今人谓之朱砂。辰州朱砂，多出蛮峒。锦州界 獠峒老鸦井，其井深广数十丈，先聚
薪于井，满则纵火焚之。其青石壁迸裂处，即有小龛，龛中自有白石床。其石如玉，床上乃
生
丹砂。小者如箭镞，大者如芙蓉，其光明可鉴，研之鲜红，砂泊床，大者重七八两，至十两
者，晃州亦有。形如箭镞、带石者，得自土中，非此之比也。此物镇养心神，但宜生使。炼
服，少有不作疾者，亦不减硫黄辈。又一医流服伏火者数粒，一旦大热，数夕而毙。李善胜
尝炼朱砂为丹，经岁余，沐浴再入鼎，误遗下一块，其徒丸服之，遂发懵冒，一夕而毙。其
生朱砂，初生儿便可服，因火力所变，遂能杀人，可不谨也。
功长于治眼。仁庙朝，尝诏御药院，须中空有水者，将赐近戚，久而方得。其杨梅青
，治医极有功。中亦或有水者，其用与空青同，第有优劣耳。今信州冗山而取，世谓之杨梅
青，极难得。
即石碌是也。其石黑绿色者佳，大者刻为物形，或作器用。又同 砂，作吐风涎药，
验则验矣，亦损心肺。
古虽有服炼法，今人服者至少，谨之至也。市廛多折花朵以售之。今惟合云母膏，治
一切痈毒疮等，惠民局别有法。
萧炳云∶如蝉翼爪甲者为上，如鹅管者下。经既言乳，今复不取乳，此何义也？盖
乳取其性下，不用如雁齿者，谓如乌头、附子不用尖角之义同。但明白光润轻松，色如炼硝
石者佳。服炼别有法。
现在的人称它为朱砂。辰州的朱砂，大多出产于少数民族聚居的洞寨之中。锦州边界獠人居住的峒寨老鸦井，那口井深广达数十丈，人们先在井中堆积柴薪，堆满后便放火焚烧。青色的石壁被烧得迸裂处，就有小龛穴，龛穴中自然有白色的石床。那石头像玉一样，石床上便生长出丹砂。小的像箭头，大的像芙蓉花，光泽明亮可以照见人影，研磨后呈鲜红色。丹砂附着在石床上，大的重七八两，达到十两重的，晃州也有。形状像箭头、带有石头的，是从土中获得的，不属于这一类。这种药物能镇养心神，只宜生用。经过炼制服用，很少有不得病的，其危害也不亚于硫黄之类。又有一位医生服用经过“伏火”处理的朱砂几粒，突然感到大热，几天后就死了。李善胜曾经炼制朱砂为丹药，经过一年多，沐浴后再次放入鼎炉，不小心遗落了一块，他的徒弟丸服了它，于是出现头昏目眩，一夜就死了。天然的朱砂，初生的婴儿就可以服用，因为经过火力变化（炼制），就能杀人，能不谨慎吗？
功效长于治疗眼病。仁宗皇帝时期，曾下诏给御药院，需要中间空心且有水的朱砂，准备赏赐给亲近的皇亲国戚，很久才得到。那种杨梅青色（的空青），在治疗疾病方面很有功劳。其中也可能含有水液，它的用法与空青相同，只是有优劣之分。现在从信州冗山开采获取，世人称之为杨梅青，极难得到。
这就是石碌（钟乳石的一种）。颜色黑绿色的为佳，大的雕刻成器物形状，或者制作成器具使用。又同朱砂一起，制作成催吐风涎的药物，虽然有效，但也损伤心肺。
古代虽然有服用炼制的法度，现在人服用的极少，对此非常谨慎。市场上多将花朵折断来售卖。现在只配合云母膏，治疗各种痈毒疮疡等症，惠民局另有方法。
萧炳说：像蝉翼或爪甲那样的是上品，像鹅管那样的次之。经文既然提到了“乳”，现在又不取用“乳”，这是什么道理呢？大概是因为“乳”取其性质下沉的意思，不用像雁齿那样的，就像不用乌头、附子的尖角，道理是相同的。只要明白光润、轻松，颜色像炼制过的硝石那样的是佳品。服用和炼制另有方法。
Nowadays, it is called Zhusha (Cinnabar). Cinnabar from Chenzhou is mostly produced in the caves inhabited by ethnic minorities. In Laoya Well of the Yao cave at the border of Jinzhou, the well is dozens of zhang deep and wide. People first pile firewood in the well; when full, they set it on fire. Where the blue stone walls crack open due to heat, small niches appear, containing natural white stone beds within. The stone resembles jade, and cinnabar grows upon these beds. Small pieces resemble arrowheads, while large ones look like hibiscus flowers. They are bright and lustrous enough to reflect images, and when ground, they yield a vivid red color. Cinnabar adhering to the stone bed weighs seven or eight taels for larger pieces, and up to ten taels can be found in Huangzhou. Those shaped like arrowheads and attached to rock are obtained from soil and do not belong to this category. This substance calms and nourishes the heart and mind (Shen), but should only be used raw. When refined and ingested, it rarely fails to cause illness; its harm is no less than that of Sulfur (Liuhuang). Furthermore, a physician once ingested several pills of "Fu Huo" (fire-subdued) cinnabar, suddenly suffered intense heat, and died after a few nights. Li Shansheng once refined cinnabar into pills. After more than a year, during a second refiring process after bathing, he accidentally left a piece behind. His disciple swallowed the pill made from it, resulting in severe dizziness and confusion, leading to death within one night. Natural cinnabar can be administered to newborns. However, due to changes induced by fire/refining, it becomes lethal. One must be extremely cautious.
Its efficacy excels in treating eye diseases. During the reign of Emperor Renzong, an imperial decree was issued to the Imperial Medicine Bureau requiring cinnabar with a hollow center containing water, to be bestowed upon close relatives of the imperial family. It took a long time to obtain such specimens. The Yangmei Qing variety (a type of Kaolin/Empty Blue mineral often associated with cinnabar processing contexts or distinct mineral drugs in ancient texts, here likely referring to a specific high-quality mineral form or impurity context described as beneficial for eyes) is highly effective in medical treatment. It may also contain water internally. Its usage is similar to Kongqing (Kaolin/Empty Blue), differing only in quality. Currently, it is mined from Rong Mountain in Xinzhou and is known as Yangmei Qing in the world, being extremely rare.
This refers to Shilu (a type of Stalactite/Hematite contextually linked here, though traditionally Shilu is Hematite, the text describes black-green stones carved into shapes or vessels, and mentions use with Cinnabar for vomiting phlegm-wind, implying a mineral drug interaction or specific preparation). Stones that are black-green are superior. Large ones are carved into figurines or used as vessels. It is also combined with Cinnabar to prepare medicines that induce vomiting of wind-phlegm. While effective, it damages the Heart and Lungs.
Although there were ancient methods for refining and ingesting it, very few people consume it today, reflecting extreme caution. Markets often sell broken flower-like fragments. Currently, it is only compounded into Yunmu Gao (Mica Ointment) to treat all kinds of carbuncles, sores, and ulcers. The Huimin Bureau has separate methods.
Xiao Bing stated: Specimens resembling cicada wings or fingernails are of the highest grade, while those resembling goose quills are inferior. Since the classic texts mention "Ru" (Milk/Stalactite drip), why is it now rejected? The reason is that "Ru" implies a downward-nature property. Rejecting forms like "goose teeth" is analogous to rejecting the sharp tips of Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou) and Aconitum kusnezoffii (Fuzi). Ideally, it should be clear, smooth, light, and resemble refined Nuxitrum (Niter/Potassium Nitrate) in color. There are separate methods for ingestion and refining.