Dai Zhe Shi (Hematite)

Chinese Herb Actions

Chinese Herb Dosage

• What is the typical dosage of Dai Zhe Shi, and how is it prepared?

  9–30 g in decoction — crushed and decocted first (cooked longer) as a hard mineral; or 1–3 g as a finely ground powder. Because it is dense, it is broken into small pieces and cooked ahead of the other herbs so its properties can be extracted.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes (dose 3–10 qian; “cook first”); standard materia medica ranges. Reference only — not a prescription.

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

• Are there cautions or contraindications for Dai Zhe Shi?

  Contraindicated in pregnancy. Being heavy and cold, it can injure the Stomach qi and Spleen, so it is used cautiously in Spleen/Stomach deficiency or cold patterns and is not intended for prolonged use. It is crushed and decocted first, and — as an iron-oxide mineral that may carry trace heavy metals (see Toxicity) — properly processed material and short-term use are advised.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes (contraindication: pregnancy); Calm Spirit category cautions (heavy minerals injure Stomach qi).

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

• Use short-term and at routine doses; avoid high doses and prolonged use. Dai Zhe Shi is hematite — ferric oxide (Fe2O3) — and can contain trace arsenic and lead, so quality-sourced, properly processed material matters. In a 2024 toxicity study, routine short-term doses were relatively safe, high-dose decoction caused lung damage in mice, and calcination significantly reduced toxicity. Avoid in pregnancy; keep any pediatric use brief.

  Source: PubMed 38838923 (toxicity study of mineral medicine haematitum, J Ethnopharmacol 2024); owner’s notes (pregnancy contraindication).

Herb-Drug Interactions

• No well-established clinical herb–drug interactions are documented. As an insoluble iron-oxide mineral that may carry trace heavy metals, it is generally reserved for short courses and quality-sourced material rather than combined with prolonged or high-dose regimens. (Flagged for practitioner confirmation — absence of documented interactions is not proof of safety.)

  Source: no interaction data identified in the reviewed research; general mineral-medicine precaution.

Western / Biomedical Research

Chinese Herb Clinical Studies & Research

Provided as research context — a summary of published biomedical study, not a therapeutic or medical claim.

• Is there modern research on Dai Zhe Shi (hematite, Haematitum)?

  Limited — Dai Zhe Shi is a mineral, so research centers on its composition and safety rather than efficacy. Its principal component is ferric oxide (Fe2O3), typically with trace elements including silicon, aluminum, manganese, and arsenic. A 2024 toxicity study found routine short-term doses relatively safe, high-dose decoction toxic to the lungs of mice, and calcination able to significantly reduce toxicity. Robust clinical efficacy trials are lacking.

  Source: PubMed 38838923 (toxicity study of mineral medicine haematitum, J Ethnopharmacol 2024). Research context, not a therapeutic claim.

Chinese Herb Notes

• How is Dai Zhe Shi combined in classical formulas?

  Dai Zhe Shi anchors the two directions it is famous for — settling rising Liver yang and redirecting rebellious Stomach qi — and is paired accordingly. Its heavy, downward-directing quality makes it a key mineral in formulas that must both settle the Liver and lead qi (or blood) downward.

  Representative combinations:

  • With Xuan Fu Hua and Ban Xia (Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang) — for rebellious Stomach qi with belching, hiccups, and vomiting.
  • With Huai Niu Xi, Long Gu, Mu Li, and Gui Ban (Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang) — to sedate the Liver and anchor ascendant yang.
  • With Dang Shen and Shan Zhu Yu — to direct qi downward while supporting the qi when there is no accompanying excess/heat.

  Source: owner’s Five Branches notes (formula corpus & combination notes).