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[Niter]
Taste: bitter, pungent. Nature: cold to very cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: primarily treats accumulated heat in the five zang organs, gastric distension and obstruction, clears away retained food stagnation, eliminates the old to generate the new, dispels pathogenic factors, treats one hundred and twenty diseases occurring in the five zang organs and the twelve meridians, sudden attack of cold damage (Shanghan), excessive heat in the abdomen, relieves irritability and fullness, consumes thirst (Xiao Ke), promotes urination, and cauterizes sores. The *Shu Ben* states: with Rhubarb (*Da Huang*) as the guiding herb, it can transform seventy-two types of minerals into water. Wu Shi records: Shen Nong considered its taste bitter; Bian Que considered its taste sweet. *Yao Xing Lun* states: acts as a sovereign herb. Slightly toxic. Primarily treats scrofula under the neck, breaks up accumulations, and dissipates hard nodules. Ri Huazi records: treats throat closure. Another account says: treats red eye disease, treats aversion to cold, treats five types of strangury and urinary obstruction, and also treats headache. Fire-processing serves as the guiding method. Contraindications: incompatible with Bitter Sophora Root (*Kushen*), Bitter Vegetable (*Kucai*), and Azurite (*Cengqing*). Aversion: Mugwort Flower (*Nuwan*), Apricot Kernel (*Xingren*), Bamboo Leaf (*Zhuye*).

[Mirabilite Purified / Xuanming Fen]
Taste: pungent, sweet. Nature: cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: treats heart-heat with restlessness and stagnant qi lodged in the five zang organs, pathological masses, brightens the eyes, clears deficiency-heat above the diaphragm, reduces swelling and toxicity. *Tai Yin Hao* states: treats wind-heat toxin, searches out cold qi, treats gas accumulation due to phlegm-fluid retention, five exhaustions and seven injuries, bone-steaming consumption (tuberculosis-like wasting diseases), headache with fever, searches out and eliminates malignant diseases, constipation of the five zang organs, obstruction of both large and small intestines, damp-heat strangury of the San Jiao, zhuyu disease (sudden illness or mental aberration), cough, vomiting and reflux, dry mouth and tongue, throat obstruction, accumulated heat in the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and stomach, palpitations and forgetfulness, disharmony of Ying and Wei nutrients, alcohol intoxication, overconsumption of meat, dietary excess, cold pain in waist and knees, soreness and pain in hands and feet, chronic cold or chronic heat, obstruction of the four limbs, stiffness and tension in the back and shoulders, blurred vision and dizziness, weakness after prolonged visual effort, intestinal wind hemorrhoids, blood stasis irregularities, postpartum conditions in women, infant malnutrition (gan syndrome), yin-toxin cold damage, and various epidemic diseases affecting both interior and exterior. Another account says: long-term use calms the fetus, ensuring the newborn has no sores or diseases. Horse Tooth Niter (*Mayaxiao*): taste sweet, nature very cold, non-toxic. Clears accumulated heat and latent qi in the five zang organs, applied to eyes to remove redness, swelling, cataracts, tearing, and pain, aids digestion, treats infant thrush and double tongue.

[Raw Niter / Sheng Xiao]
Taste: bitter. Nature: very cold. Toxicity: non-toxic. Indications: primarily treats wind-heat epilepsy, pediatric convulsions due to fright-pathogen, wind-dizziness headache, lung congestion, deafness, mouth ulcers, throat bi-syndrome, swelling and pain of teeth and jaw, red and hot painful eyes, excessive eye discharge and tearing. Origin: Raw Niter is produced in Maozhou. Contraindications: incompatible with Wheat Ginger (*Maijujiang*).