金箔（二三四）味辛平，性寒，生者有毒。气沉质重，降也，阴也。能镇心神，降邪火，坠痰
涎，疗风热上壅，吐血衄血，神魂飞荡，狂邪躁扰，及小儿惊风癫痫，痰滞心窍，上气咳喘，安魂
魄，定心志。凡邪盛于上，宜降宜清者，皆所当用。若阳虚气陷，滑泄清寒音，具当辟之。
水银（二三五）性辛寒，有大毒。能利水道，去热毒。同黑铅结砂，则镇坠痰涎；同硫黄结砂，
则疗劫危疾。极善堕胎，杀诸虫及疥癣癞疮，凡有虫者皆宜之。亦善走经络，透骨髓，逐杨梅疯毒。
其他内证，不宜轻用，头疮亦不可用，恐入经洛，必缓筋骨，百药不治也。李时珍曰∶水银乃至阴
之精，禀沉着之性，得凡火 炼，则飞腾灵变，得人气熏蒸，则入骨钻筋，绝阳蚀脑，阴毒之物，
无似之者。而《大明》言其无毒《本经》言其久服神仙，甄权言其还丹元母，《抱朴子》以为长生之
药，六朝以下，贪生者服食，致成废笃而丧厥躯，不知若干人矣。方士固不足道，本草其可妄言哉！
水银但不可服食尔，而其治病之功，不可掩也。
轻粉（二三六）味微辛，性温燥，有大毒。升也，阳也。治痰涎积聚，消水肿鼓胀，直达病所。
尤治瘰 诸毒仓，去腐肉，生新肉，杀疮癣疥虫，及鼻上酒 ，风疮瘙痒。然轻粉乃水银加盐矾升
炼而成，其以金火之性，燥烈流走，直达骨髓，故善损齿牙。虽善劫痰涎水湿疮毒，涎从齿缝而出，
邪得劫而暂开，病亦随愈，然用不得法，则金毒窜入经络，留而不出，而伤筋败骨，以致筋挛骨痛，
痈疮疳漏，遂成废痼，其害无穷。尝见丹家升炼者，若稍失固济，则虽以铁石为鼎，亦必爆裂，而
矧以人之脏腑血气乎。陈文中曰∶轻粉下痰而损心气，小儿不可轻用，伤脾败阳，必变他证，初生
者尤宜慎之。
铜青（二三七）即铜绿。此铜之精华，惟醋制者良， 制者毒也。味酸涩，性收敛。善治风眼
烂弦流泪，合金疮，止血，明目，去肤赤 肉，治恶疮、口鼻疳疮。若治走马牙疳，宜同滑石、杏
仁等分为末，擦之立愈。
朱砂（二三八）味微甘，性寒，有大毒。通禀五行之气，其色属火也，其液属水也，其体属土
也，其气属木也，其入属金也，故能通五脏。其入心可以安神而走血脉，入肺可以降气而走皮，入
脾可逐痰涎而走肌肉，入肝可行血滞而走筋膜，人肾可逐水邪而走骨髓，或上或下，无处不到。故
可以镇心逐痰，祛邪降火，治惊痫，杀虫毒，祛蛊毒鬼魅中恶，及疮疡疥癣之属。但其体重性急，
善走善降，变化莫测，用治有余，乃其所长，用补不足，及长生久视之说，则皆谬妄不可信也。若
同参、 、归、术兼朱砂以治小儿，亦可取效。此
必其虚中挟实者乃宜之，否则不可概用。
银朱（二三九）乃水银同硫黄升炼而成。味辛，温，有毒。破积滞，劫痰涎，善疗疮癣恶疮，
杀虫毒蚤虱。惟烧烟熏之，或以枣肉拌烟擦之，其功尤捷。
蚕砂（二百四十）味甘，性温。主五脏百病，养神志，安魂魄，通血脉，明耳目，调和五脏。
主上盛下虚，痰涎壅盛，头旋吐逆，霍乱反胃，心腹冷痛。升降阴阳，既济水火，久服通神明，杀
精魅恶鬼，小儿惊吐，其效如神。研末，糯米糊为丸，枣汤服，最为镇坠神丹也。或以阴阳水送下
尤妙。按胡演《丹药秘诀》云，升灵砂法，用新锅安逍遥炉上，以蜜揩锅底，文火下烧，入硫黄
二两，熔化，投水银半斤，以铁匙急搅，作青砂头。如有焰起，喷醋解之。待汞不见星，取出细研，
盛入水火鼎内，盐泥固侪，下以自然火升之，干水十二盏为度，取出如束针纹者，成矣。
硫黄（二四一）味苦微酸，性热，有毒。疗心腹冷积冷痛霍乱，咳逆上气，及冷风顽痹寒热，
腰肾久冷，脚膝疼痛，虚寒久痢滑泄。壮阳道，补命门不足，阳气暴绝，妇人血结，小儿慢惊，尤
善杀虫除疥癣恶疮。老人风秘，用宜炼服。亦治阴证伤寒，厥逆烦躁，腹痛脉伏将危者，以硫黄为
末，艾汤调服二三钱，即可得睡，汗出而愈。
雄黄（二四二）味苦甘辛，性温，有毒。消痰涎，治癫痫岚瘴疟疾寒热，伏暑泻痢，酒癖，头
风眩晕。化瘀血。杀精物鬼疰，蛊毒邪气，中恶腹痛，及蛇虺百虫兽毒，疥癞疳虫 疮。去鼻中
肉，痈疽腐肉，并鼠屡广疮疽痔等毒。欲逐毒蛇，无如烧烟熏之，其畏遗尤速。
自然铜（二四三）味辛平，性凉。能疗折伤，散瘀血，续筋骨，排脓止疼痛，亦镇心神，安惊
悸。宜研细水飞用，或以酒磨服。然性多燥烈，虽其接骨之功不可泯，而绝无滋补之益，故用不可
多，亦不可专任也。
黄丹（二四四）味辛，微咸微涩。性重而收，大能燥湿，故能镇心安神，坠痰降火。治雇乱吐
逆，咳嗽吐血，镇惊
痫癫狂客忤，除热下气，止疟止痢，禁小便，解热毒，杀诸虫毒，治金疮火疮湿烂，诸疮血溢，止
痛生肌长肉，收阴汗，解狐臭，亦去翳障明目。
白矾（二四五）味酸涩，性凉，有小毒。所用有四∶其味酸苦，可以涌泄，故能吐下痰涎，治
癫痫黄胆。其性收涩，可固脱滑，故能治崩淋带下，肠风下血，脱肛阴挺，敛金疮止血，烧枯用之
，能止牙缝出血，辟狐腋气，收阴汗脚汗。其性燥，可治湿邪，故能止泻痢，敛浮肿，汤洗烂弦风
眼。其性毒，大能解毒定痛，故可疗痈疽疔肿，鼻 肉，喉痹瘰 ，恶疮疥癣，去腐肉，生新肉，
及虎犬蛇虫蛊毒。或丸或散，或生或枯，皆有奇效。
石脂（二四六）味甘涩，性温平。脂有五色，而今之入药者，惟赤白二种，乃手足阳明、足厥
阴、少阴药也。其味甘而温，故能益气调中，其性涩而重，故能收湿固下。调中则可疗虚烦惊悸，
止吐血衄血，壮筋骨，浓肠胃，除水湿黄胆，痈肿疮毒，排脓长肉，止血生肌之类是也。固下则可
治梦泄遗精，肠风泻痢，血崩带浊，固大肠，收脱肛、痔漏阴疮之类是也。又治产难胞衣不出。东
垣曰∶胞衣不出，惟涩剂可以下之，即此是也。然脂有五种，虽在《本经》言各随五色补五脏，又
云白入气分，赤入血分。第五脂之性味略同，似亦不必强分者。且其性粘如膏，故用固炉鼎甚良。
炉甘石（二四七）味甘涩，性温。能止血消肿毒，生肌敛疮口，去目中翳膜赤肿，收湿烂。同
龙脑点，治目中一切诸病。宜用片子炉甘，其色莹白，经火 而松腻味涩者为上。制宜炭火 红，
童便淬七次，研粉，水飞过，晒用。若 后坚硬，不松不腻者，不堪也。
蓬砂（二四八）味咸微甘，阴也，降也。消痰涎，止咳嗽，解喉痹，生津液，除上焦湿热噎膈，
瘕瘀血，退眼目肿痛翳障，口齿诸病，骨哽、恶疮。或为散丸，或噙化咽津俱可。
水粉（二四九）即官粉，亦名胡粉。味辛，性寒，有毒。善杀虫堕胎，治痈疽疮毒，湿烂诸疮，
下疳 溃不收，亦治疥癣狐臭。黑须发。虽亦能坠痰消食，然惟外证所宜，而内伤诸病，似亦不宜
用之。
密陀僧（二百五十）味咸平，有小毒。能镇心神，消痰涎，治惊痫咳嗽，呕逆反胃，疟疾下痢，
止血杀虫，消积聚，治诸疮肿毒，鼻 面 汗斑；金疮五痔，辟孤臭，收阴汗香港脚。
石宝（二五一）味甘辛，气大寒。气味俱薄，体重能沉，气轻能升，阴中有阳。欲其缓者 用，
欲其速者生用。用此者，用其寒散清肃，善祛肺胃三焦之火，而尤为阳明经之要药。辛能出汗解肌，
最逐温暑热证而除头痛；甘能缓脾清气，极能生津止渴而却热烦。邪火盛者不食，胃火盛者多食，
皆其所长。阳明实热牙疼，太阴火盛痰喘，及阳狂热结热毒，发斑发黄，火载血上，大吐大呕，大
便热秘等证，皆当速用。胃虚弱者忌服，阴虚热者禁尝，若误用之，则败阳作泻，必反害人。
滑石（二五二）味微甘，气寒，性沉滑，降中有升。入膀胱、大肠经。能清三焦表里之火，利
六腑之涩结，分水道，逐凝血，通九窍，行津液，止烦渴，除积滞，实大肠，治泻痢淋秘白浊，疗
黄胆水肿香港脚，吐血衄血金疮出血，诸湿烂疮肿痛。通乳亦佳，堕胎亦捷。
青礞石（二五三）味微甘微咸，其性下行，降也，阴也，乃肝脾之药。此药重坠，制以硝石，
其性更利。故能消宿食症积顽痰，治惊痫咳嗽喘急。《宝鉴》言礞石为治痰利惊之圣药，若吐痰在
水上，以石末掺之，痰即随水而下，则其沉坠之性可知。杨土瀛谓其功能利痰，然性非胃家所好。
而王隐君谓痰为百病母，不论虚实寒热概用滚痰丸，通治百病，岂理也哉？是以实痰坚积，乃其所
宜。燃久病痰多者，必因脾虚。人但知滚痰丸可以治痰，而不知虚痰服此，则百无一生矣。
朴硝（二五四）味苦咸辛，气寒。阴也，降也，有毒。其性峻速。咸能软坚，推逐陈积，化金
石药毒，去六腑壅滞胀急，大小便不通，破瘀血坚症实痰，却湿热疫痢，伤寒胀闭热狂，消痈肿排
脓，凡属各经实热，悉可泻除。孕妇忌用，最易堕胎；虚损误吞，伤生反掌。
玄明粉（二五五）味辛微甘，性冷，沉也，阴也。降心火，祛胃热，消痰涎，平伤寒实热狂躁，
去胸膈脏腑宿滞 瘕，通大便秘结，阴火疼痛，亦消痈疽肿毒。
海石（二五六）味咸，性微寒，阳中阴也。善降火下气，消食，消热痰，化老痰，除瘿瘤结核，
解热渴热淋，止痰嗽喘急，消积块，软坚症，利水湿、疝气，亦消疮肿。
花蕊石（二五七）此药色如硫黄，黄石中间有淡白点，故名也。李时珍曰∶此药旧无气味，今
尝试其气平，其味涩而酸，盖厥阴经血分药也。其功专于止血，能使血化为水，酸以收之也。若治
金疮出血，则不必制，但刮末敷之则合，仍不作脓，及治一切损伤失血。又疗妇人恶血血晕，下死
胎，落胞衣，去恶血，血去而胎胞自落也。凡入丸散，须用罐固济，火 过，研细，水飞用之。
代赭石（二五八）味微甘，性凉而降，血分药也。能下气降痰清火，除胸腹邪毒，杀鬼物精气，
止反胃吐血衄血，血痹血痢，血中邪热，大人小儿惊痫，狂热入脏，肠风痔漏，脱精遗尿，及妇人
赤白带下，难产胞衣不用，月经不止，俱可为散调服。亦冶金疮，生肌长肉。
砂（二五九）味咸苦大辛，性大热，有毒。善消恶肉腐肉生肌，敷金疮生肉，去目翳弩肉，
除痣魇疣赘，亦善杀虫毒，水调涂之，或研末掺之立愈。《本草》言其消瘀血宿食，破结气，止反
胃，肉食饱胀，暖子官，大益阳事。但此物性热大毒，能化五金八石，人之脏腑岂能堪此？故用以
治外则可，用以服食则不宜也。若中其毒，惟生绿豆研汁饮一二升，乃可解之。
青盐（二百六十）味咸微甘，性凉。能降火消痰明目，除目痛，益肾气，除五脏症结，心腹积
聚，吐血尿血，齿牙疼痛出血，杀毒虫，除疥癣诸虫，及斑蝥莞青诸毒。此盐不经火炼而成，其味
稍甘，虽性与大盐略同，而滋益之功则胜之。
锻石（二六一）味辛，温，有毒。能止水泻血痢，收白带白淫，可倍加茯苓为丸服之。此外如
散血定痛，傅痈毒，消结核瘦瘤，恶疮腐肉，白癜 斑 肉，收脱肛阴挺，杀痔漏诸虫，止金疮血
出，生肌长肉，或为末可掺，或用醋调敷俱妙。能解酒酸，亦解酒毒。
Gold Leaf (Er San Si): Flavor is acrid and neutral, nature is cold. Raw form is toxic. Its qi sinks and substance is heavy; it has a descending action and belongs to Yin. It can calm the heart spirit, descend pathogenic fire, drop phlegm and saliva, treat wind-heat congestion upward, hematemesis and epistaxis, wandering soul and spirit, manic and restless disturbances, as well as infantile convulsions and epilepsy, phlegm obstructing the heart orifices, upward rushing qi with cough and asthma, settle the soul and spirit, and stabilize the mind will. Whenever pathogenic factors are abundant in the upper body and require descending and clearing, this should be used. However, if Yang deficiency leads to sinking of Qi, with sliding discharge and clear-cold signs, it should be avoided.
Mercury (Er San Wu): Nature is acrid and cold, with great toxicity. It can promote urination and remove heat toxins. Combined with black lead to form cinnabar-like grains, it can suppress phlegm and saliva; combined with sulfur to form grains, it can treat critical diseases. It is extremely effective in inducing abortion, killing various parasites and treating scabies, tinea, and leprosy sores, suitable for any condition involving parasites. It also travels well through meridians and penetrates bone marrow, driving out ymea poison. For other internal conditions, it should not be used lightly, nor for head sores, lest it enter the meridians and loosen sinews and bones, becoming incurable by all medicines. Li Shizhen said: Mercury is the essence of extreme Yin, possessing a heavy and settling nature. When refined by common fire, it becomes volatile and transformative; when exposed to human breath, it enters bones and sinews, severing Yang and eroding the brain. Among Yin-toxic substances, none compares to it. Yet *Da Ming Ben Cao* claims it is non-toxic, *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* says long-term use leads to immortality, Zhen Quan calls it the mother of elixirs, and *Baopuzi* regards it as a longevity drug. Since the Six Dynasties, those greedy for life have taken it, resulting in disability and death, numbering countless individuals. Alchemist's words are unworthy of mention, but how can Materia Medica speak recklessly! Mercury should only not be ingested orally, but its therapeutic merit cannot be concealed.
Calomel (Er San Liu): Flavor is slightly acrid, nature is warm and dry, with great toxicity. It has an ascending action and belongs to Yang. It treats accumulation of phlegm and saliva, reduces edema and abdominal distension, reaching the disease site directly. It is especially effective for scrofula and various toxic sores, removing necrotic tissue and promoting new flesh growth, killing parasites causing skin diseases like tinea and scabies, and treating rhinophyma and wind-sores with itching. However, calomel is produced by sublimating mercury with salt and alum. Relying on the properties of metal and fire, it is drying, fierce, and migratory, reaching bone marrow directly, thus easily damaging teeth. Although good at expelling phlegm, water-dampness, and sore toxins, with phlegm exiting from tooth gaps, pathogens temporarily expelled and illness resolving, improper use causes metal toxicity to窜 into meridians, lingering and damaging sinews and bones, leading to contracture and bone pain, abscesses, and chronic ulcers, becoming stubborn disabilities with infinite harm. I have seen alchemists sublimate it; if sealing is slightly lost, even iron or stone cauldrons will burst, let alone human viscera and blood-Qi. Chen Wenzhong said: Calomel drains phlegm but damages Heart Qi; children should not use it lightly. It harms Spleen and destroys Yang, inevitably causing other syndromes. Newborns must be particularly cautious.
Copper Green (Er San Qi): Also known as Verdigris. This is the essence of copper; only vinegar-processed forms are good, while water-processed ones are toxic. Flavor is sour and astringent, nature is converging. It effectively treats wind-eye conditions with rotting eyelids and tearing, aids in treating metallic wounds, stops bleeding, brightens eyes, removes skin redness and hyperplasia, and treats malignant sores and mouth/nose cancrumosis. For treating rapidly progressing gum gangrene, mix equally with Talcum (Hua Shi) and Apricot Seed (Xing Ren), grind to powder, and apply externally for immediate cure.
Cinnabar (Er San Ba): Flavor is slightly sweet, nature is cold, with great toxicity. It communicates with the Qi of the Five Elements: its color belongs to Fire, liquid to Water, form to Earth, aroma to Wood, and entry to Metal, thus capable of accessing all five Zang organs. Entering the Heart, it calms the spirit and moves blood vessels; entering the Lung, it descends Qi and moves in the skin; entering the Spleen, it drives phlegm and moves in muscles; entering the Liver, it promotes blood circulation and moves in tendons/membranes; entering the Kidney, it expels water pathogens and moves in bone marrow. Reaching everywhere up and down, it can calm the Heart and drive phlegm, dispel evil and descend fire, treat convulsions and epilepsy, kill parasites and toxins, dispel gu-poison and malevolent spirits, and treat sores, scabies, and tinea. However, its weight and urgent nature make it agile in movement and descent, unpredictable in change. Using it for excess conditions is its strength; using it for deficiency tonification or for longevity claims is absurd and untrustworthy. If combined with Ginseng, Rehmannia, Angelica, and Atractylodes along with Cinnabar to treat children, efficacy can be achieved. This is suitable only for deficiency mixed with excess patterns; otherwise, it should not be used generally.
Vermilion (Er San Jiu): Produced by sublimating mercury with sulfur. Flavor is acrid, nature is warm, with toxicity. It breaks stagnation, expels phlegm, and effectively treats sores, tinea, and malignant ulcers, killing parasites like fleas and lice. Smoking it or mixing the smoke with jujube meat for application yields particularly swift results.
Mulberry Silkworm Excrement (Er Bai Si Shi): Flavor is sweet, nature is warm. It governs diseases of the five Zang organs, nourishes the spirit, settles the soul, unifies blood vessels, clarifies ears and eyes, and harmonizes the five Zang organs. It treats upper excess and lower deficiency, excessive phlegm, dizziness, vomiting, cholera with regurgitation, and cold pain in the heart and abdomen. It regulates Yin and Yang, balances Water and Fire. Long-term use clarifies the spirit and repels demons and evil ghosts. It is effective for infantile convulsions and vomiting. Ground into powder, made into pills with glutinous rice paste, and taken with jujube decoction, it is a supreme sedative elixir. Taking it with Yin-Yang water is especially excellent. According to Hu Yan's *Dan Yao Mi Jue*, the method for refining Ling Sha: place a new pot on a Xiaoyao stove, wipe the bottom with honey, apply gentle heat, add two taels of sulfur, melt it, then投 half a jin of mercury, stir quickly with an iron spoon until green sand heads form. If flames rise, spray vinegar to resolve. When mercury stars disappear, take out, grind finely, put into a water-fire tripod, seal tightly with salt mud, sublimate over natural fire until twelve cups of water are dried. Take out material resembling bundled needles; success is achieved.
Sulfur (Er Si Yi): Flavor is bitter and slightly sour, nature is hot, with toxicity. It treats cold accumulations and pain in the heart/abdomen, cholera, counterflow qi with cough, cold-wind stubborn bi with alternating cold/heat, chronic cold in waist/kidneys, knee/foot pain, chronic diarrhea/sliding dysentery due to deficiency-cold. It strengthens the Yang pathway, supplements Mingmen deficiency, treats sudden collapse of Yang Qi, blood clumps in women, and infantile slow convulsions. It is especially good at killing parasites and treating scabies/tinea/malignant sores. For elderly constipation due to wind, refined form is suitable. It also treats Yin-type typhoid, cold extremities with irritability, abdominal pain with hidden pulse nearing danger. Mix sulfur powder with mugwort decoction, take 2-3 qian, sleep ensues, sweating occurs, and recovery follows.
Realgar (Er Si Er): Flavor is bitter, sweet, and acrid, nature is warm, with toxicity. It resolves phlegm, treats epilepsy, miasma/malaria with chills/fever, latent summerheat with diarrhea/dysentery, alcohol癖, headache with vertigo. It transforms stasis. Kills spirits, ghostly infections, gu-poison, evil qi, severe abdominal pain from evil invasion, snake/insect/beast venom, scabies/leprosy/cancrum oris. Removes nasal polyps, abscesses/necrotic tissue, rat-bite sores, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, etc. To drive away venomous snakes, smoking is best, causing rapid fear/response.
Native Copper (Er Si San): Flavor is acrid and neutral, nature is cool. It treats fractures, disperses blood stasis, reconnects sinews/bones, discharges pus, stops pain, calms the spirit, and settles palpitations. Should be ground fine and wet-triturated, or taken with wine. However, its nature is drying and fierce. While its bone-knitting merit is undeniable, it lacks nourishing benefits. Thus, do not use excessively or exclusively.
Lead Oxide (Er Si Si): Flavor is acrid, slightly salty and astringent. Nature is heavy and astringent, strongly drying dampness. Thus, it calms the Heart, settles the spirit, drops phlegm, and descends fire. Treats cholera/vomiting, cough/hematemesis, calms convulsions/epilepsy/mania/spirit attacks, clears heat, descends qi, stops malaria/dysentery, restricts urination, resolves heat toxins, kills parasite toxins, treats metallic/fire wounds and wet rot, stops bleeding from sores, relieves pain, generates flesh, contracts sweat glands, resolves fox odor, and removes corneal opacities to brighten eyes.
Alum (Er Si Wu): Flavor is sour and astringent, nature is cool, with slight toxicity. Four uses: Sour/bitter flavor induces vomiting/draining, treating epilepsy/jaundice. Astringent nature secures leakage, treating uterine bleeding/leukorrhea, intestinal wind bleeding, rectal prolapse/genital prolapse, stopping bleeding from metallic wounds. Calcined, it stops tooth bleeding, repels armpit odor, contracts genital/foot sweat. Drying nature treats dampness, stopping diarrhea/dysentery, reducing edema, washing rotting eyelids. Toxic nature detoxifies and stops pain, treating carbuncles/furuncles/nasal polyps/sore throat/scrofula/malignant sores/scabies, removing necrotic tissue, generating new flesh, and treating tiger/dog/snake/insect/gu poison. Whether pill/powder, raw/calcined, all have miraculous effects.
Mineral Gypsum/Litharge (Er Si Liu): Flavor is sweet and astringent, nature is warm and neutral. There are five colors, but only red and white are used medicinally now. They belong to Hand-Foot Yangming, Foot-Jueyin, and Foot-Shaoyin meridians. Sweet/warm nature benefits Qi and harmonizes middle; astringent/heavy nature dries dampness and secures lower. Harmonizing middle treats empty vexation/palpitations, stops hematemesis/epistaxis, strengthens sinews/bones, thickens intestines/stomach, removes dampness/jaundice, treats carbuncles/toxins, discharges pus, generates flesh, stops bleeding. Securing lower treats nocturnal emission/spermatorrhea, intestinal wind/diarrhea, bloody leukorrhea, secures large intestine, treats rectal prolapse/hemorrhoids/fistulas/genital sores. Also treats difficult labor with retained placenta. Dongyuan said: Retained placenta requires astringents to expel, which is exactly this. Although *Ben Jing* says each color tonifies corresponding Zang, white enters Qi level, red enters Blood level. The fifth type is similar in nature/flavor, so strict distinction isn't necessary. Its sticky nature makes it good for sealing furnaces.
Calamine (Er Si Qi): Flavor is sweet and astringent, nature is warm. Stops bleeding, reduces swelling/toxins, generates flesh, closes sores, removes eye opacities/redness/swelling, dries wet rot. Mixed with borneol for eye drops, treats all eye diseases. Use sheet-like calamine, bright white, calcined until loose/oily/astringent (superior grade). Calcine in charcoal fire until red, quench seven times in child's urine, grind, wet-triturate, sun-dry. If hard after calcination, not loose/oily, it is unsuitable.
Borax (Er Si Ba): Flavor is salty and slightly sweet, Yin, descending. Resolves phlegm, stops cough, relieves sore throat, generates fluids, removes upper-jiao damp-heat/choking, masses/stasis, reduces eye swelling/opacities, treats oral/dental diseases, bone splinters, malignant sores. Can be powder/pill or held in mouth to swallow saliva.
White Lead Powder (Er Si Jiu): Also called Official Powder or Hu Fen. Flavor is acrid, nature is cold, toxic. Kills parasites, induces abortion, treats carbuncles/sores/wet rot, non-healing chancre ulcers, scabies/fox odor. Blackens hair/beards. Though it can drop phlegm and digest food, it is suitable only for external conditions; internal injuries should not use it.
Litharge (Er Bai Wu Shi): Flavor is salty and neutral, slight toxicity. Calms spirit, resolves phlegm, treats convulsions/cough, vomiting/regurgitation, malaria/dysentery, stops bleeding, kills parasites, reduces accumulations, treats sores/swellings, nasal polyps/facial spots, metallic wounds/hemorrhoids, repels fox odor, contracts genital sweat, treats athlete's foot.
Stibnite (Er Si Yi - Note: Text says "Shi Bao", likely referring to Antimony compounds or specific local name, context suggests cooling/clearing): Flavor is sweet/acrid, qi is greatly cold. Qi/flavor are thin, weight sinks, light qi rises, Yin contains Yang. Calcined for slow action, raw for fast action. Uses its cold dispersion/clearing to remove Fire from Lung/Stomach/Sanjiao, especially key for Yangming meridian. Acrid induces sweating/relaxes muscle, best for warm-summer heat/headache. Sweet moderates Spleen/clears Qi, generates fluids/stops thirst/resolves heat-vexation. Good for excess Fire/Heat. Suitable for Yangming excess heat toothache, Taiyin Fire excess phlegm-panting, Yang fever/stagnation/toxin, macules/icterus, flaming blood upward/vomiting, hot constipation. Contraindicated in weak Stomach/Yin-deficiency heat; misuse damages Yang/causes diarrhea, harming the patient.
Talc (Er Si Er): Flavor is slightly sweet, qi is cold, nature is heavy/slippery, descending with ascending quality. Enters Bladder/Large Intestine meridians. Clears Heat/Fire in Sanjiao exterior-interior, unblocks six Fu organs' obstruction, separates water pathways, drives coagulated blood, opens nine orifices, moves fluids, stops thirst/vexation, removes stagnation, solidifies Large Intestine, treats diarrhea/dysuria/white turbidity, jaundice/edema/athlete's foot, hematemesis/epistaxis/metallic wound bleeding, wet rotting sores/swelling. Good for lactation promotion, effective for abortion.
Blue Malachite (Er Si San): Flavor is slightly sweet/salty, nature descends, Yin, Liver/Spleen herb. Heavy and sinking, processed with saltpeter, making it more purgative. Dissolves retained food/masses/stubborn phlegm, treats convulsions/cough/asthma. *Bao Jian* calls it a holy medicine for phlegm/convulsions; if phlegm floats on water, adding powder makes it sink, showing its sinking nature. Yang Tuying says it benefits phlegm, but nature is not favored by Stomach. Wang Yinjun says phlegm is mother of hundred diseases, using Gun Tan Wan for all types regardless of deficiency/excess/cold-heat is unreasonable. Thus, it suits solid phlegm/stubborn accumulations. Chronic excessive phlegm is often due to Spleen deficiency. People know Gun Tan Wan treats phlegm but don't realize taking it for deficient phlegm leads to death.
Mirabilite (Er Si Si): Flavor is bitter/salty/acrid, qi is cold. Yin, descending, toxic. Nature is harsh/fast. Salty softens hardness, pushes old accumulations, dissolves mineral drug toxicity, removes Fu organ obstruction/distension, treats constipation, breaks blood stasis/hard masses/solid phlegm, repels damp-heat/epidemic dysentery, typhoid distension/closure/mania, reduces abscesses/discharge pus. Clears excess Heat in all meridians. Contraindicated in pregnancy (easy abortion); fatal if swallowed by deficiency patients.
Mirabilite Processed (Er Si Wu): Flavor is acrid/slightly sweet, nature is cold, sinking, Yin. Descends Heart Fire, removes Stomach Heat, resolves phlegm, calms typhoid excess heat/manic restlessness, removes chest/diaphragm visceral stagnation/masses, opens fecal constipation, Yin-fire pain, reduces carbuncles/swellings.
Sea Coral (Er Si Liu): Flavor is salty, nature is slightly cold, Yang containing Yin. Descends Fire, directs Qi downward, digests food, resolves heat-phlegm, transforms old phlegm, removes goiter/nodules, resolves heat-thirst/dysuria, stops phlegm-cough/asthma, reduces masses, softens hardness, promotes water-dampness/hernia, reduces sores.
Flower Ochre Stone (Er Si Qi): Color like sulfur, yellow stone with pale white dots. Li Shizhen said: Old texts lacked flavor/aroma; current trial shows neutral qi, sour/astringent taste, likely Jueyin Blood-level herb. Function specifically stops bleeding, transforming blood into water via astringency. For metallic wounds bleeding, no processing needed; scrape powder and apply to close wounds without suppuration. Treats all trauma blood loss. Treats women's bad blood/syncope, expels dead fetus/placenta, removes bad blood. For pills/powders, seal in pot, calcine, grind fine, wet-triturate.
Hematite (Er Si Ba): Flavor is slightly sweet, nature is cool/descending, Blood-level herb. Directs Qi down, drops phlegm, clears Fire, removes chest/abdominal evil toxins, kills spirit essences, stops regurgitation/hematemesis/epistaxis, blood bi/dysentery, blood-level evil heat, adult/infantile convulsions, mania entering viscera, intestinal wind/hemorrhoids, spermatorrhea/enuresis, women's red/white leukorrhea, difficult labor/placenta retention, menorrhagia. All can be powdered and taken. Also treats metallic wounds, generates flesh.
Arsenic Compound (Er Si Jiu): Flavor is salty/bitter/large acrid, nature is greatly hot, toxic. Eliminates bad/necrotic flesh, generates flesh, applies to metallic wounds, removes eye opacities/pterygium, removes moles/warts, kills parasites. Water-mixed topical or powder application cures instantly. *Ben Cao* says it resolves stasis/retained food, breaks Qi stagnation, stops regurgitation/meat bloating, warms uterus, greatly benefits Yang. But it is greatly hot/toxic, melts metals/minerals; human viscera cannot withstand it. External use is okay; internal ingestion is unsuitable. If poisoned, drink 1-2 sheng of raw mung bean juice to detoxify.
Green Salt (Er Bai Liu Shi): Flavor is salty/slightly sweet, nature is cool. Descends Fire, resolves phlegm, brightens eyes, relieves eye pain, benefits Kidney Qi, removes Zang masses, heart/abdominal accumulations, hematemesis/hematuria, tooth pain/bleeding, kills parasites, removes scabies/parasites, and podagra/indigo toxins. Unrefined by fire, slightly sweet taste. Similar nature to common salt but superior in nourishing merit.
Calcined Lye Stone (Er Bai Liu Yi): Flavor is acrid, warm, toxic. Stops watery diarrhea/bloody dysentery, secures white leukorrhea/prostate fluid. Add double amount of Poria, make pills. Also disperses blood, stops pain, applies to carbuncles, reduces nodules/goiters, malignant sores/necrotic tissue, vitiligo/polyps, secures rectal/genital prolapse, kills hemorrhoid parasites, stops metallic wound bleeding, generates flesh. Powder applied or vinegar paste is excellent. Resolves wine acid/toxicity.