硫黄，味酸，气温、大热，有毒。至阳之精，入肾。能化五金奇物，壮兴阳道，益下焦
虚冷
，元气将绝者甚效。禁止寒泻，或脾胃衰微，垂命欲死者立效。坚筋骨，去心腹 癖，却脚
膝冷疼，仍除格拒之寒。此物纯阳，专伏纯阴之气，化魄生魂，破邪归正，其功甚巨，故有
将军之号。然而，其性大热，用之不得其宜，亦必祸生不测，必须制伏始佳。此物用寒水石
制之大妙，世人未知也，硫黄十两，研为末，加入寒水石一两，亦研为末，和在一处，以水
化之，寒水化而硫黄不化也，候其水干，然后取出用之，自无他患。
或疑硫黄大热，寒水大凉，取之相制，似乎得宜，然而用硫黄正取其纯阳也，以寒水制
之，
阳不变为阴乎？不知寒水制硫黄，非制其热，制其毒也。去毒则硫黄性纯，但有功而无过，
可用之而得其宜也。
赤石脂，味甘、酸、辛，气温，无毒。入脾与大肠。凡有溃疮，收口长肉甚验。能止血
归经
，养心气，涩精，住泻痢。此亦止涩之药，内外科俱不可缺者也。
赤石脂，禀土金之气，而色赤则象离火，寒邪之下痢白积者，似可涩之。若大热暴注滞
下，
全是湿热，似宜祛暑祛积，未可用此以止涩之也。
或问赤石脂酸涩之味，过于收敛，似不可轻用？曰∶病有泄泻太滑者，非此不能止。有
不可
不用之时，亦不宜慎重而失之也。
硫黄，味道酸，药性温、大热，有毒。它是至阳之气的精华，归入肾经。能够化解五金等奇异之物，振奋阳气，对下焦虚寒、元气将绝的情况非常有效。对于禁止使用寒凉药物导致的寒性腹泻，或者脾胃衰微、生命垂危者，立竿见影。它能坚固筋骨，消除心腹部的痞块，去除脚膝冷痛，同时排除格拒在体内的寒气。此物纯阳，专门克制纯阴之气，化魄生魂，破除邪气回归正道，功效巨大，因此有“将军”的称号。然而，它的性质大热，如果使用不当，也必然招致不可预测的灾祸，必须经过炮制处理才好。用寒水石来炮制硫黄效果极佳，世人尚不了解。取硫黄十两，研成粉末，加入寒水石一两，也研成粉末，混合在一起，用水调和，寒水石溶解而硫黄不溶解，等到水分干涸后，再取出使用，自然没有其他的祸患。
有人怀疑硫黄大热，寒水石大凉，两者相互制约，似乎很合适，然而使用硫黄正是取其纯阳的特性，如果用寒水石来制约它，难道不会使阳变为阴吗？不知道用寒水石制约硫黄，不是制约它的热性，而是制约它的毒性。去除了毒性，硫黄的性质就纯正了，只有功劳而没有过错，可以恰当使用。
赤石脂，味道甘、酸、辛，药性温，无毒。归入脾经和大肠经。凡是患有溃烂疮疡，用它收敛伤口、生长肌肉非常灵验。能止血并使其回归经脉，滋养心气，固涩精气，止住腹泻和痢疾。这也是具有收敛固涩作用的药物，内科和外科都不可缺少的。
赤石脂，禀受土和金的气，而颜色红则象征离火，对于寒邪引起的下痢白色脓血者，似乎可以用它来收敛固涩。如果是大热引起的急迫泄泻或湿热积滞严重的痢疾，完全是湿热所致，似乎适宜祛暑除积，此时不宜用此药来止涩。
有人问赤石脂酸涩的味道，过于收敛，似乎不可以轻易使用？回答说：疾病中有泄泻过于滑脱的，不用此药不能止住。有不得不用的时候，也不应该因为慎重而错失良机。
Sulfur (Liu Huang), with a sour taste, is warm and extremely hot in nature, and toxic. It is the essence of extreme Yang, entering the Kidney channel. It can transform strange substances like the five metals, strengthen sexual function, and is highly effective for deficiency-cold in the Lower Jiao and impending exhaustion of Yuan Qi (Original Qi). It is immediately effective for cold diarrhea where cold-natured drugs are contraindicated, or for cases of spleen and stomach decline where life is in danger. It strengthens bones and tendons, eliminates abdominal masses, relieves cold pain in the feet and knees, and expels rebellious cold from the body. This substance is purely Yang, specifically subduing pure Yin qi, transforming Po (Corporeal Soul) to generate Hun (Ethereal Soul), breaking evil and returning to righteousness; its merit is great, hence it bears the title "General". However, its nature is extremely hot; if used improperly, it will inevitably cause unpredictable disaster, so it must be processed before use. Processing Sulfur with Shui Shi (Calcitum) is excellent, though unknown to many. Take ten taels of Sulfur, grind into powder, add one tael of Shui Shi (Calcitum), also ground into powder, mix them together, dissolve with water; the Shui Shi dissolves while the Sulfur does not. Wait until the water dries up, then take out and use; there will be no other harm.
Some may doubt that Sulfur is extremely hot and Shui Shi is extremely cool, using them to mutually restrain seems appropriate. However, Sulfur is used precisely for its pure Yang nature; if restrained by Shui Shi, will not Yang turn into Yin? One should know that restraining Sulfur with Shui Shi does not restrain its heat, but rather its toxicity. Removing the toxicity makes the nature of Sulfur pure, having only merit without fault, allowing for proper use.
Red Kaolin (Chi Shi Zhi), with sweet, sour, and acrid tastes, is warm in nature and non-toxic. It enters the Spleen and Large Intestine channels. For any ulcerating sores, it is very effective in closing wounds and promoting flesh growth. It can stop bleeding and guide blood back to the vessels, nourish Heart Qi, secure essence, and arrest diarrhea and dysentery. This is also an astringent herb, indispensable in both internal and external medicine.
Red Kaolin inherits the Qi of Earth and Metal, and its red color corresponds to the Li Fire. For dysentery with white discharge caused by Cold Evil, it seems suitable to use it for astringency. However, for sudden profuse diarrhea due to excessive Heat, or dysentery with stagnation caused entirely by Damp-Heat, it is more appropriate to dispel Summerheat and remove stagnation; at this time, it is not suitable to use this herb for astringency.
Someone asks: The sour and astringent taste of Red Kaolin is too convergent, seemingly it should not be used lightly? The answer is: In diseases with excessively slippery diarrhea, this herb cannot be omitted to stop the condition. There are times when it must be used; one should not be overly cautious and miss the opportunity.