Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda
Native sulphur (Sulphur), of the native element family. A brittle, lemon- to greenish-yellow mineral in crusts, stalactitic masses and sharp crystals, sublimating readily to a fine yellow powder; native range: volcanic fumaroles and hot-spring crusts, and the cap-rock of salt domes; also won from sulphide ores and gas. Globally recognized as gandhaka, gandhika in Sanskrit, gandhak in Hindi, 石硫黃 shi liu huang, 硫黃 liu huang in Chinese, and sulphur, brimstone in English. The part used is the purified (shodhita) sulphur. Bright lemon-yellow, resinous, brittle and light; crackles and crumbles in the warmth of the hand, and smells of the match and the rotten egg where it burns.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SULPHUR
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- native sulphur
- Scientific name
- Sulphur (native sulfur, S)
- Family
- native element
Form
- Part used
- the purified (shodhita) sulphur
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sour
- Ayurveda
- sweet (madhura)
Temperature
- TCM
- warm
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Kidney · Large Intestine
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- used outwardly, kills parasites and stops itch and dries damp sores; used inwardly, tonifies fire and assists yang, warms the Kidney to hold the qi, and warms the bowel to unblock cold constipation
- Ayurveda
- kushthaghna (heals skin disease), krimighna (kills worms and itch-mites), rasayana (rejuvenative, when properly purified), deepana (kindles digestion), kaphavatahara, vishaghna
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pitta excess and hot conditions, pregnancy, and yin deficiency with heat; never the raw unpurified mineral internally
- Toxicity
- toxic when unpurified — the raw mineral irritates the gut and, in quantity, has caused fatal poisoning; even the purified sulphur is not for long or heavy use, and is incompatible with mang xiao (mirabilite) in the classical eighteen antagonisms
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