酸咸大热，有毒。以莱菔挖空，入硫黄蒸熟用，或入豆腐中煮七次用，或醋
用，或猪脏中制用，各随本方。硫是矾之液，矾是铁之精，磁石是铁之母，故针砂磁石，制
入硫黄，立成紫粉，硫能干汞，见五金而黑，得水银则赤也。
《本经》主妇人阴蚀疽痔恶血，坚筋骨，除头秃。
发明 硫黄禀纯阳之精，赋大热之性，助命门相火不足。寒郁火邪，胃脘结痛，脚冷疼
弱者宜之。其性虽热，而能疏利大肠，与燥涩之性不同。但久服伤阴，大肠受伤，多致便血
。伤寒阴毒爪甲纯青，火焰散屡奏神功。阴水腹胀，水道不通，金液丹服之即效。《本经》
治阴蚀疽痔乃热因热用，以散阴中蕴积之垢热，但热邪亢盛者禁用。又言坚筋骨者，取以治
下部之寒湿。若湿热痿痹，良非所宜。人身阴常不足，阳常有余，苟非真病虚寒，胡可服此
毒热类。按；有久服硫黄，人渐缩小之例，石顽亲见李尧占服此数年，临毙缩小如七八岁童
子状。正《内经》所谓热则骨消筋缓是也。
酸涩微寒，无毒。明如硼砂起横棂者，名马齿矾，最胜。生用、 用各随本方。
生者多食，破人心肺。
《本经》主寒热泄利，白沃阴蚀，恶疮，目痛，坚骨齿。
发明 白矾专收湿热，固虚脱，故《本经》主寒热泄利。盖指利久不止，虚脱滑泄，因
发寒热而言。其治白沃阴蚀恶疮，专取涤垢之用。用以洗之则治目痛，漱之则坚骨齿。弘景
曰∶《经》云坚骨齿，诚为可疑，以其性专入骨，多用则损齿，少用则坚齿，齿乃骨之余也
。为末，去鼻中息肉。其治气分之痰湿痈肿最捷。侯氏黑散用之，使药积腹中，以助悠久
之
功。故蜡矾丸以之为君，有人遍身生疮如蛇头，服此而愈。甄权生含咽津，治急喉痹，皆取
以去秽之功也，若湿热方炽，积滞正多，误用收涩，为害不一。岐伯言久服伤人骨。凡阴虚
咽痛，误认喉风，阴冷腹痛，误认臭毒，而用矾石必殆。
[Shi Liuhuang (Stalagmite Sulfur)]
Taste: Sour, Saline. Nature: Very Hot. Toxicity: Toxic.
To prepare, hollow out a radish (Raphani Semen / Luobu), insert sulfur, steam until cooked, and use; or boil in tofu seven times before use; or process with vinegar; or process within pig intestines. The specific method depends on the original prescription. Sulfur is the liquid essence of Alum (Bofan); Alum is the refined essence of Iron; Magnetite (Cishi) is the mother of Iron. Therefore, when Needle Sand (Zhensha) and Magnetite are processed together with Sulfur, they immediately turn into purple powder. Sulfur can dry Mercury (Shuiyin), turns black upon contact with the "Five Metals" (a general term for various metals), and turns red when meeting Mercury.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* records: It treats women's genital erosion, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and foul blood; it strengthens bones and tendons, and treats alopecia capitis.
[Invention/Commentary]
Sulfur inherits the pure yang essence and possesses a very hot nature, assisting the deficiency of the Ministerial Fire (Xianghuo) of the Gate of Life (Mingmen). It is suitable for conditions where cold stagnation traps fire pathogens, causing knotting pain in the epigastrium, and cold, painful weakness in the feet. Although its nature is hot, it can unblock and purge the Large Intestine, differing from the drying and astringent nature of other drugs. However, long-term consumption damages Yin fluids and injures the Large Intestine, often leading to hematochezia (blood in stool). For Yin Toxin in Cold Damage (Shanghan) presenting with cyanosis of the fingernails and toenails, Huoyan San (Flame Powder) has repeatedly achieved miraculous results. For abdominal distension due to Yin Water and obstruction of the urinary pathway, taking Jinye Dan (Golden Liquid Pill) yields immediate efficacy. The treatment of genital erosion, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids in *Bencao Jing* employs the principle of "treating heat with heat," aiming to dissipate accumulated filth-heat in the yin regions; however, it is contraindicated in cases of hyperactive heat pathogens. The statement regarding strengthening bones and tendons refers to using it to treat cold-dampness in the lower body. It is highly unsuitable for flaccidity and bi-syndrome caused by damp-heat. In the human body, Yin is often insufficient while Yang is often excessive; unless there is a true deficiency-cold disease, how can one take such toxic and hot substances? According to records, there are cases of gradual body shrinkage from long-term sulfur consumption. Li Zhongzi personally witnessed Li Yaozhan consuming this for several years, shrinking to the size of a seven- or eight-year-old child before death. This aligns with the *Neijing* saying: "Heat causes bone depletion and tendon relaxation."
[Fanshi (Alum)]
Taste: Sour, Astringent. Nature: Slightly Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Alum that resembles Borax (Pengsha) with transverse grain patterns is called Machi Fan (Purslane Alum) and is of the highest quality. Use raw or calcined as per the prescription.
Excessive consumption of raw alum damages the Heart and Lungs.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* records: It treats chills and fever with diarrhea/dysentery, leukorrhea resembling watery discharge, genital erosion, malignant sores, eye pain, and strengthens bones and teeth.
[Invention/Commentary]
White Alum (Baifan) specifically astringes damp-heat and secures against collapse; thus, *Bencao Jing* states it treats chills, fever, and diarrhea. This refers to prolonged diarrhea not stopping, leading to collapse and slippery incontinence, accompanied by chills and fever. Its treatment of leukorrhea, genital erosion, and malignant sores relies primarily on its ability to cleanse filth. Washing with it treats eye pain; gargling with it strengthens bones and teeth. Tao Hongjing stated: The claim in the Classic that it strengthens bones and teeth is indeed suspicious. Its nature enters the bones specifically; excessive use damages teeth, while moderate use strengthens them. Teeth are the surplus of bones. Ground into powder, it removes nasal polyps. It is most effective in treating phlegm-dampness and carbuncles in the Qi level. It is used in Hou's Black Powder (Hou Shi Hei San) to allow medicinal accumulation in the abdomen, thereby aiding prolonged therapeutic effects. Thus, it serves as the Sovereign herb in Larva-Wax Alum Pill (Lafan Wan); a patient with snake-head-like sores all over the body was cured by taking it. Zhen Quan recommended holding it in the mouth and swallowing the saliva to treat acute throat obstruction (Ji Hou Bi), utilizing its power to remove filth. If damp-heat is blazing and stagnation is abundant, mistaken use of astringents will cause various harms. Qibo stated that long-term use damages human bones. In cases of Yin deficiency with sore throat, if mistakenly diagnosed as Wind-Throat (Hou Feng); or in cases of cold abdominal pain, if mistakenly diagnosed as Foul Toxin (Ou Du), the use of Alum stone will surely lead to danger.