\r金\pq118a1.bmp\r
安魂魄。镇心肝。辛平无毒。定风痰。辟鬼魅。下坠有功。（金为土之精华所结。故出
自土中。禀西方之气。其质重。其性刚。故能降肺金。平肝木。凡金石之出于土中者。有美
恶之不同。其美者得天地之正气。正能辟邪。故除鬼魅。既得天地之正气。即可无毒。其服
之能杀人者。皆服其质。因重坠之过。故煎汤治病。仅用其气。为无虑耳。）
\r铅\pq118a.bmp\r
味属甘咸。功归肝肾。坠痰下气。都因重镇之功。明目乌须。却禀寒凉之性。（铅亦出
土中。为五金之祖。其色黑。其味咸。故有入肾重镇之功。至降肺金。平肝木。大抵与金相
仿。夫土之生物。美恶不同。即五金中亦各随其所产之处而性异。是以功用亦不相同也。）
\r自然铜\pq118.bmp\r
续筋接骨。为伤损良方。破滞消瘀。味辛平小毒。（自然铜出铜圹中。圹气凝结而
成。内有铜脉。虽经火炼难为器皿者。故入药一经火 醋淬。即可研细。便能续筋接骨。消
瘀和伤。不特自然铜有功。即一切铜屑皆可。或醋 内服。或研细外敷。每见铜匠偶遇前证
用之即愈。）
\r铜青\pq119.bmp\r
吹喉可吐风痰。入肝脏酸平有毒。点眼堪医弦烂。治湿疮虫蚀无忧。（铜青即铜之精
华结于铜器上者。今人以醋制铜上生绿。收取晒干用之。故主治皆酸苦涌泄。入肝搜风之用
。）
[Gold]
Calms the Hun and Po (ethereal soul and corporeal soul). Anchors the Heart and Liver. Pungent, neutral, non-toxic. Resolves wind-phlegm. Expels malevolent spirits and evil influences. Possesses a descending efficacy. (Gold is formed by the condensation of the essence of Earth; thus it emerges from the soil and inherits the Qi of the West. Its substance is heavy, and its nature is rigid; therefore, it can descend Lung Metal and pacify Liver Wood. Among all mineral substances emerging from the earth, there are distinctions between fine and coarse qualities. Those of fine quality inherit the upright Qi of Heaven and Earth; upright Qi can repel pathogenic factors, thus expelling malevolent spirits. Since they possess the upright Qi of Heaven and Earth, they can be considered non-toxic. Those that cause death upon ingestion do so because only their material substance is consumed, leading to excessive heaviness and sinking. Therefore, when decocted for treating diseases, only its Qi is utilized, avoiding danger.)
[Lead]
Taste: sweet and salty. Meridian tropism: Kidney and Liver. Descends phlegm and directs Qi downward, relying entirely on its heavy sedative properties. Brightens the eyes and darkens hair, inheriting cold and cool properties. (Lead also emerges from the earth and is regarded as the ancestor of the five metals. Its color is black, and its taste is salty; hence, it has the function of entering the Kidney and providing heavy sedation. Regarding descending Lung Metal and pacifying Liver Wood, it is largely similar to Gold. The things generated by Earth vary in quality; similarly, among the five metals, properties differ according to their place of origin, resulting in different therapeutic effects.)
[Natural Copper]
Knits sinews and connects bones; an excellent prescription for traumatic injuries. Breaks stagnation and resolves blood stasis. Taste: pungent. Nature: neutral. Slightly toxic. (Natural copper is found in copper mines, formed by the condensation of mine air, containing copper veins within. Although difficult to smelt into vessels even after heating, once calcined with vinegar and quenched for medicinal use, it can be ground into fine powder. It effectively knits sinews, connects bones, resolves stasis, and harmonizes trauma. Not only natural copper is effective; all copper filings can be used, either taken internally with vinegar or applied externally as a fine powder. It is commonly observed that copperworkers suffering from such injuries recover immediately upon using it.)
[Copper Acetate (Chuang Qing)]
Blown into the throat induces vomiting of wind-phlegm. Enters the Liver channel. Sour, neutral, toxic. Applied to the eyes, it treats angular blepharitis and ulceration. No worries in treating damp sores and insect erosion. (Copper acetate is the essence of copper condensed on the surface of copper vessels. Currently, people treat copper with vinegar to generate green rust on its surface, collect it, dry it, and use it. Thus, its main actions involve sour and bitter flavors inducing emesis and draining, entering the Liver to search out and dispel wind.)