Herb

Yin gao (silver amalgam)

银膏yin gao
1 sourceSafety notes recorded
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 silver amalgam (yin gao; a silver-mercury amalgam containing mercury). The U.S. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Mercury reports that neurological and renal effects have been consistently observed in humans and animals exposed to elemental mercury, with neurological effects including tremor and impaired motor and nerve function. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.

Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for heat-wind, heart-vacuity fright palpitation, abstraction and manic running, heat above the diaphragm and in the head and face, quieting the spirit and will, settling the heart, brightening the eyes and disinhibiting the water passages, and for filling missing teeth. A toxic mineral substance (a silver-mercury amalgam).

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷八·金类·银膏·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：主热风，心虚惊悸、恍惚狂走，膈上热、头面热，风冲心上下，安神定志、镇心明目、利水道；古载治心风健忘，亦补牙齿缺落。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 辛，大寒，有毒。

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