Herb

Yu shi (arsenopyrite)

礜石yu shi
1 sourceSafety notes recordedArsenopyritum
Modern safety noticeBanned

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

Modern authoritative sources classify the inorganic arsenic in yu shi (an arsenic-bearing mineral, e.g. arsenopyrite FeAsS) as carcinogenic. The U.S. NTP Report on Carcinogens lists arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds as known to be human carcinogens, associated with cancers including those of the skin, lung, urinary bladder, kidney and liver. This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.

Recorded in Bencao Gangmu for chills and fever, scrofula, eroding sores, dead flesh and wind impediment, and hard abdominal masses; clearing heat, brightening the eyes, downbearing qi, breaking accumulation, chronic cold abdominal pain, and removing nasal growths. A toxic mineral substance (an arsenic-bearing mineral).

Source

Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十·石类下·礜石·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：主寒热鼠瘘、蚀疮死肌风痹、腹中坚癖邪气；古载除热明目、下气、破积聚、痼冷腹痛、去鼻中瘜肉。

Nature, flavor & meridians

Nature & flavor: 辛，大热，有毒。

Citations
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十·石类下·礜石·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十·石类下·礜石·气味Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十·石类下·礜石·主治Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
  • Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十·石类下·礜石·发明Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.