Abstract: Chinese mineral medicines, rooted in ancient alchemical practices, constitute one of the three major categories of traditional Chinese medicine. Primarily composed of inorganic compounds, they serve as significant subjects of study in the realm of inorganic element chemistry within Chinese pharmaceutical education. Through a narrative tale, this paper introduces several essential Chinese mineral medicines, illustrating their chemical transformations during the preparation process. By doing so, it aims to familiarize the audience with the properties of relevant inorganic elements and their therapeutic effects in mineral medicines, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between Chinese pharmacology and chemistry.

Key words: Mineral medicine, Lime, Gypsum, Cinnabar, Arsenic