一名汞
辛寒，有毒。水银阴毒重着，不可入人腹。古法治误食水银，令其人卧于
椒上，则椒内皆含水银。今有误食水银，腹中重坠，用猪脂二斤切作小块焙熟，入生蜜拌食
得下，亦一法也。
《本经》主疹 痂疡白秃，杀皮肤中虱，堕胎，除热，杀金银铜锡毒，熔化还复为丹。
发明 水银乃至阴之精，质重着而性流利，得盐矾为轻粉，加硫黄为银朱，炀成罐同硫
黄打火升炼则为灵砂，同硝皂等则为升降灵药，性之飞腾灵变无似之者，此应变之兵在用者
、得其肯綮而执其枢要焉。《本经》主疹疡白秃，皮肤中虱，及堕胎除热，敷男子阴，则阴
消无气，以至阴之精能消阳气，故不利男子阴气也。《和剂局方》之灵砂丹专取硫黄以制汞
，养正丹兼取伏火丹砂以制铅，深得交通阴阳，既济水火之妙用，非寻常草木可以例推也。
《千金》治白癜风痒，《外台》治虫癣瘙痒，《梅师》治痔疮作痒，《肘后》治一切恶疮。
藏器有云∶水银入耳能蚀人脑，令人百节挛缩，但以金银着耳边即出；头疮切不可用，恐入
经络必缓筋骨，百药不治。
一名腻粉
辛燥，有毒。
发明 水银加盐矾炼为轻粉，化纯阴为燥烈，而阴毒之性犹存，故能通大肠。敷小儿疳
疽瘰 ，杀疮疥癣虫，风瘙疮痒，但以阴性暴悍，善劫淫秽霉疮，食之窜入筋骨，莫之能出
，久久发为结毒，致成废人。然必仍用水银升炼，入三白丹引拔毒之药，同气相求，以搜逐
之。疠风，醉仙丹、通天再造散用以搜涤毒邪从齿缝出。钱氏利惊丸、白饼子皆用之取痰积
从大便出，真瞑眩之首推也。
【水银】
又名汞。
味辛，性寒，有毒。水银属于阴毒之品，性质沉重黏滞，不可进入人的腹部。古代治疗误食水银的方法，是让患者躺在花椒上，这样花椒内部就会吸附出水银。现在如果有误食水银的情况，感到腹部沉重下坠，可以用猪脂二斤切成小块焙熟，加入生蜂蜜拌和食用使其排出，这也是一种方法。
《神农本草经》记载：主治疮疡结痂、头皮白秃（一种头部皮肤病），杀灭皮肤中的虱子，堕胎，清除热邪，杀灭金银铜锡的毒性，熔化后重新炼成丹砂。
【发明】
水银是至阴的精粹，质地沉重而性质流利，遇到盐和白矾就变成轻粉，加上硫黄就变成银朱，加热装入罐中与硫黄一起火炼就变成灵砂，与硝石、皂角等一起炼制就变成升降灵药，其性质的飞腾灵动变化没有能比得上的，这就像用兵打仗在于运用得当，掌握了关键要领就能控制枢纽。《神农本草经》说它主治疮疡白秃、皮肤虱虫以及堕胎除热，涂抹在男子生殖器上，会导致阴茎萎缩无气，因为至阴的精粹能够消损阳气，所以对男子的阴气不利。《太平惠民和剂局方》中的灵砂丹专门取硫黄来制约水银，养正丹兼取伏火丹砂来制约铅，深得交通阴阳、水火既济的妙用，不是普通的草木药物可以类推的。《千金方》用它治疗白癜风瘙痒，《外台秘要》用它治疗虫癣瘙痒，《梅师集验方》用它治疗痔疮作痒，《肘后备急方》用它治疗一切恶疮。
藏器曾说：水银进入耳朵会腐蚀人的脑髓，导致全身关节挛缩，只要把金银放在耳边就能取出；头部的疮疡切不可使用，恐怕进入经络必然会使筋骨松弛，各种药物都无法治愈。
【轻粉】
又名腻粉。
味辛，性燥，有毒。
【发明】
水银加盐和白矾炼制成为轻粉，将纯阴的性质转化为燥烈，但阴毒的性质仍然存在，所以能够通利大肠。敷治小儿疳积、疽病、瘰疬，杀灭疮疥癣虫，治疗风疹瘙痒，但因为其阴性暴悍，善于攻劫淫秽霉疮（梅毒等性病），如果服用，毒素会窜入筋骨，无法排出，久而久之发作成为结毒，导致致残废人。然而必须仍用水银升炼而成，配合三白丹中引拔毒气的药物，利用同气相求的原理，来搜逐毒邪。治疗麻风病，醉仙丹、通天再造散用来搜涤毒邪从齿缝排出。钱乙的利惊丸、白饼子都使用它来促使痰积从大便排出，确实是引起瞑眩反应（服药后病情暂时加重或出现剧烈反应以祛除病邪）的首选药物。
[Mercury]
Also known as Gong (Quicksilver).
Pungent, cold in nature, toxic. Mercury is a heavy and sticky yin toxin; it must not enter the human abdomen. Ancient methods for treating accidental ingestion of mercury involved having the patient lie on peppers, which would absorb the mercury. In modern times, if mercury is accidentally ingested causing a sensation of heaviness and sinking in the abdomen, two jin (approx. 1 kg) of lard cut into small pieces, baked until cooked, and mixed with raw honey can be ingested to facilitate its expulsion; this is another method.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It treats sores with crusts, white alopecia capillitii (a scalp condition), kills lice in the skin, induces abortion, clears heat, neutralizes the toxicity of gold, silver, copper, and tin, and when melted and refined, reverts to cinnabar.
[Invention/Commentary]
Mercury is the essence of extreme yin. Its texture is heavy and its nature is fluid. When combined with salt and alum, it becomes Calomel (Qingfen); when added with sulfur, it becomes Vermilion (Yinzhu); when heated in a crucible with sulfur, it becomes Spirit Sand (Lingsha); when refined with saltpeter and soapberry, it becomes Ascending-Descending Spirit Medicine (Shengjiang Lingyao). Its properties are soaring, agile, and changeable, unlike anything else. This is like using troops in war; effectiveness lies in proper application, grasping the key points to control the pivot. *Shennong Bencao Jing* mentions it treats sores, white alopecia, skin lice, abortion, and clearing heat. Applying it to the male genitals causes atrophy and loss of qi, because the essence of extreme yin can dissipate yang qi; thus, it is detrimental to male genital qi. The *Lingsha Dan* (Spirit Sand Pill) in the *Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang* (Formulas of Benevolent Sickness Relief Bureau) specifically uses sulfur to restrain mercury, while *Yangzheng Dan* (Nourish Righteousness Pill) uses fire-subdued cinnabar to restrain lead. These deeply embody the subtle utility of communicating yin and yang, and achieving the mutual completion of water and fire; they cannot be generalized from ordinary herbal medicines. *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) uses it for pruritus associated with vitiligo; *Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Chamber) uses it for pruritus associated with insect-related tinea; *Meishi Jiyianfang* (Collected Effective Prescriptions by Master Mei) uses it for pruritus associated with hemorrhoids; *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Ke in the Sleeve) uses it for all kinds of malignant sores.
Cangqi stated: If mercury enters the ear, it corrodes the brain and causes contraction of all joints; placing gold or silver near the ear allows it to be removed. It must absolutely not be used for head sores, lest it enter the meridians and cause laxity of sinews and bones, rendering it incurable by any medicine.
[Calomel / White Precipitate]
Also known as Nifen.
Pungent, dry in nature, toxic.
[Invention/Commentary]
When mercury is refined with salt and alum to become Calomel (Qingfen), its pure yin nature is transformed into pungency and dryness, yet the nature of yin toxicity remains, enabling it to unblock the Large Intestine. Applied externally, it treats infant malnutrition (Gan syndrome), carbuncles, scrofula, kills parasites causing sores, tinea, and scabies, and treats wind-induced pruritus. However, due to its violent and fierce yin nature, it is effective in attacking venereal chancres (syphilis-like diseases). If ingested, the toxin invades the sinews and bones and cannot be expelled. Over time, it develops into chronic condyloma or gummas, leading to disability. Nevertheless, it must still be produced by sublimating mercury, and combined with drugs from *Sanbai Dan* (Three Whites Pill) that draw out toxins. Utilizing the principle of "like attracts like," it searches and expels pathogens. For treating leprosy (Lifeng), *Zuxian Dan* (Immortal Immortality Pill) and *Tongtian Zaizao San* (Heaven-Penetrating Rebirth Powder) are used to search and cleanse toxins, expelling them through the teeth gaps. Qian Yi's *Lijing Wan* (Relieve Convulsion Pill) and *Baibingzi* (White Cake Pills) both use it to induce the expulsion of phlegm accumulation via the large intestine; it is indeed the premier agent for inducing Mingxuan reaction (a therapeutic crisis where symptoms temporarily worsen before improvement).