泻热，润燥，软坚
辛甘而冷。去胃中之实热，荡肠中之宿垢。润燥破结，消肿明目（血热去，则肿消而目
明。昂按∶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）。朴硝煎化用莱菔煮，再用甘草煎，入罐火 ，以去其咸寒之性，阴中有阳
，性稍和缓。大抵用代朴硝，若胃虚无实热者禁用。俱忌苦参。
泻热，补阴
太阴之精，咸寒而降。治上盛下虚，救阴助阳，有扶危拯逆之功（正阳丹，用治伤寒壮
热。来复丹，用治伏暑热泻）。出解池、通泰积盐处，咸卤所结，青白莹彻，片皆六棱者良
。今世用者，多是绛石。
重，涩，固大小肠
甘而温，故益气生肌而调中。酸而涩，故收湿（《独行方》∶ 末，治小儿脐中汁出、
赤肿）止血而固下（《经疏》云∶大、小肠下后虚脱，非涩剂无以固之。其他涩药轻浮，不
能达下，惟赤石脂体重而涩，直入下焦阴分，故为久痢、泄癖要药。仲景桃花汤用之，加干
姜、粳米）。疗肠癖泄痢，崩带遗精，痈痔溃疡，收口长肉，催生下胞（《经疏》云∶能去恶
血，恶血化，则胞胎无阻。东垣云∶胞胎不出，涩剂可以下之。又云∶固肠、胃有收敛之能，
下胎衣无推荡之峻）。细腻粘舌者良。赤入血分，白入气分（五色石脂入五脏）。研粉，水飞
用。恶芫花。畏大黄。
泻热，润燥，软坚（使坚硬之物变软）
味辛、甘而性冷。能清除胃中的实热，涤荡肠道中积存的宿便。具有润燥、破除结滞的作用，并能消肿明目（血分之热去除，则肿胀消退，视力清晰。汪昂按语：对于腹泻痢疾不止的情况，使用大黄和元明粉来推荡积滞，反而能使泻痢停止。这是因为体内的宿便污垢没有排干净，疾病终究无法根除，这就是《内经》所说的“通因通用”的治疗方法）。朴硝经过煎煮融化后，用莱菔（萝卜）同煮，再用甘草煎煮，装入罐中用火煅烧，以去除其咸寒的药性，使其在阴寒之中带有阳和之气，药性变得稍微和缓。大致可以用它代替朴硝，但如果胃气虚弱且没有实热的患者禁用。这两种药都忌与苦参同用。
泻热，补阴
这是太阴之精气，味咸性寒，性质沉降。治疗上盛下虚的病症，救助阴液、辅助阳气，有扶正救危、挽救逆证的功效（正阳丹，用于治疗伤寒引起的高热；来复丹，用于治疗伏暑引起的热性腹泻）。产于解池、通泰等地的积盐处，是咸卤水凝结而成的，颜色青白晶莹透彻，片状且具有六个棱角的品质较好。现在市面上使用的，大多是用绛石冒充的。
重镇，涩肠，固摄大小肠
味甘性温，所以能益气、生肌、调和脾胃。味酸且涩，所以能收湿（《独行方》记载：将赤石脂研成粉末，用于治疗小儿脐部流汁、红肿）。止血并固摄下部（《经疏》说：大肠和小肠在下利之后出现虚脱症状，不用涩剂无法固摄。其他的涩药质地轻浮，不能到达下焦，只有赤石脂体重且涩，能直接入下焦阴分，所以它是治疗久痢、泄癖的重要药物。张仲景的桃花汤中使用它，并加入干姜、粳米）。治疗肠风下血、泄痢，崩漏、带下、遗精，痈疽痔疮溃疡，促进伤口愈合、生长肌肉，催生下胎衣（《经疏》说：它能去除恶血，恶血化解后，胞胎就没有阻碍。李东垣说：胞胎不下，用涩剂可以促使排出。又说：赤石脂对肠、胃有收敛的功能，但下胎衣并没有推荡作用的猛烈）。质地细腻、粘舌的品质较好。赤色入血分，白色入气分（五色石脂分别对应五脏）。研成粉末，用水飞法处理使用。畏芫花。畏大黄。
Clear heat, moisten dryness, and soften hardness.
Pungent, sweet, and cold in nature. It removes excess heat from the stomach and sweeps away accumulated fecal matter in the intestines. It moistens dryness, breaks up accumulations, reduces swelling, and improves vision (when blood-heat is cleared, swelling subsides and vision becomes clear. Wang Ang notes: For persistent diarrhea and dysentery, using Da Huang (Rhubarb) and Yuan Ming Fen (Mirabilite) to push out stagnation can actually stop the diarrhea and dysentery. This is because if the accumulated filth is not cleared, the disease will never be eradicated; this is what the Classics refer to as "treating obstruction with unblocking methods" or "using purgatives for diarrhea"). Piao Xiao (Mirabilite) is dissolved by boiling with Lai Fu (Radish), then decocted with Gan Cao (Licorice Root), and calcined in a jar over fire to remove its salty-cold property, making it yin-containing-yang, with a slightly milder nature. Generally, it can be used as a substitute for Piao Xiao, but it is contraindicated for those with deficient stomach qi and no excess heat. Both are incompatible with Ku Shen (Sophora Root).
Clear heat, nourish yin.
It is the essence of Taiyin, salty, cold, and descending. It treats conditions of excess above and deficiency below, rescues yin and assists yang, and has the merit of supporting critical conditions and reversing adverse states (Zheng Yang Dan is used to treat high fever caused by Shang Han [Cold Damage]; Lai Fu Dan is used to treat heat-induced diarrhea due to latent summer-heat). It originates from salt accumulation areas such as Jie Chi and Tong Tai, formed by the crystallization of saline water. Those that are greenish-white, crystal clear, and have six edges on each flake are considered superior. What is currently used in the market is mostly counterfeit Jiang Shi (Red Hematite).
Heavy, astringent, and consolidating the Large and Small Intestines.
Sweet and warm in nature, thus it tonifies qi, generates flesh, and harmonizes the middle jiao. Sour and astringent, thus it dries dampness (The Lone Journey Formula records: powdered form treats oozing and red swelling in infants' umbilical cords). Stops bleeding and consolidates the lower body (Jing Shu states: After severe diarrhea, when the Large and Small Intestines suffer from collapse due to deficiency, only astringents can consolidate them. Other astringent herbs are light and floating and cannot reach the lower jiao; only Chi Shi Zhi (Red Halloysite) is heavy and astringent, entering directly into the yin aspect of the lower jiao, making it an essential herb for chronic dysentery and abdominal masses. Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Tao Hua Tang [Peach Blossom Decoction], adding Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) and Jing Mi (Rice)]. It treats intestinal wind with bloody stool, diarrhea and dysentery, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, spermatorrhea, sores, hemorrhoids, and ulcers; promotes wound closure and tissue regeneration; and induces labor/expulsion of the placenta (Jing Shu states: It can eliminate evil blood; once the evil blood is transformed, there is no obstruction to the fetal sac. Li Dongyuan states: If the placenta fails to descend, astringents can be used to expel it. He also says: While it has a收敛 [astringent/consolidating] ability for the intestines and stomach, it lacks the harsh pushing-down action required to expel the placenta). Those that are fine, smooth, and sticky to the tongue are of good quality. Red enters the blood level, white enters the qi level (Five-colored Shi Zhi corresponds to the five zang organs). Grind into powder and use after water-trituration (shui fei). Incompatible with Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flower). Averse to Da Huang (Rhubarb).