Melanteritum
Aliases：Qing Fan (Blue Alum); Zao Fan (Soap Alum); Lan Fan (variant name); Zaojia Fan (Soap Pod Alum); Shui Lü Fan (Water Green Vitriol; Melanterite); Tie Fan (Iron Alum); Jiang Fan (Crimson Alum, after calcination); Fan Hong (Alum Red, after calcination).
Melanterite is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It is an ore or chemical preparation containing ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄). Natural melanterite mainly occurs in the weathering zones of iron sulfide minerals (such as pyrite and pyrrhotite) in arid regions. It is recorded in herbal works including the Tang Materia Medica, Compendium of Materia Medica, and the China Medical Information Query Platform.
Efficacy & Actions
Enriches Blood and resolves accumulations; removes toxin and astringes sores; dries Dampness and kills parasites.
Indications
Blood deficiency with sallow complexion (iron deficiency anemia); infantile malnutrition (gan accumulation); abdominal distension and fullness; hematochezia due to intestinal wind; sores and ulcers; throat obstruction and mouth sores; ulcerated eyelid margins (lanxian fengyan); scabies and tinea with itching.
Modern Pharmacology
Blood-enriching (anti-anemic) effect: Ferrous sulfate in Melanterite is a major component of hemoglobin and myoglobin. After absorption, iron ions are oxidized to ferric ions by ceruloplasmin in the blood, then bind to transferrin and enter cells via pinocytosis for use in red blood cell production; they can also accumulate in the liver, spleen, and other organs as ferritin or hemosiderin. Melanterite can be used to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia of various causes, including increased iron requirements during childhood or infancy with insufficient dietary supply, iron absorption disorders, mid-to-late pregnancy, and chronic blood loss. Clinical studies have shown that Zao Fan (Soap Alum) achieves relatively significant therapeutic effects in treating iron deficiency anemia. Among the metallic elements contained in Melanterite, iron content is 14.34%. Hemostatic effect: After calcination (Jiang Fan), the astringent and hemostatic effects are enhanced, and it is used for hematochezia due to intestinal wind and gastrointestinal bleeding. Antibacterial and insecticidal effects: Melanterite has the effects of removing toxin and drying Dampness, and killing parasites and relieving itching. It can be used for scabies, tinea with itching, damp sores, and other dermatophyte infectious diseases. Anti-malarial effect: Melanterite can be used to treat vomiting due to shaoyin malaria. The traditional usage is Melanterite 3 g, dried ginger (soaked) and Pinellia (ginger-processed) 15 g each. Grind into powder. Take 1.5 g each time, administered with vinegar decoction early on the day of the attack.
Ingredients
Melanterite mainly contains the following constituents: Principal constituent: Hydrous ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄·7H₂O), which is the main active constituent. Inclusions (varying depending on the place of origin): Copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and others. Metal element content: iron (Fe) 14.34%. Chemical properties: Pale green monoclinic crystals; relative density 1.90; melting point 64°C; soluble in water, and its solution is acidic due to hydrolysis; insoluble in alcohol. It is corrosive, readily effloresces in air, losing part of its water of crystallization, and its surface is oxidized to brown basic ferric sulfate.
Usage & Dosage
Oral use: Taken in pills or powders, 0.2–0.6 g. Not used in decoctions. External use: Appropriate amount. Ground into powder and sprinkled on the affected area or mixed into a paste for topical application; or applied or used for washing as a 2% aqueous solution.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in individuals with stomach disorders or a history of hematemesis. Do not take it together with tea. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Use with caution in individuals with Spleen-Stomach weakness.
Selected Formulas
Melanterite Pill (Yixue Zhengzhuan, Vol. 6, citing Jiyan Fang) For yellow swelling disease: Composed of Melanterite, Atractylodes Rhizome (Cangzhu), and soot from the bottom of a cooking pot (Baicao Shuang). It has the effects of killing parasites and resolving accumulations. Grind the ingredients into a fine powder and form into pills with ginger juice-cooked jujube flesh, the size of Chinese parasol tree seeds. Take 60–70 pills each time, administered with warm wine; if unable to drink wine, rice water may also be used. Modern usage: 1–3 g each time, taken with warm wine or rice water. Lifetime avoidance of buckwheat noodles. For splenic yellow swelling (Compendium of Materia Medica) Qing Fan (Blue Alum) 120 g (calcined into red beads), Angelica 120 g (soaked in wine for seven days, roasted), and soot from the bottom of a cooking pot (Baicao Shuang) 90 g. Grind into powder and form into pills the size of Chinese parasol tree seeds with the wine used for soaking the medicine. Take 5–7 pills each time, administered with warm water. The yellowing subsides with marked effect within one month. For intractable infantile gan qi (Puji Fang) Calcine Melanterite until red, quench in vinegar three times, grind into powder, and form into pills the size of mung beans with jujube flesh. Take 10 pills each time, administered with warm water, twice daily. For double tongue (sublingual swelling) and wooden tongue (stiff tongue) Zao Fan 6 g, burned red on iron, ground and applied. For white ringworm of the head (tinea capitis) (Puji Fang) Zao Fan and Chinaberry seeds (Melia azedarach) in appropriate amounts. Burn, grind, and apply. For ulcerated eyelid margins (lanxian fengyan) (Yonglei Qianfang) Qing Fan calcined over fire to remove toxicity, finely ground, soaked in water, clarified, and used as eye drops and wash. For vomiting due to shaoyin malaria Melanterite 3 g, dried ginger (soaked) and Pinellia (ginger-processed) 15 g each. Grind into powder. Take 1.5 g each time, administered with vinegar decoction early on the day of the attack.
Medicinal Parts
Mineral (the ore of melanterite or a chemical preparation).
Selection & Storage
Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from moisture and dust. Airtight storage is recommended. Avoid direct sunlight. Protect from efflorescence. Store separately from food ingredients. The finished product should be sealed and protected from light. Strictly prevent contamination by organic matter.
