The efficacy and function of Mangxiao

Mangxiao is a very common Chinese medicine. Although it is very common, it has many magical effects. Let’s take a look at it below.

【English Name】 Mirabilite, Natrii Sulfas

[Other names] Penxiao, Glauber's Salt, Ma Yaxiao, Yingxiao

[Source] Medicinal material source: refined crystals obtained by boiling the mineral Glauber's salt.

【Original form】 The crystal structure belongs to the orthorhombic system. The crystals are short columnar or needle-shaped, sometimes lath-shaped or crystal-like pseudohexagonal prisms. The aggregates are usually dense or loose masses, or in the form of crusts, membranes or salt blooms. Colorless and transparent, mostly white with light yellow, gray, green, blue and other tones. Those containing organic matter are black. The streak is white. Translucent to nearly transparent, with glassy luster on fresh cross-section and dull luster on weathered surface; the surface of dense aggregate is uneven with waxy and greasy luster. One set of cleavage is complete. The fracture is shell-shaped. Hardness 1.5-2. It is brittle and easily breaks into powder. The pure one is soluble in water. Under dry and hot conditions, it weathers and loses water to transform into white powdery anhydrous sodium sulfate. The flame of strong burning is yellow sodium salt, which often contains coexisting mineral components; mainly calcium, magnesium, potassium sulfur, nitrates and halides (such as gypsum, calcium glauberite, epsom salt, rock salt, sodium nitrate) and clay minerals.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: It is mostly found in alkaline soil areas near the sea, mineral springs, and relatively humid caves near salt fields.

[Properties] Identification of properties: This product is a needle-shaped or granular aggregate, in the form of a prism, irregular flakes or particles. Colorless, off-white, transparent; with glass-like luster. When exposed to air, the surface gradually weathers into a layer of white powder (anhydrous Glauber's salt). Light, brittle and easily broken. No air. The cross section is uneven. The taste is salty, slightly bitter and cool. It is easily soluble in water and can be dissolved in alcohol. The best ones are block-shaped, colorless and transparent.

【Chemical composition】 1. Mainly contains sodium sulfate (Na2SO4·10H2O).

[Pharmacological action] 1. Laxative effect: Mangxiao is sodium sulfate containing impurities, while Xuanmingfen is pure sodium sulfate. After oral administration, its sulfate ions are not easily absorbed by the intestinal mucosa, and remain in the intestine to become a hypertonic solution, which increases the water content in the intestine, causes mechanical stimulation, and promotes intestinal peristalsis. Salts also have a chemical irritating effect on the intestinal mucosa, but do not damage it. When an overly concentrated solution reaches the duodenum, it can cause pyloric spasm, thereby delaying the emptying of all drugs from the stomach. At the same time, it can absorb water from the tissues into the intestinal tract. Therefore, you should drink plenty of water to dilute it when taking it. The laxative effect occurs 4-6 hours after taking it, and liquid stool is discharged. If used to treat tissue edema, drink less water.

[Identification] (1) Take the aqueous solution of this product and add uranyl zinc acetate test solution, a yellow precipitate will occur. (Check sodium salt) (2) Take a platinum wire, moisten it with hydrochloric acid, dip it in the powder of this product, and burn it in a colorless flame. The flame will appear bright yellow. (Check sodium salt) (3) Take the aqueous solution of this product and add barium indium tantalum test solution, a white precipitate will appear; the precipitate is insoluble in hydrochloric acid or nitric acid. (Check for sulfate)

[Preparation] 1. Take naturally produced Glauber's salt, dissolve it in hot water, filter it, and let it cool to precipitate crystals, commonly known as sodium sulfate. Then wash and slice the radish, put it in a pot, add water and boil it thoroughly, then add potassium nitrate and cook until it is completely dissolved. Take it out, filter or clarify it, take the upper layer of liquid, cool it, wait for crystals to precipitate, and dry it to make Glauber's salt (for every 100 kilograms of potassium nitrate, use 10-20 kilograms of radish).

【Nature and flavor】 bitter, salty, cold

【Meridian】 Stomach; lung; spleen; kidney; small intestine; triple burner; large intestine meridian

【Functions and indications】 Softening and purging; clearing away heat and removing dampness; promoting blood circulation and unblocking menstruation; reducing swelling and treating sores. It is used to treat stagnation of excess heat; abdominal distension and constipation; stagnation of phlegm; red eyes and cataracts; erysipelas; carbuncle.

[Usage and Dosage] For oral administration: dissolve in decoction, 1.5-3 qian; or make into pills or powder. For external use: grind into powder and apply to eyes or dissolve in water for washing.

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

[Discussions by various schools] 1. Cheng Wu Ji: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine says that salty taste descends and is yin. It is also said that salty things can soften things, and if there is excessive heat inside the body, it can be treated with salty things that cool it down. For those with strong qi, use salty ingredients to soften it; for those with excessive heat, use cold ingredients to eliminate it. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing's Daxianxiong Decoction, Dachengqi Decoction, and Tiaoweichengqi Decoction all use Glauber's salt to soften the hard masses and eliminate the excess heat. If the knot is not strong enough, it cannot be used.

[Excerpt] "Chinese Materia Medica" and "Chinese Medicine Dictionary"

Through the introduction of the effects and functions of Mangxiao, everyone knows its magic. In fact, there are many seemingly ordinary people or things in life that contain power that we cannot imagine. Now that everyone knows the magical therapeutic effects and functions of Mangxiao, you can try it and test whether it is effective.