These substances may be added to any of the formulae we discussed to treat the Manifestation
whenever the symptoms are severe, i.e. very severe agitation, intractable insomnia, intense
anxiety and, in serious cases, violent behaviour.
All these substances have side-effects because they are indigestible and therefore their prolonged
use may injure the Stomach and Spleen. For this reason they are usually combined with digestive
herbs. Some of the sinking substances are toxic and should be used with great caution and, in
any case, for short periods only (a few weeks). An example of this is Zhu Sha Cinnabaris.
The main sinking substances that calm the Mind are:
Long Gu Os Draconis
Long Chi Dens Draconis
Mu Li Concha Ostreae
Ci Shi Magnetitum
Zhu Sha Cinnabaris
Zhen Zhu Mu Concha margaritiferae
Hu Po Succinum
Long Chi, Long Gu and Mu Li are all astringent and therefore also nourish Yin. Mu Li is
especially good at nourishing Yin while Long Chi is the best of the three to sink and calm the
Mind.
Ci Shi and Zhen Zhu Mu both sink Liver-Yang and Liver-Wind while Zhu Sha specifically
enters the Heart and calms the Mind. It also opens the Heart's orifices.
Hu Po, besides sinking and calming the Mind, also moves Blood and enters the Liver: this makes
it useful to treat depression and anxiety from Liver-Qi or Liver-Blood stagnation.
As for sinking and calming the Mind prescriptions, these have not been mentioned because many
of them contain many indigestible and often toxic minerals. Their use is not often necessary.
Most mental-emotional problems can be treated by the prescriptions discussed above with the
addition of one or two sinking substances if the manifestations call for it.
The main sinking formulae are listed here with a brief description of their therapeutic
application:
Prescriptions
Zhu Sha an Shen Wan