What are the effects and functions of Glauber's salt? A detailed guide

Glauber's salt, also known as mirabilite, puxiao, pixiao, maoxiao and so on, is a sulfate mineral, a crystal refined through processing. As a medicine it has the effects of purging and relieving constipation, moistening dryness and softening hardness, and clearing fire and reducing swelling. It is commonly used to treat excess heat with accumulated stagnation, abdominal fullness and distension with pain, dry bound stool, and intestinal abscess swelling and pain, and is used externally for breast abscess and hemorrhoid swelling and pain. Let us take a look below at the effects and functions of Glauber's salt!

The medicinal effects of Glauber's salt

[Nature and flavor] Salty and bitter in flavor, cold in nature.

[Meridian entry] Stomach and large intestine meridians.

[Effects] Purging and relieving constipation, moistening dryness and softening hardness, clearing fire and reducing swelling. Mainly treats excess heat with accumulated stagnation, abdominal fullness and distension with pain, dry bound stool, and intestinal abscess swelling and pain; used externally for breast abscess and hemorrhoid swelling and pain.

Precautions for using Glauber's salt

1. Glauber's salt should not be used by those without excess heat, and it is also unsuitable for constipation caused by old age and bodily weakness; neither should Glauber's salt nor Mirabilite Depurated Powder be used. If it is constipation caused by weakness from a general chronic illness, when it must be used it should only be added in combination within a tonic formula.

2. For habitual constipation, Glauber's salt and Mirabilite Depurated Powder are generally not used, but when the purgative effect must be strengthened, Mirabilite Depurated Powder may be added in an appropriate amount on the basis of using hemp seed, trichosanthes seed and apricot seed.

The pharmacological effects of Glauber's salt

1. Purgative effect: after Glauber's salt is taken orally, its sulfate ions are not easily absorbed by the intestinal mucosa and remain in the intestine as a hypertonic solution, increasing the water content in the intestine, causing mechanical stimulation and promoting intestinal peristalsis.

2. Reducing appendiceal inflammation: in rabbits with experimental appendicitis and appendiceal perforation, external application to the abdomen of a paste of rhubarb, Glauber's salt and garlic with an appropriate amount of vinegar had a clear stimulating effect on the reticuloendothelial system of the appendix and spleen.

3. Causing intestinal nerve reflexes: after external application of a garlic and Glauber's salt paste to the right lower abdomen of normal rabbits, the local skin showed stimulating symptoms such as heat, redness and blistering, and the movement of the small intestine, appendix and sacculated colon was enhanced.

4. Reducing swelling and relieving pain: for infectious wounds, external application of 10-25% sodium sulfate solution can accelerate lymph formation and has the effect of reducing swelling and relieving pain.

5. Diuretic effect: intravenous drip of 4.3% sterile sodium sulfate solution can be used as a diuretic to treat anuria and uremia.

Medicinal selected formulas of Glauber's salt

1. To treat obstruction with inability to urinate or defecate, with distension and fullness that feels near death: Glauber's salt 3 liang, wrapped in paper 3 to 4 layers, burned over charcoal fire, then fully dissolved in 1 sheng of hot water and taken. One should first drink 1 sheng of hot water, and after vomiting, then take it.

2. To treat food stagnation from overeating that then becomes distension and blockage: horse-tooth salt 1 liang (crushed), evodia half a sheng (old). Decoct to obtain a thick evodia juice, add the salt, and take it while hot; if there is still no movement after a long while, take another dose.

3. To treat wandering erysipelas in children moving over the body, which is fatal when it reaches the heart: put Glauber's salt into hot water, take the thick juice and wipe it on the red patches.

4. To treat fire erysipelas toxin: mix Glauber's salt with water and apply.

5. To treat a film over the eyes: take 1 large liang of Glauber's salt, place it in a copper vessel, refine it over a fierce fire, let it cool, then sift it finely through raw silk and apply a dot to the inner corner of the eye once each night when about to sleep.

6. To treat double tongue in children: apply horse-tooth salt under the tongue.

7. To treat oral thrush in children: finely grind horse-tooth salt and sprinkle it on the tongue, 3 to 5 times a day.

8. To treat lacquer dermatitis: Glauber's salt 5 liang, soak in hot water and wash with it.

9. To treat felon: simply boil Sichuan Glauber's salt in water and soak the affected part.