China's ancient gold drugs

Abstract

The earliest application of gold as a therapeutic agent was in China, and it was widely used by physicians and surgeons. For example, pure gold was used to treat furuncles, smallpox and skin ulcers and to remove mercury from skin and flesh; some ancient references noted that gold drugs can cure joint disease and disease in lungs. There were also prescriptions containing gold for curing measles and other diseases. Plant and animal medicines were used in ancient prescriptions and many of these contain gold as a trace element. Ancient China had remarkable achievements in the pharmacology of gold. The evolution of "medicinal gold" and "potable gold" also promoted the development of preparation techniques using gold foil and gold powder, and refining and separation techniques for gold and gold-silver. The scientific benefits gave a worldwide lead at that time and still have relevance in contemporary pharmacology, chemistry and metallurgy of gold.