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| Latin: |
Realgar |
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| Origin: |
Realgar is a crystalline mineral composed of arsenic disulphide, a red or orange mineral containing both arsenic and sulphur. Typically it is a minor constituent of ore veins in association with orpiment (into which it disintegrates on long exposure to light).
Besides being used as a drug, realgar has also been used by the Chinese for carvings, but these also deteriorate under light. It forms prismatic crystals of monoclinic symmetry.
In China, realgar is produced mainly in Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. The best of it is called ¡§Xiongjing¡¨and the secondary called ¡§Yaohuang¡¨in Chinese. It is collected after removing impurity, grinded into fine powder or refined into powder water for use. |
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| Properties: |
| Pungent in flavor, warm and toxic in nature, it is related to the heart, liver and stomatch channels. |
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| Functions: |
Realgar is one of the main drugs in surgery in traditional Chinese medicine and is effective in attacking poisons and killing parasites, serving to treat scabies (contagious itch), throat swelling, skin and external diseases, acute mastitis, pulmonary abscess, etc.
It also has effects of destroying and expelling ascaris, serving to treat abdominal pain due to enterositosis. |
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| Applications: |
1. For swelling and sore throat, or heat toxic sores:
Realgar is often used with herbs for clearing heat, removing toxins, promoting regeneration of tissues and relieving pain, such as borneolum, margarita, resina olibani, myrrha, etc.
For treatment of mastitis or pulmonary abscess, realgar is used with Calculus, Moschus, Resina Olibani, Myrrha, as in Pill of Cow-Bezoare (Xihuang Wan).
2. For abdominal pain due to ascaris or other intestinal parasites:
Realgar is used with antiscolic, such as Semen Arecae, Semen Pharbitidis, etc. |
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| Dosage and Administration: |
0.3-0.9 g.
For oral dose, used in pills or powder.
Appropriate amount for external use. |
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| Cautions on Use: |
Realgar is prohibited in pregnancy. It should be not processed by calcining.
When applied externally to the skin, it is not advisable to use in large area and long period in order to avoid poisoning through skin. |
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| Reference Materials: |
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| Toxic or Side Effects: |
| Toxic. |
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| Modern Researches: |
| The infusion of realgar has an inhibitory effect on dermamyces. |
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