The efficacy and function of Puxiao

In daily life, people are not only very familiar with various foods, but also come into contact with a lot of medicines in daily life. Among them, Puxiao is a relatively common Chinese medicinal material. Given that there are still many people who don’t know much about Puxiao, let’s take a detailed look at it below.

[Other names] Potassium saltpeter (Wu Pu's Materia Medica), Xiaoshi Pu (Bielu), Haimo (Shiyao Erya), Potassium saltpeter (Ju Fang), Saltpeter, Pixiao, Shuixiao (Compendium of Materia Medica), Haipi saltpeter, Maoxiao (Pharmaceutical Science).

[Source] It is a crude crystal obtained by processing the mineral Glauber's salt .

【Original form】 The mineral form and preparation method are detailed in the "Mangxiao" article.

[Chemical composition] The main components are the same as Mangxiao, see the entry for "Mangxiao".

【Nature and flavor】Pungent, salty, cold.

[entry into meridians] Enters the stomach and large intestine meridians.

【Functions and indications】Purge heat, moisten dryness, and soften hard masses. It is used to treat stagnation of excess heat, abdominal distension and constipation, accumulation of phlegm, red and swollen eyes, throat congestion, and carbuncle.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: dissolve in decoction, 1.5 to 3 qian; or make into pills or powder. For external use: grind into powder and blow into throat or dissolve in water and apply to paste or eye drops.

【Note】 People with weak spleen and stomach and pregnant women should not take this medicine.

[Additional prescription] ① Treating typhoid fever, food poisoning, abdominal distension, shortness of breath, and obstructed urination and defecation: one liang each of Puxiao, Dahuang (filed and fried), and Shaoyao, and half a liang each of Danggui (cut and roasted) and Muxiang. Coarsely pound and sieve the above five ingredients. Take 5 qian of it each time, add 1.5 cups of water and 3 slices of ginger, boil until 80% of the liquid is left, remove the residue, and drink it warm on an empty stomach. (Pot Nitrate Soup from Shengji Zonglu)

【Excerpt】 《*Dictionary》

[Source] 1. From "Shennong Bencao Jing" 2. Tao Hongjing: Saltpeter, now produced in the northern part of Yizhou, the boundary of Xichuan and Canling counties of Wenshan County. It grows on cliffs, and its color is mostly bluish-white, with some black spots. Ordinary people choose the white and soft ones to use as dissolving stones.

Puxiao is a medicinal material that has existed for a long time. It is recorded in many Chinese medicine books, which shows that Puxiao does have good medicinal value.