Pinyin: Yangqishi
Aliases
Baishi, Shisheng, Yangshi, Qiyangshi.
Source
Silicate amphibole group mineral tremolite and its variety tremolite asbestos.
Distribution
Distributed in Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Hubei and other regions.
Harvesting and Processing
After excavation, remove all soil and select light gray-white or light green-white fibrous or elongated columnar aggregates for medicinal use.
Medicinal Properties
This product is an aggregate of columnar, acicular, and fibrous crystals, occurring as irregular blocks, elongated strips, or short columns of varying sizes. White, light grayish-white, or pale greenish-white in color, with a silky luster. Relatively heavy, hard and brittle, some slightly loose. Breakable with an uneven fracture surface, the longitudinal surface appearing fibrous or finely columnar. Odorless, tasteless. Those with needle-like bundles, white color, luster, and free of impurities are considered superior.
Chemical Constituents
The main ingredients are hydrous silicates containing calcium, magnesium, and iron.
Properties and Channel Entry
Salty, warm. Enters the Kidney channel.
Functions and Indications
Warms the kidneys and strengthens Yang
Dosage and Administration
Oral: decoction, 3-5 g; or made into pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder for topical application.
Precautions and Contraindications
Contraindicated in those with Yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity; should not be taken for prolonged periods.
Prescriptions
1. For consumptive fatigue and deficiency damage, lower channel exhaustion, kidney qi not secure, essence and urine leakage, organ self-diarrhea, cold hands and feet, or pulse as thin as silk, flesh and form wasting away, or aversion to food smell, hoarseness and loss of voice: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, calcined red-hot), Fuzi (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, processed, skin and navel removed), Zhongrufen (Stalactitum) equal parts. Grind into fine powder, mix well, use glutinous rice paste to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 20 to 30 pills with rice water before meals. Avoid chi broth and sheep blood. (Sangidan, from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang) 2. For kidney deficiency and weakness, yang qi atrophy and debility: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, boiled in wine for half a day) 30 g, Baifanhui (Alumen, calcined) 30 g, Zhongrufen (Stalactitum) 30 g, Liuhuang (Sulfur) 30 g, Longnao (Borneolum Syntheticum) 30 g, Fuhuo Naosha (Sal Ammoniac, subdued fire) 30 g, Fuhuo Pishuang (Arsenic, subdued fire) 15 g. Grind the above drugs into powder, mix with soft japonica rice to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Before meals, take 10 pills with warm wine, twice daily. (Yangqishi Wan, from Sheng Hui Fang) 3. For impotence and scrotal sweating: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, calcined, ground into powder). Take 6 g with salt and wine. (Pu Ji Fang) 4. For women with cold uterus, excessive fatigue and injury, wind-cold binding, long-term infertility leading to permanent sterility: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, soaked in wine for half a day, finely ground) 60 g, Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus, washed seven times in hot water, baked, lightly stir-fried) 0.9 g, Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 30 g, Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, without stem, soaked in wine, baked) 0.9 g, Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, processed) 0.9 g, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 0.9 g. Grind into fine powder, mix with refined honey, pound 300 times, form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 20 to 30 pills with warm wine or warm rice water, on an empty stomach before meals, twice daily. Stop if pregnancy is suspected. (Yangqishi Wan, from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang) 5. For non-intersection of Chong and Ren channels, extreme deficiency-cold, incessant uterine bleeding, giving rise to other conditions: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, calcined red-hot, separately ground to very fine powder) 60 g, Lurong (Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum, hair removed, vinegar-fried) 30 g. Grind into fine powder, boil vinegar with mugwort juice, mix with glutinous rice paste to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 100 pills with rice water on an empty stomach before meals. (Yangqishi Wan, from Yan Shi Ji Sheng Fang) 6. For erysipelas: Yangqishi (Actinolitum, burned, ground into powder). Mix with fresh water and apply to the swollen area. (Yangqishi San, from Ru Men Shi Qin)
