Mi Tuo Seng (密陀僧) is litharge, lead monoxide, recorded as Lithargyrum. It is salty and acrid in flavour and neutral in temperature, entering the Liver and Spleen channels. The catalogue files it under obsolete substances.

Pinyin

mi tuo seng

Chinese

密陀僧

Latin Name

Lithargyrum

English Name

galena·galena; litharge·litharge

Japanese

mitsudaso

Korean

miltaseung

Actions and indications

Absorbs fluid, reduces swelling and stops bleeding

Hemorrhoidal swelling
Weeping ulcers and sores
Damp skin eruptions
Weeping eczema and sores that will not close, applied to dry the discharge
Leukoderma
Underarm odor

Resolves toxicity and kills parasites, applied externally

Tinea
Scabies, ringworm and tinea versicolor

Heals sores

Burns, scalds and stubborn skin ulceration, compounded into powders or pastes for outside use

Sends Phlegm downward and settles childhood convulsions

Chronic dysenteric disorders
Convulsions in children

Calms fright

Fright

Combinations

xiong huang + liu huang

Tinea versicolor, vitiligo, scabies, eczema, pemphigus and severe underarm odor; helps chronic ulcers and bedsores heal

xuan shen + liu huang + qing fen

Acne rosacea

qing fen

Powdered and mixed with petroleum jelly as a topical application for skin disorders in general

ming fan + bing pian

Excessive sweating or body odor

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any

0.9-3 g

—

Cautions

caution Toxic: this is essentially lead oxide, and no amount of lead exposure is considered safe

caution External use still carries risk: lead can be absorbed through skin, above all broken skin, and the powder can be swallowed or inhaled by accident, especially by children

caution Case reports repeatedly trace lead poisoning to lead-bearing traditional Chinese medicine products, topical ones included

caution For children, no blood lead level is known to be safe; even low exposure is linked to harm to development and cognition

caution Use internally only with caution; it has no accepted internal use in modern practice

contraindication Weak patients

pregnancy Do not use in pregnancy

contraindication Blood deficiency

caution Not the same substance as Hong Dan (red lead), another toxic lead oxide with which it is sometimes confused

mi tuo seng

About mi tuo seng

Names

Classification