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Cura x Cura

Liu Huang硫黄

Sulfur · Sulfur · Brimstone

Herbs for External Application 外用药《神农本草经》

Overview

Native sulfur, purified and — for any internal use — processed with tofu to blunt its harshness. Sour, warm and toxic, it has two quite different faces. Externally, ground into an ointment or a wash, it kills parasites and stops itching, and it is still a recognised treatment for scabies and fungal skin disease. Internally, only the processed mineral is used, in small amounts in pills or powder, to warm Kidney yang for cold wheezing, impotence with cold limbs, and constipation of deficiency cold where a purgative would be far too harsh.

Nature & Flavor

Sour · Warm · Toxic

Channels

Kidney · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

1.5–3 g
硫黄Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Resolves toxicity, kills parasites, stops itchingApplied externally for scabies, tinea, chronic eczema and stubborn itching of the skin.
  • Warms Kidney yang, supports the fire gateImpotence with cold limbs and a weak, cold lower back and knees; cold wheezing in older patients. Internal use is with the processed mineral only.
  • Unblocks the bowel in deficiency coldConstipation in elderly or debilitated patients with clear cold signs, where a cold purgative would do harm.
  • Raw and processed forms differRaw sulfur is for external use only. Only Liu Huang, processed with tofu, is ever given internally, and only on prescription.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Liu Huang

No published formula lists this herb yet — the library is growing.

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Scabies, tinea and chronic itching skin disease (external use)
    - Impotence with cold, weak lower back and knees (internal, processed only)
    - Cold wheezing in the elderly
    - Constipation from deficiency cold

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

ScabiesTineaChronic eczemaConstipation

Contraindications

Cautions

Sulfur is toxic. Only the tofu-processed mineral is ever taken internally, only in the small doses above, only on a practitioner's prescription, and never as a long course — excess irritates the gut and burdens the liver and kidneys, and serious poisoning has followed large amounts. Raw sulfur is strictly for external use. Hot and drying, it is wrong in yin deficiency with heat signs, and it is avoided in liver or kidney impairment. Classical incompatibility: sulfur is not combined with Mang Xiao 芒硝／. Keep it away from children, do not apply it over large areas of broken skin, and stop at once and seek medical care if nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache or drowsiness follow a dose.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy — a toxic, hot mineral; do not take it internally or apply it over large skin areas while pregnant

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.