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Treatment for epilepsy.
Qianhui (Lead Ash, 2 liang, ground into fine powder) Lihuaqian (Lead Sulfide, 1 liang, ground into fine powder) Maiqu (Wheat Qu, 1.5 liang, stir-fried until cooked)
The above three ingredients are mixed with water and formed into pills, the size of *Strychnos nux-vomica* seeds. Take 5 to 6 pills per dose, up to a maximum of 10 pills. Administer with clean Mangxiao (Mirabilite, Natrii Sulfas) dissolved in water. If constipation occurs after taking the medicine (because both Qianhui and Lihuaqian have astringent effects on the bowels), the dosage of Mangxiao should be increased.
An ancient formula, Heixi Dan (Black Tin Pill), uses sulfur and lead combined to treat conditions of upper heat and lower cold, or upper excess and lower deficiency. It is indeed an excellent prescription. However, it is not perfect because it mixes various herbal heat-inducing drugs, whose nature tends to ascend and float, preventing them from acting specifically downward. I previously modified this formula, using only Lihuaqian (Lead Sulfide) combined with cooked Maiqu (Wheat Qu) to form pills, which was very effective for treating epilepsy occurring every few days. However, after taking it for over a month, I stopped due to feeling heat, and the disease relapsed after more than ten days. Thus, I further modified the formula, increasing the amount of Qianhui (Lead Ash) and decreasing Lihuaqian (Lead Sulfide), so that long-term use would not generate heat. With accumulated months of treatment, the root cause of epilepsy can be eliminated. Additionally assisting with decoctions for strengthening the spleen, resolving phlegm, unblocking collaterals, and clearing fire makes the treatment method particularly comprehensive.

Method for obtaining Qianhui (Lead Ash): Use several jin of black lead. After melting, floating ash will inevitably appear on the surface. Repeated melting allows for repeated collection.
Method for preparing Lihuaqian (Lead Sulfide): Melt 4 liang of black lead in an iron pot. Sprinkle 4 liang of fine sulfur powder onto the lead. Once the sulfur adheres completely, quickly stir-fry with an iron spatula. The lead, after being smelted by sulfur, forms granular substances. Remove and cool these; discard any that form cakes upon grinding (indicating incomplete reaction). Grind the remainder to an extremely fine powder using a mortar.

This treats epilepsy, as well as sudden flare-ups of liver and gallbladder fire, hypochondriac pain, headache with dizziness, rebellious qi causing wheezing and vomiting, upper jiao irritability and heat, and essentially all conditions characterized by upper excess and lower deficiency.
Using it to decoct medicines also benefits the blood aspect.
The formula uses rusty raw iron. Grind it in water to extract the rust until the water turns red, then decoct and drink the soup.
Chemists name iron rust "Tieyang" (Iron Oxygen Compound), formed by the combination of iron and oxygen. Its ability to suppress the liver and gallbladder stems from it being residual energy of Metal, borrowing Metal's energy to control Wood. Its efficacy in treating upper excess and lower deficiency lies in its heavy and sinking nature, which guides rebellious Ministerial Fire downwards. Ministerial Fire is fire within yin, similar to electricity; this is the principle behind iron's ability to conduct electricity. Its ability to nourish the blood aspect exists because human blood originally contains iron, and smelling iron rust reveals a bloody odor. This follows the principle of supplementing substance with substance and qi with qi. Furthermore, human blood turns red upon receiving oxygen; since iron rust is formed by the combination of original iron and oxygen, it can nourish the blood aspect. This explains why Western blood-tonifying medicines include iron wine.

A sixteen-year-old girl initially had epilepsy once every few months, progressing to several times a day. Her spirit was lethargic, appearing asleep, never waking fully. Her eyes were exposed, suggesting concurrent slow convulsion. Initially, I used the formula from *Fu You Bian* for slow convulsion, which cured the eye symptom. To treat the epilepsy next, recalling a method in medical texts using water from three households' whetstones to wash sores, I reasoned that since iron rust suppresses the liver, decocting medicine with this water could restrain the rebellious fire of the liver and gallbladder to extinguish internal wind. However, the person grinding the water merely stored water in a jar, while the person decocting mistakenly believed the medicine was also inside, so they only boiled and administered the water. The illness miraculously cured. Later, knowing no medicine was taken, we wanted to decoct the actual herbs. I said: Since the whetstone water was appropriate for the syndrome, the medicine need not be taken. From then on, she drank the whetstone water twice daily for several days, and the epilepsy never recurred.

A man, around thirty years old, suffered from epilepsy for over ten years without cure, always attacking at night. I prescribed the previously modified Cizhu Wan (Magnetite and Cinnabar Pill), which cured him. Over a year later, the condition relapsed but was less severe than before. I instructed him to grind concentrated iron rust water daily and drink the decoction, eliminating the root cause.

My clan sister-in-law, aged sixty, suddenly experienced vomiting and headache at night, severe palpitations, and spontaneous sweating on the upper body. Her family suspected cholera. Her pulse was floating and surging anterior to the guan position, trembling. I instructed her to urgently grind concentrated iron rust water, decoct it, and drink it, resulting in immediate recovery.

My friend Han XX treated a patient who, following anger, suddenly extended his body backward and lost breath, occurring several times a day. Han XX diagnosed a deficient and floating pulse at the left guan position. He prescribed Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Officinalis Fruit, pips removed), Longgu (Fossilized Bones), Muli (Oyster Shell - none used), and Baishao (White Peony Root), decocted with whetstone water from three households. Taking two doses daily resulted in complete recovery.

Western medicines for epilepsy are generally anesthetics for the brain, forcibly suppressing neural activity, rarely removing the root cause. However, for patients with severe and frequent epilepsy who are physically weak and cannot tolerate strong treatments, taking Western medicine twice daily may temporarily prevent recurrence, allowing time to gradually treat with herbs for strengthening the spleen, resolving phlegm, unblocking collaterals, and clearing fire. Once physical strength improves, Western medicine can be discontinued, continuing only with spleen-strengthening, phlegm-resolving, collateral-unblocking, and fire-clearing agents. Alternatively, assist with calming fright (such as Zhusha [Cinnabar], Cishi [Magnetite]), dispelling wind (such as Wugong [Centipede], Quanxie [Scorpion]), or penetrating organs (such as Shexiang [Musk], Niuhuang [Calculus Bovis]) based on specific indications, ensuring the root cause is thoroughly eradicated.