Natural Herb Library

Calcined Magnetite

Chinese
煅磁石
Pinyin
Duan Ci Shi
Latin
Magnetitum Praeparata
Scientific specimen plate of Calcined Magnetite, Magnetitum Praeparata, showing processed magnetite fragments, powder, and diagnostic mineral details.
Botanical plate by Kodi .

Known in TCM as Duan Ci Shi (煅磁石), this salty, cold herb enters the Liver and Kidney. Traditionally, it anchors and calms the Spirit - used for restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, and agitation when a heavy settling mineral is needed, most often applied for tinnitus, dizziness, and insomnia. Modern research has identified Magnetite among its active constituents.

Part used: Magnetite

Also Known As

Praeparata

Latin: Magnetitum Praeparata | Pinyin: Duan Ci Shi | Chinese: 煅磁石

TCM Properties

Taste
salty
Temperature
cold
Channels
Liver, Kidney

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Anchors and calms the Spirit - used for restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, and agitation when a heavy settling mineral is needed.
  • Calms the Liver and subdues Yang - classically chosen for dizziness, headache, tinnitus, or blurred vision when Liver Yang rises upward.
  • Opens the ear orifices and brightens the eyes - one of the classic mineral medicines for tinnitus, hearing decline, and vision dimness associated with Kidney deficiency.
  • Aids the Kidneys in grasping Qi - extended to deficiency-type wheezing or breathlessness where the Kidneys fail to hold Qi downward.

Secondary Actions

  • Calcining and quenching make Ci Shi easier to pulverize and safer to decoct by reducing grit and lowering the burden of geological impurities.
  • The processed form preserves the same therapeutic identity as Ci Shi while making the mineral more practical for real clinical use.

Classic Formulas

  • Ci Zhu Wan (磁朱丸) - classic formula in which Ci Shi joins cinnabar to calm the Spirit, settle floating Yang, and benefit the eyes and ears.
  • Er Long Zuo Ci Wan (耳聋左慈丸) - tinnitus and hearing-loss formula lineage using Ci Shi to connect Kidney deficiency treatment with the ear orifices.
  • Ci Shi with Dai Zhe Shi or Shi Jue Ming - mineral combinations used when severe upward disturbance causes dizziness, tinnitus, and irritability.

Classical References

  • Me & Qi presents Ci Shi as a classic heavy mineral that anchors the Spirit, subdues Yang, opens the ears, brightens the eyes, and helps the Kidneys grasp Qi.
  • Classical sources cited by Me & Qi repeatedly connect magnetite with tinnitus, deafness, dim vision, and the broader Heart-Kidney or Liver-Kidney axis.
  • PREPARATION NOTE: Duan Ci Shi is not a new herb but the clinically prepared magnetite form, used because raw ore is too hard, impure, and difficult to reduce to a useful medicinal powder.

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Magnetite (Fe3O4) - the core ferriferrous oxide mineral underlying Ci Shi
  • Iron ions within the mineral matrix - part of the ore's redox and trace-mineral profile
  • Trace geological elements such as manganese, chromium, titanium, strontium, and arsenic - variable impurities that make quality control important
  • Magnetic mineral structure - the defining physical quality used in classical identity testing

Studied Effects

  • Modern standalone pharmacology on Duan Ci Shi is limited, but quality-control work confirms that magnetite carries variable water-soluble iron and heavy-metal burdens depending on source, supporting the classical emphasis on strong processing and authenticated sourcing (PMID 22007535).
  • Current research interest around Ci Shi is weighted more toward mineral identity, impurity profiling, and preparation science than toward modern single-herb clinical trials.
  • The classical therapeutic niche for tinnitus, dizziness, and insomnia continues to survive mainly through formula-level use rather than isolated contemporary pharmacology.

PubMed References

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Use without a true pattern of agitation, rising Yang, tinnitus, or Kidney deficiency-related upward disturbance
  • Long-term unsupervised use of crude mineral products

Cautions

  • Only properly processed medicinal magnetite should be used because raw ore may contain arsenic and other heavy-metal impurities
  • As a dense mineral, Ci Shi is traditionally pre-decocted and processed rather than swallowed casually as raw powder
  • Dedicated modern drug-interaction data are lacking, but mineral medicines should be spaced from absorption-sensitive oral medications
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Calcined Magnetite used for?

Calcined Magnetite is traditionally used to Anchors and calms the Spirit - used for restlessness, insomnia, palpitations, and agitation when a heavy settling mineral is needed., Calms the Liver and subdues Yang - classically chosen for dizziness, headache, tinnitus, or blurred vision when Liver Yang rises upward., Opens the ear orifices and brightens the eyes - one of the classic mineral medicines for tinnitus, hearing decline, and vision dimness associated with Kidney deficiency., Aids the Kidneys in grasping Qi - extended to deficiency-type wheezing or breathlessness where the Kidneys fail to hold Qi downward.. Research has investigated its effects on: Modern standalone pharmacology on Duan Ci Shi is limited, but quality-control work confirms that magnetite carries variable water-soluble iron and heavy-metal burdens depending on source, supporting the classical emphasis on strong processing and authenticated sourcing (PMID 22007535).; Current research interest around Ci Shi is weighted more toward mineral identity, impurity profiling, and preparation science than toward modern single-herb clinical trials..

What are other names for Calcined Magnetite?

Calcined Magnetite is also known as Praeparata. In TCM: 煅磁石 (Duan Ci Shi); Magnetitum Praeparata.

Is Calcined Magnetite safe during pregnancy?

The safety of Calcined Magnetite during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.

What are the contraindications for Calcined Magnetite?

Calcined Magnetite should not be used in: Use without a true pattern of agitation, rising Yang, tinnitus, or Kidney deficiency-related upward disturbance; Long-term unsupervised use of crude mineral products. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.