Herb

Qian shuang (lead frost)

铅霜qian shuang
1 source
Modern safety noticeRestricted

Modern sources record safety concerns for this herb. Reference information, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.

Modern sources record heavy-metal toxicity for the lead in qian shuang (lead acetate, an inorganic lead compound). The U.S. NTP Monograph on Health Effects of Low-Level Lead concludes that there is sufficient evidence of an association between blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL and neurological effects in children and reproductive effects in adult women, and between blood lead levels below 10 µg/dL and cardiovascular, renal and immune effects. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.

Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for transforming phlegm, settling fright palpitation, resolving alcohol toxin and chest vexation, for wind-stroke with phlegm and thirst, and for settling fright and blackening the hair. Lead frost (qian shuang) is a lead salt.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷八·金类·铅霜·主治

References
  • functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
  • WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
  • public pharmacopoeia & physical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Traditional functions

Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.

传统中医记载：主消痰，止惊悸，解酒毒，去胸膈烦闷，中风痰实，止渴；古载去膈热涎塞，治吐逆、镇惊去怯、黑须发。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 甘、酸，冷，无毒。

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·铅霜·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·铅霜·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·铅霜·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·铅霜·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.