Limonite, Yu Yu Liang 禹余粮

Yellow Iron Ore
Yu Yu Liang (TCM)
Sin dhu ra (Tibetan-also used for Minium)

A Limonite specimen in the Museum of Minerology, Strasbourg
(Photo by Ji-Elle) (Wikimedia)

A piece of regular Limonite
(Photo by Ra’ike) (Wikimedia)

Minerological name:
Limonite FeO(OH)·nH2O
Iron oxide-hydroxide

Parts used:

Prepared mineral

Temperature & Taste:

Neutral. Sweet

Properties:
Crystal system: fine grained aggregate
Hardness: 4–5 1⁄2
Specific Gravity: 2.7 to 4.3
Fracture: uneven
Luster: Earthy

Classification:

R. Astringent

Uses:

1. Astringes to Stop Leakage:
-Chronic Diarrhea from deficiency
-Leukorrhea from coldness
-also used for Rectal Prolapse

2. Stops Bleeding:
-excessive Menstrual bleeding

3. Resists Poison:
-binds with various toxic substances to prevent their absorption

Dose:

Decoction: 10–20 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams

Comment:

Limonite is a sedimentary rock which is an Iron ore that can come in yellow, orange, red-brown to brown-black colors and is used as a pigment (Ochre). It is a combination of hydrated iron oxide minerals. In nature it is like the clay-earths and it forms a fine powder when broken. It often contains earth and other admixtures.

Substitute:

1. Kaolin
2. For bleeding, Red Earth

Preparation:

1. Prepared Limonite:
Foreign matter is removed, it is washed, then dried for use.
2. Calcined Limonite:
Heat 1 kg of cleansed Limonite in a crucible, then spray with 300 mls of Vinegar to cool. This strengthens the astringent and hemostatic effect.

Main Combinations:

Often combined with Red Earth (Chi Shi Zhi)

1. Chronic Diarrhea:
i. Limonite with Red Earth (Chi Shi Zhi) (30 grams each) in decoction
ii. from Cold and weakness, Limonite with Cinnamon, Ginger and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu)
iii. from Spleen deficiency, Limonite with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi
iv. from Coldness and deficiency, Limonite, Chebula (He Zi), Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou)
v. from Sinking Spleen Qi, Limonite, Astragalus Huang Qi, Red Earth (Chi Shi Zhi), Chebula (He Zi),
2. Rectal Prolapse, Limonite, Red Earth (Chi Shi Zhi), Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Cimicifuga Sheng Ma
3. Leukorrhea, Limonite with dry Ginger (Gan Jiang)
4. Uterine Bleeding, Limonite with Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao), Burnt Yellow Earth (Zao Xin Tu), Oyster shell (Mu Li)
5. Metrorrhagia, Limonite with Red Earth (Chi Shi Zhi), Flying Squirrel Feces (Wu Ling Zhi)

Major Formulas:

Zhen Ling Dan

Cautions:

1. Not used in excess type Diarrhea and Dysentery (where it will prevent elimination of toxic substances).
2. Caution during Pregnancy.

Drug Interaction:
It is advised to take medication 2 hours away from administering Limonite to prevent it from hindering absorption of the medication.