Hematite (Red Ochre) dài zhě shí · 代赭石

Safety. Read this first: it is a natural iron ore, and natural ores of this kind are routinely accompanied by arsenic, lead and other heavy metals — which is why mineral drugs require assay and why the Pharmacopoeia sets limits for them. Long or heavy intake is also an iron load, which matters for anyone with haemochromatosis or another iron-overload state. The tradition itself treats it as contraindicated in pregnancy and cautious in cold, weak digestion, on the grounds that it is heavy and cold. Human safety data in breastfeeding are insufficient. Not for self-directed use. One more thing: 代赭石 is not 磁石 and not 朱砂 — confusing mineral drugs with one another is a documented route to poisoning.