This is the info I have on the topic: One of the 5 tigers of the north was one of these practioners his name was Gu Ruzhang
Iron Sand Palm and whose palms were red. Hence the name, Cinnabar Iron Sand
Palm. Gu Ruzhang's Iron Sand Palm was called Black Sand Palm or Hei Sha Zhang.
Naturally, Gu Ruzhang's palms were black. Both Iron Sand Palms are known as
Poison Sand Palm or Tu Sha Chang. The training methods for both Cinnabar and
Black Iron Sand Palms are similar.
> The first stage - Strengthen the palm by striking green peas. This is to numb
the nerve endings in the palm. Later, the peas are replaced by or iron chips or
iron ball bearing. These iron pellets become imbedded into the flesh.
> The second stage - The palms are thrust into hot sand to further strengthen
them.
> The third stage - Diluted poison is added to the iron pellets. With time, the
poison dose is increased slowly in concentration while the body builds immunity
towards the poison.
> After drilling in each stage, herbs are prepared to nurse the hands to prevent
injury. Special herbal liquids are used to reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
Sometimes the pain was so great that practitioners would turn to western drugs
such as opium and heroin to kill the pain. Herbs also play an important role in
the last stage, since herbs prevent the body from absorbing too much of the
toxic poison. The difference between the Cinnabar Iron Sand Palm and Black Iro>
n Sand Palm is the type of poison used in the training. As the fighter strikes
his opponent, the poison is transferred from the palm into the opponent. The
opponent usually dies because of the poison. Many times blisters and welts would
developed and would give the appearance of a snakebite. Hence the name, Poison Hand