Library

[Song Jia]
【Flavor and Nature】 Salty, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】 Mainly treats poison from venomous arrows (poisoned by venomous arrows) and female labor relapse (disease recurrence due to premature sexual activity).
【Analysis】 It is said: Menstrual blood (menstruation), referred to as "Jingyue" in the *Suwen* (*Basic Questions*), is also called "Tiangui" (substances promoting reproductive maturity). Alchemists call it "Yuexin" or "Hongqian" (Red Lead). If the collection method is lawful, it can be refined into superior elixirs for ingestion; otherwise, it brings no benefit but causes harm. At age fourteen (two sevens), a girl's menstruation begins to occur regularly, enabling her to bear children. If the menstrual period lasts three days with fixed timing, it is called "Jing" (regular menstruation) or "Chang" (trial); if it occurs early, late, freely, or obstructedly, it is pathological, representing variation. Menstruation occurring once every three months is called "Jujing" (residing menstruation); once a year is called "Binian" (avoiding the year); never menstruating yet conceiving is called "Anjing" (hidden menstruation); menstruating regularly during pregnancy is called "Shengtai" (abundant fetus); sudden heavy bleeding several months into pregnancy is called "Loutai" (leaking fetus); menstruating multiple times a month, without rest, or experiencing severe flooding and bursting is called "Bingjing" (pathological menstruation); conceiving at twelve and lactating at sixty is called "Baisheng" (transformed birth). These are not considered normal or excellent varieties. To collect superior medicinal material, one must select the first menstrual flow of a virgin. One method involves collecting silk or paper used during menstruation, rinsing it with urine from an uncircumcised boy until the blood stains fall off, then treating it with juice boiled from dark plums (*Wumei*). The lead will settle at the bottom. Filter out the yellow water and dry with light ash; this belongs to the inferior grade. Another method uses black lead shaped like a crescent moon, tied to the body when menstruation arrives. When full, pour it into a dish, sprinkle superior "Qiushi" (autumn stone, a processed mineral salt) lightly over the menstrual water. A thin film will form and float on top. Gently remove it, continuing to sift and collect until finished; this belongs to the intermediate grade. The highest grade waits until the girl is fourteen, when Tiangui is about to arrive. A red aura appears first at the glabella, dazzling in brightness. This is what alchemists call "responding to the stars above, responding to the tide below." This method also uses a crescent container. First, take milk from a first-born male infant, dry it into powder, and lightly smear it inside the container. Then sieve superior Qiushi onto the milk powder. When menstruation arrives, tie the container to the body. As menstrual blood flows, it forms medicine inside the container. Pour out the yellow water, sifting and tying continuously until complete. For the first menstruation, the formed particles resemble mustard seeds, either one, two, or three; for subsequent flows, only scattered sand-like powder remains, without particles. After obtaining the particles, refine them into "Wuqi Shangdan" (Five-Qi Superior Elixir), forming a golden pill with a diameter of nine fen. Split the pill in half, creating a socket in the middle. Fill both halves with Wuqi Shangdan. Ensure the socket surface is level. Place a perfectly round green bean inside the golden pill. Join the top and bottom halves, creating a central cavity. Hide the particle within the elixir's cavity, sealing it firmly with beeswax. Between the halfway point of Zi hour (11 PM-1 AM) and Wu hour (11 AM-1 PM), protectively tie it to the navel of a virgin girl. Between the halfway point of Wu hour and Zi hour, protectively tie it to the navel of a virgin boy. After forty-nine days, the particle fills the cavity. Use according to method for ingestion. If not done so, continue protective tying as before. This was received from an unusual transmission and is not kept private but made public for all.
My ancestor said: Li Shizhen (Binhu) did not see the miraculous effects and merely slandered it blindly. If one can obtain the first menstrual flow of a virgin, it contains supreme medicine. If unavailable, even that of a damaged virgin who has not been sexually active is suitable for ingestion. Since Tiangui is the foundation of bodily generation, the union of two essences creates a person, which is indeed wondrous. One method uses three taels of Hongqian, processed until the color resembles peach blossoms, yielding only one hundred li (weight unit). Use one li each time, wrap it securely in heavy silk, and insert it into the left nostril during Zi and Yin hours. Breathe hundreds of breaths, allowing the essence to enter the brain with the breath. Consuming this entire hundred li constitutes the ultimate reality of reversing aging and achieving immortality. To identify its spiritual properties, carve a small hole in a dead person's tibia bone, place a few li of the elixir inside, bury it in soil overnight. The next morning, upon inspection, the dry bone appears alive. Alternatively, place a small amount in a porcelain dish, cover the elixir with a porcelain cup, seal the edges with wheat flour paste mixed with water, and bake slowly over low heat. When the flour turns charred black, let it cool. Upon opening, the elixir has fully permeated the cup. Crush the underlying stone, which now resembles the elixir's color. Grind the cup and stone finely, warm-nourish in a pot, retrieve the elixir, which remains unchanged in weight. This is also a miraculous technique.
[Lu Zhiyi] says: Those practicing ingestion select virgins with dignified and clean appearances, born in mid-autumn, who inherit the qi of Taiyin Metal and Water. They serve as excellent cauldrons. Wait until their transformation is sufficient, the Yellow Path returns, they respond to stars and tides, Tiangui arrives, the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) opens, the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) becomes abundant, and menstruation occurs regularly. The alchemical verse states: "In thirty shichen, there are two and a half days; calculate twenty-eight or twenty-nine. When red falls covering the ground, it is the auspicious date; when Metal and Water pass, emptiness leads to chaos." Therefore, one must wait for the convergence of three affinities to collect appropriately. At the midpoint of the month, particles like mustard seeds form naturally, without human intervention. Further refine Longhu Liangxian (Dragon and Tiger Two Strings), retreat Yin Fu, advance Yang Fire. Wait for the light to generate after seven sevens, then ingest to extend life. Even if the girl has not been sexually active, or was born in other months of the four seasons, collecting according to method can also dispel disease, far exceeding minor benefits. What is currently popularized has lost the Primordial Qi, taking only dregs and residues. Not only does it fail to nourish form and spirit, but it also causes inflammation in the Jiaofu (Sanjiao/Fire Ministry). Having lost the source of transmission and chosen the wrong cauldron, it is no wonder that those who see and hear discard it without looking back.