Properties: Sweet, sour, neutral

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Lung and Large Intestine

1. Astringes the Intestines and stops diarrhoea
   Abdominal pain and diarrhoea, surging Small Intestine pain, hot and loose stools with pus and blood
2. Nourishes Lung Qi, thickens the intestines and replenishes Marrow
   Palpitations and insufficiency of the five Zang, restlessness under the heart
3. Stops bleeding
   Applied topically to wounds, sores and non-healing ulcers
   Abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge
   Haemorrhoids
4. Aids fasting
   Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of minerals which can, with protracted taking, replenish the marrow, boost the qi, and make one fat and strong, free from hunger, and the body light while prolonging life. 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). It is also said to nourish the five Zang, especially the Lung which is associated with white.

Suggested Daily Dosage: 10-20g in decoction.

Cautions: It is contraindicated in cases of diarrhea or dysentery of damp-heat type.

Eating clay long-term can cause low levels of potassium and iron, intestinal blockage, poisoning from trace heavy metals, muscle weakness, skin sores and difficulty breathing.

Mineral 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 He Zi and Jin Guan Hua. It may still be used topically.

• Humic Acid
  A naturally occurring, complex molecule found in soil, peat, and other decomposed organic matter. It has been found to have antioxidant properties and can support gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria. Kaolin can retain a large percentage of added humic acid, especially at low concentrations. Conversely, humic acids can also influence the behavior of kaolin, such as its adsorption capacity for certain elements.
• 10(Z)-Hexadecenoic-acid
  Long chain fatty acid produced by Mycobaterium Vaccae that lives in soil and has been researched for the potential antidepressant activity of gardening. It has also been investigated for immune modulating effects with regards to allergic asthma, cancer, depression, leprosy, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and tuberculosis. In Zao Xin Tu the heat will kill off the bacteria but heat treated preparations have also been used in clinical trials for mood disorders to kill off the bacteria but leave its chemical productions intact. 10(Z)-Hexadecenoic-acid is one candidate for its therapeutic activity by inhibiting key pathways in activated immune cells (Smith et al, 2019), the other being M. vaccae lysate that prevents dermatitis when applied topically (Nesmiyanov et al, 2018).

Notes:

Its main use today is externally as an absorbent.