Herb

Tin (Xi)

锡xi
1 sourceSafety notes recordedStannum
Modern safety noticeCaution

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

Modern sources record toxicity for tin (xi; metallic / inorganic tin, pewter). For inorganic tin, the U.S. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Tin and Tin Compounds reports that ingestion of food contaminated with inorganic tin can cause gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea); the effects best identified as tin-related are haematological signs of anaemia and gastrointestinal distension; and long-term inhalation of tin dust or fumes can cause a benign pneumoconiosis (stannosis). The profile further states that available human studies show no evidence that inorganic tin is reproductive, developmental, neurotoxic, immunotoxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic, and that carcinogenicity bioassays of inorganic tin have been negative. [Note: the substantially more toxic organotin compounds are a separate class and are outside the scope of this entry, which covers only inorganic / metallic tin.] This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.

Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for malign toxic wind-sores. A toxic mineral substance.

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷八·金类·锡·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：主恶毒风疮。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 甘，寒，微毒。

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷八·金类·锡·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·锡·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·锡·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·锡·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.