辛咸重寒无毒。清肺胃。并入大肠。温邪暑热有功。解渴烦。且凉血分。（寒水石
此石即古之方解石。敲之块块方解。其光洁如白石英。烧之不软。大抵性寒质重。色白之品
。与石膏主治相同。惟用者甚罕耳。古之寒水石。即凝水石。产于盐地。入水即化。其咸寒
入肾。走血除热之功。较方解石膏等石为胜耳。）
\r元精石\pq129.bmp\r
禀太阴癸水之精。咸寒沉降。治上盛下虚之疾。回护真元。（元精石出产盐之地。
系盐之津液。渗入土中。年久结成石片。如龟背之形。色绿而明。禀积阴之气。故能入肾镇
虚。填阴益下。来复丹用此。同硫黄硝石。治上盛下虚。有救阴助阳之功。使元阴不为硫黄
所耗。则元精石之功可想矣。）
\r胆矾\pq130a1.bmp\r
质本酸寒。涌吐风痰燥湿浊。功归肝胆。点擦牙眼杀虫疳。（胆矾生铜圹中。石类也
。磨于铁上即成铜色。得火 则色红而无汁出者真也。味酸苦寒有小毒。专入肝胆。涌吐膈
上之风痰。颇为猛疾。其余诸治。不过旁及而已。故医者意也。若能格物之性。以意参之。
自有药到病除之效。）
咸以苦辛。温而升发。散坚凝之冷积。攻 痛之沉寒。（火硝一名地霜。出北地
。冬
月地上有霜。扫取以水淋汁煎炼而成。能化五金八石。可作火药。虽咸润之品。极能荡涤宿
垢瘀积。而性升属火。其升发之力。较下夺之力为更猛也。）
Acrid, salty, heavy in nature, cold, non-toxic. Clears the Lung and Stomach, and enters the Large Intestine. Effective for warm pathogens (Wen Xie) and summerheat-heat (Shu Re). Relieves thirst and irritability, and cools the Blood level (Xue Fen). (Hanshui Shi: This stone is the Fangjie Shi of ancient times; when struck, it breaks into square fragments. Its luster is white like Bai Shiyin [Quartz]. It does not soften when burned. Generally, its nature is cold and its substance heavy. The white-colored variety has the same therapeutic indications as Shigao [Gypsum Fibrosum], but it is rarely used. Ancient Hanshui Shi refers to Ningshui Shi, produced in saline lands, which dissolves upon contact with water. Its salty-cold nature enters the Kidney, and its efficacy in circulating through the blood to remove heat surpasses that of Fangjie Shi and Shigao.)
Yuanjing Shi: Inherits the essence of Taiyin Gui Water. Salty, cold, and descending in nature. Treats disorders of excess above and deficiency below, protecting the True Yuan (Zhen Yuan). (Yuanjing Shi is produced in salt-producing areas. It is the brine of salt seeping into the soil, condensing over years into stone flakes resembling a turtle's shell. Its color is green and bright. Inheriting accumulated Yin Qi, it can enter the Kidney to anchor deficiency, fill Yin, and benefit the lower Jiao. Laifu Dan uses this herb together with Liuhuang [Sulfur] and Xiaoshi [Niter] to treat excess above and deficiency below, possessing the function of rescuing Yin and assisting Yang, preventing the True Yin from being consumed by Sulfur. Thus, the efficacy of Yuanjing Shi can be imagined.)
Danfan: Naturally acrid and cold. Induces vomiting to expel wind-phlegm, dry-dampness, and turbid pathogens. Its action returns to the Liver and Gallbladder channels. Applied topically to teeth and eyes to kill parasites and treat gan accumulation (Gan Ji). (Danfan grows in copper mines and belongs to the mineral category. When ground on iron, it turns copper-colored. When heated by fire, if it turns red without exuding juice, it is authentic. It tastes acrid, bitter, and cold, with slight toxicity. It specifically enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels, inducing vomiting to expel wind-phlegm in the diaphragm region, acting quite violently and rapidly. Other treatments are merely secondary. Therefore, physicians must possess insight. If one investigates the nature of substances and applies intuitive understanding, there will naturally be the effect of curing diseases with medicine.)
Salty, bitter, acrid. Warm in nature and ascending in movement. Disperses hard, congealed cold accumulations. Attacks deep-seated cold causing pain. (Huoxiao, also known as Dishuang, is produced in northern regions. In winter, frost appears on the ground; it is swept up, leached with water, and refined. It can melt the five metals and eight stones and can be used to make gunpowder. Although it is a salty-moistening substance capable of thoroughly cleansing old filth and stasis, its nature is ascending and associated with Fire. Its ascending and dispersing power is more vigorous than its purgative/descending power.)