Arsenicum
Source
The preparation from arsenolite or arsenide ore, mainly containing arsenic
trioxide (As2 03).
Characteristics
The sample appearing as irregular masses, white or pink alternating with
yellowish, lustre or lustreless. Brittle in texture. Fracture surface
uneven, or appearing as fibrous layers. Acrid and sour in taste, hot in
nature, strongly toxic, and attributive to liver and lung channels.
Indication
1. Counteract toxic materials, kill microorganism, anticarcinogenic and
remove necrotic tissues: External use for superficial tumors such as the
cancers of cervix, skin, lips, penis and breast; also for intractable
tinea infection, hemorrhoids and ulcers with focal necrosis. Oral administration
and intravenous injection for esophageal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma,
lymphosarcoma, chronic granulocytic leukemia, etc.
2. Eliminate phlegm, relieve malaria and asthma: For malaria and bronchial
asthma of cold-phlegm type.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Protoplasmotoxic, inhibiting the activity of mercaptoenzymes and killing
tumor cells and other living cells, bactericidal and protozoacidal.
2. Damaging the liver, kidney and capillaries.
Administration
Pill and powder:
for killing tumors, 20-30 mg once or twice daily for one to two weeks;
0. l-0.3g for external use daily; for malaria and bronchial asthma, 2-4mg
once or thrice daily.
Suppository (composed of aresenicum, alumen, realgar and myrrha):
for carcinoma of cervix as cervical suppository, or prepared as powder
externally used for carcinoma of skin.
Caution
It is hypertoxic, and high dosage and prolonged use are prohibited. Poisoning
may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hemafecia, tachycardia,
dizziness, headache, general aching, or even convulsion, mania, delirium,
jaundice, oligouria and shock. Decoctions of Semen Phareoli Radiati, or
Rhizoma Smilacis Gkibrae, Flos Lonicerae, Herba Vioiae, Radix Glycyrrhizae
may serve as antidotes for mild poisoning, and British antilewisite (BAL)
for heavy poisoning.