Ophicalcite is a type of serpentine marble. It is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Henan, Zhejiang, and other regions, formed through the metamorphism of limestone. It has a sour and astringent taste, with a neutral nature. It enters the Liver Meridian. Its efficacy includes resolving stasis to stop bleeding. Clinical names include Ophicalcite, Calcined Ophicalcite, and Vinegar Ophicalcite.
bubble_chart Compendium of Materia Medica
Bencao Tujing: Ophicalcite was not mentioned in ancient formulas. In recent times, it has been combined with sulfur, sealed, calcined, and ground into powder to apply on incised wounds, with miraculous effects.
Bencao Gangmu: Ophicalcite has a neutral qi, astringent and sour taste, and is a blood-aspect medicine of the Jueyin Meridian. Its function is specifically to stop bleeding, transforming blood into water through its sour and astringent properties. It can also expel dead fetuses, remove the placenta, and eliminate stagnant blood, as the transformation of blood ensures that the fetus and placenta are not obstructed. Li Dongyuan mentioned that retained placenta can be treated with astringent formulas for purgation, hence red halloysite can also expel the placenta, sharing the same principle. Ge Ke-jiu treated hematemesis with Ophicalcite powder; the "Heji Ju" treated various bleeding conditions, incised wounds, and childbirth complications with Ophicalcite powder, all claiming its ability to transform blood into water, a function unparalleled by ordinary herbs.
It treats all types of bleeding, injuries, internal fistulas, and eye nebulas.
Bencao Mengquan: Its color resembles sulfur, with yellow interspersed with white spots. Named "flower stamen," it is difficult to obtain genuine samples. When calcined and ground into powder, it is highly effective for treating hemorrhagic syndromes. For men, mix with half urine and half wine; for women, mix with half urine and half vinegar. Overuse can lead to body fluid drainage, transforming static blood into yellow water. It is indeed a potent medicine and a quick remedy. Applied to incised wounds, it stops bleeding immediately. For postpartum dizziness due to hemorrhage, licking it brings instant relief.
"Medicinal Property Explanation": Ophicalcite's nature, taste, and meridian tropism are not recorded in many texts. It primarily stops bleeding from incised wounds and treats postpartum dizziness due to hemorrhage in women. Use after calcination.Note: Ophicalcite's efficacy is mainly for blood disorders, capable of transforming static blood into yellow water, but it can cause severe deficiency. It should not be used lightly. If used excessively, follow up with tonic formulas to replenish.
Jingyue Quanshu: This medicine resembles sulfur in color, with yellow stone interspersed with faint white spots, hence its name. Li Shizhen said: This medicine previously had no recorded taste or qi. Now, it is found to have a neutral qi, astringent and sour taste, making it a blood-aspect medicine of the Jueyin Meridian. Its function is specifically to stop bleeding, thus it does not require preparation; simply scrape and apply the powder to close wounds without forming pus, and treat all injuries involving blood loss. It also treats women's postpartum dizziness due to hemorrhage, expelling dead fetuses, removing the placenta, and eliminating stagnant blood, ensuring the placenta falls naturally after blood removal.
Benjing Fengyuan: Stone stamen improves vision, boosts essential qi, moistens the throat, and resolves phlegm from heat transformation. Combined with Fresh Ginger Rhizome, it can relieve pain in the forehead and supraorbital bone, as it is naturally inclined to rise.
Bencao Qiuzhen: [Comment] Resolves stasis and stops bleeding.
Ophicalcite specifically enters the Liver Meridian. Although produced in sulfur-rich mountains and considered warm in nature, its taste is sour and astringent, with a neutral qi, hence its ability to transform blood. Thus, it treats various injuries involving blood, postpartum hemorrhage, dead fetus in the uterus, and retained placenta, promoting fluid drainage and transforming static blood into yellow water.
Applied to incised wounds, it stops bleeding immediately, truly an odd-ingredient formula. It is praised: Recently, combined with sulfur, calcined, and ground into powder, it is applied to incised wounds with miraculous effects. In emergencies, simply scraping and applying the powder is also effective. However, as it is a potent medicine, Li Shizhen noted: Ophicalcite has a sour and astringent taste, specifically stopping bleeding by transforming blood into water through its sour and astringent properties. Li Dongyuan mentioned that retained placenta can be treated with astringent formulas for purgation, hence red halloysite can also expel the placenta, sharing the same principle. After stopping bleeding, it is essential to replenish with a strong ginseng decoction. Overuse can damage muscles and blood, hence caution is advised.Depei Bencao: Sour and astringent, neutral. Enters the blood aspect of the Jueyin Meridian. Transforms blood into water, applied to incised wounds, falls, injuries, and even fatal dog bites.
Combined with Sichuan Lovage Rhizome, Chrysanthemum, Saposhnikovia Root, Giant Typhonium Rhizome, Arctium, and Prepared Licorice Root, ground into powder and taken with wax tea, treats long-standing eye nebulas. Mixed with red lead, it treats foot cracks with water discharge; mixed with urine, it treats postpartum women with blood rushing to the heart, dead fetus in the uterus, and retained placenta.
Contraindicated in cases of internal fire causing reckless blood movement.
Bencao Fenjing: Sour, astringent, neutral. Specifically enters the liver channel blood aspect. Can transform static blood into water, expel dead fetus, and stop bleeding from incised wounds.
bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology- Ophicalcite powder has the function of rapid hemostasis when applied externally.
- After oral administration, Ophicalcite can increase the concentration of calcium ions in the blood, making the walls of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels denser, which helps prevent plasma exudation and promotes blood coagulation. It also has astringent and stasis-removing effects.