What are the effects and functions of litharge
Litharge is a solid drier containing lead oxide, also known as miduosen, meiduoseng and so on. Used as medicine, it has the effects of reducing swelling and killing parasites, astringing and preserving, and settling phlegm and calming fright. It has therapeutic effects on hemorrhoids, swelling and toxicity, body odor, wounds, chronic dysentery, ulcers, eczema, convulsions and epilepsy and other conditions. Those with a weak constitution should avoid taking it. Let us take a look at the effects and functions of litharge below!
The medicinal effects of litharge
[Nature and flavor] Salty and pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, toxic.
[Meridian entry] Liver and spleen meridians.
[Effects] Reducing swelling and killing parasites, astringing and preserving, settling phlegm and calming fright. Mainly treats hemorrhoids, swelling and toxicity, ulcers, eczema, body odor, wounds, chronic dysentery, convulsions and epilepsy.
The pharmacological effects of litharge
1. At a concentration of 2%, litharge shows an inhibitory effect in test tubes on Trichophyton concentricum, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum ferrugineum.
2. At a concentration of 4%, litharge shows an inhibitory effect on Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton pedis, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton schoenleinii and its Mongolian variety, etc.
3. Litharge water infusion (1:3) also has varying degrees of inhibitory effect in test tubes on many kinds of skin fungi, and as an external medicine it can reduce inflammation.
4. A 1:3 infusion of litharge has an inhibitory effect in test tubes on skin fungi such as Trichophyton violaceum and Microsporum ferrugineum.
Expert discussions on litharge
1. "Tang Materia Medica": Mainly treats chronic dysentery, five types of hemorrhoids, and metal wounds. For scars and dark spots on the face, it is used in facial ointments.
2. "Rihuazi Materia Medica": Calms the heart, tonifies the five viscera, and treats convulsions and epilepsy, cough, vomiting and phlegm ejection, etc.
3. "Compendium of Materia Medica": Treats regurgitation, diabetes, malaria, and diarrhea. Stops bleeding, kills parasites, and reduces accumulation. Treats various sores, reduces swelling and toxicity, and removes body odor.
4. "Materia Medica Zheng": Treats tinea versicolor, and controls armpit sweating and athlete's foot.
5. "Benjing Fengyuan": Taken ground with water, it neutralizes arsenic and sulfur toxicity.
Medicinal selected formulas of litharge
1. To treat diabetes with thirst: litharge 2 liang. Grind into powder, soak in soup and steam into pills the size of wutong seeds. Take with heavily decocted silkworm cocoon and salt soup, or eggplant root soup, or wine, 5 pills a day, increasing by 5 pills daily, up to 30 pills, and do not take more. After 5 or 6 doses, take nausea upon seeing water as the limit; when nausea occurs, press it down with dry food, and it will settle by itself after some days.
2. To treat multiple-bone sores that repeatedly discharge fine bones: mix litharge powder with tung oil evenly, spread and apply it.
3. To treat red and white dysentery, with little discharge but no reduction in frequency: litharge 3 liang, burn until yellow, and grind finely into powder. Take 1 qian per dose, mixed with vinegar tea, 3 times a day.
4. To treat blood-wind shin sores: litharge and sesame oil. Put into a coarse bowl and grind to dissolve, spread the ointment on oil paper, and apply repeatedly.
5. To treat armpit body odor: wash clean with rice water, mix litharge with oil and apply it; use 1 qian, take one hot steamed cake, cut it open, mix in the powder and clamp it on.
6. To treat sores in the mouth and tongue: cattail pollen and huangyaozi half a liang each, litharge, phellodendron and licorice more than 1 liang each. Grind the above into fine powder, and apply dry to the mouth sores.
7. To treat damp and itchy genital sweating: apply litharge powder. One formula adds cnidium fruit powder.
8. To treat macerated and eroded toe webs: litharge 1 liang, calomel 1 qian, calcined gypsum 2 qian, and dried alum 2 qian. Grind into powder; if wet, apply dry; if dry, mix with tung oil and apply.
9. To treat eczema: litharge 10 g, phellodendron 5 g, borneol 0.5 g. Grind together into fine powder, and mix into a thick paste with sesame oil. Use a bamboo board to apply the medicine to the affected area, changing the medicine once every day before noon.