Cinnabar, a sulfide mineral of the cinnabar family, is the main component of vermilion. It is mainly composed of mercury sulfide, with traces of realgar and calcium phosphate. It has a sweet taste, a slightly cold nature, and is slightly toxic. It belongs to the liver meridian. Traditional Chinese medicines containing cinnabar include Zhusha Anshen Pill, Zixue Powder, Buxin Pill, Huoluo Pill, Cizhu Pill, Shenrong Weisheng Pill, Chensha Pill, and Yiyuan Powder. Some of these medicines are commonly used, so when using them, it is important to pay attention to their contraindications to avoid harm to the body.
Cinnabar is toxic and can cause toxic substances to accumulate in the body of individuals with liver and kidney dysfunction. Therefore, it is best for such patients to avoid long-term or large-scale use of cinnabar-containing traditional Chinese medicines. Cinnabar can inhibit the central nervous system, reduce central excitability, and cause sleep disorders, memory loss, and dementia. It is not suitable for children and the elderly to take it for a long time. It is also not suitable for those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold without heat syndrome.
Due to the presence of divalent mercury ions in cinnabar, it should not be taken together with sodium bromide, potassium iodide, iodine throat lozenges, etc. Mercury ions can react with bromide ions or iodide ions in the intestine to produce highly toxic mercuric bromide or mercuric iodide, leading to drug-induced enteritis or dysentery-like stools, so co-administration should be avoided. Co-administration with reducing agents such as ferrous sulfate and amyl nitrite can reduce the divalent mercury ions to monovalent mercury ions, increasing their toxicity, so co-administration should also be avoided. It is not suitable to use it with sedatives or anesthetics to avoid exacerbating central inhibition. It is also not suitable to use it with enzyme-containing drugs such as gastric protease and multienzyme tablets, as mercury ions can inhibit the activity of enzymes.
When taking cinnabar-containing medications, do not consume iodine-rich foods such as kelp and nori. It is also important to limit the intake of table salt in food, as salt can increase the solubility of mercury salts, leading to increased absorption of mercury and exacerbating mercury poisoning.
