Cinnabar – 1 lb (454 g)

Cinnabar, known in Chinese as 朱砂 (Zhūshā) and scientifically as Cinnabaris, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Cinnabar carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Cinnabar helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Cinnabar provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Cinnabar has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Cinnabar, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Dan Sha, Chi Sha, and Mercury Sand. It is a sulfide mineral belonging to the cinnabar group of minerals. The main production areas are Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces. The authentic medicinal material is considered to be that produced in ancient Chenzhou (modern Yuanling, Hunan). After mining, pure specimens are selected, iron-containing impurities are removed using a magnet, and then impurities such as stones and sand are washed away with water.

[Properties] Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature, and toxic. Enters the Heart and Liver channels.

[Actions] Clears the Heart and calms fright, calms the spirit and detoxifies.

[Applications]
1. Used for restlessness of the Heart spirit, palpitations, and insomnia. When Heart fire is excessive causing internal disturbance of the spirit with symptoms of restlessness, palpitations, anxiety, and insomnia, it is often combined with Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Lian Xin (Nelumbinis Plumula), and Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus). If Heart fire is excessive with concurrent Heart blood deficiency causing insomnia with many dreams, palpitations, and anxiety, Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Zhi Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata) are added, as in the formula Zhu Sha An Shen Wan (Cinnabar Calming the Spirit Pill). For Yin and blood deficiency, it is often combined with Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Bai Zi Ren (Platycladi Semen), and Dang Gui.

2. Used for convulsions and epilepsy. For high fever, delirium, convulsions, and spasms caused by warm-heat disease entering the Pericardium or phlegm-heat disturbing the Heart, it is often combined with Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis) and She Xiang (Moschus), as in An Gong Niu Huang Wan (Calm the Palace Pill with Calculus Bovis), or combined with Bai Fan (Alumen) and Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix) as in Chen Sha Wan (Cinnabar Pill). For pediatric convulsions, it may be combined with Niu Huang, Shi Quan Xie (Scorpio), and Gou Teng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis), as in Niu Huang San (Calculus Bovis Powder). For epilepsy with unconsciousness and convulsions, it may be combined with Ci Shi (Magnetitum), as in Ci Zhu Wan (Magnetitum and Cinnabar Pill).

3. Used for sores, ulcers, swelling and toxicity, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and red painful eyes with discharge. It can be used both internally and externally, but external use is more common. For sores and ulcers with swelling and toxicity, it can be ground with Xiong Huang (Realgar) for external application. For sore throat, mouth ulcers, it can be ground with Bing Pian (Borneol) and Peng Sha (Borax) and blown onto the affected area, as in Bing Pian San (Borneol Powder). For red swollen painful eyes, corneal opacity, tearing, and eyelid erosion, it can be ground very finely with Lu Gan Shi (Calamine), Zhen Zhu (Pearl), Xiong Dan (Bear Gall), and Niu Huang for eye drops, as in Ling Fei San.

Additionally, Cinnabar combined with Ci Shi and Shen Qu forms Ci Zhu Wan, which has the effect of subduing Yang and improving vision, calming the Heart and spirit, and can treat kidney Yin deficiency with relative Heart Yang hyperactivity causing blurred vision and tinnitus. Combined with Hua Shi (Talc) and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), it forms Yi Yuan San, which clears summer heat and calms the Heart, treating summer heat lodged in the Heart channel causing restlessness, thirst, or diarrhea with red urine.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: powdered and taken with water, 0.1–0.5 g; or incorporated into pills or powders; or mixed with other herbs in decoctions, such as Zhu Fu Ling or Zhu Deng Xin.

[Cautions] Internal use should not exceed recommended doses or be taken for prolonged periods. Contraindicated in pregnancy and in patients with impaired liver function. Only raw Cinnabar should be used in medicine; calcined forms are not recommended.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: The main component of Cinnabar is mercuric sulfide (HgS).
2. Pharmacological effects: Long-term administration of medicines containing Cinnabar can prolong the hypnotic effect of pentobarbital sodium, delay the onset of convulsions, slow EEG frequency, and increase wave amplitude. Mercury contained in Cinnabar can cross the placental barrier and enter the fetus, affecting fetal development and growth.
3. Clinical reports: (1) Mental illness: Cinnabar (fly) 60 g, calcined magnetite (fly) 60 g, Shen Qu 180 g, with honey 180 g, made into large honey pills (about 80–100 pills). Oral dose: 1–2 pills, 2–3 times daily. Among 24 cases treated, after 1–3 courses, 13 cured, 3 markedly effective, 6 improved, 2 ineffective. [Beijing Medicine, 1981, (2): 102] (2) Facial neuritis: Cinnabar 1.5 g, centipede 2 pieces (head and feet not removed), ground into powder, divided into two packets for one day’s dose. Fang Feng 10 g soaked in boiling water, this liquid taken morning and evening. After cumulative Cinnabar dose reached 30 g, reduced to 0.5 g daily. Among 38 cases treated, 28 cured within 15 days, 8 cured within 30 days, 2 ineffective. [Hunan Medical Journal, 1982, (2): 16]