Library

Acrid, warm, toxic.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) indicates it treats carbuncles and sores (ju yang), scabies and itching (sao sao), hot-heat malignant sores (re qi e chuang), leprosy causing necrotic muscle (lai ji si ji), loss of eyebrows, killing hemorrhoid worms, removing black moles and polyps.

[Invention] Duan Shi (Calcined Stone) inherits the residual intensity of fierce fire, thus it can repel yin pathogenic factors and damp-toxins. Observing the indications in *Shennong Bencao Jing* such as carbuncles, scabies, itching, hot-heat malignant sores, and leprosy with necrotic muscle, these are all applications for external treatment. The reason for removing black moles is that the fire energy has not dissipated; its nature can cauterize objects, thus it can remove black moles, polyps, and induce eyebrow loss. Although *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not mention toxicity, there are no internal prescriptions using this herb, indicating its toxicity is considerable. Kou Shi treated facial paralysis (stroke-induced deviation of mouth and eye) by stir-frying Duan Shi with vinegar and applying the paste: applied to the unaffected side if the face deviated to the left, and vice versa, resulting in immediate correction. *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) treats warts on the body and face by soaking Duan Shi in bitter wine (vinegar) for six or seven days, taking the juice, and dripping it frequently onto the lesions until they fall off naturally. It also treats drowning victims by wrapping the lower body with finely powdered calcined ash to absorb moisture, reviving the patient. It treats non-healing ulcers by applying thick layers of Duan Shi from ancient tombs. *Jixuan Fang* treats facial freckles, warts, and nevi by boiling alkali water, dissolving mineral ash into glutinous rice mixed with the ash, leaving it overnight until the color becomes crystal-like, gently manipulating with a needle, applying a small amount, allowing fluid to exude after half a day, then removing the medication without letting it touch water, curing within two days. *Bianjian Fang* treats swollen and painful cheeks by mixing aged Duan Shi with vinegar for topical application. *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* (Emergency Prescriptions Kept Up One's Sleeve) treats burns and scalds by mixing old Duan Shi with oil for topical application. It also treats knife wounds and metal injuries by wrapping the wound with Duan Shi, immediately stopping pain and bleeding, but must not touch water, as contact causes flesh rot.

Also known as Hai Shi (Sea Floating Stone).
Salty, neutral, non-toxic. Use after being processed by water-grinding (shui fei).

[Invention] Hai Shi is formed from condensed sea foam, white in color and light in weight. Therefore, it treats phlegm-heat in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner), stops cough, removes corneal opacities when applied to the eyes, and treats acne and carbuncles with rapid efficacy. It also treats various types of Lin syndrome (dysuria) and dissipates accumulations, utilizing the principle that saltiness can soften hardness. It eliminates goiter, tubercles, and hernias, but is only suitable for excess syndromes. If mistakenly administered to deficiency syndromes, deterioration occurs rapidly because its nature specifically depletes the Qi of the Lung and Stomach. In the South Sea, there are stones that float on water and aromatics that sink, specifically utilizing the opposition of material properties to treat the obstruction and reversal of pathological Qi.