典藏书目

[White Kaolin]
Non-toxic. Grows in soil.
Bai'e (White Kaolin, pinyin: Bái è, from *Shennong Bencao Jing*) treats chills and fever, zheng jia (masses and accumulations), irregular vaginal bleeding, infertility, diarrhea, and dysentery in women. (The text in red is from *Shennong Bencao Jing*; the text in black is recorded by later famous physicians.)

[Name] Bai Shan Tu (White Good Earth).
[Origin] *Tujing* states it grows in the valleys of Handan and Jinxiang County, Shaoxing Xiaogui County. White good earth exists everywhere today; it is the white clay used by painters, abundant and cheap, rarely used in medical prescriptions. It is also said that the sunny slopes of large mountains have much kaolin. The *Classic of Mountains and Seas: North Mountain Classic* mentions Tianchi Mountain has much yellow kaolin; the *Central Mountain Classic* mentions Conglong Mountain has white, black, green, and yellow kaolin. The annotation explains this refers to kaolin of mixed colors. However, although kaolin comes in five colors, only the white variety is suitable for medicinal use. *Yanyi* states: Bai'e is Bai Shan Tu, known as "white earth blocks" in the capital, cut into square-inch pieces, sold in porcelain vessels, and used for laundry.

[Harvesting Time] No specific season for growth or harvesting.
[Medicinal Part] The white variety is preferred.
[Color] White.
[Taste] Bitter, Acrid.
[Nature] Warm.
[Qi and Flavor Thickness] Strong Qi, thin flavor; Yin within Yang.
[Odor] Rotten.
[Efficacy] Breaks up masses and accumulations; stops diarrhea and dysentery.
[Processing] Leigong says: Do not use the blue-green variety with a white base. When preparing, first crush finely, sift three times, grind in a mortar, then pass through salt water (wash with saline solution), and dry. For every two liang of Bai'e processed, use one fen of white salt dissolved in a dou of water. Boil in a copper vessel for more than ten boils, then water-process the Bai'e to prevent it from causing intestinal obstruction. Alternatively, calcine before use.

[Therapeutic Actions] *Yaoxing Lun* states: Regulates blood stagnation and amenorrhea in women; astringes the intestines to stop dysentery; warms the uterus. *Rihua Zi* states: Stops diarrhea and dysentery, hemorrhoids, seminal emission; treats cold uterus in women and cold kidneys in men; stops epistaxis and hematemesis.
[Combination Therapy] Mix equal parts of Bai'e and Wanggua (Trichosanthes cucumerina root) into powder, take 2 qian with decoction to treat headache.
[Contraindications] Not suitable for long-term use in decoctions; long-term use damages the five zang organs and causes emaciation.
[Fake Substances] White magnetite is used as a fake.

[Related Substances] Fu Di Hui (Reed Ash), Sang Xin Hui (Mulberry Firewood Ash), Qing Hao Hui (Artemisia Annua Ash), Ling Hui (Eurya Ash), Dong Hui (Winter Ash).

[Winter Ash]
Treats moles, removes warts, polyps, ulcerative sores, and scabies/pruritus (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).

[Name] Li Hui (Chenopodium Ash).
[Origin] *Tujing* states it comes from Fanggu River and marshes, which is the yellow ash used for laundry today. It is made by burning and accumulating various artemisia and chenopodium plants; its nature is very acrid. Reed ash is particularly strong. To remove moles and warts, mix these three ashes with water, steam, and apply topically to remove them. Do not use extensively as it can rot skin and flesh. *Tang Bencao* annotation states: Mulberry firewood ash is most suitable for medicinal use; treating moles and warts, its efficacy surpasses Winter Ash. Used to boil adzuki beans to reduce edema. However, Winter Ash is essentially the residue of Chenopodium ash; other grasses are not authentic. There is also Qing Hao Ash (made by burning mugwort) and Ling Ash (made by burning leaves), both used for dyeing and capable of corroding foul flesh. "Ling" is alternatively written as "Ling". *Yanyi* states: Scholars explain ash but fail to explain "Winter," which is their omission. Most ashes are ready after one baking, but Winter Ash takes three to four months to fully burn through the furnace. Since it is burned day and night, its potency must be fully dry and acrid. Its body is heavier. Ashes ready in one bake have inferior fire power and lighter body, thus inferior to Winter Ash. If ancient formulas use nine-times calcined Motherwort Ash, it likely derives from this principle. Formulas using Mulberry Ash should follow standard methods; those using Winter Ash must follow this method.

[Medicinal Part] Ashes preserved through the winter three months are preferred.
[Color] Greenish-white.
[Taste] Acrid.
[Nature] Slightly Warm.
[Qi and Flavor Thickness] Strong Qi; Yang.
[Odor] Rotten.
[Efficacy] Removes moles; corrodes foul flesh.
[Therapeutic Actions] *Chen Zangqi* states: Mulberry Ash expels wind, treats blood stasis, zheng jia masses, and edema/dysuria. Take the thick juice as a drink, 3-5 sheng.
[Combination Therapy] Fine-sieve ash from a cake kiln, mix with sesame oil, and apply with a feather to treat burns/scalds. Avoid water and wind. ○ Combine Mulberry Ash juice with one soft-shelled turtle, cook according to culinary methods until mud-like, mix with other zheng jia medicines, re-boil, and form pills by hand. Take 15 pills daily to treat zheng jia and pi ji (accumulations); all will heal.