味酸，寒，无毒。主治寒热，泄痢，白沃，阴蚀，恶疮，目痛，坚骨齿，除固热在骨髓，
去鼻中息肉。炼饵服之，轻身，不老增年。歧伯云∶久服伤人骨。能使铁为铜。一名羽
今出益州北部西川，从河西来。色青白，生者名马齿矾。已练成绝白，蜀人又以当硝石
名白矾。其黄黑者名鸡屎矾，不入药，惟堪镀作以合熟铜。投苦酒中，涂铁皆作铜色。外虽
铜色，内质不变。《仙经》单饵之，丹方亦用。世中合药，皆先火熬令沸燥，以治齿痛，多
即坏齿，是伤骨之证，而云坚骨齿，诚为疑也。（《新修》二二页，《大观》卷三，《政和》八
味辛、苦，大寒。主治五脏积聚，久热、胃闭，除邪气，破留血，腹中痰实结搏，通经
脉，利大小便及月水，破五淋，推陈致新。生于朴硝。（石苇为之使，畏麦句姜。）
案《神农本经》无芒硝，只有硝石，名芒硝尔。后名医别载此说，其治与硝石正同，疑
此
色全白，粒细，而味不甚烈。此云生于朴硝，则作者亦好。又皇甫士安解散硝石大凡说云∶
“无朴硝可用硝石，生山之阴，盐之胆也。取石脾与硝石，以水煮之，一斛得三斗，正白如
雪，以水投中即消，故名硝石。其味苦，无毒。主消渴热中，止烦满，三月采于赤山。朴硝
者，亦生山之阴，有盐咸苦之水，则朴硝生于其阳。其味苦无毒，其色黄白，主治热、腹中
饱胀，养胃消谷，去邪气，亦得水而消，其疗与硝石小异。”按如此说，是取芒硝合煮，更
成为真硝石，但不知石脾复是何物？本草乃有石脾、石肺，人无识者，皇甫既是安定人，又
明医药，或当详。练之以朴硝作芒硝者，但以暖汤淋朴硝，取汁清澄煮之减半，出着木盆中，
经宿即成，状如白英石，皆六道也，作之忌杂人临视。今益州人复炼矾石作硝石，绝柔白，
而味犹是矾石尔。孔氏解散方又云∶熬炼硝石令沸定汁尽。如此，硝石犹是有汁也。今仙家
须之，能化他石，乃用于理第一。（《新修》二○页，《大观》卷三，《政和》八六页）
矾石：味酸，性寒，无毒。主治寒热往来、泄泻痢疾、白带过多（白沃）、阴部腐蚀溃烂、恶疮、眼痛，能坚固骨骼和牙齿，清除骨髓中的顽固热邪，去除鼻中息肉。经过炼制后服用，可使人身体轻盈，延缓衰老，增加寿命。岐伯说：长期服用会损伤人的骨骼。能使铁变成铜。又名羽。现在出产于益州北部的西川地区，从河西运来。颜色青白，未炼制的称为马齿矾。已经炼制成纯白色的，蜀地人又把它当作硝石，称为白矾。其中黄黑色的称为鸡屎矾，不用于入药，只可用于镀金制作，配合熟铜使用。投入苦酒（醋）中，涂抹在铁上都会呈现铜色。外表虽然像铜色，但内部质地不变。《仙经》中单独服用它，丹方中也使用它。世间配制药物时，都先用火熬煮至沸腾干燥，用来治疗牙痛，往往很快导致牙齿损坏，这是损伤骨骼的证据，却声称能坚固骨骼牙齿，确实令人怀疑。（出自《新修本草》第二十二页，《大观本草》卷三，《政和本草》第八页）
芒硝：味辛、苦，性大寒。主治五脏积聚之病，久热、胃气闭塞，祛除邪气，破除瘀血停滞，腹中痰湿实邪结聚搏结，疏通经脉，通利大小便及月经，破除五种淋证，推陈出新。产于朴硝。（石苇作为引经药，畏惧麦句姜。）据考证，《神农本草经》中没有芒硝，只有硝石，名为芒硝罢了。后来的名医另外记载了这种说法，其疗效与硝石完全相同，怀疑此物……颜色全白，颗粒细小，味道不是很猛烈。这里说生于朴硝，那么作者也是喜好研究的。另外皇甫士安在解释硝石的著作中大致说道：“如果没有朴硝可用硝石代替，硝石生长在山南背阴处，是盐的胆液。取石脾和硝石，用水煮它，一斛得到三斗，正白色如雪，遇水即溶解，所以名叫硝石。它的味道苦，无毒。主治消渴热中，止烦满，三月在赤山采集。朴硝，也生长在山南背阴处，如果有盐咸苦的水，那么朴硝就生长在它的阳面。它的味道苦无毒，颜色黄白，主治热症、腹中饱胀，养胃消谷，祛除邪气，也遇水即溶解，其疗效与硝石略有不同。”按照这样的说法，是将芒硝合煮，再次成为真正的硝石，只是不知道石脾究竟是什么？本草中有石脾、石肺，没有人认识它们，皇甫士安既然是安定人，又精通医药，或许应当详细记载。用朴硝炼制为芒硝的方法，只是用温水淋洗朴硝，取澄清的汁液煮至减半，倒在木盆中，过夜后即成，形状像白英石，都要经过六次提炼，制作时忌讳有人旁观。现在益州人又炼制矾石作为硝石，极其柔白，但味道仍然是矾石的味道。孔氏的解释方又说：熬炼硝石直到沸腾，汁液干尽。如此看来，硝石仍然含有汁液。现在的仙家需要用它，能转化其他石头，所以在理法上是第一等的。（出自《新修本草》第二十页，《大观本草》卷三，《政和本草》第八十六页）
Alum Stone: Sour in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. It treats alternating chills and fever (Hanchre), diarrhea and dysentery (Xielì), excessive leukorrhea (Baiwo), erosion and ulceration of the genitalia (Yinshi), malignant sores (Echuang), eye pain, strengthens bones and teeth, eliminates persistent heat in the bone marrow, and removes nasal polyps. After refining and taking it, one becomes light-bodied, ages slowly, and gains longevity. Qibo said: Long-term use damages human bones. It can transform iron into copper. Also known as Yu. Currently produced in the western Sichuan region north of Yizhou, transported from Hexi. The color is greenish-white; the unrefined form is called Machi Alum (Ma Chi Fan). The fully refined pure white form is used by people in Shu as Nuxiao (Mirabilite) and is called Bai Fan (White Alum). The yellow-black variety is called Jishi Fan (Chicken Dropping Alum), which is not used for medicinal purposes but is suitable for plating to combine with annealed copper. When thrown into Kujiu (vinegar), applying it to iron makes it appear copper-colored. Although the exterior resembles copper, the internal quality remains unchanged. The *Xianjing* (Scripture of Immortals) uses it alone for ingestion, and alchemical formulas also employ it. In worldly medicine preparation, it is first boiled over fire until boiling and dry to treat toothache, but often quickly destroys teeth, which is evidence of bone damage, yet it claims to strengthen bones and teeth, which is indeed doubtful. (From *Xinxiu Bencao*, page 22; *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 3; *Zhenghe Bencao*, page 8)
Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas): Pungent and bitter in taste, extremely cold in nature. It treats accumulations and masses in the five zang organs (Wuzang Jiju), chronic heat, gastric obstruction, expels pathogenic factors, breaks up retained blood, resolves phlegm-dampness solid masses and binding in the abdomen, unblocks meridians and collaterals, promotes urination and defecation as well as menstruation, breaks up five types of strangury (Wulin), and pushes out the old to generate the new. It is derived from Puxiao (Raw Mirabilite). (Shiwei acts as an assistant herb; it fears Maijujiang.) According to records, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not list Mangxiao, only Nuxiao (Salpetrae Nitrum), named Mangxiao. Later famous physicians recorded this separately; its therapeutic effects are exactly the same as Nuxiao, leading to suspicion that... [the text implies uncertainty about identity]... The color is entirely white, particles are fine, and the taste is not very pungent. This text states it is born from Puxiao, suggesting the author was also fond of research. Furthermore, Huangfu Mi's explanation of Nuxiao generally states: "If Puxiao is unavailable, Nuxiao can be used. It grows in the shady south of mountains, being the gall of salt. Taking Shipi and Nuxiao, boiling them in water yields three dou from one hu, perfectly white like snow. It dissolves when water is added, hence the name Nuxiao. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic. It treats thirst-heat in the middle jiao, stops irritability and fullness. Harvested in March at Chishan. Puxiao also grows in the shady south of mountains; where there is salty, bitter water, Puxiao grows on the sunny side. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic, color yellowish-white. It treats heat, abdominal fullness, nourishes the stomach, aids digestion, expels pathogens, and also dissolves in water. Its therapy differs slightly from Nuxiao." Based on this description, Mangxiao is obtained by boiling together to become true Nuxiao, but it is unknown what Shipi is. The Bencao mentions Shipi and Shipei, but no one recognizes them. Since Huangfu Mi was from Anding and understood medicine, he might have detailed it. The method of refining Puxiao into Mangxiao is simply to wash Puxiao with warm water, take the clear juice, boil it down by half, pour it into a wooden basin, and after overnight, it forms, resembling Baoying stone, undergoing six cycles of refinement. During production, it is taboo to have others watch. Now, people in Yizhou refine Alum Stone to make Nuxiao, which is extremely soft and white, but the taste remains that of Alum Stone. Kong Shi's explanatory formula also says: Boil Nuxiao until boiling and the juice is exhausted. Thus, Nuxiao still contains juice. The current practitioners of immortality require it because it can transform other stones, making it the primary choice in theory. (From *Xinxiu Bencao*, page 20; *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 3; *Zhenghe Bencao*, page 86)