Library

Yellow earth, (that which is above three chi is called feces, and that below three chi is called earth; when used, the upper foul matter should be removed to prevent it from entering the medicinal water.) Earth is the mother of all things. Yellow is the correct color of the center. In the human viscera, it corresponds to the Spleen and Stomach. Therefore, all things cannot grow without earth, and the five zang and six fu organs of the human body cannot be nourished without the Spleen and Stomach. Thus, yellow earth is used in medicine to treat diarrhea and dysentery, cold-heat red-and-white dysentery, heat toxins in the abdomen, and cramping pain with knotting, taking advantage of its ability to assist Wu-Ji (the Earth element/Spleen-Stomach). Its taste is sweet and its nature is harmonious, so it can soothe and harmonize the Spleen and Stomach, stop lower bleeding, and even resolve the toxicity of various drugs, internal toxins, pepper-induced toxicity, and wild mushroom toxicity. This is because various toxins are transformed upon encountering earth. Dust from the east-facing wall that has accumulated for over a hundred years is considered excellent, as it possesses the true fire energy of the Sun. Therefore, its nature is warm and its taste is sweet. The property of earth can support the Spleen, and relying on fire further generates earth. Hence, it is used to support the Spleen and benefit the Stomach for deficiency-cold with slippery discharge, damp sores in the lower part, summerheat cholera, rectal prolapse due to summerheat and malaria. It removes dampness and astringes sores, and is suitable for treatment. When stir-fried with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it specifically stops persistent diarrhea. When ground together with Corbiculae Concha (Xianqiao), it can be applied to smallpox lesions. Applied to the eyes or rubbed on the skin after soaking, it treats tinea. It treats springtime cold-heat and warm malaria, and removes hemorrhoids, fistulas, and rectal prolapse in the lower part. Soil from shoe soles, preferably from one's own worn shoes, is best. Ground and swallowed with water, it produces immediate effects for those unaccustomed to local conditions. Yellow earth used for casting bells, ground and taken with wine, shows remarkable efficacy for sudden heart pain and malignant qi invasion. Mouse mound soil mainly treats spasmodic pain caused by wind-stroke and poisoning; it is said to be used after sun-drying. Soil from chariot wheels treats newborns who lack skin and have a red complexion, due to not having received the qi of earth during conception. Taken ground, it yields good results with skin growth after three days. Hu Yanwo earth: "Hu Yan" refers to the black swallow. After the Spring Equinox, they build nests using wet earth from four directions, hence its taste and nature are sweet and cold. All kinds of painful, itching sores and ulcers belong to Heart fire. Sweet and cold substances best resolve fire toxins, and the nature of earth can transform all toxins. It treats wind-induced itching and rashes; mixed with water for wet application, or added to Huiyan paste and applied to scrofula, it is most effective. Huiyan refers to the north-facing swallow nest soil.

Well bottom sand: Sand is mud. It inherits the extreme yin qi of the earth. Its taste is sweet and its nature is greatly cold. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats burns from boiling water and fire. It can also treat febrile diseases during pregnancy. Applied to the area below the heart, the umbilicus, and Dantian, it protects the fetus from miscarriage. Earthworm soil: Its taste is sweet, nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats chronic red-and-white dysentery with long-standing heat. One sheng is stir-fried until smoke ceases, half a sheng of water is added, filtered, and drunk, leading to immediate recovery. Its sweet and cold nature eliminates damp-heat in the intestines and stomach. Applied externally to swollen and painful scrotums in children, as well as spreading toxic sores and snake or dog bites, it utilizes the toxin-resolving power of earth. Earthworms have a salty taste that softens hardness, resolves stasis, and dissipates nodules. Soil from leek fields is even better, for the same reason.

M cesspit bottom mud: It is greatly cold and non-toxic. Due to its pure yin and greatly cold nature, it specifically treats severe heat with lingering accumulation in sores. For any severe sores like back carbuncles, dry them in the shade, grind into powder, mix with fresh water, and apply. Pain stops immediately. For various malignant carbuncles and swellings, mix equally with Cicada Slough (Chantui) and Scorpion (Quanxie), pound into cakes the size of a coin, fry in sesame oil until boiling, take warm, and apply the dregs around the sore. The carbuncle will naturally emerge. Smoke glue: This is the black earth from the stove where ox hides are smoked. Its taste is pungent and bitter, and its nature is slightly warm. Pungency disperses wind, bitterness dries dampness, and it kills parasites. Thus, it treats head sores, white ringworm, scabies, and wind tinea with itching, pain, and weeping. Take the smoke paste from the ox-hide smoking stove bank, grind into powder, mix with sesame oil for application, or add a small amount of Calomel (Qingfen) for best results.