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TCM Treasures - Xiong huang 雄黄
By Wing Tan |
December 23, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
XIONG huang, or realgar - an arsenic sulfide mineral also known as ruby sulphur - has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times.
Modern science has found that xiong huang can effectively treat stomach bugs, other bacteria and fungal infections.
According to TCM therapies and prescriptions, ancient Chinese used xiong huang to treat poisonous insect and snake bites, epilepsy, boils and abscess.
In China, people traditionally drink xiong huang wine at the Dragon Boat Festival. They believe that the wine wards off poisonous creatures and even devils.
It also features in the legend "Madam Lady Snake," the tragic love story of a snake goddess and a TCM doctor.
In the legend, the kind, beautiful goddess drank xiong huang wine by mistake on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival and was turned back into a giant snake with terrible fangs, terrifying her human husband.
Research has found that xiong huang can treat snake bites, and it appears that snakes are indeed "afraid" of it. However, this seems most likely to be because the reptiles dislike the pungent smell of xiong huang and keep away from it.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Xiong huang and white alum
Grind 45g xiong huang, 50g white alum and 3-5g bing pian.
Put them in a colored bottle and seal it.
Take 3-5g and add 75 percent ethyl alcohol.
Apply to skin three times a day.
Benefits: Treats mumps.
Xiong huang tofu soup
Dig a hole in 250g of tofu. Stuff it with about 16g of xiong huang powder and cover with the tofu that was removed.
Make a soup and take three times a day.
Benefits: Treats tetanus.
Xiong huang and bing pian
Mix 5g xiong huang powder, 0.5g bing pian and 100ml ethyl alcohol.
Apply to skin four to six times a day.
Benefits: Treats herpes.
Modern science has found that xiong huang can effectively treat stomach bugs, other bacteria and fungal infections.
According to TCM therapies and prescriptions, ancient Chinese used xiong huang to treat poisonous insect and snake bites, epilepsy, boils and abscess.
In China, people traditionally drink xiong huang wine at the Dragon Boat Festival. They believe that the wine wards off poisonous creatures and even devils.
It also features in the legend "Madam Lady Snake," the tragic love story of a snake goddess and a TCM doctor.
In the legend, the kind, beautiful goddess drank xiong huang wine by mistake on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival and was turned back into a giant snake with terrible fangs, terrifying her human husband.
Research has found that xiong huang can treat snake bites, and it appears that snakes are indeed "afraid" of it. However, this seems most likely to be because the reptiles dislike the pungent smell of xiong huang and keep away from it.
Prescriptions & Usage:
Xiong huang and white alum
Grind 45g xiong huang, 50g white alum and 3-5g bing pian.
Put them in a colored bottle and seal it.
Take 3-5g and add 75 percent ethyl alcohol.
Apply to skin three times a day.
Benefits: Treats mumps.
Xiong huang tofu soup
Dig a hole in 250g of tofu. Stuff it with about 16g of xiong huang powder and cover with the tofu that was removed.
Make a soup and take three times a day.
Benefits: Treats tetanus.
Xiong huang and bing pian
Mix 5g xiong huang powder, 0.5g bing pian and 100ml ethyl alcohol.
Apply to skin four to six times a day.
Benefits: Treats herpes.
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