（《纲目》）
【集解】时珍曰∶烧木为炭。木久则腐，而炭入土不腐者，木有生性，炭无生性也。葬
家用炭，能使虫蚁不入，竹木之根自回，亦缘其无生性耳。古者冬至、夏至前二日，垂土炭
于衡两端，轻重令匀，阴气至则土重，阳气至则炭重也。
【主治】栎炭火，宜锻炼一切金石药。桴炭火，宜烹煎焙炙百药丸散（时珍）。
【主治】误吞金银铜铁在腹，烧红，急为末，煎汤呷之；甚者，刮末三钱，井水
调服，未效再服。又解水银、轻粉毒。带火炭纳水底，能取水银出也。上立炭带之，辟邪恶
鬼气。除夜立之户内，亦辟邪恶（时珍）。
【附方】新六。
卒然咽噎∶炭末蜜丸，含咽。（《千金方》）
白虎风痛，日夜走注，百节如啮。炭灰五升，蚯蚓屎一升，红花七捻，和熬。以醋拌之，
用故布包二包，更互熨痛处，取效。（《圣惠方》）
久近肠风（下血）。用紧炭三钱，枳壳（烧存性）五钱。为末。每服三钱，五更米饮下
一服，天明再服，当日见效。忌油腻毒物。（《普济方》）
汤火灼疮∶炭末，香油调涂。（《济急方》）
白癞头疮∶白炭烧红，投沸汤中，温洗之取效。（《百一方》）
阴囊湿痒∶桴炭、紫苏叶末，扑之。（《经验方》）
（《纲目》）
【主治】宜煎一切滋补药（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶凡服汤药，虽品物专精，修治如法，而煎药者卤莽造次，水火不良，
火候失度，则药亦无功。观夫茶味之美恶，饭味之甘 ，皆系于水火烹饪之得失，即可推矣
。是以煎药须用小心老成人，以深罐密封，新水活火，先武后文，如法服之，未有不效者。
火用陈芦、枯竹，取其不强，不损药力也；桑柴火取其能助药力；桴炭，取其力慢；栎炭
，取其力紧；温养用糠及马屎、牛屎者，取其缓而能使药力匀遍也。
（《本草纲目》）
【集解】李时珍说：将木材烧制成炭。木材时间久了会腐烂，但炭埋入土中却不腐烂，这是因为木材具有“生性”（生命力），而炭没有“生性”。丧葬人家使用炭，能使虫蚁不进入，竹木的根系自然回生，也是因为它没有“生性”的缘故。古代在冬至、夏至前两天，将土和炭悬挂在秤的两端，使轻重平衡，当阴气到来时土变重，阳气到来时炭变重。
【主治】栎炭火（由栎树制成的炭火），适宜用于锻炼（炮制加工）各种金石类药物。桴炭火（由灌木或细枝制成的炭火），适宜用于烹煎、焙炙各种丸药和散剂。（李时珍）
【主治】误吞金银铜铁等金属异物在腹中，将其烧红后迅速研成粉末，煎汤慢慢咽下；病情严重的，刮取粉末三钱，用井水调服，若未见效可再次服用。又能解除水银、轻粉的毒性。将带火的炭放入水中，能吸取出水银。站立携带上立炭（一种优质硬木炭），可以辟除邪恶鬼气。除夕夜将其立在门内，也能辟除邪恶之气。（李时珍）
【附方】新收录六首。
突然咽喉噎塞：用炭末加蜂蜜制成丸药，含在口中慢慢咽下。（出自《千金方》）
白虎风痛（一种游走性关节剧痛），日夜疼痛如针刺，全身关节像被啃咬一样。用炭灰五升，蚯蚓屎一升，红花七捻（量词，指一小撮），混合熬制。用醋拌湿，用旧布包成两包，交替熨烫疼痛部位，以取得疗效。（出自《圣惠方》）
久近肠风（长期或近期的肠道出血/便血）。用紧炭三钱，枳壳（烧至保留部分焦性）五钱。研为粉末。每次服用三钱，在五更天（凌晨3-5点）用米饮送服一次，天亮后再服一次，当天即可见效。忌食油腻及有毒食物。（出自《普济方》）
烫伤火灼疮：用炭末，香油调和涂抹。（出自《济急方》）
白癞头疮（头部白色癣疮）：将白炭烧红，投入沸水中，用温水清洗患处以取效。（出自《百一方》）
阴囊湿痒：用桴炭、紫苏叶末，扑撒患处。（出自《经验方》）
（《本草纲目》）
【主治】适宜煎煮各种滋补药物。（李时珍）
【发明】李时珍说：凡是服用汤药，虽然药材品种精良，炮制方法得当，但如果煎药的人马虎草率，水火配合不当，火候失去节制，那么药物也就没有功效。看茶味的美恶、饭味的甘苦，都取决于水火烹饪的得失，由此就可以推知这个道理。因此，煎药必须用小心谨慎的老成人，用深罐密封，用新水和活火，先武火后文火，按照法度煎服，没有不见效的。用火方面，使用陈旧的芦苇、枯萎的竹子作为燃料，是因为它们火力不强，不会损伤药力；桑柴火因为能辅助药力；桴炭，因为它的火力缓慢；栎炭，因为它的火力强劲；温养类药物使用谷糠以及马粪、牛粪作为燃料，是因为它们火力缓和，能使药力均匀遍布全身。
(From *Bencao Gangmu* / Compendium of Materia Medica)
[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: Charcoal is produced by burning wood. Wood rots over time, but charcoal does not rot when buried in the soil; this is because wood possesses "sheng xing" (vitality/life force), whereas charcoal lacks it. Charcoal used in burials prevents insects and ants from entering and allows the roots of bamboo and trees to regenerate naturally, also due to its lack of vitality. In ancient times, two days before the Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice, earth and charcoal were hung on opposite ends of a balance scale to ensure equal weight. When Yin Qi arrives, the earth becomes heavier; when Yang Qi arrives, the charcoal becomes heavier.
[Indications] Lichen charcoal fire (charcoal made from Quercus species) is suitable for processing various mineral and metallic drugs. Fumu charcoal fire (charcoal made from shrubs or twigs) is suitable for decocting, baking, and roasting various pills and powders. (Li Shizhen)
[Indications] For accidentally swallowed gold, silver, copper, or iron lodged in the abdomen: heat the metal until red hot, quickly grind it into powder, decoct in water, and sip slowly. For severe cases, scrape off three qian of powder, mix with well water, and take orally. If ineffective, repeat the dose. It can also detoxify mercury and calomel. Placing fiery charcoal at the bottom of water can extract mercury. Carrying Shangli charcoal (a type of high-quality hard wood charcoal) on one's person wards off evil spirits and miasma. Placing it inside the door on New Year's Eve also wards off evil influences. (Li Shizhen)
[Attached Prescriptions] Six new prescriptions.
Sudden throat obstruction: Mix charcoal powder with honey to form pills, hold in the mouth, and swallow slowly. (*Qianjin Fang*)
White Tiger Wind Pain (a type of migratory joint pain): Use five sheng of charcoal ash, one sheng of earthworm excrement, and seven pinches of Safflower (Honghua). Mix and roast. Moisten with vinegar, wrap in two pieces of old cloth, and alternately apply hot compresses to the painful areas until effective. (*Shenghui Fang*)
Chronic or recent Changfeng (intestinal bleeding/hematochezia): Use three qian of dense charcoal and five qian of Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus) charred to retain its properties. Grind into powder. Take three qian per dose, administered with rice water at Wugeng (early morning, 3-5 AM) for one dose, and another dose at dawn. Effect should be seen on the same day. Avoid greasy and toxic foods. (*Puji Fang*)
Scalds and burns: Apply charcoal powder mixed with sesame oil to the affected area. (*Jiji Fang*)
White Leprosy Scalp Sores: Heat white charcoal until red hot, immerse in boiling water, and wash the affected area with the warm water until effective. (*Baiyi Fang*)
Dampness and itching of the scrotum: Dust the affected area with a mixture of Fumu charcoal and Perilla leaf powder. (*Jingyan Fang*)
(From *Bencao Gangmu*)
[Indications] Suitable for decocting various nourishing and tonifying medicines. (Li Shizhen)
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: Regarding the administration of herbal decoctions, even if the ingredients are of superior quality and processed according to standard methods, if the person decocting the medicine is careless, the water and fire are improperly matched, or the heat control is inaccurate, the medicine will be ineffective. One can infer this principle from observing that the quality of tea flavor and the taste of rice depend entirely on the success or failure of water and fire cooking. Therefore, decocting medicine requires a careful and experienced adult, using a deep jar sealed tightly, fresh water, and active fire. One must start with strong fire (Wu Huo) and switch to mild fire (Wen Huo), following proper procedures. Such preparations are invariably effective.
Regarding fuel selection: Use aged reeds and withered bamboo as they have weak heat and do not damage the medicinal power; Mulberry branch fire is used because it can assist the medicinal power; Fumu charcoal is used because its heat is slow; Lichen charcoal is used because its heat is intense; For warming and nurturing therapies, use bran, horse manure, or cow manure because their heat is gentle and ensures the medicinal power spreads evenly throughout the body.