Mirabilite

Introduction

Mirabilite is actually a type of medicinal material used in traditional Chinese medicine, but unlike traditional herbal medicines, it is a sulfate mineral. Mirabilite is a processed crystalline substance. Generally speaking, mirabilite has the effects of relieving constipation, clearing heat, and reducing inflammation, and it is even effective in treating conditions such as dry and hard stool and abdominal distension. It is recommended to purchase mirabilite under the guidance of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

Basic Information

Alternative Names: Pu Xiao, Pi Xiao, Fenghua Xiao, Mayaxiao, Yingxiao, Penxiao. English Name: Natrii Sulfas. Source: It is derived from the sulfate mineral mirabilite and processed into a crystalline form. Production Areas: Distributed in Hebei, Tianjin, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shanxi are the main production areas.

Processing Techniques

Harvesting and Processing: It can be harvested throughout the year, with autumn and winter being the preferred seasons. Natural, impure mirabilite is dissolved in water, allowed to stand to precipitate impurities, then filtered. The filtrate is heated and concentrated, cooled to precipitate crystals, which are then removed and dried. The upper layer of crystals is mirabilite, and the lower layer is Pu Xiao. If the crystals are not pure, the process can be repeated until clean mirabilite crystals are obtained.

Main Uses and Properties

Medicinal Properties: It appears as prismatic, rectangular, or irregular crystals, with uneven ends and varying sizes. It is colorless and transparent, with straight edges and a glassy luster. When exposed to air, its surface gradually weathers and is covered with a layer of white powder. It is brittle and easily broken, with a white streak. It has no odor but a bitter and salty taste. It is cold in nature and has a salty and bitter taste, belonging to the stomach and large intestine meridians. Its main functions include relieving heat and constipation, softening and lubricating dry stool, clearing heat, and reducing inflammation. It is classified as a purging medicine.

Clinical Applications

Dosage: 6-12 grams. It is generally not used in decoctions but is dissolved in the prepared decoction after it has been boiled. It can also be used externally in appropriate amounts. It is used to treat conditions such as excessive heat-induced constipation, dry and hard stool, abdominal pain due to accumulation, intestinal abscess pain, breast abscess, and hemorrhoid pain.

Pharmacological Research

Mirabilite is an osmotic laxative that forms a hypertonic salt solution in the intestine after oral administration, stimulating intestinal motility and causing diarrhea. Prescriptions containing mirabilite have significant anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and gallstone-dissolving effects.

Chemical Composition

Mirabilite mainly contains hydrated sodium sulfate and often contains trace amounts of impurities such as sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate.