\r硼砂\pq125.bmp\r
柔五金。化痰垢。骨哽翳遮。皆可随方应手。清胸膈。利咽喉。咸寒辛苦。尽能取效
由人。（硼砂此物亦卤石之类。一云由煎炼而成。故能熔化。凡五金之属。必须用此熔之。
极能荡涤上焦一切郁热垢腻。消痰破结。长于外治。吹喉点睛诸方。悉皆用之。一云出南海
诸番。系卤液结成。）
\r硫黄\pq127a1.bmp\r
酸辛咸热。补肾火以助元阳。救逆扶危。润大肠可疏风闭。冷癖阴凝之证。内服则用
以宣通。虫疮疥癞诸方。外治则取其毒烈。（硫黄有二种。一种石硫黄。出外番山谷间。秉
阳火之气。由石液结成。凡产石硫黄之处。必有温泉作硫黄气。一种土硫黄。出广南煤圹中
。以法熬炼而成。其色带青。其气带臭。碾之有
声。只可作疮药火药之用。若服食之方。用以扶危济急。拯逆返元。皆宜以石者为上。辛酸
咸热有毒之品。用不得宜。或过用偏胜之害。祸如反掌。硫黄火之精也。暖而能通。入肾与
命门大肠。回阳破阴之功。自非浅鲜。）
\r白矾\pq127a.bmp\r
酸涩而收。咸寒且敛。化痰涤热。劫粘滑以稀涎。燥湿杀虫。蚀恶肉而解毒。除风却
水。治痢敷疮。（白矾初生亦石也。经煎炼而成。有五色精粗之分。其酸敛之性。同吐药则
吐。同敛药则敛。如稀涎散蜡矾丸之类。性善却水。水化书纸上。干则水不能濡。损齿伤肺
。虽金匮治女痨瘅硝石矾石散一方。能劫除肾邪。然毕竟削伐之品。外治为优耳。）
硼砂
能够熔化金属。消除痰垢。对于骨刺卡喉、眼生翳障等症，均可随方剂配伍而迅速见效。能清泄胸膈之热，利咽开音。其味咸、寒、辛、苦，凡属此类性质的病症，皆能取得疗效。
（硼砂这种物质也属于卤石一类。有一种说法认为是由煎炼而成，所以具有熔化的特性。凡是金属类物品，必须用此物来熔化它。极能清除上焦所有郁结的热邪和污垢腻滞，消散痰浊，破除结聚，擅长用于外治法。吹喉、点眼等方剂中，全都使用它。另一种说法认为它出产于南海各国的番地，是由卤水凝结而成的。）
硫黄
味酸、辛、咸，性热。能补肾中命门之火以助元阳。救治逆证，扶持危局。润泽大肠可疏通因风邪导致的闭塞。对于冷积癖块、阴寒凝滞的证候，内服用它来宣通阳气。治疗虫疮、疥癣、癞病等各方，外用时取其毒性猛烈。（硫黄有两种。一种是石硫黄，出产于外国山谷之间，秉承阳火之气，由石液凝结而成。凡是出产石硫黄的地方，必定有温泉并伴有硫黄气味。另一种是土硫黄，出产于广南的煤矿中，经过方法熬炼而成。它的颜色带青，气味带臭，碾碎时有声音。只能用作疮药和火药的原料。如果是服用以扶助危急、拯救逆乱、恢复元气的方剂，都应当以石硫黄为上品。这是味酸、辛、咸、热且有剧毒的物品，如果使用不当，或者过量使用导致偏胜的危害，灾祸如反掌般迅速。硫黄是火的精华，温暖且能通行，入肾经与命门、大肠经，回阳破阴的功效，绝非浅显微薄。）
白矾
味酸、涩而具有收敛作用，味咸、寒且具有敛降作用。能化痰涤热，劫夺粘滑之痰以稀释涎沫。燥湿杀虫，腐蚀恶肉以解毒。祛风利水，治疗痢疾，敷贴疮疡。（白矾初生时也是石头，经过煎炼而成，有五色及精粗之分。它的酸敛性质，配合吐药则能催吐，配合收敛药则能收敛，如稀涎散、蜡矾丸之类。其性善于消退水肿，将水画在纸上，干了之后水不能浸湿纸张。损伤牙齿，伤害肺脏。虽然《金匮要略》中治疗女劳瘅的硝石矾石散一方，能劫除肾中邪气，但终究是削伐正气的药物，外用更为优越罢了。）
Borax (Pengsha)
Can melt metals. Eliminates phlegm and dirt. For bone splinters stuck in the throat or corneal opacities, it can respond promptly according to the prescription. Clears heat from the chest and diaphragm, benefits the throat. Its flavors are salty, cold, acrid, and bitter; all such conditions can achieve efficacy.
(Borax is also a type of halite. One theory states it is formed by decoction and refining, hence its ability to melt. All types of metals must use this substance to melt them. It is extremely effective at sweeping away all stagnant heat, turbidity, and greasiness in the Upper Jiao, dissipating phlegm, and breaking up accumulations. It excels in external treatments. All prescriptions for blowing into the throat or applying to the eyes use it. Another theory holds that it originates from foreign lands in the South Sea, formed by the crystallization of brine.)
Sulfur (Liuhuang)
Flavors: sour, acrid, salty; Nature: hot. Tonifies Kidney fire to assist Yuan Yang. Rescues reversal and supports critical conditions. Moistens the Large Intestine to disperse wind-induced constipation. For conditions of cold accumulation, parasitic disorders, and yin-cold coagulation, internal use employs it to promote circulation. For formulas treating insect sores, scabies, and leprosy, external use takes advantage of its potent toxicity.
(There are two types of sulfur. One is rock sulfur, found in valleys of foreign lands, inheriting the qi of yang fire, formed from stone liquid. Wherever rock sulfur is produced, there must be hot springs accompanied by sulfur gas. The other is earth sulfur, extracted from coal mines in Guangnan, formed through refining methods. Its color is bluish-green, its odor is foul, and it makes noise when ground. It can only be used as an ingredient for sore medicines and gunpowder. If used in formulas to support the critical, rescue reversal, and restore yuan, rock sulfur is superior. This is a product with sour, acrid, salty, and hot properties, and is toxic. Improper use or excessive use leading to dominance can cause disasters swiftly. Sulfur is the essence of fire; it is warm and unblocking. It enters the Kidney, Mingmen, and Large Intestine meridians. Its功 (efficacy) in restoring yang and breaking yin is far from insignificant.)
Alum (Baifan)
Flavors: sour, astringent, and收敛 (astringing); Salty, cold, and敛降 (collecting). Transforms phlegm and clears heat,劫夺 (seizes) sticky phlegm to dilute saliva. Dries dampness, kills parasites, corrodes malignant flesh, and detoxifies. Disperses wind, eliminates edema, treats dysentery, and applies to sores.
(Alum initially forms as stone and is obtained through decoction and refining, varying in five colors and quality. Its sour and astringent nature acts as an emetic when combined with vomiting herbs, and as an astringent when combined with astringent herbs, such as in Xixian San (Thin Saliva Powder) or Lafan Wan (Wax-Alum Pill). Its nature is good at resolving water retention; if water is drawn on paper, once dry, the water cannot re-wet it. It damages teeth and injures the lungs. Although the Xiaoshi Fanshi San (Niter and Alum Powder) in *Jingui Yaolue* for treating female labor consumption can seize and eliminate kidney pathogenic factors, it is ultimately a harsh draining agent, making external application superior.)