Iron Powder
- Chinese
- 铁屑
- Pinyin
- Tie Xie
- Latin
- Pulvis Ferri
Known in TCM as Tie Xie (铁屑), this pungent, cool herb enters the Liver and Heart. Traditionally, it calms the spirit and settles fright - Tie Xie is a powdered or filing-like medicinal iron material used for agitation, mania, insomnia, and fright from excess disturbance, most often applied for anxiety, insomnia, and palpitations. Modern research has identified Iron among its active constituents.
Part used: Powder
Also Known As
Latin: Pulvis Ferri | Pinyin: Tie Xie | Chinese: 铁屑
TCM Properties
- Taste
- pungent
- Temperature
- cool
- Channels
- Liver, Heart
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Calms the spirit and settles fright - Tie Xie is a powdered or filing-like medicinal iron material used for agitation, mania, insomnia, and fright from excess disturbance.
- Relieves convulsion and anchors rising disturbance - later references place it in the same settling family as Sheng Tie Luo for epilepsy and convulsive excess patterns.
- Can be powdered for external use - sores and toxic swellings appear in older indication lists, especially when the material is applied rather than simply decocted.
Secondary Actions
- Later sources frequently identify Tie Xie as another name for Sheng Tie Luo, so the main reason to keep this page separate is to preserve the queue's dosage-form distinction.
- Compared with `iron` as the canonical iron-scale record, this page leans more explicitly toward the powdered or filing form that is easier to use externally or as a prepared material.
Classic Formulas
- Sheng Tie Luo Yin - even when the formula is cited under Sheng Tie Luo, the underlying iron filing family includes Tie Xie in later usage.
- Powdered external application for sores or boils - the more form-specific traditional use where filings and powder matter.
- Heavy mineral settling combinations with phlegm-transforming and orifice-clearing herbs - the same core logic used for agitation and epilepsy.
Classical References
- Later materia medica sources commonly list Tie Xie and Sheng Tie Luo together as medicinal iron filings or scales.
- The traditional emphasis is on calming the spirit, suppressing convulsion, and treating fright or mania rather than on tonifying blood.
- This near-synonym relationship is exactly why the page is written conservatively and transparently.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Iron oxide-rich filing material - the main constituent basis of Tie Xie
- Variable metallic iron content and oxidation products - source dependent
- Potential industrial contaminants - the dominant modern safety concern
Studied Effects
- Direct indexed modern research on Tie Xie as a separate medicinal entity is minimal, and most contemporary relevance comes from historical formula use and mineral-safety discussion.
- The traditional calming and anti-convulsive claims remain far better documented than any modern controlled evidence.
- Because the material is often industrially derived, toxicologic caution is central.
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Liver deficiency or blood deficiency without excess agitation
- Pregnancy without qualified supervision
- Unknown-source industrial filings
Cautions
- Tie Xie is not a nutritional iron powder and should not be used as a casual supplement.
- Impurity and contamination risks are substantial unless the material is properly sourced and processed.
- Serious insomnia, delirium, epilepsy, or boils need proper medical evaluation rather than self-treatment with filings.
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iron Powder used for?
Iron Powder is traditionally used to Calms the spirit and settles fright - Tie Xie is a powdered or filing-like medicinal iron material used for agitation, mania, insomnia, and fright from excess disturbance., Relieves convulsion and anchors rising disturbance - later references place it in the same settling family as Sheng Tie Luo for epilepsy and convulsive excess patterns., Can be powdered for external use - sores and toxic swellings appear in older indication lists, especially when the material is applied rather than simply decocted.. Research has investigated its effects on: Direct indexed modern research on Tie Xie as a separate medicinal entity is minimal, and most contemporary relevance comes from historical formula use and mineral-safety discussion.; The traditional calming and anti-convulsive claims remain far better documented than any modern controlled evidence..
What are other names for Iron Powder?
Iron Powder is also known as Sheng Tie Luo, Iron Filings. In TCM: 铁屑 (Tie Xie); Pulvis Ferri.
Is Iron Powder safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Iron Powder during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Iron Powder?
Iron Powder should not be used in: Liver deficiency or blood deficiency without excess agitation; Pregnancy without qualified supervision; Unknown-source industrial filings. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.