Properties: Salty, neutral, pungent, toxic
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver and Spleen
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Absorbs fluids, reduces swelling and stops bleeding
Hemorrhoidal swellings
Draining ulcers and sores
Damp skin eruptions
Leukoderma
Underarm odor
- Eliminates toxins and kills parasites topically
Tinea
- Drives Phlegm downward and suppresses childhood convulsions
Chronic dysenteric disorders and childhood convulsions
- Calms fright
Fright
- Kills the Three Worms and Hidden Corpses
Powdered galena (粉錫 Fen Xi) is mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as treating hidden
corpses, toxic bites and killing the three worms, probably a proto-concept of the Three Corpse-Worms.
Suggested Daily Dosage: 0.3-9g as powder or pills, or applied externally.
Cautions: It is incompatible with Lang Du and it is contraindicated to weak people with deficiency cold.
No longer used to due the toxicity of lead.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, has been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
