Bad circulation treated with TCM herb magnetite

What is magnetite(Ci Shi)? Also known as Magnetic Hematite or Lodestone and Magnetitum in Latin, it refers to one of common oxide minerals and iron minerals mainly found in igneous rocks. Also as a member of the Spinel family of minerals, it mainly contains iron oxide (Fe3O4). This mineral belongs to the isometric crystal system. Crystal is octahedron and dodecahedron. Stripes can be found on the surface. Most of them are grain or block aggregates. It is opaque, brittle, odorless, tasteless, iron black, or in a dark indigo color, with black streaks and semi-metallic luster. Hardness is 5.5 to 6.5. Density is 5.16 to 5.18g/cm3. It has strong ferromagnetism. It is usually found in igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and beach sand. In China it is produced in provinces like Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Yunnan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Shanxi, Jiangsu, and Anhui.

As far as medicinal purpose concerned, the one with stronger magnetic force is preferred. What’s more, it needs to remove the miscellaneous stone after the excavation. It is usually used in both unprocessed or processed forms. The processing is to calcine it thoroughly and then quench with vinegar. And usually crushing them into coarse powder is needed before the use.

Magnetite health benefits
As stated, the magnetite healing powers has been put to use long time ago. So, now let’s figure out how it helps someone with mental health problems.

Pharmacology
1. Effects on the blood circulation system. After intravenous injection of 0.2-1μm ultra-dispersed ferromagnetic particles (50mg/kg) was given to the rats, it increased their hemoglobin levels in blood, the number of red blood cells and white blood cells, blood plasma coagulation time, fibrinolytic activity, and the neutral phagocytic reaction. However, nothing happened when magnetite particles in the same size were injected intravenously in the dose of 50mg/kg, except for the rising of neutrophil phagocytosis activity.

2. Sedative and anticonvulsant effect. After prepared, the sedative and anticonvulsant effect of magnetite are significantly enhanced. After the intragastric administration to the rats with the prepared 100% magnetite solution in the dose of 15g/kg, the amobarbital sodium sleep time was significantly prolonged. It has antagonism to the strychnine-induced seizures and prolongs the latent period of convulsion.

3. In vivo process. Magnetite particles tagged with 99mTc and 111In, between 0.1-0.5μm in diameter, can be identified under the electron microscopy and Mossbaner spectroscope. When these magnetite particles were injected into rats, they were mainly found in the liver and lungs.