金箔 〔辛平有毒，入心、肝二经。汤中用金物同煎，假其气甚良。生金有大毒，杀人。〕镇心
神，〔重可镇心。〕定惊邪，〔惊者平之。〕若心气虚而神魂不安，并无惊邪外入者，当补心安神，非金
箔可定。无故入服，能消人脂。磨屑顿饮，不满三钱，则心腹剜痛，肠胃如裂而毙。
银箔〔辛平，无毒。〕功同金箔。
黑铅 〔甘寒，入丸药用。铁铫内溶化，去滓脚用。〕治气引下降诸疾，〔如呕吐、眩晕、噎膈、
奔豚喘急危笃诸疾，有反正之功。〕涂瘰 结核肿疮，〔禀先天壬癸之气，以生阴
极之精，故能解一切热毒。〕解毒甚效，〔砒霜、硫黄、轻粉一切金石药毒，煎汤饮之即解。〕杀虫如
神。〔先食猪肉一片，乃以砂糖水调铅灰二、三、四钱，五更服之，诸虫尽下。〕色黑通肾，体重性
滑，镇坠之剂。
凡金石药与人身脏腑气血不相宜，所谓非类难为巧合，不可多服。
自然铜 〔辛平，火 醋淬七次，研细水飞过用。〕续筋接骨，折伤仍复旧，消瘀破滞，疼痛
即蠲除。
中病即止，不可过用。
朱砂 〔甘微寒，入心经。忌一切血。须研极细，水飞生用。若经火炼，则热毒等砒卤，杀人
。光明砂入药用。〕清镇君火之上药。〔色赤法火，中含水银，体阳而性阴，纳浮游之火而安神明。
心热非此不除，故心烦不眠，怔忡惊悸皆需之。〕治癫痫狂乱，〔癫痫属心气虚而有热，病狂古人谓之
失心。能镇心安神清热，故皆用之。〕理小儿惊热。〔朱砂五钱，牛黄一分为末，每用一匙，磨犀角汁
调下，又生地甘草煎汤调分许，初生儿时服之，止胎惊，解胎毒。〕
独用多用，令人呆闷。
石膏 〔辛甘淡大寒，入肺、胃二经，捣碎。〕主口干舌焦渴饮，〔伤寒温热时疫诸病，多兼
阳明，故一见烦渴欲饮者，便可用之。〕除神昏语乱发狂。〔胃热冲心，则神昏谵语、
甚则发狂。甘寒清解阳明之邪热，则上症自退。〕气喘气壅皆资用。〔如属肺热气逆者，用以降
肺经之痰热。〕发斑发疹急寻求。〔斑疹皆由热邪传于肺胃而发。〕能止呕吐腹痛，〔呕吐而口渴面
红小便短赤或涩者，属胃火冲逆，乃必用之，胃脘痛因火者亦用之。本经言治腹中坚痛，此本属下
症，而亦治之者，阳明邪热既解，则里气和而燥结自下，腹痛自止。若果可下者，仍宜下之。〕可
医壮热头疼。〔以其味辛，有解肌发汗之能，头额痛而兼渴饮者，属阳明，必用之、否则勿用。风热
症亦宜用之。〕中暑真圣药，〔甘寒清解暑热，此为圣药。〕疟疾亦神丹。〔疟亦由于暑邪，故热
多渴饮者，必不可缺。〕口糜唇胗均收，〔糜烂也，胗疮也。仲淳云∶口糜唇疮，口臭口淡，吞酸嘈杂
善饥，皆属胃火。〕齿痛头风并选。〔上下龈痛，属胃与大肠之火，头风由于火热。凡头面赤肿，目暴
赤肿痛者，皆宜用之。〕解阳明之邪热，除肺金之痰火。祛暑气、止烦渴之神药，属实热者用之，起
死回生，功同金液，俱气味俱薄，若投之甚少，难责其功，世医不解，特表着之。
内无大热者勿用，误用则令人肠滑不食，寒胃故也。若头疼身热，而不渴饮者，是未传阳明，勿用
。暑气兼湿作泻，脾胃弱甚者勿用。失血家及产后血虚发热烦渴，症象白虎者大忌。
滑石 〔甘淡寒，入心、胃、膀胱、大、小肠五经。研细。用牡丹皮煎汁煮过晒干。〕利小便，〔
时珍云∶滑能利诸窍，不独小便也。上能利毛腠之窍，下能利精溺之窍，丹溪偏主
石淋为要药。〕行积滞，〔性沉重而滑利，故能通壅滞，下垢腻，用质之药也。〕中暑须用，〔
甘可和胃气，寒能消暑热。〕痢疾宜求。〔消暑除热利水祛湿行积逐瘀之功。〕
阴虚内热小便不利者忌用。
磁石 〔辛寒微温，入肾、肝二经。火 ，醋淬，水飞，不能吸铁者勿用。〕补男子肾虚，
〔色黑入肾益精，故治肾家诸病，而聪耳明目，阳事不起，浸酒饮之，腰中不利，加而用
之。〕治小儿惊痫，〔惊痫，因心气怯，痰热盛。重可去怯，咸能润下软坚，故用之。〕耳聋而可反
其聪，〔镇坠下吸，俾肾气不上逆，宜同补肾药用之。又真吸铁石入病耳内，铁砂末绢包入不病耳内
，自然通透。〕目昏而能复其明。〔磁朱丸中用以镇养真精，使神水不外移。〕性禀冲和，无猛悍之气。
代赭石 〔甘苦寒，入心、肝二经。 赤以醋淬三次，研细水飞。〕止反胃，治呃逆，哮病能
除，疝气可理。〔俱调末服，皆取其重而下坠，能镇逆气也。〕起男子阴痿，〔壮火食气，火气太盛，则
阴反痿，苦寒能泄有余之火故也。〕小儿惊痫。〔痫症发则窜视搐搦，吐舌嚼唇，其声如畜，固惊骇所
致。此药镇坠入肝与心包二经，故主之。〕
虚寒者勿用，阳虚阴痿者，惊痫因风邪者，均忌之。下坠堕胎，孕妇亦忌。
青礞石 〔咸平，入肝经。同火硝等分， 如金色，研细水飞。〕化顽痰癖结，行食积停留。〔
咸主软坚，重主坠下。汤氏治小儿痰涎，壅塞咽喉，命在须臾，薄荷汁入生蜜调服五分或一钱，坠下风
痰，为治惊利痰之圣药。〕
禀刚猛之性，有攻击之能，脾胃虚弱者忌之。
海浮石 〔咸平，入肾经。〕能化积块老痰，可消瘿瘤结核。
〔咸能软坚故也。〕水沫结成，体轻虚而性润下，故有清金降火之功。
多服损人气血。
芒硝 〔咸大寒，入胃、大肠二经。〕除邪热，〔热淫于内，治以咸寒。〕通二便，〔咸味下泄
为阴。〕破坚积而荡宿垢，逐瘀血而攻结痰。〔咸能软坚，咸能走血，咸能润下故也。〕
法制玄明粉，〔用芒硝以萝卜切片，河水同煮，绢滤入盆，露一夜。每斤用甘草一两同煎，滤净
再露。取硝叠实罐中，盐泥浓涂，不盖口，置炉中，俟沸定，以瓦一片盖口，泥封固，再 ，待冷取出
，隔纸摊地上，盆复三日，出火毒研末、每斤入生熟甘草末各一两，和匀瓶收用。〕主用相同，功力稍
缓，能退膈热，可除烦躁。〔邪解心凉，烦躁自除〕。水煎倾盆中，凝结在下粗朴者为朴硝，〔又名皮硝、
盐硝〕，其质重浊，力紧急而不和，只可施于囱莽壮实之
人，及敷涂肿毒火丹之用。在上如麦芒者为芒硝，如牙者为马牙硝，其质稍清。用质清者，再经
煎炼，为玄明粉，尤为精粹。究其功用皆同，无热不荡，无结不散，无坚不磨，无积不推，其性勇往
直前，故邪热深固，坚结不通者，用之如神。
若非邪结下焦，坚痛不可按者忌用，恐其误伐真阴也。血涸津枯，以致大肠燥结者，切戒勿施。能
利大便，堕胎，孕妇应下者，或以玄明粉代之，必兼用大黄引之，直入肠胃，润燥软坚泻热，母子俱安
。然在三、四月及七、八月，不宜用之。方士滥夸玄明粉却病延年，无根之说也。
风化硝 〔以芒硝于风日中消尽水气，自成轻飘白粉。〕治上焦心、肺痰热，而不泄利。
硝石 〔又名火硝、焰硝。〕丹灶家用制五金八石，银工家用化金银，兵家用作火药、其功用相似朴
硝。但朴硝其性只能下走，不能上升，阴中之阴也，硝石之性但能上升，水中之火也。
绿矾〔酸涩凉，入醋 赤研细。〕燥脾湿而化痰涎，消积滞而治疳虫。〔凡腹中肉食坚积诸药
难化者，同健脾消食药为丸，投之辄消。小儿疳虫，食土及生物者亦神效。〕胀满黄肿并效，肠风疟疾
均求。〔色青味酸， 之则赤。能入血分，伐木又能燥湿，化涎消积，故胀满黄肿疟疾疳气主之。
治肠风泻血者，燥湿除热收涩之功也。〕
能令人作泻，胃弱者不宜多用。服此终身忌食 麦，河 ，犯之即死。
白矾 〔酸涩寒〕君黄蜡丸服，护膜防痈毒内攻，〔凡治痈疽，当服之以护膜，膜苟不破
，虽剧必痊。一人遍身生疮状如蛇头，服此而愈。〕共苦参煎汤浸足，治香港脚冲心。〔取其除热燥湿
坠浊。〕可吹喉痹，〔取其除热解毒。〕用洗脱肛。〔取其收涩。〕
坠浊解毒，除热燥湿，性急收涩之药，多服令人上涌下泻。
赤石脂 〔辛甘酸温，入心、肾、胃、大肠四经。研细宜调服。〕止久痢泄泻，除崩淋赤滞。
〔下焦虚脱，无以闭藏，他药固涩，性多轻浮，惟此体重性涩，能直入下焦血分而固脱。〕吐饮无时，小便
不禁，调服即止，〔有人频吐稀清痰水，诸药不效，服此而愈。〕肛门下脱，肌肉难生，敷之立效，〔一
切疮痈不敛，赤石脂研末掺之，即生肌如神。〕
痢疾积滞未尽，服之有祸。
花蕊石 〔酸辛温， 研如粉。〕消瘀血如神，〔一切瘀血，童便调服三、五钱，能使化为黄水。
〕敷金疮至效。〔酸能敛血，复能化瘀，敷之即合，仍不作脓。〕
无瘀血停留者勿用。
雄黄 〔辛苦温，有毒，入胃、肝二经。〕杀虫神品，化瘀血而消痰涎，涂蛇伤而敷恶疮，中
病即止。
蓬砂 〔即硼砂，辛苦咸凉，白者如明矾，黄者如桃胶。〕能解胸膈痰热，〔故止咳嗽，除噎膈
，皆用取其软坚也。〕善疗咽喉肿疼，〔辛能散，苦能泄，咸能软也。〕治骨鲠如神，〔含化咽汁，脱
然而失，柔物之功也。〕洗目翳颇效。〔去垢之力。〕敷口疮，〔口舌生疮，牙疳并效。〕而擦木舌
肿强，点 肉而涂小儿阴 。〔肿大不消，涂之自愈。〕性能柔五金，去垢腻，消散克削药也。
宜攻有余，忌施不足，可暂用不可久服。
金箔：〔味辛，性平，有毒，归心经和肝经。在汤剂中与其他药物同煎，借取其气效果很好。生金有大毒，能致人死亡。〕具有镇安心神的作用，〔重镇之品可以安定心神。〕定惊止邪，〔惊证宜用平复之法治疗。〕如果是心气虚弱导致神魂不安，并没有外来的惊邪入侵，应当补益心气、安神定志，而不是用金箔来镇定。无故服用，会消耗人的脂肪。磨成粉末一次服下，不超过三钱，就会引起心腹剧烈疼痛，肠胃如撕裂般痛苦而死。
黑铅：〔味甘，性寒，多用于丸药。需在铁锅中熔化，去除杂质后使用。〕治疗气逆下降引起的各种疾病，〔如呕吐、眩晕、噎膈（吞咽困难）、奔豚喘急等危重病症，有逆转病势的功效。〕涂抹治疗瘰疬结核和肿疮，〔禀受先天壬癸水气，以生成阴精至极的物质，所以能解一切热毒。〕解毒效果极佳，〔砒霜、硫黄、轻粉等金石药物的毒性，煎汤饮用即可解除。〕杀虫效果神奇。〔先吃一片猪肉，然后用砂糖水调服二至四钱的铅灰，在五更天服用，各种寄生虫都能排出。〕色黑通于肾，体重性滑，属于重镇降逆的药剂。
凡是金石类药物与人身脏腑气血不相适宜，所谓不同类的东西难以巧合相合，不可多服。
自然铜：〔味辛，性平，需火煅醋淬七次，研细后用水飞法处理使用。〕续筋接骨，骨折损伤恢复如初，消除瘀血破除滞涩，疼痛即刻消除。
中病即止，不可过量使用。
朱砂：〔味甘，微寒，入心经。忌食一切血类食物。必须研至极细，水飞后生用。如果经过火炼，则热毒等同砒霜卤水，能致人死亡。光明砂入药。〕是清镇君火的良药。〔色赤对应火，内含水银，体阳而性阴，能收纳浮游之火而安养神明。心热非此药不能清除，所以心烦失眠、怔忡惊悸都需要用它。〕治疗癫痫狂乱，〔癫痫属于心气虚而有热，病狂古人称为失心。能镇心安神清热，所以都用它。〕调理小儿惊热。〔朱砂五钱，牛黄一分研末，每次用一匙，用犀角汁调服，或者用地黄甘草煎汤调服少许，新生儿服用，可止胎惊，解胎毒。〕
单独使用或用量过大，令人呆滞闷乱。
石膏：〔味辛甘淡，大寒，入肺、胃二经，捣碎。〕主治口干舌焦渴饮，〔伤寒温热时疫等病，多兼阳明经证，所以一见烦渴欲饮，就可以使用。〕消除神昏谵语发狂。〔胃热冲心，则出现神昏谵语，甚至发狂。甘寒清解阳明邪热，上述症状自然消退。〕气喘气壅都适用。〔如属肺热气逆者，用以降泄肺经痰热。〕发斑发疹急需寻求。〔斑疹皆由热邪传于肺胃而发。〕能止呕吐腹痛，〔呕吐而口渴面红小便短赤或涩者，属胃火冲逆，是必用的，胃脘痛因火者也用。《本经》说治腹中坚痛，这原本属下症，而它也治的原因，是阳明邪热既解，则里气和而燥结自下，腹痛自止。如果确实可下，仍宜用下法。〕可医壮热头疼。〔因其味辛，有解肌发汗的功能，头额痛而兼渴饮者，属阳明，必用，否则勿用。风热症也宜用。〕中暑真是圣药，〔甘寒清解暑热，此为圣药。〕疟疾也是神丹。〔疟疾也由于暑邪，所以热多渴饮者，必不可缺。〕口糜唇胗均收，〔糜烂也，胗疮也。仲淳说：口糜唇疮，口臭口淡，吞酸嘈杂善饥，皆属胃火。〕齿痛头风并选。〔上下龈痛，属胃与大肠之火，头风由于火热。凡头面赤肿，目暴赤肿痛者，都宜用。〕解阳明之邪热，除肺金之痰火。祛暑气、止烦渴的神药，属实热者用之，起死回生，功同金液，俱气味俱薄，若投之甚少，难责其功，世医不解，特表着之。
内无大热者勿用，误用则令人肠滑不食，寒胃故也。若头疼身热，而不渴饮者，是未传阳明，勿用。暑气兼湿作泻，脾胃弱甚者勿用。失血家及产后血虚发热烦渴，症象白虎者大忌。
滑石：〔味甘淡寒，入心、胃、膀胱、大、小肠五经。研细。用牡丹皮煎汁煮过晒干。〕利小便，〔时珍说：滑能利诸窍，不独小便也。上能利毛腠之窍，下能利精溺之窍，丹溪偏主石淋为要药。〕行积滞，〔性沉重而滑利，故能通壅滞，下垢腻，用质之药也。〕中暑须用，〔甘可和胃气，寒能消暑热。〕痢疾宜求。〔消暑除热利水祛湿行积逐瘀之功。〕
磁石：〔味辛寒微温，入肾、肝二经。火煅醋淬，水飞，不能吸铁者勿用。〕补男子肾虚，〔色黑入肾益精，故治肾家诸病，而聪耳明目，阳事不起，浸酒饮之，腰中不利，加而用之。〕治小儿惊痫，〔惊痫，因心气怯，痰热盛。重可去怯，咸能润下软坚，故用之。〕耳聋而可反其聪，〔镇坠下吸，俾肾气不上逆，宜同补肾药用之。又真吸铁石入病耳内，铁砂末绢包入不病耳内，自然通透。〕目昏而能复其明。〔磁朱丸中用以镇养真精，使神水不外移。〕性禀冲和，无猛悍之气。
代赭石：〔味甘苦寒，入心、肝二经。火煅赤以醋淬三次，研细水飞。〕止反胃，治呃逆，哮病能除，疝气可理。〔俱调末服，皆取其重而下坠，能镇逆气也。〕起男子阴痿，〔壮火食气，火气太盛，则阴反痿，苦寒能泄有余之火故也。〕小儿惊痫。〔痫症发则窜视搐搦，吐舌嚼唇，其声如畜，固惊骇所致。此药镇坠入肝与心包二经，故主之。〕
虚寒者勿用，阳虚阴痿者，惊痫因风邪者，均忌之。下坠堕胎，孕妇亦忌。
青礞石：〔味咸平，入肝经。同火硝等分，火煅如金色，研细水飞。〕化顽痰癖结，行食积停留。〔咸主软坚，重主坠下。汤氏治小儿痰涎，壅塞咽喉，命在须臾，薄荷汁入生蜜调服五分或一钱，坠下风痰，为治惊利痰之圣药。〕
〔咸能软坚故也。〕水沫结成，体轻虚而性润下，故有清金降火之功。
芒硝：〔味咸大寒，入胃、大肠二经。〕除邪热，〔热淫于内，治以咸寒。〕通二便，〔咸味下泄为阴。〕破坚积而荡宿垢，逐瘀血而攻结痰。〔咸能软坚，咸能走血，咸能润下故也。〕
法制玄明粉：〔用芒硝以萝卜切片，河水同煮，绢滤入盆，露一夜。每斤用甘草一两同煎，滤净再露。取硝叠实罐中，盐泥浓涂，不盖口，置炉中，俟沸定，以瓦一片盖口，泥封固，再煅，待冷取出，隔纸摊地上，盆复三日，出火毒研末、每斤入生熟甘草末各一两，和匀瓶收用。〕主用相同，功力稍缓，能退膈热，可除烦躁。〔邪解心凉，烦躁自除〕。水煎倾盆中，凝结在下粗朴者为朴硝，〔又名皮硝、盐硝〕，其质重浊，力紧急而不和，只可施于囱莽壮实之人，及敷涂肿毒火丹之用。在上如麦芒者为芒硝，如牙者为马牙硝，其质稍清。用质清者，再经煎炼，为玄明粉，尤为精粹。究其功用皆同，无热不荡，无结不散，无坚不磨，无积不推，其性勇往直前，故邪热深固，坚结不通者，用之如神。
若非邪结下焦，坚痛不可按者忌用，恐其误伐真阴也。血涸津枯，以致大肠燥结者，切戒勿施。能利大便，堕胎，孕妇应下者，或以玄明粉代之，必兼用大黄引之，直入肠胃，润燥软坚泻热，母子俱安。然在三、四月及七、八月，不宜用之。方士滥夸玄明粉却病延年，无根之说也。
风化硝：〔以芒硝于风日中消尽水气，自成轻飘白粉。〕治上焦心、肺痰热，而不泄利。
硝石：〔又名火硝、焰硝。〕丹灶家用制五金八石，银工家用化金银，兵家用作火药、其功用相似朴硝。但朴硝其性只能下走，不能上升，阴中之阴也，硝石之性但能上升，水中之火也。
绿矾：〔酸涩凉，入醋煅赤研细。〕燥脾湿而化痰涎，消积滞而治疳虫。〔凡腹中肉食坚积诸药难化者，同健脾消食药为丸，投之辄消。小儿疳虫，食土及生物者亦神效。〕胀满黄肿并效，肠风疟疾均求。〔色青味酸，煅之则赤。能入血分，伐木又能燥湿，化涎消积，故胀满黄肿疟疾疳气主之。治肠风泻血者，燥湿除热收涩之功也。〕
能令人作泻，胃弱者不宜多用。服此终身忌食荞麦，河豚，犯之即死。
白矾：〔酸涩寒〕君黄蜡丸服，护膜防痈毒内攻，〔凡治痈疽，当服之以护膜，膜苟不破，虽剧必痊。一人遍身生疮状如蛇头，服此而愈。〕共苦参煎汤浸足，治香港脚冲心。〔取其除热燥湿坠浊。〕可吹喉痹，〔取其除热解毒。〕用洗脱肛。〔取其收涩。〕
赤石脂：〔味辛甘酸温，入心、肾、胃、大肠四经。研细宜调服。〕止久痢泄泻，除崩淋赤滞。〔下焦虚脱，无以闭藏，他药固涩，性多轻浮，惟此体重性涩，能直入下焦血分而固脱。〕吐饮无时，小便不禁，调服即止，〔有人频吐稀清痰水，诸药不效，服此而愈。〕肛门下脱，肌肉难生，敷之立效，〔一切疮痈不敛，赤石脂研末掺之，即生肌如神。〕
花蕊石：〔味酸辛温，煅研如粉。〕消瘀血如神，〔一切瘀血，童便调服三、五钱，能使化为黄水。〕敷金疮至效。〔酸能敛血，复能化瘀，敷之即合，仍不作脓。〕
雄黄：〔味辛苦温，有毒，入胃、肝二经。〕杀虫神品，化瘀血而消痰涎，涂蛇伤而敷恶疮，中病即止。
蓬砂：〔即硼砂，辛苦咸凉，白者如明矾，黄者如桃胶。〕能解胸膈痰热，〔故止咳嗽，除噎膈，皆用取其软坚也。〕善疗咽喉肿疼，〔辛能散，苦能泄，咸能软也。〕治骨鲠如神，〔含化咽汁，脱然而失，柔物之功也。〕洗目翳颇效。〔去垢之力。〕敷口疮，〔口舌生疮，牙疳并效。〕而擦木舌肿强，点息肉而涂小儿阴囊肿大。〔肿大不消，涂之自愈。〕性能柔五金，去垢腻，消散克削药也。
Gold Foil: [Pungent, neutral in nature, toxic, enters the Heart and Liver meridians. When decocted with other herbs in soup, borrowing its Qi is very effective. Raw gold has severe toxicity and can cause death.] It calms the Heart Spirit (Shen), [Heavy substances can anchor the Heart]. It stabilizes fright and evil influences, [Fright should be treated by calming it]. If the Heart Qi is deficient causing the Soul (Hun) and Spirit (Shen) to be unsettled, without external fright invading, one should tonify the Heart and calm the Spirit; Gold Foil is not suitable for this purpose. Taking it without cause consumes body fat. Grinding it into powder and taking a single dose of less than three qian will cause excruciating pain in the heart and abdomen, tearing sensation in the intestines and stomach, leading to death.
Silver Foil: [Pungent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.] Its efficacy is the same as Gold Foil.
Black Lead: [Sweet, cold in nature, used in pills. Melt in an iron pot, remove dregs and use the clear liquid.] Treats various diseases caused by rebellious Qi descending, [Such as vomiting, vertigo, dysphagia (Yi Ge), Ben Tun asthma and critical conditions, it has the power to reverse the disease process]. Applied externally to treat scrofula nodules and swollen sores, [It inherits the primordial Ren-Gui water Qi to generate extreme Yin essence, thus it can resolve all heat toxins.] Detoxification is very effective, [Toxins from arsenic trioxide, sulfur, calomel, and other mineral drugs are resolved by decocting and drinking]. Insecticidal effect is miraculous. [Eat a slice of pork first, then take two to four qian of lead ash mixed with sugar water at dawn; all parasites will be expelled.] Black color connects to the Kidney, heavy weight and slippery nature, it is a heavy sedative agent.
Generally, mineral drugs are incompatible with the viscera, Qi, and Blood of the human body; things of different categories rarely harmonize, so they should not be taken in large amounts.
Natural Copper: [Pungent, neutral in nature, fire-calcined and vinegar-quenched seven times, ground fine and processed with water flotation.] Heals tendons and sets bones, restores fractures to their original state, resolves blood stasis and breaks stagnation, eliminating pain immediately.
Stop when the disease is cured; do not overuse.
Cinnabar: [Sweet, slightly cold, enters the Heart meridian. Avoid all blood products. Must be ground extremely fine, processed with water flotation, and used raw. If calcined by fire, its heat toxicity equals that of arsenic, causing death. Use Guangming Sha.] It is a superior drug for clearing and anchoring Minister Fire. [Red color corresponds to Fire, contains mercury, Yang in body but Yin in nature, it anchors floating fire and calms the Spirit. Heart heat cannot be cleared without this drug; thus, it is needed for vexation, insomnia, palpitations, and fright.] Treats epilepsy and mania, [Epilepsy belongs to Heart Qi deficiency with heat; mania was called "loss of Heart" by ancients. It anchors the Heart, calms the Spirit, and clears heat, so it is used for these conditions.] Regulates infantile fright-heat. [Five qian of Cinnabar, one fen of Realgar ground to powder, take one spoonful mixed with Rhinoceros Horn juice, or a small amount of Rehmannia and Licorice decoction; administer to newborns to stop fetal fright and resolve fetal toxins.]
Used alone or in large doses, it causes dullness and mental stagnation.
Gypsum: [Pungent, sweet, bland, severely cold, enters the Lung and Stomach meridians, crushed.] Mainly treats dry mouth, scorched tongue, thirst, and desire to drink, [In Shanghan, warm diseases, and epidemics, Yangming syndrome is often involved; thus, whenever vexation, thirst, and desire to drink appear, it can be used.] Eliminates confusion, delirium, and madness. [Stomach heat rushing to the Heart causes confusion, delirium, and even madness. Sweet-cold clears and resolves Yangming pathogenic heat, causing these symptoms to recede.] Useful for asthma and Qi oppression. [If due to Lung heat and rebellious Qi, it is used to descend Phlegm-Heat from the Lung meridian.] Urgently sought for macules and rashes. [Macules and rashes arise from heat pathogens transmitting to the Lung and Stomach.] Can stop vomiting and abdominal pain, [Vomiting with thirst, red face, short dark urine or dysuria belongs to Stomach Fire rebellion; it is essential here. Stomach pain due to Fire also uses it. The Classic states it treats firm abdominal pain; although originally a lower jiao syndrome, it works because once Yangming pathogenic heat is resolved, the interior Qi harmonizes, dryness and accumulation pass naturally, and abdominal pain stops. If purgation is indeed indicated, purgatives should still be used.] Can treat high fever and headache. [Due to its pungent flavor, it has muscle-releasing and sweating capabilities; forehead pain with thirst belongs to Yangming and requires it; otherwise, do not use. Wind-heat syndromes also suit its use.] A true holy medicine for heatstroke, [Sweet-cold clears and resolves summerheat; this is the holy medicine.] Also a divine pill for malaria. [Malaria is also due to summerheat pathogens; thus, for cases with much heat and thirst, it is indispensable.] Treats oral ulcers and lip sores, [Ulceration and sores. Zhong Chun said: Oral ulcers, lip sores, bad breath, bland taste, acid regurgitation, fullness, and hunger pangs all belong to Stomach Fire.] Selected for toothache and wind-headache. [Upper and lower gum pain belongs to Stomach and Large Intestine Fire; wind-headache is due to Fire. All cases of red and swollen head/face, sudden red painful eyes are suitable for it.] Resolves Yangming pathogenic heat, eliminates Phlegm-Fire of Metal (Lung). A divine drug for dispelling summerheat and stopping vexation/thirst; use for excess-heat patterns, bringing the dying back to life, efficacy equal to Golden Liquid. Both have thin flavors and aromas; if the dose is too small, efficacy cannot be expected. Physicians of the world do not understand this, so I specifically highlight it.
Do not use if there is no significant internal heat; misuse causes loose bowels and loss of appetite due to Cold damaging the Stomach. If headache and body heat exist without thirst, the pathogen has not transmitted to Yangming; do not use. If summerheat combines with dampness causing diarrhea, do not use in those with severe Spleen-Stomach weakness. Strictly contraindicated for patients with bleeding disorders and postpartum women with Blood deficiency causing fever, vexation, and thirst presenting like Baihu Tang syndrome.
Talc: [Sweet, bland, cold, enters the Heart, Stomach, Bladder, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. Grind fine. Boil in Peony Decoction, dry, and use.] Promotes urination, [Shizhen said: Slippery substances benefit all orifices, not just urination. Superiorly benefits hair follicles and interstices, inferiorly benefits seminal and urinary orifices; Danxi emphasized it as a key drug for stone strangury.] Moves stagnation, [Nature is heavy and slippery, thus it unblocks obstruction, descends turbid grease; it is a substance-based drug.] Required for heatstroke, [Sweet harmonizes Stomach Qi, Cold dissipates summerheat.] Suitable for dysentery. [Functions include dissipating summerheat, clearing heat, promoting urination, dispelling dampness, moving stagnation, and driving out blood stasis.]
Contraindicated for Yin deficiency with internal heat and difficult urination.
Magnetite: [Pungent, cold, slightly warm, enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. Fire-calcined, vinegar-quenched, water-flown; do not use if it does not attract iron.] Tonifies Kidney deficiency in men, [Black color enters the Kidney and benefits Essence, thus treating various Kidney diseases, improving hearing and vision, impotence; soaked in wine and drunk. For lumbar discomfort, add and use.] Treats infantile fright-epilepsy, [Fright-epilepsy is due to timid Heart Qi and abundant Phlegm-Heat. Heavy substances remove timidity; salty substances moisten, descend, and soften hardness, hence its use.] Restores hearing in deafness, [Sedative and descending, preventing Kidney Qi from rebelling upward; should be used with Kidney-tonifying herbs. Also, real lodestone inserted into the diseased ear, and iron sand wrapped in silk inserted into the healthy ear, allows natural permeability.] Restores vision in dimness. [Used in Ci Zhu Wan to anchor and nourish True Essence, preventing Shen Water from shifting outward.] Nature is balanced and mild, lacking fierce energy.
Hematite: [Sweet, bitter, cold, enters the Heart and Liver meridians. Fire-calcined until red, vinegar-quenched three times, ground fine, water-flown.] Stops retroflexion (regurgitation), treats hiccups, removes asthma, regulates hernia. [All taken as powder, relying on their heaviness to descend and suppress rebellious Qi.] Revives male impotence, [Excessive Fire consumes Qi; if Fire Qi is too strong, the genitals become flaccid; bitter-cold drains excess Fire.] Infantile fright-epilepsy. [Epilepsy attacks involve staring, convulsions, tongue protrusion, lip chewing, sounds like animals, caused by fright. This drug anchors and descends into the Liver and Pericardium meridians, hence it governs these conditions.]
Contraindicated for deficiency-cold. Contraindicated for Yang deficiency with impotence and fright-epilepsy due to wind pathogens. Due to its descending nature causing abortion, pregnant women also avoid it.
Qingmengshi (Blue Calamine): [Salty, neutral, enters the Liver meridian. Equal parts with saltpeter, fire-calcined until golden yellow, ground fine, water-flown.] Transforms stubborn phlegm and accumulations, moves food stagnation. [Salty softens hardness, heavy descends. Tang Shi treated infantile phlegm-saliva obstructing the throat, life hanging in the balance, using mint juice mixed with raw honey, 5 fen or 1 qian, to descend wind-phlegm; it is a holy drug for treating fright and benefiting phlegm.]
Endowed with fierce nature and attacking capability; contraindicated for Spleen-Stomach weakness.
Sea Floating Stone: [Salty, neutral, enters the Kidney meridian.] Can transform accumulated old phlegm, dissolve goiters and scrofula nodules.
[Because salty substances soften hardness.] Formed from water foam, light and void in texture, slippery and descending in nature, thus it has the function of clearing Metal (Lung) and descending Fire.
Overconsumption damages Qi and Blood.
Mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas): [Salty, severely cold, enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians.] Removes pathogenic heat, [When heat floods internally, treat with salty-cold.] Unblocks both bowels, [Salty flavor descends and leaks, belonging to Yin.] Breaks firm accumulations and sweeps away old feces, drives out blood stasis and attacks congealed phlegm. [Salty softens hardness, salty moves Blood, salty moistens and descends.]
Processed Xuanming Powder: [Boil Mirabilite with sliced radish in river water, filter through silk into a basin, expose overnight. For every jin, boil with one liang of Licorice, filter clean, expose again. Pack the salt tightly in a jar, coat thickly with salt mud, leave open, place in furnace, wait for boiling to settle, cover with a tile, seal with mud, calcine again, cool, take out, spread on ground through paper, cover with basin for three days to remove fire toxicity, grind to powder. Add one liang each of raw and cooked Licorice powder per jin, mix well, store in bottle.] Main indications are the same, efficacy is slightly milder, can retreat diaphragmatic heat, eliminate vexation. [Pathogen resolved, Heart cools, vexation naturally disappears.] Water-decocted and poured into a basin, the coarse sediment at the bottom is Puxiao (Raw Mirabilite), [Also known as Pi Xiao, Yan Xiao], heavy and turbid in quality, force is urgent but not harmonious, only applicable to robust and sturdy individuals, and for external application to swollen toxins and erysipelas. The part floating up like wheat awns is Mangxiao (Mirabilite), like teeth is Mayaxiao (Teeth Mirabilite), quality is clearer. Using the clear quality, further refined by boiling and smelting, becomes Xuanming Powder, which is particularly pure. Ultimately, their functions are the same; no heat is not swept away, no accumulation is not dispersed, no hardness is not ground, no stagnation is not pushed. Its nature is brave and forward-moving, thus for deep-seated pathogenic heat and firm blockage, it works miraculously.
Contraindicated if not pathogenic accumulation in the Lower Jiao with firm pain unpressable, fearing it may wrongly attack True Yin. Strictly forbidden for blood depletion and fluid exhaustion causing Large Intestine dry constipation. It promotes bowel movements and causes abortion; for pregnant women who need purgation, Xuanming Powder can substitute, but must be combined with Rhubarb to guide it directly into the intestines and stomach, moistening dryness, softening hardness, and draining heat, ensuring safety for both mother and child. However, it is unsuitable in the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth months. Alchemists' exaggerated claims of Xuanming Powder curing diseases and prolonging life are baseless.
Fenghua Xiao (Weathered Mirabilite): [Mirabilite exposed to wind and sun until moisture evaporates, becoming light white powder.] Treats Upper Jiao Heart-Lung Phlegm-Heat, without causing diarrhea.
Niter (Potassium Nitrate): [Also known as Huoxiao, Yanyan.] Used by alchemists to refine metals and minerals, by silversmiths to melt gold and silver, by military for gunpowder; its functions resemble Puxiao. But Puxiao's nature only descends, cannot ascend, Yin within Yin. Niter's nature only ascends, Fire within Water.
Green Vitriol (Ferrous Sulfate): [Acid, astringent, cool, calcined in vinegar until red, ground fine.] Dries Spleen dampness and transforms phlegm-saliva, eliminates stagnation and treats malnutrition worms. [For hard meat accumulations in the abdomen difficult to digest with other herbs, combine with Spleen-tonifying and digestion-promoting herbs into pills; administration leads to dissolution. For infantile malnutrition worms eating earth and living things, it is also miraculous.] Effective for distension, yellow swelling, intestinal wind, and malaria. [Green color, sour taste, turns red when calcined. Enters Blood level, controls Wood, dries dampness, transforms saliva, eliminates accumulation, thus governing distension, yellow swelling, malaria, and malnutrition qi. For treating intestinal wind bloody stool, it is due to drying dampness, clearing heat, and astringency.]
Can cause diarrhea; not for frequent use by those with weak Stomach. Lifelong avoidance of buckwheat and pufferfish is required after taking this; violation leads to death.
Alum: [Acid, astringent, cold] Taken with Yellow Beeswax pills, protects membranes and prevents carbuncle toxins from attacking inward, [When treating carbuncles and sores, take it to protect the membrane; if the membrane does not break, even severe cases will recover. One person with snake-head-like sores all over recovered after taking it.] Soak feet in Sophora and Alum decoction to treat taint attacking the Heart. [To remove heat, dry dampness, and sink turbidity.] Can be blown into throat bi, [To remove heat and detoxify.] Used to wash rectal prolapse. [To astringe.]
Sinking turbidity, detoxifying, removing heat, drying dampness; a drug with urgent astringent nature, overconsumption causes upper vomiting and lower diarrhea.
Red Halloysite: [Pungent, sweet, sour, warm, enters Heart, Kidney, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Grind fine, suitable for mixing and taking.] Stops chronic dysentery and diarrhea, removes metrorrhagia and bloody stagnation. [Lower Jiao deficiency collapse, inability to secure and store; other astringents are mostly light and floating, only this is heavy and astringent, entering Lower Jiao Blood level directly to secure collapse.] Vomiting fluids unpredictably, uncontrollable urination, stopping upon mixing and taking, [Someone frequently vomited thin clear phlegm-water, other herbs ineffective, recovered after taking this.] Rectal prolapse, difficult muscle regeneration, applying brings immediate effect, [All non-healing sores and carbuncles, sprinkle Red Halloysite powder, generates flesh miraculously.]
Contraindicated if dysentery accumulation is not fully cleared; taking it brings disaster.
Huariusshi (Flower Porphyry): [Acid, pungent, warm, calcined and ground to powder.] Dissolves blood stasis miraculously, [All blood stasis, mixed with children's urine and taken 3-5 qian, transforms into yellow fluid.] Highly effective for applying to metal wounds. [Acid gathers Blood and resolves stasis; applying causes immediate closure without pus formation.]
Do not use if no blood stasis remains.
Realgar: [Pungent, bitter, warm, toxic, enters Stomach and Liver meridians.] Divine product for killing insects, resolves blood stasis and transforms phlegm-saliva, applies to snake bites and covers malignant sores; stop when disease is cured.
Pengsha (Borax): [Pungent, bitter, salty, cool; white like clear alum, yellow like peach gum.] Can resolve chest-diaphragm Phlegm-Heat, [Thus stops cough, removes dysphagia, used for its softening hardness property.] Good at treating sore and swollen throat, [Pungent disperses, bitter drains, salty softens.] Treats fish bone stuck in throat miraculously, [Hold in mouth, swallow juice, suddenly disappears, due to softening power.] Washing eye cataracts is quite effective. [Removing dirt power.] Applies to mouth sores, [Mouth and tongue sores, noma both effective.] Rubs wooden tongue swelling, points at polyps and applies to infantile scrotal swelling. [Swelling does not subside, applying heals itself.] Nature can soften five metals, remove dirt and grease, a dissolving and reducing drug.
Suitable for attacking excess, contraindicated for deficiency; can be used temporarily but not long-term.