The use of cinnabar is extensive, and it was widely used in ancient times. It not only has the ability to ward off evil spirits, but it can also be used to make pigments. Although cinnabar has high medicinal value, it is often questioned for its toxicity. So, is cinnabar toxic or not?
Is Cinnabar Toxic?
In ancient medical research, cinnabar was initially believed to be non-toxic. However, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, cinnabar was considered a "toxic" traditional Chinese medicine.
In modern research, it has also been indicated that excessive intake of cinnabar can lead to poisoning. Why is this so?
Cinnabar is a mineral containing mercury sulfide. The toxicity of mercury is well known, and its liquid form is commonly known as mercury, which has been reported in cases of mercury poisoning.
Under anaerobic conditions with sulfur, cinnabar can produce methylmercury when it encounters substances with methyl groups in a dark environment with a pH of 7 and a temperature of 37°C. The human intestines have the conditions for this reaction, which increases the risk of poisoning when taking oral cinnabar preparations.
Cinnabar is used in limited quantities as a Chinese medicine, so it is important to remember not to exceed the recommended dosage when consuming medications containing cinnabar components.
Signs of Cinnabar Poisoning
The main symptoms of cinnabar poisoning in clinical practice are:
Nervous system: Insomnia, vivid dreaming, memory decline, headaches, dizziness, numbness in the hands and feet, etc.
Digestive system: Initial symptoms include nausea, vomiting, throat pain, loss of appetite, and in severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding may occur.
Urinary system: Often manifested in the later stages of poisoning, with decreased blood pressure, irregular heart rate, or toxic myocarditis, etc.
Mercury absorbed into the blood can combine with the sulfhydryl (-SH) groups of red blood cells and hemoglobin through biological membranes. This can damage brain cells, embryos, sperm, eggs, heart, liver, kidneys, etc., and can also inhibit the activity of various enzymes. In severe cases, acute renal failure may occur, leading to death.
Uses of Cinnabar
1. Medicinal value
Cinnabar has the effects of calming the mind and detoxification. Traditional Chinese medicine often uses cinnabar to treat ailments such as palpitations, insomnia, and throat pain. Well-known medications such as An Shen Ding Zhi Wan and Zhu Sha An Shen Wan contain cinnabar as an ingredient.
2. Use as a pigment
Cinnabar has vibrant colors, including bright red, dark red, and gray-brown, which do not fade over time. Grinding cinnabar into powder and using it as a pigment has been a practice for a long time.
3. Industrial applications
As mentioned earlier, cinnabar's chemical composition is mercury sulfide, so it can be extracted to obtain elemental mercury.
