Ci Shi (Magnetite): Chinese Herb Guide

Name

Ci Shi (Magnetitum), recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing.

Source and quality

Plant

The mineral magnetite, an oxide mineral of the spinel group.

Where it is grown

Shandong, Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces, among others.

Harvest

Mined at any time of year.

Smell and taste

Smell of earth; no taste.

Better grade

Black in color with a lustrous surface, and strongly magnetic.

Processing

Other stones and weakly magnetic minerals are removed; smashed for use raw, or quenched with vinegar and then ground to powder.

Nature and action

Salty and cold; enters the heart, liver and kidney channels. Induces sedation and tranquilization, pacifies the liver and subdues yang, improves hearing and vision, improves the reception of qi and relieves wheezing.

When it is used

Unsteadiness of the heart and mind, convulsions, epilepsy and mania-depressive psychosis

Because of its weight and its descending, sinking nature, it settles the mind and enters the heart channel, while tonifying kidney yin and entering the kidney channel. It is therefore good at protecting kidney yin, settling floating yang and inducing tranquility.

It is used for unsteadiness of the heart and mind from kidney deficiency with up-flaring liver fire disturbing the mind; for unsteadiness, insomnia and fright palpitations when fright leads to qi turbulence and the mind fails to keep to its abode; and for epilepsy, mania with unsteadiness and insomnia when phlegm-fire clouds the heart. In these conditions it is often combined with Zhu Sha to settle the mind, as in Ci Zhu Wan from Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang.

Dizziness from liver yang

It enters the liver and kidney channels, pacifies the liver and subdues yang, and nourishes kidney yin to restrain floating yang. For dizziness, blurred vision, irritability and a tendency to anger, it is combined with herbs that pacify the liver and subdue yang, such as Shi Jue Ming and Mu Li.

Tinnitus, deafness and dimmed vision from liver and kidney deficiency

It nourishes kidney yin and improves hearing and vision. For tinnitus and deafness from kidney deficiency it is combined with kidney-nourishing herbs to tonify the kidney and improve hearing, such as Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu and Wu Wei Zi. For blurred vision from liver and kidney deficiency it is combined with herbs that tonify liver and kidney and improve vision, such as Gou Qi Zi, Nv Zhen Zi and Ju Hua.

Dyspnea from kidney deficiency

It tonifies the kidney, improves the reception of qi and relieves wheezing. For wheezing from kidney qi deficiency with failure to receive qi, it is combined with herbs that improve the reception of qi and relieve wheezing, such as Wu Wei Zi, Hu Tao Rou and Ge Jie.

Dose

Decoction 15~30 g; smash and decoct first. As powder, 1~3 g. Mostly used after being quenched with vinegar.