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Hematite

Name

Hematite

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Haematitum

Chinese Name

赭石

Category

Minerals

HematiteMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Shaanxi, Guangdong, Hebei.

Macroscopic Features

Oolite-like, bean-like, kidney-like lumps, often irregular flat lumps. Dark brownish-red or grayish-black, streak marks are cherry-red or reddish-brown, sometimes has metallic luster. One surface often has round protrusions, also called “nail head”; another surface has the same sized depressions as the raised protrusions. Heavy in weight, hard texture, fractured surface is layered after being crushed. faint odor, tasteless.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is reddish-brown, with obvious layers on fractured surface, and ‘nail head’, without foreign matter.

Properties

Bitter, cold.

Functions

Calms liver, subdues yang, downbears counterflow, stops bleeding. Apply to dizziness and tinnitus, vomit, belching, hiccups, panting, hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis.

Technical Terms

‘Layered lines’: this refers to the layered appearance of the fractured surface of the zhe shi after it has been crushed, in addition, the nail head of each layer appear as wave-like curves. ‘Nail head’: this refers to the round nipple-shaped protrusions on zhe shi. ‘Concave nest’: this refers to the equally sized concave depressions that correspond to the raised surfaces on the other side of zhe shi.

Origin

The oxide mineral hematite, primarily composed of Fe2O3.

HematiteHerbs in the formula

Liver-Sedating and Wind-Extinguishing Decoction

Action：Tranquilizes the liver and extinguishes wind, enriches yin and subdues yang.

Indication：Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang is indicated for the pattern of apoplectic stroke. The symptoms are dizziness, vertigo, distension of eyes, tinnitus, headache with a warm sensation in the head, flushed face, and irritability; there may also be frequent belching, progressive difficulty in moving the extremities, and deviation of the mouth and eyes. In severe cases there is dizziness and falling down, unconsciousness, mental confusion with moments of clarity, and an inability to fully recover after loss of consciousness, and a wiry, long, and forceful pulse.

View Details Wind-calming formulas

Inula and Hematite Decoction

Action：Directs counterflow downward, dissolves phlegm, boosts qi, and harmonizes the stomach.

Indication：Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang is indicated for weak stomach qi with internal obstruction of phlegm-turbidity. The symptoms are pi below the heart, belching, or vomiting with saliva. The tongue is pale with a white, glossy coating. The pulse is wiry and weak.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas