Pinyin: Xiong Huang  Chinese: 雄黃
Pharmaceutical: Realgar
Taxonomy: As₂S₂
English: Realgar

Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver, Stomach and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Kills Demonic Things (精物 Jing Wu), Evil Ghosts (惡鬼 E Gui), perverse Qi (邪氣 Xie Qi) and resolves the Toxicity of the Hundred Parasites (百蟲毒 Bai Chong Du)
   Scabies, ringworm and Damp rashes (topical)
   Any kind of skin itch (topical)
   Abscesses, suppurative inflammation, ulcerations, and snake bite (topical)
   Intestinal parasites especially when there are signs of accumulation, particularly roundworms
   Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)
2. Dries Dampness, expels Phlegm, stops malarial disorders and settles Wind
   Wheezing
   Seizures
   Malarial disorders
3. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, after sublimation, make the body light and become an immortal. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). However, it is not recommended for prolonged taking like most other superior minerals.

Standard Dosage: Due to toxicity no dose is permissible today. Traditionally 0.05-0.1g internally or a small amount applied as powder in external applications.
Cautions: This substance is toxic due to its arsenic content and so should not be used.

Traditional usage requires it to be refined with water, and just for temporary use. For external application, it is not suitable for a large scale use or for a long time. It is contraindicated for the pregnant women. Avoid being calcined by fire.

Pinyin: Bai Fan  Chinese: 白礬
Pharmaceutical: Alumen
Taxonomy: KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O
English: Alum

Tastes: Sour, astringent, cold
Meridians Entered: Lung, Spleen, Liver and Large Intestine

Actions & Indications:

1. Relieves toxicity (Purges Fire), dries Dampness, kills parasites and alleviates itching
   External wash for Damp-Heat rashes (scabies, tinea)
   Swollen, painful throat or eyes
   Jaundice
2. Restrains and inhibits sores, generates flesh and transforms putrefication
   Topically for problems where toxins and pathogens have collected and clogged the channels, collaterals and muscles leading to blockage and Stagnation
   Topically for toxic sores (Chuang Yung)
3. Stops bleeding and alleviates diarrhoea
   Chronic diarrhoea, hemafecia, uterine bleeding and vaginal discharge
   Topically for epistaxis, hemorrhoidal bleeding, bleeding gums and bleeding due to external trauma
4. Clears Heat and expels Phlegm
   Wind-Phlegm (Heat) disorders with irritability, delirium, and convulsions
   Cough with sputum that is difficult to expectorate
5. Aids fasting
   The ore (Fan Shi) is mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, after sublimation, make the body light, prevent senility and lengthen life. This may suggest this was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生). However, it is not recommended for prolonged taking like most other superior minerals which is unusual since it is one of the least toxic minerals, often used in ancient times to purify drinking water.

Standard Dosage: 0.6-1g internally as powder or pills but more commonly used externally in washes.
Cautions: Do not use in large doses, or in kidney disease where the ability to excrete may be impaired resulting in aluminium toxicity. Symptoms include bone pain, muscle weakness, cognitive impairment, seizures, anaemia, and in severe cases, dementia.

Pinyin: Zhu Sha  Chinese: 朱砂
Pharmaceutical: Cinnabaris
Taxonomy: HgS
English: Cinnabar / Vermilion / Mercury (II) Sulfide / 丹 Dan / 朱雀 Zhu Que (Red Raven)

Tastes: Sweet, cold, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart

Actions & Indications:

1. Sedates the Heart and calms the Spirit
   Restlessness, palpitations, anxiety, insomnia and convulsions associated with a disturbed Spirit
   Heart Fire (with appropriate herbs)
   Phlegm Fire Disturbs the Heart (with appropriate herbs)
   Heart Blood Deficiency (with appropriate herbs)
2. Expels Phlegm and sedates jitteriness and convulsions while stopping tremors
   Seizures, childhood convulsions and other problems due to Phlegm-Heat Blocking the Pericardium and Heart
   Wind-Phlegm dizziness
   Lung Heat
3. Clears Heat, relieves toxicity and prevents putrefaction
   Topically for carbuncles, mouth sores, sore throat and snake bite
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, with protracted taking, enable one to communicate with the spirit light (Shenming) and prevent senility. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生) and spiritual practice.

Standard Dosage: No dosage is permissible due to mercury toxicity. 0.1-0.5g in powder or pills is traditional.
Cautions: Prohibited from use today due to its mercury content, it is generally omitted or substituted with Hu Po. Historically it was sometimes confused with Xue Jie, so this could also make a potential substitute in the right circumstances.

Zhao, Li & Wang (2022) claim that grinding and washing was a traditional method of removing the toxicity but any amount of mercury toxicity is unacceptable today.

Traditional contraindications include overdose and taking for a long period of time, or calcinification.

Pinyin: Fu Zi  Chinese: 附子
Pharmaceutical: Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata
Taxonomy: Aconitum carmichaeli
English: Wolf's-bane Root / Monkshood Root / Aconite Root

Tastes: Pungent, sweet, hot, toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Kidney and Spleen

Actions & Indications:

1. Restores Devastated Yang and rescues from rebellion
   Devastated Yang with diarrhoea containing undigested food, chills, cold extremities and a faint almost imperceptible pulse (often as a result of severe vomiting, diarrhoea or sweating)
2. Warms Ming Men Fire and assists Heart, Kidney and Spleen Yang
   Heart Yang Deficiency
   Spleen Yang Deficiency
   Kidney Yang Deficiency
3. Disperses Cold and Dampness, warms the channels and stops pain
   Wind-Damp-Cold Bi
   Cold blocking the organs, channels, bones and Blood vessels
   Yin flat abscesses
   Gu Parasites / chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)

Standard Dosage: 3-15g in decoction. Fire Spirit practitioners prescribe doses of 60-200g per day (Fruehauf, 2009).
Cautions: It is contraindicated for heat syndrome, yin-deficiency leading to hyperactivity of yang and the pregnant because of its pungent, hot, dry and drastic properties. It must be soaked and decocted for about half and hour to one hour until numbing taste disappears for oral use. Over-dosage and incorrect processing must be avoided.

This herb is prohibited from use in the UK under the banned and restricted herbal ingredients list issued by the MHRA. It is generally substituted with various Yang tonics depending on the presentation although none can imitate its powerful cardiovascular effects making them ineffective substitutes for rescuing devastated Yang. External use is permitted at 1.3% or below.

Pinyin: Li Lu  Chinese: 藜蘆
Pharmaceutical: Radix et Rhizoma Veratri
English: Black False Hellebore

Tastes: Bitter, cold, toxic
Meridians Entered: Lung, Liver and Stomach

Actions & Indications:

1. Induces vomiting to treat Wind-Phlegm
   Windstroke, seizures, epilepsy and painful obstruction of the throat due to a welling up of Phlegm
   Ingestion of poisons and toxic substances (take immediately)
2. Kills parasites and stops itching
   Topically for scabies, tinea, fungus and lice

Standard Dosage: 0.1-0.15g as powder or pill.
Cautions: It is contraindicated for weak people and pregnant women. Antagonizing to Ren Shen, Sha Shen, Dan Shen, Xuan Shen, Ku Shen, Xi Xin and Bai Shao.

Pinyin: Mu Dan Pi  Chinese: 牡丹皮
Pharmaceutical: Cortex radicis Moutan
Taxonomy: Paeonia suffruticosa
English: Tree Peony Root Bark / Moutan Peony Root Bark

Tastes: Bitter, pungent, light cold
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver and Kidney

Actions & Indications:

1. Clears Heat and cools (and harmonizes) the Blood
   Xue Stage Heat with epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis or subcutaneous bleeding
   Menorrhagia due to Blood Heat
2. Clears Deficiency Fire
   Yin Deficiency Heat signs especially in the aftermath of Warm Febrile Disease with fever at night and coolness in the morning (most appropriate when the is no sweating)
3. Invigorates the Blood and dispels Blood Stasis
   Blood Stasis with amenorrhea, abdominal masses, lumps or bruises due to trauma
   Liver Blood Stagnation
4. Clears Liver Fire
   Liver Fire with headache, eye pain, flank pain, flushing and dysmenorrhea
5. Drains pus and reduces swelling
   Non-draining sores (topical)
   Intestinal abscesses (internal)

Standard Dosage: 6-12g in decoction.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of profuse menstruation and pregnant women.

Pinyin: Ba Dou  Chinese: 巴豆
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Crotonis
Taxonomy: Croton Tiglium
English: Croton Fruit

Tastes: Pungent, Hot, Toxic
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung

Actions & Indications:

1. Warmly unblocks and vigorously purges (purges accumulated Cold)
   Severe Internal Cold Accumulation leading to constipation, abdominal fullness, distention and pain
   Food Stagnation
2. Drives out water and reduces oedema
   Ascites due to end stage schistomiasis
3. Breaks up clogged Phlegm and improves the condition of the throat
   Difficult breathing, wheezing, and severe fullness and distention in the chest and diaphragm
   Phlegm Blocking the Orifices
4. Promotes healing of abscesses and ulcers topically and kills parasites
   Abscesses that have suppurated but not ulcerated
   Severe ulcers
5. Stops diarrhoea
   Diarrhoea due to Cold
6. Kills Parasites
   Insecticide topically
   Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)

Standard Dosage: 0.1-0.3g powder taken separately.
Cautions: It is contraindicated in pregnancy, those anxious about their health, and is incompatible with Qian Niu Zi.
While not actually on the list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients in the UK it is generally substituted with Wu Zhu Yu due to lack of availability.

Pinyin: Wu Gong  Chinese: 蜈蚣 / 吳公
Pharmaceutical: Scolopendrae
Taxonomy: Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans
English: Centipede

Tastes: Pungent, warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Liver

Actions & Indications:

1. Extinguishes Wind and stops spasms and convulsions
   Liver Wind with acute and chronic childhood convulsions, opisthotonis, lockjaw and seizures Facial paralysis due to Wind
2. Attacks and relieves Fire toxins, relieves abdominal masses and dissipates nodules
   Toxic nodules including sores, carbuncles and neck lumps Chuang Yung (topical)
   Cancer
   Snake bites
3. Unblocks the collaterals and stops pain
   Stubborn headaches including migraines Bipain
4. Treats the Ghost Possession, Gu Toxins, and removes the Three Worms
   Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that treats Ghost Possession, Gu Toxins, and snake, worm, and fish Toxins. It kills Ghostly Matters and Old Essences (鬼物老精) and removes the Three Worms. This refers to difficult to treat disorders thought to be of supernatural origin and may refer to chronic metabolic and inflammatory disorders caused by mitochondrial and/or microbiome disturbances. Treatment should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes. Internally for Gu Sydnrome (Fruehauf, 1998)

Standard Dosage: 1-3g in decoction.
Cautions: It is toxic, so it should not be used in large dose. It is contraindicated for pregnant women.

Animal products are prohibited from use in the UK under the Medicines Act 1968 ch. 67 which restricts herbalists to the use of plant products only. It is generally substituted with Gou Teng and Tian Nan Xing.