Is sulfur poisonous?

As we all know, sulfur is a toxic substance. Generally speaking, sulfur is used more in industry and medicine. However, if the food we take also contains sulfur, it will definitely cause great harm to our body. However, in recent days, we have discovered that some medicinal materials are bleached and dyed with sulfur to make the color of the medicinal materials look better. There are also TV programs that have conducted special investigations and found that many medicinal materials in the medicinal materials market are smoked with sulfur.

Our common medicinal materials, including wolfberry, generally undergo significant changes in color after being bleached and dyed with sulfur. By comparison, you can find that the processed wolfberries will be brighter in color and can be stored longer. However, many people do not understand this and do not know how to distinguish it. Here are some recommended methods to teach you how to distinguish it.

1. Sulfur fumigation makes the medicinal materials more beautiful but the soup becomes sour

Sulfur fumigation or soaking of Chinese medicinal materials and decoction pieces has a history of thousands of years and is a traditional processing method. However, modern research has found that this practice poses certain health hazards to the human body. Director Tang said that the surface of medicinal materials fumigated with sulfur will absorb a small amount of sulfur dioxide, and the sulfur dioxide will dissolve in water to form sulfurous acid. When the traditional Chinese medicine is decocted, the decoction will become sour and have a certain irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, experts call for the introduction of relevant national regulations and standards as soon as possible to establish safe dosages and safety standards for sulfur content in Chinese herbal medicines.

2. Identify sulfur by "looking, smelling, tasting and feeling"

It is understood that there are 8 varieties of Chinese medicinal materials on the market that are most severely sulfur fumigated - Fritillaria thunbergii, Chinese angelica, Gastrodia elata, Chinese yam, white peony root, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Codonopsis pilosula, and Lycium barbarum. At present, "selling medicinal materials is like selling sweet potatoes". The origin and processing of Chinese medicinal materials are blind spots in supervision, and there are no standards to follow for the problem of sulfur dioxide residues in Chinese medicinal materials. Therefore, experts say that it is best to go to a hospital or a reputable pharmacy to buy medicinal materials.

Of course, experienced Chinese medicine practitioners can determine whether the Chinese medicinal materials have been fumigated with sulfur by looking at their appearance. Director Tang said that "looking, smelling, tasting and cutting" can still help citizens make preliminary identifications.

(1) From the appearance

For example, after fresh yam is sliced ​​and dried, it will become wrinkled and yellowish in color. If the yam slices are smoked with sulfur, they will become white and plump. The Fritillaria thunbergii with sulfur is pure white, while the Fritillaria thunbergii without sulfur is gray. In addition, some medicinal materials become brighter in color, even abnormally bright, after being fumigated with sulfur. For example, wolfberry is extremely bright red. However, medicinal materials that have been fumigated with sulfur will turn yellow if left for a long time.

(2) In terms of smell

Medicinal materials fumigated with sulfur will have a sour smell.

(3) In terms of weight

Medicinal materials fumigated with sulfur are heavier than those not fumigated, and even herbs with loose textures can clearly feel the difference in weight.

The above recommends relevant identification methods for everyone. Therefore, we must strengthen our awareness of identification among the food or medicinal materials around us and accumulate our own identification experience. In this way, we can find non-toxic and harmless foods among those foods that are easy to mislead people, thereby reducing the harm of external substances to our bodies. I hope that everyone can strengthen their awareness of prevention.