Eight-Treasure Red Elixir，From *Effective and Simple Remedies*, Volume 2.，For abscesses and carbuncles with open sores, early-stage styes, styes on the fingertips, “White Snake Chain” (a type of skin eruption), infantile convulsions, shas (feverish rashes) with cold hands and feet, vomiting and diarrhea, wind-fire-induced corneal erosion, irregular menstruation in women, small intestine qi stagnation, scalds and burns, trauma from falls or blows, and swollen and painful throat.
Eight-Treasure Red Elixir
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Formulas Name : Eight-Treasure Red Elixir
Chinese Name : 八宝红灵丹
Drug Formulation
Genuine cinnabar (must be bright and of high quality) 5 qian, pure realgar (dark-colored) 3 qian, Xiyue stone 5 qian, blue calcined stone (calcined until red, quenched 7 times with rice vinegar) 1 qian, genuine shenjin (top quality) 30 sheets, Western blood amber 4 pieces, dangmenzi 3 qian, large camphor 2 qian.
Source
From *Effective and Simple Remedies*, Volume 2.
Processing
Place the ingredients in a mortar and grind until no flecks of gold remain visible; grind again until smooth. Then grind each of the preceding ingredients into a fine powder like ash, combine them with the gold foil, and grind several more times until the mixture is as smooth as water and makes no sound. Add 2 qian of large camphor, then grind several hundred more times. This can be applied to the eyes; it contains no sand and causes no pain. Store in a bottle, ensuring no air escapes. Adding high-quality borneol after prolonged storage enhances its efficacy.
Benefits
For abscesses and carbuncles with open sores, early-stage styes, styes on the fingertips, “White Snake Chain” (a type of skin eruption), infantile convulsions, shas (feverish rashes) with cold hands and feet, vomiting and diarrhea, wind-fire-induced corneal erosion, irregular menstruation in women, small intestine qi stagnation, scalds and burns, trauma from falls or blows, and swollen and painful throat.
Instructions for Use
For early-stage abscesses and boils, or for boil sores with a “face-to-face” configuration, mix the remedy with genuine rice vinegar and apply it to the affected area several times; for a boil on a fingertip, take one egg, poke a small hole in it, place 5 li of the medicine inside, mix well, and slip it over the fingertip;For “White Snake Chain” (a row of red spots along the abdomen) in men and women of all ages, mix 3–5 li of the medicine with rice vinegar and apply to the affected area; for infantile convulsions, blow 2–3 li of this mixture into the nostrils;For all types of “sha” syndromes—including cold hands and feet, vomiting, and diarrhea—apply a tiny amount to the inner corner of the eye (left for males, right for females). For cold hands and feet, mix 5 li of the medicine with ginger juice and drink; if the hands and feet are hot, avoid ginger and instead mix the medicine with boiling water; cover with a blanket to induce sweating, and the condition will be cured immediately. For wind-fire inflammation of the eyelids, apply the medicine to the inner corners of both eyes;For women with irregular menstruation or small intestine qi stagnation, take 3 fen of the medicine mixed with equal parts child’s urine and rice vinegar, taken 1–2 times, then cover with a blanket to induce sweating: For burns from hot liquids or fire, as well as trauma from falls or blows, take 1–2 fen of the medicine mixed with rice vinegar and child’s urine; for burns, apply a mixture of sesame oil and the medicine externally; for trauma, apply a mixture of rice vinegar to the injured area;For a swollen and sore throat, blow the medicine onto the affected area several times, then swallow it slowly; for yin-type conditions, take 3 fen of the medicine mixed with 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, washed down with boiling water.
Note
Avoid trigger foods.
Copyright: Excerpt from From *Effective and Simple Remedies*, Volume 2., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 18, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 18, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 18, 2026
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Eight-Treasure Red Elixir,For abscesses and carbuncles with open sores, early-stage styes, styes on the fingertips, “White Snake Chain” (a type of skin eruption), infantile convulsions, shas (feverish rashes) with cold hands and feet, vomiting and diarrhea, wind-fire-induced corneal erosion, irregular menstruation in women, small intestine qi stagnation, scalds and burns, trauma from falls or blows, and swollen and painful throat.