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(Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats accumulated heat in the five zang organs, stomach distension and obstruction, purges and removes accumulated and stagnant food, pushes out the old to bring forth the new, and eliminates pathogenic factors. When refined into a paste, long-term consumption lightens the body.

(Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats various diseases, eliminates cold-heat pathogenic factors, drives out accumulations in the six fu organs, solidified knots, and lingering masses; can dissolve seventy-two types of minerals. Refined and taken as an elixir, it lightens the body and leads to immortality.
[Examination] Says: Li Shizhen states: Xingshi (Potassium Nitrate), used by alchemists to refine the five metals and eight minerals, by silversmiths to melt gold and silver, and by military personnel for beacon fires and gunpowder; it ignites upon contact with fire. Hugangzi refines powder rounds, called Beidi Xuanzhu (Dark Pearl of the Northern Emperor). It is produced in saline lands everywhere, especially in Qingyang, Hebei, and Shu. In autumn and winter, white crystals grow on saline lands; these are swept up and refined by boiling. They are mostly impure; when boiled in water, those that crystallize at the bottom resemble Puxiao (Mirabilite), also called Shengxiao (Raw Salt), referring to the salt produced after refining. The upper part may have sharp edges, hence Xingshi is also known as Mangxiao (Mira-bilite with prongs) or Yaxiao (Tooth-shaped Salt). Although named similarly to Puxiao, their water and fire natures differ. Cui Jiayan in Waidan says: Xingshi is a yin mineral. This is not a natural stone type but is formed by sweeping white residues from saline lands and refining them; what is now called Yanxiao (Flame Salt) is this substance.
Li Shizhen says: Puxiao has three grades: those produced in Western Shu are commonly called Chuanxiao (Sichuan Salt), of the best quality; those from Hedong are called Yanxiao (Salt Salt), second best; those from He, Qing, and Qi regions are called Tuxiao (Earth Salt), third best. All grow in saline lands, scraped and boiled into juice, crystallizing overnight like salt powder, still mixed with sand and soil, yellowish-red in color. Bie Lu says: Yellow Puxiao harms people, red Puxiao kills people. It must be boiled again in water, clarified to remove dregs, several radishes added, boiled together, radishes removed, poured into basins, and crystallizes overnight into white salt like ice or wax, commonly called Penxiao (Basin Salt). Salt from Qi and Wei regions, when refined, has much residue at the bottom and fine prongs growing on top like peaks; this is the Mangxiao mentioned in Bie Lu. Salt from Chuan and Jin regions, when refined, has little residue at the bottom, but tooth-like crystals grow on top like gui corners, forming six-prism shapes, transparent and lovely; this is the Maxiya Xiao (Horse Tooth Salt) mentioned by Su Gong. Resembling white quartz, it is also called Yingxiao. The bottom parts of these two salts are collectively called Puxiao. Taking Mangxiao and Yingxiao, each boiled multiple times with radishes to remove salinity, they are named Tianxiao (Sweet Salt). Placing these two salts in wind and sun to blow away moisture makes them light and white like powder, named Fenghua Xiao (Weathered Salt). Taking Puxiao, Mangxiao, and Yingxiao, boiling them with Gancao (Licorice Root), and further sublimating in tripods and jars, they are named Xuanming Fen (Mirabilite Powder). All salts are essentially one substance, differing only in purity and coarseness, commonly called Pixiao (Skin Salt).
Li Shizhen says: Since the Jin and Tang dynasties, experts have had no fixed views on various salts, unaware that there are two types of salt: water and fire. Although their form and texture are similar, their nature and qi are vastly different. Now, taking Puxiao and Xingshi from Shennong Bencao Jing as orthodox, and merging Mangxiao from Bie Lu, Maxiya Xiao from Su Gong, and Shengxiao from Kaibao era as derivatives. Puxiao and water also have two types: the fine prongs crystallized through boiling are also called Mangxiao. Yaxiao is also called Shengxiao. Those crystallizing at the bottom of the basin are Xingshi. However, when initially born in saline lands, Xingshi is white and easy to refine, while Puxiao is yellowish-red and requires repeated refining to form, which is the difference. Lei Gong says: Whenever using Xingshi, first grind it into powder, mix with twenty-five pieces of Jichangcai (Purslane) and Baiziren (Biota Seed), form into small bead-sized pills, place in a large porcelain bottle, heat until red over five jin of fire, throw in four liang of Xingshi into the bottle, then throw in the beads, naturally suppressing the fire nature. Whenever using Puxiao, fearing impurities, boil with radishes once or twice before use.
(Various schools established separate names, causing confusion between Puxiao and Xingshi. Only Qiyang labeled Puxiao as Shuixiao (Water Salt) and Xingshi as Huoxiao (Fire Salt), using the two salts as the main theme and others as details, making it clear for students at a glance, truly boundless merit. To unify various salts into water and fire types shows profound insight, yet the key lies in "form and texture same, nature and qi different." This is the meaning of harmony without hindering differentiation. Like butter, cheese, and ghee from milk, it is one and three, undifferentiated yet differentiated.)
My ancestor said: Huoxiao belongs to the element of Fire. For those lacking warmth in the body, it is excellent. It primarily treats accumulated heat in the zang organs. Since zang organs belong to yin in the body, heat is yin fire. Accumulation presents a hard aspect. As stated, "when treated with cold herbs, heat does not dissipate," one must use this to eliminate it. Because yin fire flares up when encountering water, it is extinguished only by driving it with fire. Also, Puxiao's treatment of hundred diseases has its method: cold-heat pathogens are the principle, the ability to treat is the function, six fu organs are the object, "accumulation" describes the object's state, "can transform down" is evidence. Only this character "eliminate" is used to dissolve accumulations, knots, solids, and masses, thereby curing the disease.
[Commentary] Says: Puxiao and Xingshi both arise salty from saline lands. They borrow the two great elements of water and fire for their form and substance, but due to superiority and inferiority, their water and fire applications differ greatly. Sutra says: Fire rises, water descends, interacting to establish hardness; wetness becomes the great sea, dryness becomes continents. Based on this reason. In that great sea, fire light often rises, and the water function stands out alone. That Huoxiao has weak water and strong fire, so the water body seems hidden, and the fire function stands out alone. Observing its indications, half the understanding is gained. It is like reversing the root of cold water to obtain the branch of hot fire. Accumulations in six fu organs, knots, solids, and masses become pathogens of hundred diseases. This is the division of the four great elements, reversing the疏相 (distant relationship) of water in the instrument world, changing warmth and heat, interacting to establish hardness, causing the four great elements' deficient moistening water and shaking wind to bias towards warm-hot fire and solid earth. First, one must use the water function of Shuixiao. To counteract its hot fire, follow-treat its root cold, turning to the fire body within the viscera to follow-treat its hot fire. To counteract its root cold, it is like hot fire being the root and viscera yin being the branch; branch qi seems hidden, root qi naturally prevails, accumulating in stomach and viscera, storing knots and obstructing distension pathogens. This division of intimate relationships is also the fire of distant relationships, interacting to establish hardness, causing the four great elements to become deficient. First, one must use the fire function of Huoxiao. To counteract its branch yin, follow-treat its root heat. This is truly returning to the origin, where knots and solids are all eliminated. As stated, "without following, one cannot oppose; without opposing, one cannot follow." Look at Shuixiao's power: it brings forth the new and pushes out the old. Huoxiao's power: pushes out the old and brings forth the new. Repeating this statement, the meaning reveals itself.
(The division of the two salts into water and fire is like Taiji dividing into Yin and Yang. And yin contains yang, yang contains yin; this is the wonder of Kan and Li mutually rooting. Carefully contemplating Xingshi, born from saline lands, similar to beach salt. From nothing to something, transforming soft to hard, thus named stone, just as Qiushi (Autumn Stone) is also named stone. Although divided into water and fire types, tracing back to the source, it is only one water. Its flame generates heat and rises; it is also the fire within water. Shuijing Zhu records a certain place's water, fertile...)