辛平，有毒。
《本经》主恶疮头秃痂疥，杀毒虫虱身痒，邪气诸毒。
发明 雌黄出山之阴，故单治疮杀虫，而不能治惊痫痰疾。《本经》治恶疮头秃痂疥，
与雄黄之治寒热鼠 ，迥乎阴阳之分矣。其杀毒虫虱身痒，较雄黄之杀精物恶鬼邪气，解毒
辟恶之性则一，而功用悬殊。治狂痴胜金丹用之，不过借为搜阴邪之响导耳。《别录》治鼻
中息肉。不宜久服，令人脑漏。
辛甘大寒，无毒。清胃热 用。治中 热生用。一种微硬有肌理名理石，主治与
粗理黄石相类。
《本经》主中风寒热，心下逆气惊喘，口干舌焦不能息，腹中坚痛，除邪鬼产乳金疮。
发明 古人以石膏、葛根并为解利阳明经药。盖石膏性寒，葛根性温，功用讵可不
辩。
葛根乃阳明经解肌散寒之药。石膏为阳明经辛凉解热之药，专治热病， 病，大渴引饮，自
汗头痛，尿涩便闭，齿浮面肿之热证，仲景白虎汤是也。东垣云，立夏前服白虎，令人小便
不禁，降令大过也。今人以此汤治冬月伤寒之阳明证，服之未有得安者，不特石膏之性寒，
且有知母引邪入犯少阴，非越婢，大青龙，小续命中石膏佐麻黄化热之比。先哲有云；凡病
虽有壮热而无烦渴者，知不在阳明，切勿误与白虎。《本经》治中风寒热，是热极生风之象
。邪火上冲，则心下有逆气及惊喘。阳明之邪热甚，则口干舌焦不能息。邪热结于腹中，则
坚痛。邪热不散，则神昏谵语，等乎邪鬼。解肌散热，外泄则诸症自退矣。即产乳金疮亦是
郁热蕴毒，赤肿神昏，故可用辛凉以解泄之，非产乳金疮可泛用也。其《金匮》越婢汤治风
水，恶寒无大热，身肿自汗不渴，以麻黄发越水气，使之从表而散；石膏化导胃热，使之从
外而解。如大青龙、小续命等剂，又不当以此执泥也。至于三黄石膏汤，又伊芳尹三黄、河间
解毒，加入石膏、麻黄、香豉、姜、葱，全以麻黄开发伏气，石膏化导郁热，使之从外而解
。盖三黄石膏之有麻黄，越婢、青龙、续命之有石膏，白虎之加桂枝，加苍术，加人参，加
竹叶、麦门冬，皆因势利导之捷法。《千金》五石丸等方，用以解钟乳、紫白石英、石脂之
热性耳。《别录》治时气头痛身热，三焦大热，皮肤热，肠胃中热气，解肌发汗，止消渴烦
逆。腹胀，暴气喘息咽热者，以诸病皆由足阳明胃经邪热炽盛所致，惟喘息略兼手太阴病，
此药能散阳明之邪热，阳明热邪下降，则太阴肺气自宁，故悉主之。粗理黄石破积聚，去三
虫。《千金》炼石散醋 水飞，同白敛、鹿角治石痈，以火针针破敷之。
[Cinnichromite / Orpiment (Yinghuang)]
Pungent, neutral in nature, toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats malignant sores, alopecia with crusting and scabies, relieves body itching caused by poisonous insects and lice, and eliminates evil qi and various toxins.
Invention: Yinghuang originates from the shady side of mountains; therefore, it can only treat sores and kill parasites individually, but cannot treat epilepsy or phlegm-related disorders. The treatment of malignant sores, alopecia, crusts, and scabies recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* is distinctly different from Xionghuang (Realgar) treating cold-heat alternating symptoms and scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis), reflecting a division between Yin and Yang. Its ability to relieve body itching caused by poisonous insects and lice shares the same nature as Xionghuang’s ability to kill spirits, evil ghosts, and evil qi, possessing detoxifying and辟恶 (warding off evil) properties, yet their efficacies differ significantly. When used in the formula Kuangchi Shengjin Dan (Madness-Curing Golden Pill), it is merely borrowed as a guide to search out and eliminate Yin-type pathogens. The *Bielu* (Additional Records) records its use for nasal polyps. It should not be taken for a long time, as it causes "nao lou" (brain leakage, resembling chronic sinusitis or cerebrospinal fluid leak).
[Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao)]
Pungent and sweet, extremely cold in nature, non-toxic. Used to clear Stomach heat. For treating middle-jiao heat, it must be used raw. A variety that is slightly hard with visible texture is called Lishi (Calcitum), and its main therapeutic actions are similar to those of coarse-textured Huangshi (Yellow Gypsum).
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats wind-stroke accompanied by cold and heat, rebellious Qi under the heart, palpitations, and panting, dry mouth and scorched tongue making breathing difficult, hardness and pain in the abdomen, and removes "evil ghosts" (referring to psychiatric symptoms), postpartum conditions, and traumatic injuries.
Invention: Ancient practitioners listed Shigao and Gegen (Kudzu Root) together as herbs that resolve the Yangming meridian. However, since Shigao is cold in nature and Gegen is warm, their functions certainly require distinction.
Gegen is an herb that releases the muscle layer and disperses cold in the Yangming meridian. Shigao is a pungent-cool herb that clears heat in the Yangming meridian, specifically treating febrile diseases, [text missing, likely specific febrile disease], excessive thirst with desire to drink, spontaneous sweating, headache, dysuria, constipation, floating teeth, and facial swelling—symptoms of heat syndromes. Zhang Zhongjing's Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) is representative of this category. Li Dongyuan stated that taking Baihu Tang before the Start of Summer causes incontinence because the descending action is too strong. Nowadays, people use this decoction to treat Yangming syndrome of winter cold damage, but no one feels relieved after taking it. This is not only because Shigao is cold, but also because Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) guides the pathogen to invade the Shaoyin meridian. This differs from cases where Shigao assists Mahuang (Ephedra) to transform heat in Yuebi Tang, Daqinglong Tang, or XiaoXuming Tang. Ancient sages said: If a disease presents with high fever but without irritability and thirst, the pathology is not in the Yangming; do not mistakenly administer Baihu Tang. The record in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding wind-stroke with cold and heat refers to the phenomenon of wind generated by extreme heat. When evil fire rushes upward, there is rebellious Qi under the heart and palpitations/panting. When Yangming evil heat is severe, the mouth becomes dry and the tongue scorched, making breathing difficult. When evil heat knots in the abdomen, there is hardness and pain. When evil heat does not dissipate, there is coma and delirium, akin to possession by evil ghosts. By releasing the muscle layer and dissipating heat, allowing the pathogen to exit via the exterior, all symptoms will naturally recede. Even postpartum conditions and traumatic injuries involve郁热 (stagnant heat) accumulating into toxicity, causing redness, swelling, and coma; thus, pungent-cool herbs can be used to resolve and drain them. However, they are not universally applicable to all postpartum conditions and wounds. Yuebi Tang in the *Jingui Yaolue* treats Fengshui (wind-water edema) with symptoms of aversion to cold, no significant fever, body swelling, spontaneous sweating, and no thirst. It uses Mahuang to vent water Qi, allowing it to scatter from the exterior; Shigao transforms and guides Stomach heat, allowing it to resolve from the outside. As for formulas like Daqinglong Tang and XiaoXuming Tang, one should not rigidly apply these principles. Regarding Sanhuang Shigao Tang, it adds Shigao, Mahuang, Fangfeng (or Xiangchi/Soybean paste depending on interpretation, here Xiangchi), Ginger, and Scallion to the base of Sanhuang and Hejian's detoxification methods. It relies entirely on Mahuang to develop latent Qi and Shigao to transform stagnant heat, allowing resolution from the exterior. Thus, the presence of Mahuang in Sanhuang Shigao Tang, Shigao in Yuebi Tang, Daqinglong Tang, and Xuming Tang, and the addition of Guizhi, Cangzhu, Renshen, Zhuye, and Maidong to Baihu Tang are all expedient methods of guiding according to the trend. Formulas like Wushi Wan in the *Qianjin Fang* are used to neutralize the hot nature of Ruzhong (Stalactite), Zishiyingshi (Purple Quartz), Baishiyingshi (White Quartz), and Shizhi (Red Clay). The *Bielu* records its treatment of epidemic headaches and fever, excessive heat in the Triple Burner, skin heat, and gastrointestinal heat. It releases the muscle layer, induces sweating, stops thirst, irritability, nausea, abdominal distension, sudden Qi rebellion, panting, and throat heat. Since these diseases are caused by blazing evil heat in the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian, and panting slightly involves the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian, this herb can disperse Yangming evil heat. When Yangming heat descends, Taiyin Lung Qi naturally calms, hence it treats all these conditions. Coarse-textured Huangshi breaks accumulations and removes three types of parasites. In the *Qianjin Fang*, Lianshi San (Smelted Stone Powder) is wet-ground with vinegar and water, combined with Baitianmu (Mucuna Seed) and Deer Horn to treat Shi Yong (Stone Abscess); it is applied after puncturing with a fire needle.