丹砂，味甘，气微寒，生饵无毒，炼服杀人。入心经。镇养心神，通调血脉，杀鬼祟精
魅，
扫疥 疮疡，止渴除烦恼，安魂定魄。水银，即丹砂火 而出之者也，只可为外科之用。轻
粉，又从水银而再变者也，亦外科所需。此三物，至毒者水银，其次轻粉，又其次则丹砂也
。盖水银、轻粉经火百炼而成。丹砂未经火者，秉南方至精之气，可借以安神定魄，然亦只
可少服以获益也。轻粉功专收敛，世人治杨梅风毒，用之以图速效，谁知毒未宣扬，遽用
轻粉以敛毒，顾目前片刻之快，变成终身难治之疮，鼻落身腐而死，可不慎哉。
或问轻粉之毒，多成于杨梅疮，不识有何药可救？近人多以土茯苓救之，然未见其收功
也。
曰∶轻粉之毒，非服丹砂，则毒不能出。盖轻粉即丹砂之子也，子见母即化矣。（〔批〕子
见
母则出，奇方至理。）但服丹砂则有法，用丹砂一斤，切不可火 ，须觅明亮者，研末，水
飞
过，用茯苓末二斤，生甘草三两，为末，共拌匀。每日用白滚水调服三钱，不须一月，轻粉
毒尽散，而结毒全愈矣。
或问丹砂，古之真人每借之飞丹炼石，引纳清和，配以金铅，按之法象，合成金丹而成
变化
。青霞子及太清真君炼法，皆载之《丹经》，而录之各《本草》也，先生略而不言，何也？
曰∶丹法难言，非有形之物也。古之真人，不过托言丹砂、黑铅，以喻其金丹之妙也，何尝
取丹砂而烹炼之哉。夫丹砂最恶者火也，得火则有大毒。有唐以来，上而人主，下而缙绅，
服烹炼丹砂之药，未有不烂肠裂肤而死者。又安能长生变化飞腾升举哉。此余所以略而不存
也。
或问缪仲醇注疏《本草》，谓久服水银，神仙不死之说，必得铅华相合，乃能收摄真气，
凝
结为丹，即道家所谓“太阳流珠，常欲去人，卒得金华，转而相合”之旨也，吾子以为然乎
？否乎？曰∶此缪仲醇不知丹诀而错认之也。金丹大道，岂藉后天有形之物而成哉？况水银
生
用、炼用，无非有毒，大非丹砂可比，尤不可服，古今来服水银而死者比比。夫水银入耳则
脑烂，岂入脏腑偏能有益乎。此不必辨而自明者也。
或问丹砂能消鱼、龙、蛇、鳖之毒，有之乎？曰∶有之。但生用则不能消毒耳。盖鱼、
龙、
蛇、鳖之毒，中于人身内外者，用丹砂煮熟作汤，或火 为末服之，则毒瓦斯尽消。丹砂生用
则无毒，而熟用则有毒，以毒攻毒，故能奏功独神耳。
丹砂，味道甘甜，性质微寒。直接生服没有毒性，但经过炼制服用则会致人死亡。它归入心经。能够镇守滋养心神，疏通调理血脉，驱除鬼魅精怪，清除疥癣疮疡，止渴并消除烦恼，安定魂魄。
水银，就是丹砂经过火炼提取出来的物质，只能用于外科治疗。轻粉，又是从水银再次变化而成的，也是外科所必需的。这三种药物中，毒性最大的是水银，其次是轻粉，再次是丹砂。这是因为水银和轻粉都是经过烈火百次锤炼而成的。而丹砂如果没有经过火炼，便秉承了南方至精纯的气，可以用来安神定魄，但也只能少量服用以获取益处。
轻粉的功效专门在于收敛。世人治疗杨梅风毒（梅毒）时，用它来追求速效，却不知道在毒素尚未发散时，就急忙用轻粉来收敛毒素，只顾眼前片刻的痛快，却变成了终身难以治愈的疮疡，导致鼻子脱落、身体腐烂而死，这能不谨慎吗？
有人问：轻粉的毒性，多造成杨梅疮，不知道有什么药可以解救？近来的人多用土茯苓来解救，然而未见其取得疗效。
我说：轻粉的毒性，如果不服用丹砂，那么毒素就不能排出。因为轻粉是丹砂的子体，子见到母体就会化解。（批注：子见母则出，这是奇方中的至理。）但是服用丹砂是有方法的：使用一斤丹砂，千万不要用火炼，必须挑选颜色明亮的，研磨成粉末，用水飞法处理过，再用二斤茯苓末和三两生甘草，也研成粉末，共同拌匀。每天用白开水调服三钱，不超过一个月，轻粉的毒素就会完全消散，结毒也会全部痊愈。
有人问：丹砂，古代的真人常常借助它来飞丹炼石，引导接纳清和之气，配合金铅，按照法象，合成金丹从而产生变化。青霞子和太清真君的炼制方法，都记载在《丹经》中，并收录在各部《本草》里，先生为什么简略而不谈呢？
我说：炼丹的方法难以言说，它不是有形的物体。古代的真人，不过是借丹砂和黑铅之名，来比喻金丹的奥妙罢了，何曾真的取丹砂来烹炼呢？丹砂最忌讳的就是火，遇到火就会产生大毒。自唐代以来，上至君主，下至官员，服用烹炼丹砂药物的，没有不肠烂肤裂而死的。又怎么能长生不老、变化飞升呢。这就是我简略而不记载的原因。
有人问：缪仲醇注释疏解《本草》，认为长期服用水银，会有神仙不死之说，必须得到铅华相结合，才能收摄真气，凝结为丹，这就是道家所说的“太阳流珠，常欲去人，卒得金华，转而相合”的宗旨，您认为对吗？还是不对？
我说：这是缪仲醇不懂丹诀而错认了。金丹大道，难道是靠后天的有形之物就能成就的吗？况且水银无论是生用还是炼用，都有毒，与丹砂不可同日而语，尤其不可服用，古今以来因服用水银而死的人比比皆是。水银进入耳朵就会使脑髓腐烂，难道进入脏腑反而有益处吗？这是不必辩驳就自然明白的道理。
有人问：丹砂能消除鱼、龙、蛇、鳖的毒性，有这回事吗？
我说：有这回事。但如果生用就不能消除毒性。因为鱼、龙、蛇、鳖的毒性，侵入人体内外的，用丹砂煮熟做成汤剂，或者火炼成粉末服用，那么毒气就会完全消除。丹砂生用时没有毒性，而熟用时则有毒性，以毒攻毒，所以能奏效神奇。
Cinnabar (Zhusha), sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature. When ingested raw, it is non-toxic; when calcined and ingested, it kills. It enters the Heart Meridian. It stabilizes and nourishes the Shen (Spirit), regulates blood vessels, expels evil spirits and demons, clears scabies and sores, relieves thirst and removes vexation, and calms the Hun (Ethereal Soul) and Po (Corporeal Soul).
Mercury (Shuiyin) is that which is extracted from Cinnabar through fire refining; it can only be used for external treatments. Calomel (Qingfen) is further transformed from Mercury; it is also required for external treatments. Among these three substances, Mercury is the most toxic, followed by Calomel, and then Cinnabar. This is because Mercury and Calomel are formed after being refined by fire a hundred times. Cinnabar, if not subjected to fire, possesses the most refined Qi of the South, which can be borrowed to calm the Spirit and stabilize the Soul; however, it should only be taken in small amounts to derive benefit.
Calomel’s function is specifically astringent. In the world, people use it to treat Yamei Fengdu (Syphilitic wind-toxin) seeking rapid effects. Who knows that before the toxin has been disseminated, one hastily uses Calomel to astringe the toxin? Focusing on the momentary relief, it turns into a lifelong incurable sore, leading to nasal collapse and body rotting death. Can one not be cautious?
Someone asked: The toxicity of Calomel often results in Yamei Chuang (Syphilitic chancre); do you know what medicine can save this? Recently, many people use Tufuling (Smilax Glabra Rhizome) to rescue it, yet its efficacy has not been observed.
I say: The toxicity of Calomel cannot be expelled unless Zhusha (Cinnabar) is taken. For Calomel is the "child" of Cinnabar; when the child sees the mother, it transforms. (Commentary: Child seeing mother leads to expulsion; this is the profound principle of this miraculous formula.) However, there is a method for taking Cinnabar: Use one jin (approx. 500g) of Cinnabar. Do not use fire refining at all. Seek bright specimens, grind them into powder, process via water levigation (Shuifei), then mix with two jin of Fuling (Poria) powder and three liang (approx. 90g) of raw Gancao (Licorice Root) powder. Mix thoroughly. Each day, take three qian (approx. 9g) mixed with boiling water. Within less than one month, the Calomel toxin will completely dissipate, and the hardened toxin will be fully cured.
Someone asked: Ancient Zhenren (Perfected Ones) often relied on Cinnabar to refine elixirs, guiding and accepting pure and harmonious Qi, combining it with Gold and Lead, following cosmic images, synthesizing the Golden Elixir to achieve transformation. The refining methods of Qingxiazi and Taizhen Zunjun are recorded in the *Dan Jing* (Book of Alchemy) and included in various Bencao (Materia Medica). Why does Mr. omit this?
I say: The methods of alchemy are difficult to explain; they are not material objects. Ancient Perfected Ones merely used the words Cinnabar and Black Lead as metaphors for the wonders of the Golden Elixir. Did they ever actually take Cinnabar to cook and refine it? What Cinnabar fears most is fire; encountering fire generates severe toxicity. Since the Tang Dynasty, from emperors above to officials below, those who took medicines cooked and refined from Cinnabar have invariably died with rotted intestines and split skin. How could they achieve longevity, transformation, flight, or ascension? This is why I omit it.
Someone asked: Miao Zhongchun, in his commentary on the *Bencao*, stated that long-term ingestion of Mercury leads to immortality, provided it is combined with Qinhua (Lead White), thereby capturing true Qi and condensing it into an Elixir. This aligns with the Daoist principle: "The Sun's flowing pearl always wishes to leave man; suddenly obtaining the Flower of Metal, they turn and combine." Do you agree with this? Or disagree?
I say: This is Miao Zhongchun misunderstanding the alchemical secrets and misidentifying them. The Great Way of the Golden Elixir, how could it be achieved relying on post-heaven material objects? Moreover, whether raw or refined, Mercury is toxic. It is incomparable to Cinnabar and especially unsuitable for ingestion. Throughout history, deaths from ingesting Mercury are numerous. If Mercury enters the ear, it rots the brain; how could entering the Zang-Fu organs be beneficial? This is self-evident without need for debate.
Someone asked: Can Cinnabar eliminate the toxins of fish, dragons, snakes, and turtles? Is this true?
I say: It is true. But if used raw, it cannot eliminate the toxin. For toxins from fish, dragons, snakes, and turtles penetrating inside and outside the human body, if Cinnabar is boiled cooked to make a decoction, or calcined into powder for ingestion, the toxic vapors will completely dissipate. Raw Cinnabar is non-toxic, while cooked Cinnabar becomes toxic. Using toxicity to attack toxicity, it achieves unique and miraculous results.