Fluorite
- Chinese
- 紫石英
- Pinyin
- Zi Shi Ying
- Latin
- Fluoritum
Known in TCM as Zi Shi Ying (紫石英), this sweet, warm herb enters the Heart and Liver. Traditionally, it calms the shen and relieves palpitations - Zi Shi Ying is used for fright, restlessness, tremor, and palpitations when deficiency allows agitation or floating Yang to disturb the Heart, most often applied for palpitations, infertility, and cough. Modern research has identified Calcium among its active constituents.
Part used: Fluorite
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet
- Temperature
- warm
- Channels
- Heart, Liver
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Calms the shen and relieves palpitations - Zi Shi Ying is used for fright, restlessness, tremor, and palpitations when deficiency allows agitation or floating Yang to disturb the Heart.
- Warms the uterus and supports cold-deficiency fertility patterns - traditional use extends to infertility, uterine bleeding, and abnormal discharge when cold in the Chong and Ren impairs warming and containment.
- Warms the Lung and directs rebellious qi downward in selected lineages - it is used for deficiency-cold cough or wheezing with copious sputum and counterflow Lung qi.
Secondary Actions
- Zi Shi Ying is a heavy mineral medicinal that is usually crushed and decocted first rather than treated like an ordinary botanical herb.
- Its classical identity overlaps calm-shen minerals and warm-womb medicinals, so pattern accuracy matters more than the modern gemstone association.
Classic Formulas
- Zhen Ling Dan - classic womb-stabilizing formula in which Zi Shi Ying helps warm and secure the Chong and Ren while containing uterine bleeding.
- Nuan Gan Wen Jing Tang - warm-the-womb formula lineage that uses Zi Shi Ying to descend cold and support fertility patterns linked to uterine cold.
Classical References
- TCM Wiki describes Zi Shi Ying as sweet and warm, entering the Heart and Liver, calming the spirit, relieving palpitations, warming the uterus, and directing qi downward.
- American Dragon notes an additional traditional use for deficiency-cold Lung patterns with cough or wheezing and emphasizes the warm-womb application in cold infertility.
- Sacred Lotus lists Zhen Ling Dan among the classic formula appearances of Zi Shi Ying.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Calcium fluoride mineral matrix - the defining material basis of medicinal fluorite
- Trace silica, carbonate, and mineral impurities - variable with source geology and preparation
- Minor trace-metal content - source-dependent mineral cofactors that matter more for quality control than for therapeutic targeting
Studied Effects
- Direct PubMed pharmacology on Fluoritum as a TCM preparation is extremely sparse, so modern use remains driven mainly by classical tradition and pharmacopeial processing rather than clinical trials.
- Current safety interpretation depends more on mineral toxicology and quality control than on herb-specific biomedical studies, especially when non-pharmaceutical fluorite could increase fluoride exposure.
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Yin deficiency with effulgent fire or marked heat agitation
- Severe blood dryness without a true cold pattern
- Self-directed long-term internal use of raw mineral material
Cautions
- Use only authenticated medicinal-grade fluorite that has been properly processed and crushed; decorative mineral specimens or industrial fluorite are not appropriate internal medicines.
- As a mineral drug, Zi Shi Ying should generally be decocted first and used under trained supervision rather than treated as a casual supplement.
- Modern evidence is sparse, and safety concerns center on mineral quality control and potential fluoride exposure rather than on herb-drug interaction trials.
- MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database
Conditions
- Palpitations Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Infertility Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
- Cough Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fluorite used for?
Fluorite is traditionally used to Calms the shen and relieves palpitations - Zi Shi Ying is used for fright, restlessness, tremor, and palpitations when deficiency allows agitation or floating Yang to disturb the Heart., Warms the uterus and supports cold-deficiency fertility patterns - traditional use extends to infertility, uterine bleeding, and abnormal discharge when cold in the Chong and Ren impairs warming and containment., Warms the Lung and directs rebellious qi downward in selected lineages - it is used for deficiency-cold cough or wheezing with copious sputum and counterflow Lung qi.. Research has investigated its effects on: Direct PubMed pharmacology on Fluoritum as a TCM preparation is extremely sparse, so modern use remains driven mainly by classical tradition and pharmacopeial processing rather than clinical trials.; Current safety interpretation depends more on mineral toxicology and quality control than on herb-specific biomedical studies, especially when non-pharmaceutical fluorite could increase fluoride exposure..
Is Fluorite safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Fluorite during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Fluorite?
Fluorite should not be used in: Yin deficiency with effulgent fire or marked heat agitation; Severe blood dryness without a true cold pattern; Self-directed long-term internal use of raw mineral material. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.