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Among stone minerals, Talcum (Huashi) is that which obtains the harmonious Qi. Therefore, its taste is sweet and bland, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zu Taiyang Pang Guang Jing), and concurrently enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian (Zu Yangming Wei Jing), Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian (Shou Shaoyin Xin Jing), and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian (Shou Taiyang Xiao Chang Jing). It is a substance-heavy drug. With "slippery" as its characteristic property, it benefits various orifices, unblocks stagnation, and discharges turbid impurities; its sweetness harmonizes Stomach Qi, and its coldness dissipates accumulated heat. The combination of sweet, cold, slippery, and draining properties makes it an essential herb for dispelling summerheat, clearing heat, promoting urination to remove dampness, eliminating stagnation, and benefiting the lower orifices.

Talcum (Huashi) benefits the stagnation of the Six Fu-organs, is suitable for the blockage of the Nine Orifices, relieves irritability and thirst, separates water pathways, descends fire and clears the Lungs, harmonizes the Stomach to dissipate summerheat, resolves nodules, and promotes lactation. However, for those with dampness causing urinary difficulty, bland-draining herbs are appropriate; for those without dampness, moistening methods are suitable, and pure diuretics should not be used. Moreover, due to its tendency to cause miscarriage (slipping the fetus) and seminal emission, one must strictly observe caution.

Main Indications (Comprehensive Analysis of Smallpox and Measles): Treats severe heat in smallpox, accompanied by fright, mania, and delirious speech. By promoting urination, opening the nine orifices, driving out stagnation in the six fu-organs, and retreating various accumulated heats, it resolves the toxic heat of Heart Fire. It should not be used lightly, lest it cause "ice-fusion" (where pathogenic factors are suppressed and trapped deep within by excessive cold).

Commentary: Zhang Jiegu stated: "Slipperiness benefits orifices; it should not be combined with bland-draining herbs." Li Shizhen stated: "Talcum benefits orifices, not only in urination. Superiorly, it benefits the orifices of skin and interstices; inferiorly, it benefits the orifices of essence and urine. Excessive consumption causes frequent urination and slippery essence orifices. Patients with Spleen deficiency and sinking Qi should especially avoid it."

Magnetitum (Cishi) is the lodestone. It is suitable for calcining over fire, quenching in vinegar, grinding into powder, and using the water-decoction method (water flying). Alternatively, it can be boiled in vinegar for three days and nights. It grows in places containing iron, obtaining the Qi of Metal and Water for its generation. Therefore, its taste is acrid and salty, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. Most mineral drugs are toxic, but Magnetitum (Cishi) possesses a balanced and harmonious nature, lacking fierce or harsh qualities. Its cold taste and black color give it the function of tonifying the Kidney and benefiting essence. Soaking it in wine is superior to making pills or powders, primarily because of its heavy stone nature. Acridity can resolve nodules, coldness can drain heat, black corresponds to Water, and saltiness enters the Kidney. Thus, it is used for softening hardness, clearing heat, moistening downward movement, and tonifying the Kidney.

Magnetitum (Cishi), processed by calcining and vinegar-quenching, calms the Heart and benefits the Kidney, removes severe heat and fullness/irritability, eliminates generalized bi-syndrome pain and soreness, treats deafness when wrapped in cotton, is used in eye drops to treat visual blurring, strengthens bone Qi, benefits the Kidneys, unblocks joints, dissipates carbuncles and sores, benefits essence and removes irritability, treats scrofula and swelling, drives out wind-pathogens from epilepsy and fright, dispels neck masses and throat pain, drinking the prepared aqueous solution, or combining with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix). If a needle is accidentally swallowed, administering it tied to a thread can draw the needle up for extraction.

Main Indications (Comprehensive Analysis of Smallpox and Measles): Efficacy is the same as above. In smallpox treatment, it is used to eliminate smallpox carbuncles, calm fright, and clear severe heat.