WH Acupuncture & Herbs Centre

It is smithsonite ore of carbonate mineral, mainly containing zinc carbonate (ZnCO₃). The medicinal material can be obtained and collected at any time of the year, after the earth and impurity are removed from the material, and it is dried in the sunshine. It can be calcined, or quenched with vinegar, or quenched with Sanhuang Decoction (containing Huanglian, Huangbo, Dahuang). It can be refined with water for medical use.

[Medicinal Properties]: Pungent and neutral; relate to the stomach meridian.

[Medicinal Efficacies]: Remove toxin and nebula to improve eyesight; absorb dampness, relieve itching and promote tissue regeneration.

[Clinical Applications]:

1. Conjunctivitis with nebula, marginal blephritis This medicinal is used to treat eye disease for external applications, it is usually combined with equal amount of medicinals, such as Xuanmingfen and Bingpian, it can be ground into powder, dissolved and used as eye drops. 

       2.Ulceration without healing, purulent skin lesion, eczema, ulceration of eyelids It is often used in combination with Duanshigao, Longgu, Qingdai and Huanglian.

[Usage and Dosage]: It can be used only for external use, but not for internal use. The appropriate amount is utilized externally. It is ground into fine powder and applied to the local area or mixed with water. It can be refined with water and used as an eye drops, or blown to throat.

[Precautions]: It should be used after being processed.

[Side Effects]: Some calamine contains lead and cadmium, and has strong toxicity It may generate zinc chloride in the stomach after oral administration, irritate and corrode the gastrointestinal tract.

炉甘石为碳酸盐类矿物菱锌矿石，主含碳酸锌（ZnCO3）。主产于广西、湖南、四川、云南等地。全年可采挖，采挖后，除去泥土杂石，洗净，晒干。有火煅、醋淬及火煅后用三黄汤（黄连、黄柏、大黄）淬等制法。水飞用。