Wushi powder was first invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a medical sage, as an auxiliary medicine to treat cold syndrome. Later, it was improved by Cao Cao's adopted son and became the "aristocratic medicine" of the upper class.
After taking Wushi Powder, making peace "also makes me feel happy", which plays a refreshing role. There are also rumors that Yanhe "rules several women every day" after taking the medicine, so the medicine began to spread among rich dudes.
There are many versions of the formula of Wushi powder, among which "Wushi" refers to five kinds of stones. At present, there are five widely circulated sayings: stalactite, Ziyingshi, Bai Shiying, pyrite and halloysite, but they are not sure. However, it can be found from historical records that there is arsenic in Wushi powder.
According to Biography of Huangfu Mi in the Book of Jin, the symptoms after taking Wushi Powder are: "the tongue shrinks in the throat, carbuncle falls on the back, and the spine is rotten", which shows that the side effects of this medicine are in the skin, and the manifestations of arsenic poisoning can also cause skin damage, such as irritating dermatitis, which generally occurs in the chest and back, which is just the same as the record.
Arsenic is a highly toxic substance, which was used to make arsenic in ancient times. This substance exists in ores, and the quantity is not small. At present, there are hundreds of minerals containing arsenic.
It can be seen that it is not surprising that Wushi powder contains arsenic, and people who take Wushi powder are tantamount to eating arsenic. Why do so many people eat such poisonous things? Mainly because this medicine is addictive.
Wushi powder is very medicinal, and it will make people feel hot after eating it. You must take off your clothes and take a walk with warm wine, so that the medicinal properties can be released. If you take Wushisan in the cold winter, you can not only take off your cotton-padded jacket, but also drink ice and eat snow without feeling cold. This kind of medicine is very refreshing in the eyes of the ancients, but I don't know that it is a manifestation of poisoning.
Sun Simiao studied medicine all his life to help people solve the pain of diseases, but he could do nothing about Wu Shisan. The main reasons are as follows:
Although Wushi powder is highly toxic, it will not be fatal on the spot, and it belongs to chronic poison, which makes people relax their vigilance and think that this medicine will not be fatal.
Wushi powder is very effective. Users usually only see the effect of "spiritual pleasure" and ignore the consequences of "flesh festering". Therefore, since Wushisan first made peace, its followers have been heard all the time;
Wushi powder is addictive, and this addictive process is a vicious circle: Wushi powder will make people excited after taking it, but it will also damage the body. For example, the liver and kidney will be damaged first, and drinking a lot of cold water after taking it will also damage the spleen and stomach. After organ damage, people will become more decadent and listless. At this time, Wushisan is needed to keep fresh.
Long-term use of Wushi pill causes organ failure. For example, according to the Book of Jin, after taking Wushi Powder, it is "bloated and sore limbs", which is a manifestation of renal failure.
As a doctor, Sun Simiao knew the harm of Wushi Powder, and he also warned drug addicts that they would rather eat pueraria lobata than refuse Wushi. Pueraria lobata, that is, Lysimachia christinae, will get sick after taking it for about 30 minutes, and it will be fatal if taken in large quantities. Compared with Wushi Powder, Sun Simiao can see how toxic Wushi Powder is! Therefore, he warned his disciples and future generations that if it met the prescription of Wushisan, it must be destroyed.