泻热、润燥软坚。
辛甘咸冷。去胃中实热。荡肠中宿垢。（ 庵曰∶有泻痢不止、用大黄元明粉以推荡之、
而
泻痢反止、盖宿垢不净、疾终不除、经所谓通因通用也。）润燥破结。消肿明目。（血热去则
肿消而目明。）朴硝煎化。同莱菔煮。再同甘草煎。入罐 炼。去其咸寒之性。阴中有阳。
性稍和缓。用代朴硝。胃虚无实热者。均为大戒。俱忌苦参。
泻、消肉积。
咸苦。辛热有毒。消食破瘀。治噎膈症瘕。去目翳弩肉。（凡煮硬肉、投少许即易烂、
故治
噎膈症瘕肉积、有殊功。）热毒之性。能烂五金。本草称其能化人心为血。亦甚言不可轻用
尔。出西戎。乃卤液结成。状如盐块。置冷湿处即化。白净者良。水飞过。醋煮干如霜。刮
下用。（鼻中息肉、 砂点之、即落、悬痈卒肿、 砂五钱、绵裹含之、咽津即安。）
泻、去痰热。
甘咸而凉。色白质轻。故除上焦胸膈之痰热。治喉痹口齿诸病。（初觉喉中肿痛、含化
咽津
、则不成痹。）能柔五金而去垢腻。故治噎膈积块。结核弩肉目翳。骨哽。（咸能软坚、含之
咽汁。）证非有余。切勿轻用。出西番者，白如明矾，出南番者。黄如桃胶。能制汞、哑铜
。（硼砂 砂、并可作金银焊。）
大燥、补阳、杀虫。
味酸有毒。大热纯阳。（硫黄阳精极热、与大黄极寒、并号将军。）补命门真火不足。性
虽热
而疏利大肠。与燥涩者不同。（热药多秘、唯硫黄暖而能通。）若阳气暴绝。阴毒伤寒。久患
寒泻。脾胃虚寒。命欲垂绝者用之。亦救危妙药也。治寒痹冷癖。足寒无力。老人虚秘。（
局方有半硫丸。）妇人阴蚀。小儿慢惊。暖精壮阳。杀虫疗疮。辟鬼魅。化五金。能干汞。（
硫黄纯阳、炼制久服、则有偏胜之害、况服食者、又皆假此纵欲、自速其咎、于药何责、孙
升谈圃云∶硫黄大热、火炼服之、多发背疽、泊宅编云∶金液丹乃硫黄炼成、纯阳之物、有
痼冷者所宜、今夏月人多服之、反生火害。夷坚志云∶唐与正亦知医、能以意治病、吴巡
检、病不得溲、卧则微通、立则不能涓滴、遍用通药不效、唐闻其平日自制黑锡丹常服、因
悟曰∶此必结砂时、硫飞去、铅不死、铅砂入膀胱、卧则偏重、犹可溲、立则正塞水道、故
不通、取金液丹三百粒、分十服、瞿麦汤下、铅得硫则化、水道遂利、家母舅童时、亦病溺
涩、服通淋药罔效、老医黄五聚视之、曰∶此乃外皮窍小、故溺时艰阻、非淋证也、以牛骨
作屑、塞于皮端、窍渐展开、使重服通利药、得不更变他证乎。硫能化铅为水、修炼家尊
之为金液丹。）用之得当。兼以制炼得宜。淫房断绝者能之。一有不当。贻祸匪轻。番舶者
良。（最难得。）取色黄如石者。以莱菔剜空。入硫合定。糠火煨熟。去其臭气。以紫背浮萍
煮过。消其火毒。以皂荚汤淘其黑浆。一法、绢袋盛。酒煮三日夜。一法、入猪大肠。烂煮
三时。畏细辛、醋、诸血。土硫黄、辛热腥臭。止可入疮药。不可服饵。
泻热、润燥软坚。
（元明粉）能泻除热邪，滋润干燥，软化坚硬之物。
味辛、甘、咸，性冷。能去除胃中的实热，荡涤肠道中积存的宿便。（吴庵说：对于腹泻痢疾不止的患者，使用大黄和元明粉来推荡积滞，反而使泻痢停止，这是因为宿垢不除尽，疾病终不能痊愈，正如《内经》所说的“通因通用”法。）能滋润干燥，破除结聚，消肿明目。（血分之热去除后，肿胀消退，视力清晰。）将朴硝煎煮化开，同莱菔一起煮，再同甘草一起煎煮，装入罐中炼制，以去除其咸寒之性，使其阴中有阳，药性稍显和缓，可用它代替朴硝。胃气虚弱且无实热的患者，均为大忌。同时忌服苦参。
消、消肉积。
（石硫黄）味咸、苦，性辛、热，有毒。能消除食积，破除瘀血，治疗噎膈症瘕（食管梗阻及腹部肿块）。去除目翳和弩肉。（凡煮硬肉时，投入少许硫黄即容易烂熟，因此治疗噎膈、症瘕、肉积等有特殊功效。）硫黄具有热毒之性，能腐蚀五金。本草记载称它能将人心化为血，这也是夸张的说法，不可轻易使用。硫黄出自西戎，是卤液凝结而成，形状像盐块，放置在冷湿处即会融化。白色洁净者品质优良。用水飞法处理，用醋煮干至如霜状，刮下备用。（鼻中息肉，用砂点之，即可脱落；悬痈突然肿胀，用五钱硫黄绵裹含在口中，咽下津液即安。）
泻、去痰热。
（硼砂）味甘、咸，性凉。色白质轻，故能清除上焦胸膈的痰热，治疗喉痹及口齿各种疾病。（初觉喉咙肿痛时，含化咽津，则不会发展成喉痹。）能柔化五金并去除污垢油腻，因此治疗噎膈积块、结核、弩肉、目翳、骨哽。（咸味能软化坚硬，含化咽汁即可。）证候非有余者，切勿轻用。出自西番的硼砂，白如明矾；出自南番的硼砂，黄如桃胶。能制约汞和哑铜。（硼砂和砂均可用于金银焊接。）
大燥、补阳、杀虫。
（硫黄）味酸，有毒。大热纯阳。（硫黄为阳精，极热，与极寒的大黄并称为“将军”。）补充命门真火的不足。药性虽热，但能疏利大肠，与一般燥涩的药物不同。（热药多导致便秘，唯有硫黄温暖而能通便。）若阳气暴绝，阴毒伤寒，久患寒泻，脾胃虚寒，命垂一线者使用，也是救危的妙药。治疗寒痹冷癖，足部寒冷无力，老人虚秘。（局方有半硫丸。）治疗妇人阴蚀，小儿慢惊风，暖精壮阳，杀虫疗疮，辟鬼魅，化五金，能干汞。（硫黄纯阳，炼制后久服，会有偏胜的危害，况且服用者，又都借此纵欲，自取祸咎，对药物有什么责备呢？孙升《谈圃》说：硫黄大热，火炼服用，易发背疽；《泊宅编》说：金液丹乃硫黄炼成，属纯阳之物，适合有痼冷的人，如今夏天人们多服用，反而生火害。《夷坚志》说：唐与正也懂医，能以意治病，吴巡检病得小便不通，卧则微通，立则不能涓滴，遍用通利药无效，唐听他平日自制黑锡丹常服，于是悟道：这必是结砂时，硫飞去，铅不死，铅砂入膀胱，卧则偏重，犹可溲，立则正塞水道，故不通，取金液丹三百粒，分十服，瞿麦汤下，铅得硫则化，水道遂利。家母舅童时，亦病溺涩，服通淋药罔效，老医黄五聚视之，曰：此乃外皮窍小，故溺时艰阻，非淋证也，以牛骨作屑，塞于皮端，窍渐展开，使重服通利药，得不更变他证乎。硫能化铅为水，修炼家尊之为金液丹。）使用得当，兼以制炼得宜，淫房断绝者能之。一有不当，贻祸匪轻。番舶者良。（最难得。）取色黄如石者，以莱菔剜空，入硫合定，糠火煨熟，去其臭气，以紫背浮萍煮过，消其火毒，以皂荚汤淘其黑浆。一法，绢袋盛，酒煮三日夜。一法，入猪大肠，烂煮三时。畏细辛、醋、诸血。土硫黄，辛热腥臭，止可入疮药，不可服饵。
Xie re, run zao ruan jian.
(Mingfan, Sodium Sulfate) can purge heat, moisten dryness, and soften hardness.
Acrid, sweet, salty, and cold in nature. It removes excess heat from the stomach and sweeps away accumulated feces in the intestines. (Wu An stated: For patients with persistent diarrhea and dysentery, using Dahuang (Rhubarb Root and Rhizome) and Mingfan to push out stagnation can actually stop the diarrhea and dysentery. This is because if the accumulated feces are not cleared, the disease will not be cured, which aligns with the classic principle of "treating obstruction with unblocking methods" [Tong Yin Shi Yong].) It moistens dryness, breaks up accumulations, reduces swelling, and improves vision. (When blood heat is eliminated, swelling subsides and vision clears.) Bo Puxiao (Mirabilite) until dissolved, boil together with Laifu (Radish), then decoct again with Gancao (Licorice Root). Refine it in a jar to remove its salty and cold properties, making it "yin containing yang," with a slightly milder nature, allowing it to substitute for Puxiao. It is strictly contraindicated for those with deficient stomach qi and no excess heat. Bitter Shen (Sophora Root) should also be avoided.
Xiao, xiao rou ji.
(Liusuanghuang, Sulfur) tastes salty and bitter, is acrid, hot, and toxic. It eliminates food stagnation, breaks up blood stasis, treats yige (dysphagia/esophageal obstruction) and zhengjia (abdominal masses), and removes eye nebulae and caruncles. (When boiling tough meat, adding a small amount makes it tender easily; thus, it has special efficacy in treating yige, zhengjia, and flesh accumulations.) Due to its hot and toxic nature, it can corrode metals. Materia Medica claims it can transform human heart into blood, which is an exaggeration; it should not be used lightly. Liusuanghuang originates from Western Regions, formed by the crystallization of brine, resembling salt blocks, and dissolves in cold, damp places. White and clean ones are superior. Process by water levigation, boil with vinegar until dry like frost, scrape off and use. (For nasal polyps, apply powder to spot them, and they will fall off; for sudden swelling of the uvula, wrap 5 qian of sulfur in cotton and hold in mouth, swallowing saliva brings relief.)
Xie, qu tan re.
(Pengsha, Borax) tastes sweet and salty, and is cool in nature. Its white color and light texture allow it to clear phlegm-heat from the upper jiao chest and diaphragm, treating houbi (sore throat/laryngeal obstruction) and various oral and dental diseases. (If one feels initial swelling and pain in the throat, holding it in the mouth and swallowing saliva prevents the development of houbi.) It can soften metals and remove grease/dirt, thus treating yige, accumulations, tubercles, caruncles, eye nebulae, and fish bones stuck in the throat. (Salty substances soften hardness; holding in mouth and swallowing juice helps.) Do not use lightly unless the syndrome indicates excess. Borax from Western Regions is white like alum; that from Southern Regions is yellow like peach gum. It can counteract mercury and copper alloys. (Pengsha and sand can both be used for gold and silver soldering.)
Da zao, bu yang, sha chong.
(Liusuanghuang, Sulfur) tastes sour, is toxic, extremely hot, and purely yang. (Liusuanghuang is the essence of yang, extremely hot, paired with the extremely cold Dahuang, both known as "Generals".) It supplements the deficiency of true fire in the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Although hot, it promotes bowel movement, unlike other drying/astringent herbs. (Hot herbs often cause constipation, but only Liusuanghuang is warming yet promoting flow.) It is used when yang qi suddenly collapses, in yin-toxic typhoid, chronic cold diarrhea, spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, or when life is hanging by a thread; it is a miraculous medicine for saving critical conditions. It treats cold bi (painful obstruction) and cold accumulations, cold feet with weakness, and elderly deficiency constipation. (The Bureau Formulary contains Banshen Wan.) It treats female genital erosion, infant slow convulsion, warms essence and strengthens yang, kills parasites, treats sores, repels evil spirits, transforms metals, and dries mercury. (Liusuanghuang is purely yang; long-term use after refining causes excessive heat harm. Moreover, users often abuse it for lust, bringing disaster upon themselves, not blaming the herb. Sun Sheng's Tanpu states: Liusuanghuang is extremely hot; taken after fire refining, it often causes back carbuncles. Bo Zhai Bian states: Jin Ye Dan is refined from sulfur, a pure yang substance suitable for those with chronic cold, but summer consumption causes fire damage. Yi Jian Zhi states: Tang Yuzheng knew medicine and treated by intent. Officer Wu suffered urinary retention, passing urine slightly when lying down but none when standing. All diuretics failed. Tang recalled Wu took Hei Xi Dan daily and realized: During crystallization, sulfur volatilized, leaving lead. Lead crystals entered the bladder; lying down shifts weight allowing urination, standing blocks the urethra. He prescribed 300 pills of Jin Ye Dan in ten doses with Qumai Decoction. Lead reacts with sulfur to dissolve, restoring flow. My maternal uncle had similar symptoms as a child; diuretics failed. Old doctor Huang Wuju diagnosed small meatal opening, not strangury. He inserted bone shavings to dilate the opening, preventing complications from strong diuretics. Sulfur turns lead to water, revered by alchemists as Jin Ye Dan.) Used correctly with proper refining, even those abstaining from sexual activity can benefit. Improper use causes serious harm. Imported goods are best (hardest to find). Select yellow, stone-like pieces. Hollow out Laifu (Radish), insert sulfur, seal, and roast in bran fire to remove odor. Boil with Zi Bei Fu Ping (Marsilea quadrifida) to reduce fire toxicity. Wash with Zao Jia Decoction to remove black impurities. Alternatively, place in silk bag, boil in wine for three days and nights. Or boil in pig large intestine for three hours. It is incompatible with Xixin (Asarum), vinegar, and various blood-invigorating herbs. Earth sulfur is acrid, hot, and fishy-smelling; suitable only for external sore medicines, not for internal administration.