The efficacy and function of Lingsha

Lingsha is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has high medicinal value and has a good health-care effect on some diseases. In our lives, many medicines use Lingsha as the main raw material, but we still need to pay attention to many taboos when taking Lingsha.

[Other names] Erqi sand, Shensha, Pingkou sand, Ma Ya sand, artificial cinnabar

[Source] Medicinal material source: Mercury sulfide (HgS) is made from mercury and sulfur through artificial heating and sublimation.

[Habitat distribution] Lingsha is mainly produced in Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Guizhou and Sichuan.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is a needle-column aggregate in the form of a flat block. The complete one is basin-shaped, with a flat upper surface and a smooth bottom, or one side is flat and the other side is rough with small holes; the side crystals are upright needle-columns, arranged in a grid-like manner. Red, dark red or purple red; streak red, opaque; crystal surface has diamond luster. Weight, brittle and soft, easy to break. Odorless, light taste. Red, bright and heavy ones are preferred.

【Chemical composition】 Mainly contains mercury sulfide (HgS).

[Identification] (1) Take the powder of this product, moisten it with hydrochloric acid, and rub it on a smooth copper sheet. The surface of the copper sheet will show a silvery white luster. After heating and baking, the silvery white color disappears. (Checking mercury salts) (2) Take 2 g of the powder of this product, add 2 ml of a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid (3:1), dissolve it, evaporate to dryness, add 2 ml of water to dissolve it, filter, and the filtrate shows the identification reaction of mercury salt and sulfate. See the entry for “Cinnabar”.

[Preparation] Take 120g of mercury and 30g of sulfur. Place the iron pot on the stove or electric stove, pour in sulfur first, and when it melts, pour in mercury and stir to make it stick together. If flames appear, spray them with vinegar. When no mercury particles can be seen, take it out and grind it into a mortar. Then pour it into a sand pot made of refractory material, cover it with a porcelain bowl, and seal the cracks with clay or plaster. Then place it on the fire and smelt it evenly. The bottom of the porcelain bowl should be filled with water. When the water dries up, pour in hot water again. Do this until the water dries up 12 times. Take the sand pot down and place it on an iron rack. After it cools down, open the porcelain bowl, scrape off the sublimated material and grind it into powder, which is the spiritual sand.

【Nature and flavor】 sweet; warm; toxic

【Meridian】 Heart; Stomach meridian

【Functions and indications】Expectorant; relieving nausea; calming the nerves; relieving shock. It is used for dizziness, vomiting, nausea, vomiting and choking in children, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and spermatorrhea.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: grind into powder, 0.3-1g, once a day; or make into pills or powder.

【Note】 Do not take for a long time and do not take in excess. Patients with deficiency syndrome should take it with caution. Pregnant women should not take it. Avoid calcining when using it as medicine.

[Discussions by various schools] On the effect of Lingsha on the yang and yin, and calming the mind: 1. Li Shizhen: Lingsha "can raise and lower yin and yang, balance water and fire, and is a magic pill for rescuing people in danger and emergencies, but it should not be taken for a long time. Su Dongpo said that this medicine can cure long-term nausea, all kinds of vomiting, and vomiting in children, and its effect is like magic, because it has the magic of coordinating yin and yang. Shizhen often took it with yin and yang water, which is particularly wonderful." (Compendium of Materia Medica) 2. Miao Xiyong: "Although Lingsha is said to be the harmony of water and fire, and the coordination of yin and yang, it is poisonous with sulfur and mercury, and has a downward nature. It is a pity that it can cause the yang to mix with the yin, and it can only cure the disease temporarily. How can it help nourish the spirit and qi, and communicate with the spirit on a daily basis?" ("Bencao Jingshu") 3. Huang Gongxiu: "Mercury is the most yin in nature, while sulfur is pure yang in nature. When they are boiled together and combined into one qi, fire and water will interact, and water and fire will combine, without the disadvantage of soaring and flying. Therefore, for those who have yang evil floating up and not interacting with the lower part, resulting in irritability, restlessness, restlessness, and mental confusion, use this to lower yang and interact with yin, then the spirit will be calmed and all diseases will be gone." ("Compendium of Materia Medica Seeking Truth")

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above introduces some basic knowledge about Lingsha. I believe many people will have a better understanding of Lingsha after reading it. There are many other medicinal herbs that we often come into contact with in our daily lives. If you have time, you might as well learn more about them.