Litharge, also known as galena or Mi Tuo Seng in mandarin, is an impressive Chinese herb mainly for external use. If used in the proper way, it may surprise you with its amazing healing power on acne remedy, pimples scars removal, etc. Usually litharge needs to be combined with some other herbs to yield the best result. In fact ancient Chinese physicians have already accumulated tons of knowledge from their clinical practice and experiments for us. To date most of the survived recipes are still in use. And the medicinal uses of litharge cover acne, Rosacea, tinea versicolor, freckle, dark spots, chloasma, Vitiligo, Hircismus, Eczema, pruritusm, scrotal dermatitis, tinea pedis and manuum, bedsores, Hemorrhoids, recurrent aphthous, and more. A good medicine as it is, you have to figure out its nature in the first place to make it to your advantage since it is generally considered poisonous. Want to know how to remove dark spots from acne or remove pimple scars with this mineral herb?

Litharge mineral is very rare in the natural world. It is in the shape of small croci sheets or earthy powder. It mainly contains PbO, a composition oxidized from galena. Medicinally it refers to lead oxide that is made from the raw material of lead. Hence, other names of it include lithargyrum, lithargite, Lead (II) oxide, lead monoxide, litharge powder, and so on.

WHAT'S IS LITHARGE USED FOR? 
Beside of medicine, it is still used for manufacturing white lead paint, lead soap, cosolvent in metallurgy, paint driers, ceramic materials, rubber vulcanization accelerators, pesticides, and so on. Medicinally it is usually used externally. And pharmacological studies have confirmed that it could kill skin fungus, reduce inflammation, protect ulcer surface, reduce mucus secretion, etc. Actually its health benefits on fading dark spots has been discovered for so long – Tang Ben Cao (Tang Materia Medica) says that it can be used as scar removing creams and the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing Shu claims that it is good at healing metal-inflicted wound and removing acne scars from face.

Litharge

SELECTED LITHARGE FORMULAS ON HERBAL REMEDIES
According to Quan Guo Zhong Cao Yao Hui Bian (National Collection of Chinese Herbal Drugs), it is salty and acrid in flavor and neutral and poisonous in nature. Prime functions include eliminating dampness, killing parasites, and healing sores. And primary litharge uses and indications are Eczema, scabies, ringworm, armpit odor, and non-healing burst sores. It is usually used externally only in the forms of powder or paste.

1. Tuo Seng Wan from Liang Peng Hui Ji (Close Friends’ Collection). It is combined with Huang La (beeswax), Ku Fan (dried alum), Xiong Huang (realgar), etc. to treat ruptured scrofula, early phase of carbuncle all over the body, stubborn ecthyma, anal fistula, etc.

2. Tuo Seng San from Dong Tian Ao Zhi (Profound Essence of the Heaven). It is formulated with Qing Fen (calomel), Shi Gao (Gypsum), and alum to cure athlete's foot.

3. Shen Xiao Wan from Yu Ju Shi Xuan Qi Fang (odd-ingredient prescriptions chosen by lay Buddhist Yu). It is made into pills to consumptive thirst.

 (Poria), and Chuan Xiong (Szechuan Lovage Root) for moistening face and removing acne scars from face.