山茶花，得一阳之气以生，故花开于冬末春初之时。其味甘而微辛，气平而微寒，
色赤而入血分，故主吐血衄血，肠风下血并为末，入童尿及酒，调服。
木棉子，得地中之阳气，复感秋金之气以成。味辛，气热，其性有毒。入肝、入
肾。祛风湿寒湿之药也。惟其辛，故能散风邪；惟其热，故能除寒湿。凡下部有风寒湿
邪者，宜之。然而性热有毒，肝肾虚者不宜用。一切阴虚火炽痿弱，下体无力者咸忌之。
禀地二之火气以生，兼得乎天七之气以成，色赤法火，中舍水液，为龙为汞，亦曰
阴精。七为阳火之少，故味甘微寒而无毒，盖指生砂而言也。乃清镇少阴君火之上药，
辟除鬼魁，百邪之神物，故能通神明，定魂魄，杀鬼魅，辟诸毒。然丹砂为八石之主，
故列石部之首。体中含汞，汞味本辛，故能杀诸虫，杀精魅，宜乎《药性论》谓其有大
毒。若经伏火，及一切烹炼则毒等砒卤，服之必毙，戒之。水银从石中进出为石汞，从
丹砂中出者为朱襄汞，即丹砂中液也。禀至阴之气而有汞，或其味辛，其气寒而有毒，
善能杀虫。其性下走，无停歇，故以之杀诸虫疮疥也。然至阴精之故，近男阳阳痿，无
气入耳，能食人脑，至尽人肉，令百节挛缩。外敷尚防其毒之害，内服为害不待言而
可知矣。得枣肉人唾同研则散，得铪则凝，得硫则结，得紫河车则伏，得川椒则收。银
珠乃硫磺同汞升炼而成，其性燥烈，过服能使人龈烂筋挛。其味辛，气温有毒，亦能破
积滞散结，疗癣疥恶疮杀虫，不宜服食日久，顽疮不收者，银珠一钱，地龙骨即年久
锻石五分，松香五钱为末，香油一两，化摊纸上，贴之能治湿毒 疮。水银粉即轻粉，
由炼水银而咸。其味本辛气湿无毒，疗性与水银相似，第其体稍轻浮耳。故为流利肠
胃，及除热杀虫，外治之需，若用服饵，恐汞毒又兼火毒，燥烈肠胃血液耗亡反成痼
疾，慎之。久病虚人尤宜切禁。升炼轻粉法。用水银一两，白矾二两，同研至不见
星。铺于铁器内，以小乌盆覆之，盐泥封固盆口，以炭火打三炷香，取开则粉升于盆上矣。
丹砂；镇心养神，安魂定魄，辟邪解毒。主五脏百病，除烦止渴，通调血脉，杀
鬼祟精魅，扫疥 疮疡。然色赤而应南，离为心经主药，但系纯阴重滞之品，多服久服
则虚灵清气，皆为镇堕，令人呆闷。若一经火炼，其毒更等于砒矣。根据法 炼取汞，又
名水银，杀五金大毒。和大枫子则杀疮虫。佐黄芩丸，则绝胎孕。杀虫虱有功，下死胎
必用。渗入肉内，使人筋挛。若近男阳，阳痿无气，惟以赤金系茎边患处，水银自出，
阳便起也。轻粉系汞再升，惟入外科，去风杀虫，追毒生肌，主通大肠，敷小儿疳痹瘰
，杀疮疥疮癞。若杨梅疮初起，或服或点，则毒瓦斯退。伏骨髓，如油入面，莫之能
出，迨多年之后，毒发关窍，重者丧生，轻者废败。银朱亦汞烧就，仅杀虫虱更理疔疮。
主治（痘疹合参） 丹砂虽云通血脉，解痘毒，安魂魄，养精明目，然性寒沉堕，
凡热盛狂言者，可用少许，和诸药以解热
毒。安神切不可多服，盖心血一凉，则痘毒何由而发？轻粉凉血散疮毒，止堪合入掺
药，以为痘毒痈疽外治之用。
又秘法，升丹灵药方。治痈疽恶疮，杨梅诸疮，拔毒长肉神验，水银一两，黑铅七
钱，朱砂、雄黄各三钱，白矾、火硝各二两半。其法先用铅化开，投水银凝成饼，入朱
砂、雄黄研匀，然后将硝、矾溶化，投前四味末入内，离火急搅，令匀。用阳诚罐盛
之，铁盏盖口，上架铁梁，铁线扎紧。盐泥固济，神仙炉内，文武火升炼，盏中时时以
水擦之，火渐加以三分为率，每焚官香一炷，则加一分，如是炼三炷官香为度，候冷
取开，于盏底刮取，研如飞面，甘草汤飞过三次，入龙脑香少许，点广疮上，频频以指
蘸药按之，三日自脱，神方也。
山茶花，禀受阳气而生，因此花开在冬末春初之时。其味道甘而微辛，气性平而微寒，颜色赤红而入血分，所以主治吐血、鼻出血、肠道风邪引起的便血等症，将其研为粉末，加入童便和酒，调匀服用。
木棉子，汲取地中的阳气，又感受秋季金气而成。味道辛，气性热，其性质有毒。入肝经、肾经。是祛除风湿、寒湿的药物。正因为其味辛，所以能疏散风邪；正因为其气热，所以能驱除寒湿。凡是下部有风寒湿邪侵袭的，适宜使用。然而其性热且有毒，肝肾虚弱者不宜使用。一切阴虚火旺导致的痿弱无力，以及下体无力的情况，都应禁忌使用。
丹砂（朱砂），禀受地二之火气而生，兼得天七之气而成，颜色赤红效法火，中间含有水液，被称为龙或汞，也称为阴精。七为阳火之少，所以味道甘微寒且无毒，这指的是天然生砂而言。它是清镇少阴君火的良药，能辟除鬼魅邪气，是百邪之神物，所以能通神明，定魂魄，杀鬼魅，辟诸毒。然而丹砂是八石之主，所以列于石部之首。体内含汞，汞的味道本辛，所以能杀各种虫，杀精魅，《药性论》称其有大毒，也是理所当然。如果经过伏火处理，以及一切烹炼，则毒性等同于砒霜卤盐，服用必死，务必戒慎。水银从石头中提炼出的叫石汞，从丹砂中析出的是朱襄汞，即丹砂中的液体。禀受至阴之气而含有汞，其味辛，气寒而有毒，善于杀虫。其性质下行，没有停歇，所以用它来治疗各种虫疮疥癣。然而因为是至阴精质，靠近男性生殖器会导致阳痿、无气，能蚀食人脑，耗尽人肉，使全身关节挛缩。外敷还要防备其毒性危害，内服的危害更是不言而喻。遇到枣肉和人唾同研则分散，遇到铪则凝固，遇到硫磺则结合，遇到紫河车则潜伏，遇到川椒则收敛。银朱是硫磺与水银共同升炼而成，其性质燥烈，过量服用能使牙龈腐烂、筋脉拘挛。其味辛，气温，有毒，也能破除积滞、消散结块，治疗癣疥恶疮、杀虫，不宜长期服用。对于久不愈合的顽疮，用银朱一钱，地龙骨（即年久锻石）五分，松香五钱，研为粉末，香油一两，熔化后摊在纸上，贴敷可以治疗湿毒疮。水银粉即轻粉，由炼制水银而成。其味本辛，气湿，无毒，疗效性质与水银相似，只是质地稍轻浮。所以用于流利肠胃，以及清热杀虫，是外治所需的药物，如果用于内服，恐怕汞毒又兼火毒，燥烈肠胃，耗亡血液，反而成为顽固疾病，需谨慎。久病体虚之人尤其应当严格禁止。升炼轻粉的方法：用水银一两，白矾二两，一同研磨直到不见星点。铺在铁器内，用小乌盆覆盖，用盐泥封固盆口，用炭火煅烧三炷香的时间，打开则粉升于盆上。丹砂：镇心安神，安魂定魄，辟邪解毒。主治五脏百病，除烦止渴，通调血脉，杀鬼祟精魅，扫疥疮疡。然而颜色赤红对应南方，离卦为心经主药，但属于纯阴重滞之品，多服久服则会使虚灵清气被镇压堕落，令人呆闷。一旦经过火炼，其毒性更等于砒霜。根据方法炼制取汞，又名水银，杀五金大毒。与大枫子配合则杀疮虫。佐以黄芩丸，则绝育胎孕。杀虫虱有功，下死胎必用。渗入肉内，使人筋脉拘挛。若接触男性生殖器，导致阳痿无气，只用赤金系于患处茎边，水银自出，阳气便能恢复。轻粉是汞再次升炼而成，只用于外科，去风杀虫，追毒生肌，主要通大肠，敷治小儿疳痹瘰疬，杀疮疥疮癞。如果是杨梅疮初起，或内服或点涂，则毒瓦斯退散。潜伏于骨髓，如油入面，无法取出，等到多年之后，毒发关窍，重的丧生，轻的废败。银朱也是汞烧制而成，仅杀虫虱，更调理疔疮。主治（痘疹合参）：丹砂虽然号称通血脉，解痘毒，安魂魄，养精明目，但其性寒沉堕，凡是热盛狂言者，可用少许，配合其他药物以解热毒。安神切不可多服，因为心血一凉，痘毒如何发散？轻粉凉血散疮毒，只适合掺入外用药，作为痘毒痈疽外治之用。另有秘法，升丹灵药方。治疗痈疽恶疮、杨梅诸疮，拔毒长肉神验，配方：水银一两，黑铅七钱，朱砂、雄黄各三钱，白矾、火硝各二两半。其法先用铅熔化，投入水银凝结成饼，加入朱砂、雄黄研匀，然后将硝、矾溶化，投入前四味粉末在内，离火急搅，令均匀。用阳诚罐盛装，铁盏盖口，上架铁梁，铁线扎紧。盐泥固济，放入神仙炉内，文武火升炼，盏中时时以水擦拭，火渐加以三分为率，每焚官香一炷，则加一分，如此炼三炷官香为度，冷却后打开，于盏底刮取，研如飞面，甘草汤飞过三次，加入少许龙脑香，点涂广疮上，频频用手指蘸药按之，三日自然脱落，神方也。
Camellia flower (Shanchahua) is born by receiving Yang Qi, thus it blooms at the end of winter and beginning of spring. Its taste is sweet with a slight pungency, its nature is neutral with a slight coldness, its red color enters the Blood aspect, therefore it mainly treats hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), and intestinal wind-induced hematochezia (blood in stool). It is ground into powder, mixed with child's urine and wine, and taken after blending.
Kapok seed (Mumianzi) absorbs the Yang Qi from the earth and completes its formation by sensing the Metal Qi of autumn. Its taste is pungent, its nature is hot, and it possesses toxic properties. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It is an herb that dispels Wind-Dampness and Cold-Dampness. Precisely because of its pungency, it can disperse Wind pathogenic factors; precisely because of its heat, it can eliminate Cold-Dampness. It is suitable for cases where Wind-Cold-Dampness pathogens affect the lower body. However, due to its hot nature and toxicity, it should not be used by those with Liver and Kidney deficiency. All conditions characterized by Yin deficiency with blazing Fire leading to flaccidity and weakness, or weakness in the lower body, are contraindicated.
Cinnabar (Dansha) is born by inheriting the Fire Qi of Earth Number Two and completing its formation by combining with Heaven Number Seven. Its red color corresponds to Fire, and it contains liquid within, referred to as Dragon or Mercury, also called Yin Essence. Seven represents the lesser Yang Fire, so its taste is sweet and slightly cold without toxicity, referring specifically to raw cinnabar. It is a superior drug for clearing and settling the Ministerial Fire of Shaoyin, expelling ghosts and evil spirits, and is a divine substance against all evils. Thus, it can open the spirit gates, stabilize the soul and魄 (Po), kill malevolent entities, and ward off various toxins. As Cinnabar is the chief among the Eight Minerals, it is listed first in the Mineral section. It contains mercury internally; since mercury tastes pungent, it can kill various insects and spirits, which explains why *Yaoxing Lun* states it has great toxicity. If subjected to "hidden fire" processing or any cooking/refining, its toxicity becomes equivalent to arsenic and salt, and ingestion will certainly cause death; caution is strictly required. Mercury extracted from stones is called Stone Mercury, while that extracted from Cinnabar is called Zhu Xiang Mercury, which is the liquid within Cinnabar. Inheriting the extreme Yin Qi, it contains mercury; its taste is pungent, its nature is cold and toxic, and it is good at killing parasites. Its nature moves downward without stopping, hence it is used to treat various parasitic skin diseases like scabies. However, due to its extreme Yin essence, contact with the male genitalia causes impotence and lack of Qi, it can erode human brain tissue, consume human flesh, and cause contraction of all joints. Even external application requires caution against its toxic harm, let alone internal use, where the harm is self-evident. It disperses when ground with jujube meat and human saliva, coagulates with Hafnium (or specific metal alloy), combines with Sulfur, subdues with Placenta Humanus (Zi He Che), and consolidates with Sichuan Pepper. Silver Cinnabar (Yinzhu) is formed by sublimating Sulfur and Mercury together; its nature is drying and fierce. Overdose can cause gum rot and tendon contraction. Its taste is pungent, nature is warm, and it is toxic. It can also break up accumulations, dissipate nodules, treat tinea, scabies, and malignant sores, and kill parasites. It is unsuitable for long-term consumption. For stubborn sores that do not heal, mix 1 qian of Silver Cinnabar, 5 fen of Earth Dragon Bone (aged calcined stone), and 5 qian of Pine Rosin into powder, dissolve in 1 liang of Sesame Oil, spread on paper, and apply to treat damp-toxin sores. Calomel (Qingfen), also known as Mercurous Chloride, is derived from refining Mercury. Its taste is originally pungent, nature is moist, and it is non-toxic. Its therapeutic nature is similar to Mercury, but its texture is slightly lighter and floating. Therefore, it is used to promote gastrointestinal motility, clear heat, and kill parasites, serving as a need for external treatment. If used internally, fear arises that Mercury toxicity combined with Fire toxicity will dry and irritate the stomach and intestines, deplete blood and fluids, and result in chronic disease; caution is advised. It is especially strictly prohibited for patients with chronic illness and deficiency. Method for refining Calomel: Grind 1 liang of Mercury and 2 liang of Alum until no star-like particles are visible. Spread inside an iron vessel, cover with a small black earthenware pot, seal the rim with salt mud, and roast over charcoal fire for three incense sticks' duration. Upon opening, the powder will have risen to the top of the pot. Cinnabar: Settles the Heart, nourishes the Spirit, stabilizes the Soul and Po, expels evil, and detoxifies. It treats diseases of the five Zang organs and hundred ailments, relieves vexation and thirst, regulates blood vessels, kills malevolent spirits, and clears scabies and sores. However, its red color corresponds to the South, and the Li Trigram governs the Heart meridian. It is a pure Yin, heavy, and stagnant substance. Excessive or long-term use suppresses the ethereal and clear Qi, causing mental dullness and oppression. Once refined by fire, its toxicity equals that of arsenic. According to methods, refined Mercury is also called Shuiyin, possessing great toxicity towards the five metals. Combined with Giant Ficus Seed (Dafengzi), it kills wound parasites. Assisted by Scutellaria Pill (Huangqin Wan), it prevents conception. It is effective against lice and essential for expelling dead fetus. If it penetrates the flesh, it causes tendon contraction. If it contacts the male organ causing impotence, tying red gold near the affected area allows Mercury to exit, restoring Yang function. Calomel is Mercury re-sublimated; it is only used in surgery to dispel Wind, kill parasites, draw out toxins, generate flesh, primarily unblock the Large Intestine, and treat pediatric malnutrition, pharyngeal masses, and scabies/leprosy. For early-stage Syphilis (Yangmei Chuang), whether ingested or applied topically, the toxic vapor recedes. It lodges in the bone marrow like oil entering dough, impossible to extract. Years later, when the toxin erupts through the orifices, severe cases lead to death, mild cases to disability. Silver Cinnabar is also burned from Mercury; it only kills lice and treats carbuncles. Main Indications (Integration of Smallpox and Rash): Although Cinnabar is said to regulate blood vessels, resolve smallpox toxin, calm the soul, and nourish essence to brighten eyes, its nature is cold and sinking. It may be used in small amounts for patients with excessive heat and delirious speech, combined with other herbs to resolve heat toxins. For calming the Spirit, it must not be taken in large doses; if Heart Blood becomes too cold, how can the smallpox toxin erupt? Calomel cools blood and dissipates wound toxins; it is only suitable for mixing into topical powders for external treatment of smallpox toxin, carbuncles, and sores. Another secret method, Ling Dan Elixir Formula: Treats carbuncles, malignant sores, and Syphilis; extracts toxins and promotes flesh growth with divine efficacy. Ingredients: 1 liang Mercury, 7 qian Black Lead, 3 qian each of Cinnabar and Realgar, 2.5 liang each of Alum and Saltpeter. Method: First melt the Lead, add Mercury to form a cake, grind evenly with Cinnabar and Realgar. Then dissolve Saltpeter and Alum, pour into the previous four powdered ingredients, remove from fire, stir urgently to ensure uniformity. Place in a Yang Cheng Jar, cover with an Iron Lid, secure with an Iron Beam and wire. Seal with salt mud, place in a Shenxian Furnace, refine using alternating mild and strong fires. Wipe the lid frequently with water. Gradually increase heat, adding one part per incense stick burned, totaling three incense sticks. After cooling, open, scrape the powder from the bottom of the lid, grind into fine flour, pass through Licorice Decoction three times, add a small amount of Borneol. Apply to Guang Chuang (Syphilis lesions), frequently pressing with fingers dipped in the medicine. The lesion will naturally detach in three days. A divine prescription.