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，惟硫黄暖而能通；寒药多泄，惟黄连肥汤而止
泻），若阳气暴绝，阳毒伤寒，久患寒泻，脾胃虚寒，命欲垂尽者用之，亦救危妙药也。治
寒痹冷癖，足寒无力，老人虚秘（《局方》用半硫丸），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（王好古曰∶太白丹、来复丹皆用硫黄佐以硝石∶至阳佐
以至阳，与仲景白通汤佐以人尿、猪胆汁意同。所以治内伤生冷，外冒暑湿、霍乱诸病。能
除扦格之寒，兼有伏阳，不得不尔。如无伏阳，只是阴虚，更不必以阴药佐之。《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。唐问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，
水道遂通。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
时艰难，非淋症也。以牛骨作楔，塞于皮端，窍渐展开，勿药而愈。使重服通利药，得不更
变他证乎？乃知医理非一端也。硫能化铅为水，修炼家尊之为金液丹）。番舶者良（难得）。
取色黄坚如石者，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用。畏细辛、诸
血、醋。
土硫黄辛热、腥臭，只可入疮药，不可服饵。
性味：辛，有毒。
硫黄是纯阳之药，其性大热（硫黄为阳气精华，极热；大黄为阴气精华，极寒，二者并称为“将军”），能补益命门真火的不足。它的性质虽然大热，但具有疏通利导大肠的作用，与那些导致燥涩的药物不同（热性药物大多引起便秘，只有硫黄温暖而能通便；寒性药物大多引起腹泻，只有黄连汤能止泻）。如果遭遇阳气突然衰竭、阳毒伤寒、长期患有寒性腹泻、脾胃虚寒且生命垂危的情况，使用硫黄也是挽救危急的妙药。它可以治疗寒痹、冷积癖块、脚部寒冷无力、老年人因虚导致的便秘（《局方》中使用半硫丸）、妇人阴部蚀烂、小儿慢惊风。它能温补肾精、壮阳道、杀虫疗疮、辟除鬼魅邪气、熔化五金、使水银固化（王好古说：太白丹、来复丹都使用硫黄，并辅以硝石：以极阳之品佐助极阳之品，这与张仲景在白通汤中用人尿、猪胆汁佐助的意思相同。这是为了治疗内伤生冷、外感暑湿以及霍乱等各种疾病。能够消除顽固的寒气，兼有伏阳存在时，不得不这样处理。如果没有伏阳，只是阴虚，就更不必用阴药来佐助了。《夷坚志》记载：唐与正也懂医术，能凭意旨治病。吴巡检患病无法排尿，躺着时稍微能通，站着时则一滴也排不出，遍用通利药物无效。唐与正询问他平时是否自制黑锡丹常服，于是领悟道：这一定是制作丹药时，硫飞走了，铅没有死，铅砂进入膀胱，躺着时偏重尚且可以排尿，站着时正中堵塞水道所以不通。取金液丹三百粒，分十次服用，用瞿麦汤送下，铅遇到硫就会化解，水道随即通畅。家母舅小时候也曾患小便涩痛，服用通淋药物毫无效果，老医生黄五聚诊视后说：这是外皮窍孔太小，所以排尿时艰难，不是淋症。用牛骨做成楔子，塞在皮端，窍孔逐渐展开，不用服药就好了。如果让他继续大量服用通利药物，难道不会引发其他病症吗？这才知道医理并非只有一种。硫能化铅为水，修炼之人尊称它为金液丹）。来自海外的番舶硫黄品质较好（很难得）。
选取颜色黄、质地坚硬如石的硫黄，用莱菔（萝卜）挖空，放入硫黄固定好，用糠火煨熟，去除其臭气，再用紫背浮萍煮过，以消除其火毒，最后用皂荚汤淘洗掉黑色的浆液。另一种方法是用绢袋盛装，用酒煮三昼夜。还有一种方法是放入猪大肠中烂煮三个时辰。硫黄畏细辛、诸血及醋。
土硫黄：性辛热，气味腥臭，只能入疮药使用，不可内服。
Nature and Flavor: Pungent, toxic.
Efficacy: Tonifies Yang, eliminates parasites.
Shih Liuhuang (Mineral Sulfur) is a pure Yang substance with extreme heat (Shih Liuhuang represents the essence of Yang Qi and is extremely hot; Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) represents the essence of Yin Qi and is extremely cold; both are known as "Generals"). It tonifies the deficiency of True Fire in the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Although its nature is hot, it has the property of unblocking and purging the Large Intestine, which differs from drugs that cause dryness and constipation (Hot-natured drugs mostly cause constipation, only Shih Liuhuang is warm yet promotes bowel movement; Cold-natured drugs mostly cause diarrhea, only Huanglian Tang (Coptis Decoction) stops diarrhea). If there is sudden collapse of Yang Qi, Yang-toxic Shanghan (Cold Damage), chronic cold-type diarrhea, deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach, or life-threatening conditions, using Shih Liuhuang is also a miraculous remedy for saving critical cases. It treats cold Bi (painful obstruction) and cold accumulations, cold feet with weakness, deficiency-constipation in the elderly (Ban Liu Wan (Half Sulfur Pill) in *Ju Fang* uses it), vaginal erosion in women, and slow convulsions in infants. It warms the Essence, strengthens Yang, kills parasites, treats sores, repels malevolent spirits, melts the five metals, and solidifies mercury (Wang Haogu stated: Taibai Dan and Laifu Dan both use Shih Liuhuang assisted by Xiaoshi (Niter): assisting extreme Yang with extreme Yang, similar to the intent of Zhang Zhongjing adding Renao (Human Urine) and Zhu Danhuang (Pig Bile) to Baitong Tang. This is to treat internal injury from raw/cold food, external invasion of summerheat-dampness, and various diseases like Huoluan (Cholera-like disease). It can remove stubborn cold; when latent Yang is present, this approach is necessary. If there is no latent Yang but only Yin deficiency, there is no need to assist with Yin drugs. *Yijian Zhi* records: Tang Yuzheng also understood medicine and could treat diseases by intuition. Patrol Officer Wu suffered from inability to urinate; he could pass urine slightly when lying down but not at all when standing. Various diuretic drugs were ineffective. Tang asked if he usually took Heixi Dan (Black Tin Pill) made himself, and realized: "This must be due to sulfur escaping during pill preparation while lead remained alive; lead sulfide entered the bladder. When lying down, weight distribution allows urination; when standing, it blocks the urinary tract directly." He prescribed Jinye Dan (Golden Liquid Pill), 300 pills divided into ten doses, taken with Qumai Tang (Persicaria Decoction). Lead dissolves upon contact with sulfur, and the urinary tract clears. My maternal uncle also suffered from dysuria in childhood; diuretic herbs were ineffective. Old physician Huang Wuju diagnosed: "The prepuce opening is too small, causing difficulty in urination, not a Lin syndrome (strangury)." He used an ox bone wedge to insert at the prepuce tip, gradually widening the opening, curing him without medication. Had he continued taking strong diuretics, other syndromes might have arisen. Thus, medical principles are manifold. Sulfur can melt lead into water, and alchemists revere it as Jinye Dan". Foreign trade sulfur (Fanbo) is of superior quality (rarely available).
Select sulfur that is yellow in color and hard as stone. Hollow out a radish (Lai Fu), insert the sulfur, secure it, and roast over chaff fire until cooked to remove the foul odor. Then boil with Zi Bei Fu Ping (Purple-backed Duckweed) to eliminate its fiery toxicity, and wash with Zao Jia Tang (Gleditsia Decoction) to remove black impurities. Another method: place in a silk bag and decoct in wine for three days and nights. Another method: decoct thoroughly in pig large intestine for three shichen (6 hours). Shih Liuhuang is incompatible with Xixin (Asarum), blood products, and vinegar.
Tu Shih Liuhuang (Earth Mineral Sulfur): Pungent and hot, with a fishy/foul odor. It may only be used in topical preparations for sores and cannot be ingested.