Zi Ran Tong
English Name: pyrite
Literal Translation: “natural copper”
Pharmaceutical Name: Pyritum
Medica Category: Blood-Invigorating and Stasis-Removing Herbs
Properties: Zi Ran Tong enters the Liver channel; it is acrid in nature and neutral in temperature.
What is Zi Ran Tong?:
The Chinese Herb Zi Ran Tong is the mineral pyrite. It is often calcinated (exposed to heat/baked) to facilitate its being crushed into powder for use as medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Zi Ran Tong:
Zi Ran Tong disperses blood stasis, relieves pain, and helps to connects bones. In this regard it used to relieve pain and reduce swelling in cases of internal injury from (external) trauma and is especially helpful to speed the recovery of broken bones. It can be used both internally and topically.
–(student/practitioner) safety note:
Contraindicated for use in cases of blood deficiency or in the absence of blood stasis.