冬至后,用洁净朴硝十斤,用水一斗五升,白萝卜五斤打碎,同硝入锅内煮化。候
汤滚足,捞去萝卜,将竹丝箕以绵纸二层,摊铺箕内,架在新缸上,以硝汤徐入箕内,候
折再添,以汤滤尽为度。将缸搭在天井,露三日,其硝结在缸边,倾去余水,沥干为止。
将硝取下,再用砂锅顿炭炉上,将硝一碗,化开煎滚,以铜匙铲搅,将成凝结时,铲入小
罐内,上空寸许,再下硝炼,如此已毕。每一罐下用三钉品字样钉入土地,上留寸半在
外,将罐浮顿钉头上,用瓦片盖口,周遭用段砖砌百眼炉围绕,离罐寸半许,将着炭火
入炉内,四围底火顶火,一概相护,候罐硝红为度。次日取出硝来,预用大绵纸摊在洁
净阴土地上,将硝碾细,用绢筛在纸上一钱浓,再不许多,将门扇俱已关闭,不许与人
见之,三日后其硝自然复活,色白如粉,轻虚成片。将钵盛收纸盖之,上再用乱纸盖之,
上再用乱纸寸许,以收潮气,庶不凝结。此品最能降火化痰,清利脏腑,怪症服之可蠲,
狂燥用之即愈。搜除百病,安敛心神。况此服之,不伤元气,惟久病泻痢者不宜。大人
每服三四钱,小儿五分至一钱皆可。俱用白滚汤,或葱汤空心化服。候行二三次,随饮
稀粥,自然爽健精神,调和脏腑,津液顿生,百病如失。又 过硝石六两,加朱砂三钱,青
黛一钱,冰片一钱五分,共碾细末,照前筛纸上,再用纸盖一层,四边以戒尺压紧,勿
令走气。候三日外取起密收,又名阳春紫雪,最治失心忘志,颠痫健忘,小儿急惊,大人
异症。每服五分至一钱,俱用淡竹叶灯心汤化服,屡有奇效,不可尽述。元明粉乃神仙
保命服食,每一斤,加生熟甘草末一两,葱汤化服二三钱,令人悦泽容颜,轻身耐老矣。
After the Winter Solstice, use ten *jin* (approx. 5 kg) of clean *Puxiao* (Mirabilite), one *dou* and five *sheng* (approx. 15 L) of water, and five *jin* (approx. 2.5 kg) of crushed white radish. Boil them together in a pot until dissolved. Once the decoction has boiled sufficiently, remove the radish. Place two layers of cotton paper inside a bamboo sieve, set the sieve over a new earthenware jar, and slowly pour the mirabilite decoction into the sieve for filtration. Add more liquid as it filters through, continuing until all the liquid has been filtered out. Place the jar in the courtyard to be exposed to the open air for three days. The mirabilite will crystallize on the sides of the jar. Pour off the remaining water and let it drain completely.
Remove the crystallized mirabilite. Place a clay pot on a charcoal stove. Take one bowl of mirabilite, melt it by heating, and bring it to a boil. Stir with a copper spoon. When the substance is about to coagulate, scoop it into a small jar, leaving about one *cun* (approx. 3 cm) of space at the top. Continue adding and refining mirabilite in this manner until finished. Drive three nails into the ground beneath each jar in a "pin" (品) character formation, leaving one and a half *cun* (approx. 4.5 cm) protruding above ground. Float the jar on top of these nails. Cover the jar mouth with a tile. Surround the jar with a "hundred-eye furnace" built from perforated bricks, maintaining a distance of about one and a half *cun* (approx. 4.5 cm) from the jar. Place burning charcoal into the furnace. Ensure that the bottom fire and top fire around the four sides protect each other, continuing until the mirabilite inside the jar turns red-hot.
The next day, take out the refined mirabilite. Spread large sheets of cotton paper on clean, shaded ground. Grind the mirabilite into fine powder and sift it onto the paper to a thickness of one *qian* (approx. 3.7 g), ensuring it is not thicker. Close all doors and windows strictly, preventing anyone from seeing it. After three days, the mirabilite will naturally revive, becoming white like powder, light, loose, and forming flakes. Store it in a钵 (bowl/urn), cover with paper, add another layer of scrap paper on top, and finally cover with an inch (approx. 3 cm) of scrap paper to absorb moisture and prevent clumping. This preparation is most effective in reducing fire, resolving phlegm, and clearing and benefiting the zang-fu organs. It can eliminate strange diseases when taken, and cures mania and agitation immediately. It searches out and removes hundred diseases, calming and consolidating the shen (spirit). Moreover, taking this does not damage the yuan qi (original qi); however, it is unsuitable for those suffering from chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Adults should take three to four *qian* (approx. 11-15 g) per dose; children should take five fen to one *qian* (approx. 1.8-3.7 g) per dose. All doses should be dissolved in boiling water or scallion water and taken on an empty stomach. After defecating two or three times, drink thin congee. Naturally, one will feel refreshed and vigorous, the zang-fu organs will harmonize, fluids will suddenly generate, and hundred diseases will vanish.
Additionally, take six *liang* (approx. 225 g) of washed mirabilite, add three *qian* (approx. 11 g) of Cinnabar, one *qian* (approx. 3.7 g) of Indigo Naturalis, and one and a half *qian* (approx. 5.6 g) of Borneol. Grind them all into a fine powder. Sift onto paper as described previously. Cover with another layer of paper and press the edges tightly with a ruler to prevent the loss of volatile properties. After three days, remove and store tightly sealed. This is also known as Yangchun Zixue (Spring Snow). It is most effective for treating loss of heart-mind control, forgetfulness, epilepsy, memory loss, pediatric acute convulsive disorders, and strange conditions in adults. Each dose should be five fen to one *qian* (approx. 1.8-3.7 g), dissolved in a decoction of Bamboo Leaf and Juncus Effusus stem. It has repeatedly shown miraculous effects, which cannot be fully enumerated. Yuanming Fen (Refined Mirabilite) is a food prescribed by immortals for preserving life. For every one *jin* (approx. 5 kg) of Yuanming Fen, add one *liang* (approx. 37.5 g) of powdered raw and cooked Licorice Root. Dissolve two to three *qian* (approx. 7.5-11 g) in scallion water and take. This makes the complexion radiant and lustrous, lightens the body, and promotes longevity.