Powder is about 8-16%, which is easily absorbed from the mucosal surface. Improper use can cause acute arsenic poisoning. As a pesticide used to kill pests, there have been reports of people being poisoned by accidental ingestion. Symptoms of acute poisoning include vomiting, rice-water diarrhea, proteinuria, hematuria, dizziness, headache, cyanosis, syncope, drowsiness, convulsions, paralysis, and even death. The fulminant type may not have the above obvious symptoms, and collapse, convulsions, paralysis and death may occur rapidly. It is generally believed that arsenic combines with sulfhydryl enzymes, affecting the activity of the enzymes, thereby seriously interfering with tissue metabolism and causing poisoning. Therefore, dimercaptopropanol is used for detoxification in clinical first aid.

[Preparation] Remove impurities, smash the mixture, put it into a sand pot, seal the mouth with mud, place it in a furnace to calcine it until it turns red, take it out and let it cool, then grind it into fine powder.

【Nature and flavor】Pungent, sour, hot, toxic.

【Meridian】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Enters the intestines and stomach."

【Functions and indications】It can eliminate phlegm, stop malaria, kill parasites, and corrode bad flesh. It is used to treat asthma caused by cold phlegm, malaria, restless dysentery, hemorrhoids, scrofula, running tooth scurvy, ringworm, and ulcers with sloughing.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: in pills or powder, 1-2.5 cc. For external use: grind into powder and sprinkle, mix and apply or mix into plaster and apply.

【Note】 It is highly toxic, so use with caution. It is not suitable for people with weak constitution or pregnant women.

[Additional prescription] ① Treat long-term shortness of breath in the lungs, wheezing and coughing that can’t sleep in the morning and evening: 1.5 qian of arsenic (grind into powder), 1.5 liang of fermented black beans (the best one, moisten with a little water, wrap in paper and grind into a paste). Use the above ointment and arsenic to pound together and make into pills as big as sesame seeds. Take 15 pills each time, according to the size of the child. Swallow it with very cold Lacha tea, and take it when you feel the need before going to bed. (Purple Gold Pill from Benshi Fang)

【Discussions by various scholars】 ① "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Arsenic is a very hot and toxic drug, and arsenic trioxide is particularly toxic. Rats and birds will die if they eat a little bit, and cats and dogs will also die if they eat rats and birds. People will also die if they take a penny. Although the power of Gelsemium and Shootnet is no more than this, the Song people did not talk much about its toxicity in the "Compendium of Materia Medica". Why? This is also a kind of ancient calcite. If it gets wine or liquor, it will rot the stomach and intestines and kill people in an instant. Even mung beans and cold water are difficult to resolve. This thing is not taken in soup, but only in pills. For all phlegm, malaria and wheezing, this can really kill the disease immediately. But you have to swallow it with cold water, don't eat or drink a cup or spoon of food, lie still for a day or a night, and you won't vomit; a little food will cause vomiting. Its dry, intense and pure hot nature is the same as the flame of liquor. Cold diseases and damp phlegm are robbed by it and suddenly open. For all head sores and other sores that bleed, this should not be used. Its poison enters the meridians and will definitely kill people."

【Clinical application】 ①Treatment of tuberculosis

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] From "Kaibao Materia Medica".

Although arsenic has many magical effects, it cannot be consumed casually. We need to use the medicine according to the user's own situation. I hope everyone will not take it indiscriminately to avoid unnecessary consequences.