THE VARIETIES OF MINERAL DRUGS USED IN TRADITIONAL MONGOLIAN MEDICINE

摘要

The results of an examination of mineral drugs of Mongolian medicine, that are in use in the eastern and western parts of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Ningxia Autonomous Region of China and in the Republic of Mongolia, show that there are far less varieties than those listed in classic literature, such as Jing Zhu Ben Cao, but more than those listed in modern literature, such as Inner Mongolian Drug Standards, also more than that in use in traditional Chinese medicine. Among the varieties used in Mongolian medicine, Magnesite and Diliqing (also called Disongzhi, belongs to Gossan category) reflect characteristics of Indian mineral drugs; Lazurite and others reflect those of Arabian mineral drugs; Realgar, Stalactite and others reflect those of traditional Chinese medicine; Xaoraon giwang, Zinaosha (red-purple Salammoniac) and others reflect particular characteristics of mineral drugs used in Mongolian-Tibetan medicine. Mongolian-Tibetan medicine developed in the conditions of a vast territory, sparse population, and inconvenience of transportation. Due to the limitation of local mineral drugs resources, an original ingredient could be evolved and transformed into several varieties in practices of over 1000 years, for the treatment of the same disease or different diseases to suit the requirements of health care in different regions, however, its original main mineral components and chemical composition have been kept.