Sheng Yao - 升药 - Crudum Hydrargyrum Oxydatum

Pharmaceutical Latin:	Crudum Hydragyrum Oxydatum
Common English:	Mercuric Oxide

Properties

Taste	Temperature	Entering Meridians	Dosage
Acrid	Hot Very Toxic

Actions	Indications/Syndromes
Discharges pus and removes putridity topically	Eczema, impetigo, stubborn tinea and syphilis

CONTRAINDICATIONS

INCOMPATIBILITIES

HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

Residual pus or putrid tissue left after abscesses and deep-rooted carbuncles ulcerate makes it hard for new tissue to grow. Because this herb is very good at discharging pus and removing putridity, it is the key surgical herb for that purpose. Being highly toxic, it is rarely used on its own in the clinic and is usually combined with Dampness-astringing, wound-healing herbs such as calcined Gypsum Fibrosum Duan Shi Gao. The ratio between the two is generally adjusted to suit the condition. A ratio of one to nine, for example, is called Jiu Yi Dan; its toxin-draining action is weak, but it strongly astringes Dampness and promotes tissue regeneration. Two to eight is called Ba Er Dan, three to seven Qi San Dan, one to one Wu Wu Dan, and nine to one Jiu Zhuan Dan. As the proportion of Sheng Yao rises, the toxin-draining and pus-discharging actions grow progressively stronger. It may be applied directly to the affected area, or put on cotton and inserted into the pus cavity. Sheng Yao is also used externally for eczema, impetigo, stubborn tinea and syphilis.