Sulfur
Sulphur, Sulfur
Liu Huang

About

Properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Sour; warm; toxic

Part(s) used

Potential toxicity/side effects

Extremely toxic

Functions/effects it is traditionally believed to have

External use for scabies, favus, chronic sores and malignant ulcers, oral administration for impotence with cold lower extremities, asthma or constipation of deficiency-cold type.

Conditions/symptoms it is traditionally used to treat

1. sulfur itself is not highly toxic to micro-organisms, and becomes bacteriocidal when it is transformed into hydrogen sulfide and pentathionic acid ( h2s5o6 ). it possesses a keratolytic effect, and is applied for skin diseases not complicated by infection. 2. oral use may render sulfur partially coverted to sulfides, and stimulates the intestinal tract, leading to diarrhea.