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Originating from Jining and Datong in Shandong Province, etc. Local people collect plants such as Artemisia (mugwort) and Polygonum (smartweed), dig kilns, soak them in water, filter and dry them, burn them into ash, and then leach the juice with the original water. For every 100 jin (approx. 50 kg), one to two jin of flour is added, causing it to solidify like stone, which is then sold by the public.

Shijian (Soda Ash), with a bitter, pungent, and astringent taste, and a warm nature with slight toxicity, has the ability to remove dirt and grease, and grind down accumulations. However, excessive consumption damages the human body. When used together with Duanshi (Calcined Iron Ore) and Sanglu (Mulch Wood Lye), it can penetrate muscles, causing carbuncles to ulcerate, eliminate blood stasis and scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), and cauterize moles and warts. Nowadays, people use it for washing clothes. Nevertheless, Shijian is a substance that softens hardness and dissipates accumulations; ingesting it causes diarrhea because of its yin-damp nature that moistens and directs downward, softening hardness and penetrating flesh, making it unsuitable for the gastrointestinal tract.

Luganshi (Calamine), formed by receiving the Qi of Metal, has a sweet, pungent, and slightly astringent taste, and a warm nature without toxicity. Its sweet-warm property can unblock blood vessels, thereby dispersing swelling and toxins, stopping bleeding, and promoting muscle regeneration. Its pungent-warm property can disperse wind-heat, and its astringent nature allows it to adhere to objects; thus, it can remove eye nebula (pterygium or corneal opacity) and treat eye nebula. It is also used to treat chancres and genital ulcers, based on this same principle. To treat all kinds of eye diseases, use half a jin of genuine Luganshi and four liang of Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome). Crush them, place them in a silver or ceramic vessel, add two bowls of water, and boil for two fu periods (four hours). Remove the Huanglian, grind the Luganshi into powder, add two qian and a half of Longnaoxiang (Borneol), grind evenly, store in a jar, and apply a small amount frequently to achieve efficacy. Another prescription for treating chancres and genital ulcers uses one liang of Luganshi (quenched seven times in vinegar) and three qian of Haiercha (Child's Tea/Catechu), ground into powder, mixed with sesame oil, and applied topically for immediate effect.

Named Haishi (Sea Stone), it has a salty taste, is neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It is formed from condensed sea foam, has a light texture, and therefore enters the Lung Meridian. Its flavor is salty and cold, giving it the function of softening hardness and moistening the downward direction.

Fushi (Pumice), clears Metal (Lung), descends fire, stops turbidity, and treats strangury (dysuria). It is suitable for treating accumulations, old phlegm, goiter (thyroid enlargement), and tubercles. Generally, although stones are heavy, pumice floats, resembling Lung Metal; sea foam gathers and condenses, resembling phlegm accumulation. Furthermore, its salty taste softens hardness, and its affinity for water moistens and directs downward. Therefore, it specifically travels to the Lung Meridian and is excellent at treating various diseases caused by phlegm accumulation.