This product is a type of ore from the oxide mineral limonite, produced in Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and other regions. The best quality is characterized by a brownish-yellow color, uniform and unbroken pieces, and free from impurities. After removing impurities and soil, it is crushed for medicinal use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and astrigent, neutral. Act on stomach meridian. Act on large intestine meridian.

1. Benjing: "sweet, cold."
2. Yaoxing Lun: "salty."
3. Gangmu: "Sex astrigent." "Hand. Act on foot yangming meridian blood."
4. Bencao Xinbian: "Act on spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians."

bubble_chart Efficacy

Astringe the intestines and stop bleeding.

bubble_chart Indications

Treats chronic diarrhea, prolonged dysentery, women's menorrhagia and metrostaxis, leukorrhea, and hemorrhoidal fistula disease.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bencao Jing Jizhu: "Eucommia Bark serves as its adjuvant. It is averse to Fritillaria Bulb, Acorus, and iron filings."
2. "The Four-Tone Materia Medica" states: "Peony serves as its adjuvant."
3. Zhujie Shanghan Lun: "Heavy (medicines) eliminate timidity; the weight of limonite is used to stabilize and secure."
4. Gangmu: "Limonite is a heavy formula for the blood aspect of the hand and foot Yangming channels. Its nature is astringent, hence it primarily treats various disorders of the lower energizer. Li Zhixian's poem says, 'The lower energizer's ailments are hard to understand, limonite and red halloysite must be used.' Baopuzi states, 'Limonite pills taken twice daily, after three days, make one feel more energetic.'"
5. Bencao Huiyan: "Limonite nourishes the lung metal and secures the large intestine. It is effective for all diseases caused by disharmony between water and earth, and confusion of clear and turbid."
6. Changsha Yaojie: "Limonite stops painful and astringent urination and checks efflux diarrhea of the large intestine. The 'Cold-Damage Disease' limonite pill treats those who, after heavy sweating, experience mental confusion and heart disorder, and vaginal pain after urination. This is due to excessive sweating leading to yang depletion and spirit failure, dampness stirring and wood stagnation, resulting in poor water passage and painful urination due to stagnant qi. Limonite, being sweet and cold, astringes and secures, consolidates essence and spirit, returns heart fire to its root, and restores the yang of the kidney, thus promoting the development of the liver wood, relieving stagnation and stopping pain. The Red Halloysite and Limonite Decoction is used to treat large intestine slippage and benefits the lower energizer by astringing dampness and securing the intestines."
7. Bencao Qiuzhen: "The efficacy of limonite is similar to that of stone fat, but limonite is heavier than stone fat, and stone fat is warmer than limonite. This distinction must be made."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

For internal use: decoct in water, 3-5 qian; or made into pills or powder. For external use: grind into powder and sprinkle or apply as a paste.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Excess pattern should be avoided, and pregnant women should use with caution.

• Bencao Huiyan: "Do not use for diseases of marrow deficiency and blood dryness."

bubble_chart Processing and Storage

Calcining limonite involves heating pure limonite over a smokeless flame until it turns red, then immediately quenching it in vinegar while hot to make it brittle. Afterward, it is dried in the sun and used medicinally, enhancing its astringent and hemostatic effects.