Also known as hematite, red ochre is not an herb, but a mineral - a type of ore that is extremely high in iron. It is usually soft and fine-grained. In China, it is mined from the Shanxi, Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces. After being mined, red ocher is pounded and ground down into a type of powder, which can be used raw or after being cooked with vinegar. In addition to its medicinal uses, red ochre is also used as a pigment in painting.
According to the principles of traditional Chinese, red ochre has bitter and cold properties, and is associated with the Liver and Heart meridians. Its main functions are to pacify the liver, to move qi downward, and to arrest bleeding. It is used to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from headaches and dizziness to hiccups, vomiting and upset stomach. The minera's high iron content can also help with the generation of red blood cells and hemoglobin. It is a common component of many herbal formulas, and is often taken with white peony root, pinellia and ginseng.
The typical dose of red ochre is between 10 and 30 grams, boiled in water and drunk as a decoction. It should be pounded into a fine powder before use.
Crushed, powdered red ochre can be found at many herbal shops and specialty stores. Red ochre is also available in pill and capsule forms, and can be found in various herbal formulas.
Because red ochre may contain trace elements of arsenic, it should not be used by pregnant women or taken for extended periods of time. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions associated with red ochre. As always, make sure to consult with a licensed health care provider before taking red ochre or any other herbal remedy or dietary supplement.
References
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