Library

Deficiency labor (Chronic deficiency syndrome), taken with plain water or ginger decoction.
Bone-steaming tidal fever (Yin-deficiency fever), taken with *Gardeniae Cortex* (Dugupi) decoction, or a decoction of fried *Coptis Chinensis Rhizome* (Huhuanglian, 5 fen), or *Moutan Bark* (Danpi) decoction.
Hematemesis (Vomiting blood), taken with *Imperata Rhizome* (Maogen) decoction or *Lotus Node* (Oujie) decoction.
Xiaoke (Wasting-thirst syndrome, similar to diabetes), taken with *Mume Fruit* (Wumei) decoction or *Gypsum Fibrosum* (Shigao) decoction.
Feizhang (Lung distension), taken with *Zhen Suzi Tang*.
Zhongman (Chest and abdominal fullness), taken with *Tangerine Peel* (Chenpi) decoction, *Aucklandia Root* (Muxiang) decoction, or mustard green decoction.
Edema, taken with *Plantago Seed* (Cheqianzi) decoction or *Akebia Caulis* (Mutong) decoction.
Resting dysentery (Intermittent dysentery): for white stools, taken with *Ailanthus Bark* (Chouchun Genpi) decoction; for red stools, taken with *Celosia Flower* (Jiguanhua) decoction.
Pi Xie (Spleen deficiency diarrhea), taken with stir-fried *Plantago Seed* (Cheqianzi) decoction.
Zhu Xia (Profuse watery diarrhea), taken with *Akebia Caulis* (Mutong) decoction.
Stool impaction, taken with *Mirabilite* (Mangxiao) decoction.
Urinary retention, taken with *Akebia Caulis* (Mutong) decoction.
Hematuria (Blood in urine), taken with *Gardenia Fruit* (Shanzhi) and *Akebia Caulis* (Mutong) decoction, or *Juncus Effusus* (Dengxin) and bamboo leaf decoction.
Huoluan (Acute vomiting and diarrhea), taken with *Agastache Rhizome* (Huoxiang) decoction.
Vomiting and diarrhea, taken with *Fresh Ginger* (Shengjiang) and *Juncus Effusus* (Dengxin) decoction.
Shijue (Corpse syncope-like coma), taken with ginger decoction.
Qi Jue (Syncope due to Qi rebellion), taken with *Zhen Suzi Tang*.
Yin Zheng (Yin syndrome), taken with *Aconite Root* (Fuzi) decoction.
Yin Du (Yin toxicity), taken with *Astragalus Root* (Huangqi) decoction or *Aconite Root* (Fuzi) decoction.
Nei Zhang (Internal cataract/obscuration of vision), taken with *Equisetum Rami* (Muzei) and *Chrysanthemum Morifolium* (Juhua) decoction.
Xin Xia Zuo Pi (Epigastric stuffiness), taken with *Immature Bitter Orange* (Zhishi) and *Platycodon Root* (Jiegeng) decoction.
Heart and stomach pain, taken with *Cyperi Rhizoma* (Yanhusuo) decoction, or taken with wine.
Stomach cold causing indigestion of rice and grain, taken with *Dried Ginger* (Ganjiang) and *Malta* (Maiya) decoction.
Urgent pain in both hypochondria, taken with *Green Tangerine Peel* (Qingpi) decoction.
Abdominal pain, taken with *Licorice Root* (Gancao) and *White Peony Root* (Baishao) decoction.
Periumbilical abdominal pain, taken with *Malta* (Maiya) decoction.
Hypogastric pain, taken with *Fennel Fruit* (Xiaohuixiang) decoction.
Bladder hernia, taken with *Fennel Fruit* (Xiaohuixiang) and *Betel Nut* (Juhe) decoction.
Female uterine deficiency cold, taken with ginger decoction.
Red leukorrhea, taken with *Sanguisorba Root* (Diyu) decoction.
White leukorrhea, taken with *Broussonetia Bark* (Chubai Pi) decoction or fried *Ginkgo Seed* (Baiguo) decocted in wine.
Pediatric acute convulsion (Ji Jing Feng), taken with *Honeysuckle Flower* (Jinyinhua) decoction.
Slow convulsion (Man Jing Feng), taken with *Codonopsis Root* (Renshen) decoction.
All difficult and obscure syndromes are taken with ginger decoction.

(Past scholars claimed that Jin Ye Dan has the power to revive the dead; it is indeed a divine agent for saving critical conditions. However, there are also warnings against its use. For instance, Su Song in *Bencao Tujing* stated that while its effect is swift, the harm is also rapid; Kou Zongshi in *Bencao Yanyi* noted that some only know it as a blessing but not as a potential disaster. These views were likely based on caution, leading many to doubt and dare not take it. Yet, I have personally observed two cases: both indulged in sexual excess in their youth and suffered from deficiency syndromes after fifty. Treatments with Ginseng and Aconite were ineffective. When advised to take Sulfur-based Jin Ye Dan, both responded well. One failed to restrain himself and died of Qi collapse after five or six years; the other abstained and lived to over eighty. This was witnessed by me. Medicine treats disease; specific diseases require specific medicines. As Xu Shuwei said, "If the body harbors cold pathogens, even an infant may take Jin Ye Dan; if the viscera harbor heat toxins, even a frail elder may take Rhubarb." This dialectical approach is sound. Stop taking the medicine once the illness is cured; long-term use may cause imbalance. This applies to all medicines, not just Jin Ye Dan. Those who live long by lifelong use possess unique constitutions and cannot be generalized. If Yuan Qi is intact but Yin Essence is depleted, this medicine is unsuitable. Furthermore, those who indulge in lust, using it not to cure disease but to satisfy desires, destroy their lives and then blame Jin Ye Dan. This is like blaming rice and wheat because someone overate, or blaming wine because someone got drunk. Is this logical? Recalling records of benefits from Sulfur, I append several excerpts for future reference.)

(*Yijian Zhi* records: Tang Yu Zheng, knowledgeable in medicine, treated strange diseases intuitively. His uncle, Patrol Officer Wu, suffered from urinary retention: slight flow when lying down, none when standing. Doctors tried various diuretics for the small intestine without success. His nephew asked what he took daily. Wu replied he took Hei Xi Dan. Asked who prepared the "sand" (precipitate), Wu said he made it himself. Tang realized: "During preparation, lead did not melt, sulfur flew away, and lead sand accumulated in the bladder. Lying down shifts weight, allowing some flow; standing blocks the urethra." He prescribed Jin Ye Dan, 300 pills divided into ten doses, taken with *Knotgrass Herb* (Qumai) decoction. The accumulated lead reacted with sulfur, turning to ash and passing out as fine sand. The patient recovered.)

(*Leibian* records: A clerk in Renhe County showed premature aging, emaciation, and tooth loss. He obtained a prescription from a traveling herbalist: grind raw Sulfur into powder, place inside pig intestines, boil until soft, mix with steamed dough, and form pills the size of wu zi seeds. Take as desired. After two months, appetite doubled, gait became agile, and at over ninety, he showed no signs of aging. Later, following the county magistrate to a village, he drank alcohol and ate ox blood, resulting in severe diarrhea ("gold water"), sudden deterioration, and death within days. Li Juyuan learned this from Imperial Physician Guan Fan in Lin'an and told Chancellor Wang. Wang remarked: "I heard pork fat can neutralize sulfur; using pig intestines is particularly appropriate." The Chancellor also prepared and took it, eventually seeing results.)

(*Bencao Tongyuan* records: In autumn of the Renzi year, during imperial examinations, I met Zhang Baochi, a scholar-official who had indulged excessively in sex. His abdomen was distended like a bowl. He took Jinkui Wan with Ginseng decoction; urination improved slightly, and distension reduced. Ten days later, distension returned, limbs became cold, and previous medicines failed. Family despaired. Zhang cried, "If you save me, I will serve you as a father." I said, "Take dozens of Jin Ye Dan pills; though not guaranteed, there may be hope." He took 100 pills consecutively. Urination resumed immediately, distension vanished, appetite returned. Combined with Buzhong Yiqi Tang and Bawei Wan, he fully recovered. Thus, precise medication works instantly like a drumstick hitting a drum. Many suffer such syndromes without effective treatment. Few trust as Zhang did. Note: Sulfur does not treat distension directly; it rescues failing Yuan Yang when Ginseng and Aconite fail, using its pure Yang nature to melt Yin-cold stagnation like ice.)