Cinnabar, also known as Ling Sha, mainly contains mercury sulfide. It can calm the heart and clear the heart-fire, soothe the mind, and is particularly effective in treating restlessness of the mind, palpitations and apprehension. This herb is sweet in taste, cold in nature, and toxic. It mainly enters the Heart Meridian, and has the effects of calming the mind and soothing the nerves, clearing heat and detoxifying. It is used to treat restlessness of the mind, palpitations, apprehension, infantile convulsions, epilepsy, especially suitable for those with hyperactive heart-fire disturbing the mind internally. It can also treat sores and ulcers, swelling and pain of the throat, ulcers in the mouth and tongue, and other symptoms.
[Dosage] 0.3-1g. An appropriate amount is used for external application.
[Usage] It can be made into pills or powders, or ground into powder and taken with water.
[Precautions] This product is toxic. Do not take it in excessive amounts or continuously when taken orally to prevent mercury poisoning. It is forbidden to calcine it with fire, because calcination with fire will separate mercury, which is highly toxic.
[Compatibility] When Cinnabar is combined with Rhizoma Coptidis, it can clear the heart-fire and soothe the mind, and is used to treat restlessness of the mind, restlessness and insomnia caused by hyperactive heart-fire. When combined with Realgar, it can detoxify, kill insects and preserve, and is used to treat sores and ulcers, swelling and pain of the throat. When combined with Amber, it can calm the shock and soothe the mind, and is used to treat palpitations and insomnia.
[Supplementary Prescriptions]
- Zhusha Anshen Wan (from “Secret Records of the Orchid Chamber”) is used to treat restlessness of the mind, palpitations and insomnia caused by hyperactive heart-fire burning and injuring yin-blood. Rhizoma Coptidis 6g, Cinnabar 3g, Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, and Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae each 1.5g. Make it into pills for oral administration.
- Cizhu Wan (from “Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies of 备急千金要方”): It is used to treat dimness of vision, blurred vision, palpitations and insomnia, tinnitus and deafness, and also treats epilepsy. Magnetitum 60g, Cinnabar 30g, Massa Medicata Fermentata 120g. Make it into pills for oral administration. Take 6g each time, twice a day.
[Note] Cinnabar is best when it is bright red in color, lustrous, heavy in weight, and brittle in texture. The one with bright red color and does not stain the hands when touched is commonly known as “Zhubao Sha”; the one in the shape of irregular plate-like, rhombic or long strip-shaped, with different sizes and thicknesses, irregular edges, bright red color, shiny like a mirror and slightly transparent, and relatively brittle in texture is commonly known as “Jingmian Sha”; the one with a relatively large block, square or polygonal shape, dark color or grayish-brown color, heavy and firm in texture, and not easy to break is commonly known as “Douban Sha”.