[citation needed] In this sense, realgar was considered to be a universal antidote against poison by traditional Chinese medicine, which therefore advocated its use for protection against disease, snakes, and evil spirits.
[citation needed] The Dragon Boat Festival coincides with what Chinese astronomy considers the height of summer and yang's force for the year.
[citation needed] These practices were later connected with the festivities honoring poet and statesman Qu Yuan (340–278 BC), who killed himself in protest by drowning in a river.
[citation needed] A typical recipe calls for 50 to 100 grams of realgar powder to be added to one liter of homemade wine and left to stand at room temperature for several hours.
[1] Arsenic is a potent poison and a causal factor in urinary bladder, skin, liver, and lung cancers.