Mercury’s Use In Medicine And It’s Effects By S. C. Straith

Mercury’s Use In Medicine During the renaissance, a new approach to medicine was introduced by Paracelsus. This form of medicine was based on iatrochemistry (a school of thought of the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to understand medicine and physiology in terms of chemistry.). This medicine used sulfur, salts and oxides, mainly from mercury and lead. In the 15th century it became increasingly common. By the 19th century and up to 1920, pills made from mercurials such as calomel, cinnabar, sublimate, and mercury oxides were used as pills and mercury was used as an ointment for skin lesions. This lead to mercury poisoning, the effects of which were blamed on whatever they were trying to cure.

The Effects of Mercury Poisoning Loss of peripheral vision Loss of motor control Anxiety Depression Insomnia Aphasia Muscle weakness

Zhu-Sha-An-Shen-Wan Zhu-sha-an-shen-wan is a form of traditional chinese medicine that is still around today. The reason why it is notable is because it’s a cinnabar pill. And the amount of mercury in it is “110,000 times higher than allowable cinnabar dose levels according to the European Drug and Food Standards” (https://www.thoughtco.com/cinnabar-the-ancient-pigment-of-mercury-170556). (As are 45 other medicines that are still used today)a

This is cinnabar

What is Zhu-Sha-An-Shan-Wan used for? Zhu-sha-an-shen-wan is used to treat Anxiety Depression Insomnia

The Effects of Mercury Poisoning Loss of peripheral vision Loss of motor control Anxiety Depression Insomnia Speech impairment Muscle weakness

Why does this matter? This matters mainly due to the fact that it’s hurting people, and it’s a serious problem that people still think that this “medicine” is helping them.

Bibliography About Mary De AlmeidaMary Is a Middle-school Teacher with a Penchant for Writing. She Has Been Interested in Metaphysics Ever since She Can Remember and Has Been Practicing Yoga for over 20 Years. She Is Now 50 and Fabulous, as She Likes Saying. Sharing H. "Gems/Stones." Access Gems. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. "Health Effects of Exposures to Mercury." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 30 Mar. 2017. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. "Mercury - Food Safety - European Commission." Food Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. "Mercury Poisoning." Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Encyclopedia.com, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. "Minerals.net." Mercury: The Mineral Native Mercury Information and Pictures. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. Norn, S., H. Permin, E. Kruse, and P. R. Kruse. "[Mercury--a Major Agent in the History of Medicine and Alchemy]." Dansk Medicinhistorisk Arbog. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. Reed, Martin. "Insomnia Is a Symptom of Lead and Mercury Poisoning." Insomnia Land: How to Fall Asleep without Sleeping Pills. N.p., 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. "3 Toxic Chemicals Tied to Depression: Symptoms You Need to Recognize (Part 3 of 3)." University Health News. N.p., 16 Jan. 2017. Web. 26 Apr. 2017. Cinnabar image from https://www.dakotamatrix.com/products/1154/cinnabar. Mercury image from https://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/mercury-metal China Flag image From http://www.china-family-adventure.com/china-flag.html