Have you ever seen the original appearance of cinnabar? It’s different from what you imagine.

Cinnabar, also known as cinnabarite, was a crucial ingredient in ancient alchemy. Primarily composed of mercury sulfide, it played a significant role in Chinese history. During the Warring States period, the most famous female entrepreneur was Ba Qing, who amassed her wealth through the trade of cinnabar. Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, even built a memorial platform, Huaiqingtai, in present-day Chongqing to honor her virtues. Ba Qing’s story was recorded by Sima Qian in the “Records of the Grand Historian,” highlighting her remarkable achievements. This historical account underscores the importance of cinnabar as a valuable mineral during the Warring States period.

Cinnabar had numerous applications in ancient times. Beyond its use as a dye, when purified and desulfurized, cinnabar could be processed to extract mercury, a substance used for preservation. It is said that in addition to the thousands of terracotta warriors, Qin Shi Huang’s tomb also had a moat filled with a shimmering, liquid metal—mercury. This vast quantity of mercury was extracted from cinnabar. Moreover, many ancient tombs employed cinnabar for both preservation and anti-theft purposes.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cinnabar, primarily composed of mercury sulfide (HgS), is used as a sedative. It’s mainly produced in the southwestern regions of China, including Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Harvesting can occur throughout the year. After mining the raw ore, it’s split open to extract the small amounts of cinnabar embedded within the rock. The ore is then crushed, and water is added to separate the denser cinnabar from the lighter impurities. The cinnabar settles at the bottom and is then dried. The highest quality cinnabar is characterized by a bright red color, slight transparency, and a glossy luster

However, the dried cinnabar must be processed before use. The common processing method involves first using a magnet to remove iron impurities. Next, the cinnabar is placed in a mortar with an appropriate amount of water and ground into a fine powder. Then, it is mixed with a large amount of clean water and allowed to sit for a period of time. When the coarse particles settle at the bottom and the fine powder remains suspended in the water, the upper layer of the suspension is collected, and the lower coarse powder is mixed with clean water and ground again. This process is repeated, collecting the upper suspension each time until no more can be collected. Finally, the collected suspension is combined, allowed to settle, dried, and then finely ground for storage and future use. This processing method is called the water-floating method, which is used to remove impurities and achieve specific medicinal effects. For different quality distinctions, various identification methods can be referred to on the website http://en.whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/%E6%9C%B1%E7%A0%82/. Note that cinnabar should not be processed by firing, as this can result in mercury poisoning.

The debate over whether cinnabar is toxic or non-toxic has persisted throughout the history of Chinese materia medica. Some ancient pharmacopoeias, such as the Mingyi Bielu from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and the Kaibao Bencao and Tu Jing Bencao from the Song Dynasty, classified it as non-toxic. However, another viewpoint, which emerged in the Ming Dynasty, suggested that raw cinnabar is non-toxic but becomes toxic when heated. This perspective was first proposed by Li Shizhen in his Compendium of Materia Medica, where he wrote, “Cinnabar, according to the Mingyi Bielu, is non-toxic. However, Qi Bo and Zhen Quan stated that it is toxic, seemingly contradictory. According to He Mengchun’s Yu Dong Lu, cinnabar is cold in nature and non-toxic, but it can kill. The nature of things changes with fire. This statement is correct.” Chen Shiduo, a physician from the Qing Dynasty, held a similar view in his New Compendium of Materia Medica, stating, “Cinnabar… is non-toxic when taken raw but can be fatal when refined and ingested.” Therefore, the debate over the toxicity of cinnabar has raged for over a thousand years. The 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia concludes that cinnabar is toxic and should not be taken in large quantities or for prolonged periods. It is also contraindicated for pregnant women and those with impaired liver or kidney function.

However, Taiwan has banned the manufacturing, dispensing, importing, exporting, selling, or displaying of cinnabar for use in traditional Chinese medicine since May 1st, 2015, according to the official document No. 0940002424. This indicates that the ban on cinnabar is the current trend. Nevertheless, many highly effective traditional Chinese medicine formulas, such as An Gong Niu Huang Wan (http://en.whatsintcm.com/宮牛黃丸/), contain mineral drugs like cinnabar and realgar, which are known for their remarkable effects in clearing heat, detoxifying, calming the mind, and opening the orifices. Modern applications include the treatment of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, uremia, hepatic coma, cerebrovascular accidents, craniocerebral trauma, and high fever caused by infection or poisoning. Given its significant efficacy, cinnabar is an invaluable medicinal material. However, whether it should be completely banned or how to use it safely remains a topic for further research and discussion.