This mineral belongs in the trigonal crystal system. It is rhombohedral or looks like a thick plate. In nature, it seldom exists as monomers; instead, it is generally an aggregate consisting of many grains or clumps, or it is powdery and covered with a thin coating. It is imperial red to blackish red, sometimes with lead gray. Its streak is red. The crystal is translucent and shows a diamond-like luster. It can be broken along parallel cleavage planes. It has an irregular fracture resembling the surface of a shell, a hardness of 2-2.5, and a specific gravity of 8.09-8.2. It is fragile.   

This crude drug is the conglomerate of grains or clumps. It is bright red or dark red, sometimes tarnishing to lead gray; it has a red to brownish red streak; it does not stain fingers. It is opaque or translucent. It is heavy, its flakes are crisp, its clumps are relatively hard and not easily broken, its powder is lustrous. It is smellless and tasteless. The high quality product should be bright red, lustrous, translucent, heavy, crisp and pure.

1. Viralmyocarditis: To treatment viral myocarditis 18 cases With Cinnabar sedativepills and Huang Qi Sheng Mai San. The results were found that cure in 13,improvement 5 cases, all effective^[1].

2. Heart premature: The deficiency of bloodloss was added Sheng MaiYin; both blood stasis was added to the compound Dan Shentablets with it’s addition and subtraction;one course of treatment per week,during treatment to disable the other antiarrhythmic drugs, the treatment ofheart 54 cases. It was found that the drug course of treatment in 16 cases, twocourses of 22 cases, three courses of 16 cases. 26 cases were markedlyimproved, 22 cases were effective, and 6 cases were invalid^[1]. 

1.Chunyang Zhengqi Pill: agastache, clove, chinese cassiabark, inula root, musk, cinnabar, borneol, realgar, saltpetre(refined), borax, mica-schist(calcining),tangerine peel, pinellia tuber(prepared), atractylodes rhizome, whiteatractylodes rhizome, poria.

2.Qingxie Pill: rhubarb, milkvetch root, immature bitterorange, cinnabar, liquorice.

3. ShaCompound: musk, toad venom(prepared), borneol, rhubarb,realgar, atractylodes rhizome, clove, gastrodia tuber, cinnabar, ephedra, liquorice.

4.Guashuangtuireling Capsule: watermelon crystal, crystallinemirabilite, gypsum, anteplope’s horn, pulvis cornus bubali concentratus, musk, borneol,scrophularia root, cimicifuga rhizome, clove, eagle wood, magnetite, cinnabar, liquorice.

5.Biwen Powder: cinnabar, all-grass of JapaneseLovegrass, sandalwood, borneol, clove, musk, Menthol, turmeric, dahurianangelica root, all-grass of strongfragrant loosestrife, nardostachys root, aucklandiaroot, rose flower.

6. ZijinLozenge: musk, appendiculate cremastra pseudobulb,realgar, knoxia root, semen euphorbiae pulveratum, chinese gall, cinnabar.

7. ShuzhengTablet: Chinese honeylocust abnormal fruit, asarumherb, peppermint, dahurian angelica root, ledebouriella root, pinelliatuber(prepared), platycodon root, alum(calcining), agastache, tangerine peel, aucklandiaroot, realgar, male fern rhizome, cinnabar, liquorice.

8.Hongling Powder: composition:musk, borneol, mica-schist(calcining),borax, saltpetre(refined), realgar, cinnabar.

9.Xinnaojing Tablet: uncaria stem with hooks, prunella spike,pearl shell, gentian root, sophora flower, scutellaria root, lotus plumule, lophatherumherb, cow bezoare, borneol, arisaema tuber(prepared), cinnabar, clematis root, aucklandiaroot, liquorice .

10.Xingnao Jiangya Pill: scutellaria root, coptis root, capejasminefruit, curcuma root, selenite, borneol, cinnabar, pearl shell, magnolia flower,all-grass of strongfragrant loosestrife, realgar.

11.Zaizao Pill: composition:ginseng, milkvetch root, whiteatractylodes rhizome(stir-frying), prepared fleece flower root, preparedrehmannia root, chinese angelica root, scrophularia root, tortoise carapace andplastron(prepared), fortune’s drynaria rhizome(stir-frying), loranthus mulberrymistletoe, borneol, musk, artificial cow-bezoare, coptis root, cinnabar, buffalohorn enriched liquid, clematis root(stir-frying with wine), leopardbone(prepared), dahurian angelica root, notopterygium root, ledebouriella root,ephedra, asarum herb, yam rhizome, long-nosed pit viper, pueraria root, rhizomaanemones raddeanae(processing with vinegar), tabasheer, agastache, roundcardamon seed, katsumada galangal seed, poria, clove, eagle wood, sandalwood, linderaroot, nutgrass flatsedge rhizome(processing with vinegar), green tangerineorange peel(stir-frying with vinegar), pummelo peel, prepared aconiteroot(prepared), chinese cassia bark, gastrodia tuber, scorpion, batryticatedsilkworm(stir-frying), earthworm, notoginseng, draconis resin, chuanxiongrhizome, rhubarb, red peony root, pangolin scales(prepared), frankincense(prepared),myrrh(prepared), turmeric, pine nodular branch, jian medicated leaven, redcolouring rice used as a chinese medicine, liquorice.

12.Yixian Pill: giant typhonium tuber, arisaematuber(prepared), pinellia tuber(prepared), alum, Chinese honeylocust abnormalfruit, black-tail snake(prepared), batryticated silkworm(stir-frying), centipede,scorpion, realgar, cinnabar.

13. CompoundShedanchenpi Powder: snake gallbladder, tangerine peel,earthworm(stir-frying), batryticated silkworm(prepared), cinnabar, amber.

14. NiuhuangqingxinPill: cow bezoare, anteplope’s horn, buffalo hornenrichedliquid, scutellaria root, Japanese ampelopsis root, dried black soybean sprout,bitter apricot kernel(stir-frying), platycodon root, ledebouriella root, bupleurumroot, musk, borneol, cinnabar, realgar, chuanxiong rhizome, cat-tailpollen(stir-frying), ginseng, white atractylodes rhizome(stir-frying), poria, chineseyam, liquorice, chinese date(stoned), chinese angelica root, white peony root, asshide glue , ophiopogon root, dried ginger, medicated leaven(stir-frying), chinesecassia bark.

15. HuoluoPill: long-nosed pit viper(stir-frying with wine), black-tailsnake(stir-frying with wine), earthworm, scorpion, clematis root(stir-fryingwith wine), prepared aconite root(stir-frying), chinese cassia bark(remove thepeel), nutgrass flatsedge rhizome, asarum herb, ephedra, notopterygium root, dahurianangelica root, ledebouriella root, colophony, agastache, katsumada galangalseed, round cardamon seed, lindera root, aucklandia root, eagle wood, clove, greentangerine orange peel(stir-frying with vinegar), nutgrass flatsedgerhizome(stir-frying with vinegar), red peony root, myrrh(stir-frying withvinegar), frankincense(stir-frying with vinegar), draconis resin, musk, benzoin,borneol, gastrodia tuber, tabasheer, batryticated silkworm（stir-fryingwith bran）,coptis root, scutellaria root, pueraria root, prepared rehmannia root, scrophulariaroot, pulvis cornus bubali concentratus, cinnabar, artificial cow-bezoare, ginseng,white atractylodes rhizome（stir-frying with bran）, poria,liquorice, rhubarb(steaming), chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, fleeceflower root(stir-frying with soybean wine), fortune’s drynaria rhizome, tortoisecarapace and plastron（heatedwith sand calcining and quenching with vinegar）, dog’s bone(stir-frying with oil).

16. ZhuifengTougu Pill: prepared common monkshood mother root, preparedkusnezoff monkshood root, ephedra, cinnamom twig, asarum herb, dahurianangelica root, large-leaf gentian root, ledebouriella root, notopterygium root,gastrodia tuber, chinese angelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, red peony root, nutgrassflatsedge rhizome(prepared), earthworm, frankincense(prepared), myrrh(prepared),cinnabar, poria, white atractylodes rhizome(stir-frying), arisaema tuber, nardostachysroot, liquorice, rice bean.

17. TongbiTablet: prepared nux vomica, agkistrodon snake, centipede,scorpion, earthworm, batryticated silkworm, black-tail snake, ephedra, cinnamomtwig, prepared aconite root, prepared common monkshood mother root, peachkernel, safflower, myrrh(prepared), pangolin scales(prepared), corydalistuber(prepared), mutan bark, Herba Siphonostegiae, rhubarb, cowherb seed, suberectspatholobus stem, medicinal cyathula root, dipsacus root, notopterygium root, pubescentangelica root, atractylodes rhizome(stir-frying), ledebouriella root, gastrodiatuber, coix seed, beautiful sweetgum fruit, chaenomeles fruit, common clubmossherb, ginseng, milkvetch root, chinese angelica root, white atractylodesrhizome(stir-frying), nutgrass flatsedge rhizome(processing with wine), aucklandiaroot, orange fruit, amomum fruit, cinnabar.

18.Pinggan Shuluo Pill: eagle wood, bilearisaema(stir-frying with wine), nutgrass flatsedge rhizome(stir-frying withvinegar), finger citron, bupleurum root, aucklandia root, tangerine peel, orangefruit（removingcorestir-frying with bran）, sandalwood, lindera root, greentangerine orange peel(stir-frying with vinegar), magnolia bark(stir-frying withginger juice), amomum fruit, round cardamon seed, agastache, uncaria stem withhooks, batryticated silkworm（stir-frying with bran）, coptisroot, tabasheer, hyacinth bletilla, cinnabar, anteplope’s horn powder, notopterygiumroot, ledebouriella root, dahurian angelica root, asarum herb, clematisroot(stir-frying with wine), loranthus mulberry mistletoe, chaenomeles fruit, corydalistuber(stir-frying with vinegar), frankincense(stir-frying with vinegar), myrrh(stir-fryingwith vinegar), chuanxiong rhizome, prepared rehmannia root, tortoise carapaceand plastron（heatedwith sand calcining and quenching with vinegar）, fleece flower root(stir-frying withsoybean wine), ginseng, white atractylodes rhizome（stir-fryingwith bran）,poria, clove, chinese cassia bark, borneol, achyranthes root.

19.Zaizao Pill: ginseng(removing LU), milkvetch root, whiteatractylodes rhizome（stir-fryingwith bran）,poria, prepared fleece flower root, chinese angelica root, prepared rehmanniaroot, tortoise carapace and plastron(prepared), leopard bone(prepared), loranthusmulberry mistletoe, fortune’s drynaria rhizome(stir-frying), gastrodia tuber, bilearisaema, batryticated silkworm(stir-frying), earthworm, scorpion, tabasheer, notoginseng,chuanxiong rhizome, red peony root, turmeric, frankincense(stir-frying withvinegar), myrrh(stir-frying with vinegar), draconis resin, long-nosed pitviper(stir-frying with Shaoxing wine), dahurian angelica root, notopterygiumroot, clematis root, ephedra, ledebouriella root, pueraria root, yam rhizome, asarumherb, clove, lindera root, green tangerine orange peel, eagle wood, nutgrassflatsedge rhizome(processing with vinegar), sandalwood, katsumada galangal seed,round cardamon seed, pummelo peel, agastache, medicated leaven（stir-fryingwith bran）,prepared aconite root, chinese cassia bark, musk, borneol, cinnabar(grinding inwater), amber, cow bezoare, buffalo hornenriched liquid, coptis root, rhubarb, scrophulariaroot, liquorice.

20.Kangshuan Zaizao Pill: leech(scalding), red sage root, notoginseng,earthworm, pangolin scales(scalding), achyranthes root, rhubarb, peach kernel, safflower,ground beetle, pueraria root, musk, borneol, storax, cow bezoare, bile arisaema,scorpion, black-tail snake, gastrodia tuber, asarum herb, Chuanlong Yam, clematisroot, red ginseng, milkvetch root, chinese angelica root, fleece flower root, cinnabar,katsumada galangal seed, liquorice.

21.Sanqixueshangning Capsule: notoginseng, root or leaf ofbigleaf beautyberry extract, paris root, borneol, cinnabar, kusnezoff monkshoodroot, veratrum japonicum, chinese yam.

22. Lvxue(Capsule):crystallinemirabilite, talc, gypsum, natural indigo, scrophularia root, cimicifuga rhizome,buffalo hornenriched liquid, grassleaved sweetflag rhizome, cinnabar, magnetite,inula root, clove, sodium sulfate powder, saltpetre, liquorice.

23. WanshiniuhuangqingxinPill: cow bezoare, coptis root, scutellaria root, capejasminefruit, cinnabar, curcuma root.

24.Niuhuangqingre Capsule: cow bezoare, buffalohornenriched liquid, crystalline mirabilite, musk, scutellaria root, capejasminefruit, curcuma root, amber, hawksbill turtle shell powder, cinnabar, borneol.

25.Zixue: buffalo hornenriched liquid, anteplope’s horn, musk,gypsum, crystalline mirabilite, talc, scrophularia root, cimicifuga rhizome, cinnabar,magnetite, aucklandia root eagle wood, clove, mirabilite(prepared), saltpetre(refined),liquorice.

26.Angongniuhuang Pill: cow bezoare, buffalo hornenrichedliquid, musk, coptis root, scutellaria root, capejasmine fruit, cinnabar, realgar,borneol, curcuma root, pearl.

27.Jufangzhibao Powder: cow bezoare, musk, buffalohornenriched liquid, hawksbill turtle shell, borneol, benzoin, cinnabar, amber,realgar.

28.Niuhuangxingnao Pill: cow bezoare, buffalo hornenrichedliquid, capejasmine fruit, musk, borneol, cinnabar, realgar, coptis root, scutellariaroot, curcuma root, pearl, hawksbill turtle shell.

29.Niuhuangqinggong Pill: cow bezoare, musk, buffalohornenriched liquid, honeysuckle flower, forsythia fruit, scutellaria root, capejasminefruit, rhubarb, cinnabar, dried rehmannia root, ophiopogon root, scrophulariaroot, trichosanthes root, realgar, borneol, lotus plumule, curcuma root, liquorice.

30. Zhenhuang’angongTablet: buffalo horn, cow bezoare, rhubarb, scutellariaroot extract, Berberis root extract, cinnabar, pearl, pearl powder, bamboojuice, tabasheer, bile arisaema, natural indigo, curcuma root, borneol, grassleavedsweetflag rhizome.

31. SuhexiangPill: storax, benzoin, borneol, musk, sandalwood, clove, aucklandiaroot, eagle wood, nutgrass flatsedge rhizome, frankincense(prepared), piperlongum, white atractylodes rhizome, cinnabar, buffalo hornenriched liquid, chebulafructus.

32.Tianwangbuxin Pill: dried rehmannia root, cochinchineseasparagus root, ophiopogon root, wild or spring jujuba seed(stir-frying), arborvitaeseed, chinese angelica root, dangshen, schisandra fruit, poria, polygalaroot(prepared), grassleaved sweetflag rhizome, scrophularia root, dangshen, cinnabar,platycodon root, liquorice.

33.Baiziyangxin Pill: milkvetch root(stir-frying), dangshen, chineseangelica root, chuanxiong rhizome, arborvitae seed, wild or spring jujuba seed,polygala root(prepared), schisandra fruit(steaming), chinese cassia bark, poria,fermented pinellia, cinnabar, stir-fried liquorice.

34. YangyinZhenjing Pill: chinese angelica root, ophiopogon root, schisandrafruit, tuber fleeceflower stem, dried rehmannia root, scrophularia root, arborvitaeseed, dangshen, poria, pearl shell, cinnabar, red sage root, polygala root, platycodonroot.

35.Xiaoerbaishou Pill: uncaria stem with hooks, peppermint, batryticatedsilkworm（stir-fryingwith bran）,bile arisaema(processing with wine), tabasheer, cow bezoare, cinnabar, nutgrassflatsedge rhizome, amomum fruit, tangerine peel, poria, atractylodesrhizome(prepared), hawthorn fruit(stir-frying), medicated leaven（stir-fryingwith bran）,germinated barley(stir-frying), talc, platycodon root, liquorice.

36.Xiaoerjindan Tablet: pueraria root, arctium fruit, Menthol,schizonepeta, Chinese tamarisk twig, notopterygium root, ledebouriella root, isatisleaf, scrophularia root, dried rehmannia root, red peony root, borneol, pummelopeel, tendrilleaf fritillary bulb, bile arisaema, alum processed pinellia, peucedanumroot, platycodon root, cinnabar, uncaria stem with hooks, gastrodia tuber, buffalohorn, anteplope’s horn, manchurian aristolochia stem, orange fruit, liquorice.

37.Xiangsuzhengwei Pill: agastache, purple perilla leaf, elscholtziamosla, magnolia bark（stir-fryingwith ginger juice）,orange fruit(stir-frying), tangerine peel, amomum fruit, hyacinth bean(stir-frying), poria, hawthorn fruit(stir-frying), medicatedleaven(stir-frying), germinated barley(stir-frying), talc, cinnabar, liquorice.

38.Baolong Pill: peppermint, dahurian angelica root, purpleperilla leaf, agastache, ledebouriella root, pubescent angelica root, schizonepeta,chuanxiong rhizome(steaming with wine), poria, white atractylodesrhizome(stir-frying), chinese yam, tangerine peel, amomum fruit, piper longum, magnoliabark, aucklandia root, nutgrass flatsedge rhizome（processing）, sandalwood, gastrodia tuber, batryticatedsilkworm(stir-frying with ginger juice), tabasheer, giant typhonium tuber, processedpinellia tuber, red halloysite, chebula fructus(stoned), cinnabar, white peonyroot.

39.Weichang’an Pill: magnolia bark(stir-frying with gingerjuice), orange fruit（stir-fryingwith bran）aucklandiaroot, sandalwood, eagle wood, chuanxiong rhizome, rhubarb, croton fruitfrost-like powder, cinnabar, musk, chinese date(stoned).

40.Baotonghuatang Pill: scutellaria root, coptis root, purpleperilla leaf, notopterygium root, pueraria root, bile arisaema(stir-frying withwine), tabasheer, peucedanum root, thunberbg fritillary bulb, platycodon root, bitterapricot kernel(stir-frying), tangerine peel, pummelo peel, processed pinelliatuber, aucklandia root, orange fruit（stir-frying with bran）, dangshen,poria, liquorice, borneol, cinnabar.

41.Xiaoerfeireping Capsule: scutellaria root, coptis root, bistortrhizome, crystalline mirabilite, arnebia(or lithosperm) root, 平fritillaria,earthworm, belamcanda rhizome, cow bezoare, ox gallbladder powder, anteplope’shorn, pearl(prepared), cinnabar, musk, borneol, liquorice.

42.Hupobaolong Pill: amber, cinnabar, tabasheer, bilearisaema, immature bitter orange(stir-frying), orange fruit(stir-frying), chineseyam(stir-frying), poria, red ginseng, sandalwood, liquorice.

43.NiuhuangBaolong Pill: artificial cow-bezoare, bilearisaema, tabasheer, scorpion, batryticated silkworm(stir-frying), cinnabar, amber,musk, realgar, poria.

44. BabaoyanCompound: calamine(grinding in sanhuang water), water-chestnutspowder, bear gallbladder, borax(stir-frying), borneol, pearl, cinnabar, cuttlebone(decladding),musk, shrub chastetree fruit(removing endocarp), pale butterflybush flower, shrubchastetree fruit, chrysanthemum flower, grassleaved sweetflag rhizome, plantainseed, cimicifuga rhizome, pueraria root, phellodendron bark.

45.Meihuadianshe Pill(Capsule): cow bezoare, musk, toadvenom(prepared), bear gallbladder powder, borneol, borax, realgar, lepidiumseed, frankincense(prepared), myrrh(prepared), draconis resin, pearl, eaglewood, cinnabar.

46.Bingpeng Powder: borneol, borax(calcining), cinnabar, sodiumsulfate powder.

47. YatongyiliPill: toad venom, cinnabar, realgar.

48.Huishengdiyi Pill (Powder, Capsule): groundbeetle, chinese angelica root, frankincense(stir-frying with wine), draconisresin, pyrite（calcining, calcining and quenching with vinegar）, musk,cinnabar.

49. DiedaqiliPowder: chinese angelica root(processing withwine), safflower, frankincense(processing with vinegar), myrrh(processing withvinegar), draconis resin, notoginseng, musk, borneol, cinnabar, black catechu.

50.Qili Powder(Capsule): draconis resin, myrrh(prepared), safflower,frankincense(prepared), musk, borneol, cinnabar, black catechu.

51. ShangkejieguTablet: safflower, ground beetle, cinnabar, nuxvomica powder, muskmelon seed, chicken bone(prepared), pyrite(calcining), starfish(stir-frying),frankincense(stir-frying), myrrh(stir-frying), notoginseng, borneol.

Chemical Composition：

Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia Of People's Republic Of China [S].Beijing: Chemical Industry Press, 2010:128.

Pharmacological Action:

[1]Kang Yong, Li Xianrong, Cheng Xia, Et Al. The Studies On Some Pharmacological Effects Of Cinnabar On Central Nervous System[J].Shizhen Journal Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research, 1998,9(6):532-533.

[2]Jiangxi Journal Of Traditional Chinese Medicine,

[2]Shi Junhua, Wei Wenzhang. Should Reconsider The The Cinnabar Oral Administration Of Medicinal Value [J]. Pharmaceutical Bulletin,1984,19(11):26.

[3]Wangq, Yangx D, Zhang Bx, Et.Al The Anxiolytic Effectofcinnabar Involves Changes Ofserotonin Levels [J]. European Journal Of Pharmacology, 2007,565:132-137.

[4] Zhu Kunjie. Effect And Mechanism Of Zs And Xh In Agnh Improving Brain Injury[D].Beijing: Beijing University Of Chinese Medicine,2007.

[5] Feng Shuyi .Containing Or Not Containing Cinnabar And Realgar Of Angong Niuhuang Pill On Rats With Hemorrhagic Brain Injury Protective Effect And The Mechanism Study [D]. Beijing: Beijing University Of Chinese Medicine,2007

[6] Zhao Yong. The Cinnabar. Realgar And Angong Niuhuang Wan Cerebral Ischemia Injury And Protective Effect Of Correlation Study [D]. Beijing: Beijing University Of Chinese Medicine,2003

Clinical Trials：

[1] Li Haiyan. Zhusha Anshen Pills Prescription Compatibility Analysis And Clinical Application Of [J]. Guide Of Chinese Medicine,2009,7(18):66-67

Toxicology:

[1] Liu Zhongshu, And So On. Tianjin Medicine,1986,3(2):38

[2] Yue Wang, And So On. Journal Of Traditional Chinese Medicine,1989,14(2):42

[3] Zheng Hui, King Yinlong. Mercury Toxicity And Mechanism Of ( J ). Health Research,2006,35(5):663

[4] Shen Paper. Reproductive And Developmental Toxicity Of Mercury ( J ). Animal Medicine,2000,21(4):128

[5]Yeoh Ts, Lee A S, Lee H S·Absorption Of Mercuric Sulphide Following Oral Administration In Mice·Toxicology,1986,41(1):107·

[6] Liu Zhongshu, Zhang Jinying, Dai Xizhen, Et Al. Cinnabar Mercury Absorption Accumulation Induced By Experimental Study, Tianjin Traditional Chinese Medicine,1986,3(2):38

[7] South Hui. The Cinnabar Toxic Components Of The Research And Evaluation Of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Beijing,1996, (5):63

[8] Kang Yong, Li Xianrong, Cheng Xia, Et Al. Cinnabar On Central Nervous System Of Some Pharmacological Effect And Toxicity Was Observed. Lishizhen Medicine And Materia Medica Research,1998,9(6):532

[9]Young Y H, Chuu J J, Liu S H,Et Al·Neurotoxic Mechanism Of Cinnabar And Mercuric Sulfide On The Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex System Of Guinea Pigs·Toxicol Sci, 2002, 67(2):256

[10]Chuu J J, Liu Sh, Lin-Shiau S Y·Effects Of Methyl Mercury, Mercuric Sulfide And Cinnabar On Active Avoidance Responses, Na+/K+-Atpase Activities And Tissue Mercury Contents In Rats·Proc Natl Sci Counc Repub China B, 2001,25(2):128·

[11]Chuu J J, Hsu C J,Lin Shiau S Y.Abnormal Auditory Brainstem Responses For Mice Treated With Mercurial Compounds: Involvement Of Excessive Nitric Oxide.Toxicology, 2001,162(1):11