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Toxic. Grows in stones.

Shihliuhuang (Sulfur) (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*): Mainly treats women's genital erosion, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and evil blood; can strengthen muscles and bones, and remove scalp alopecia. Can melt gold, silver, copper, iron, and other strange substances. (The above red text is from the original *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats accumulations and evil qi in the heart and abdomen, cold phlegm-rheum in the hypochondrium, cough with rebellious qi ascending, coldness and pain in the feet, weakness and lack of strength, epistaxis, malignant sores, lower body ulcers; has hemostatic effects and kills scabies mites. (The above black text is recorded by famous physicians of later generations).

[Name] Shihliuhuang (Sulfur).
[Origin] *Tujing Bencao* records: Shihliuhuang is the liquid form of alum stone, produced in the Sheep Herding Valley of the East Sea, as well as Mount Tai and Hexi regions. Currently, it is only produced in various foreign countries south of the sea and prefectures beyond the Lingnan region; although produced there, the quality is not very good. The one with a color like a newly hatched duckling is genuine, called "Kunlun Huang". The red one is named "Shitingzhi" (Red Sulfur), the green one is known as "Dongjie Shi" (Winter-Frozen Stone), and the half-white half-black one is called "Shenjing Shi"; these are unsuitable for medicinal use. There is also a type of Tuliuhuang (Earth Sulfur) produced in streams and rivers in Guangnan and Rongzhou, flowing out from the water. Its taste is pungent, nature is hot, and it has a fishy odor; it can be refined into juice to cast vessels. Yazhou in Shu also produces it, which is very smooth and fine, but its efficacy does not match that imported by ship. Examining ancient prescription books, there were no records of taking sulfur as a tonic. The functions described in the classics were limited to treating erosive sores, accumulation of cold qi, and weak legs. People subsequently used fire-refining methods to make it into pills and powders for daily consumption. Observing its preparation and consumption methods, they lack any fundamental basis, unlike Rushi (Mineral drugs) which have clear discussions and regulations. Therefore, although its effect is rapid, its adverse reactions occur even faster; how can one not be vigilant?
[Season] No fixed season for growth. Harvested in August and September.
[Selection] Those that are crystal clear, clean, and free of mixed stones are best.
[Color] Pale yellow.
[Taste] Sour.
[Nature] Warm, extremely hot.
[Odor/Taste Characteristics] Strong odor, thin taste, belongs to Yang.
[Smell] Foul.
[Main Indications] Accumulations in the heart and abdomen, cold phlegm-rheum, evil qi.
[Adjuvants] Shitingzhi (Red Sulfur) and Cengqing (Azurite) act as guiding herbs.
[Antagonisms/Fears] Feels Puxiao (Mirabilite) and Shitingzhi; fears Xixin (Asarum), Feilian (Saussurea involucrata), and Iron.
[Processing] Leigong says: When using four liang of sulfur, first take one yi of natural juice from Longwei Hao (Artemisia capillaris var. chinensis), three yi of flowing water from the east, one yi of juice from Zibei Tiankui (Ophiopogon japonicus var. bulbifer), and juice from Susui Zi stem. Mix these four ingredients evenly, pour into a crucible, and seal the bottom with Liuyi Ni (Six-One Mud). Crush the sulfur and put it into the crucible. Slowly add the aforementioned herbal juices while boiling over fire until the liquid is exhausted. Then, boil the sulfur together with ten liang of Baibu powder (Stemona root), two jin of Liu Zhi mo (Willow branch powder), two jin of Yicao (Aconitum carmichaelii side root or similar), finely cut, along with flowing water and other medicines, for two Fu days (dog days). After time is up, remove all medicines and take out the processed sulfur. Wash with cooked Gancao Tang (Licorice Decoction), then grind in a mortar twenty thousand times before use.
[Therapeutic Effects] (*Yaoxing Lun* records): Refined and taken internally, it directs qi downward, mainly treats leg weakness, chronic coldness of the waist and kidneys, removes wind-damp bi-syndrome, deficiency, and seminal emission. Raw use treats chills and fever, cough with rebellious qi, and scabies/tinea. (*Tujing Bencao* records): Tuliuhuang kills scabies mites and insect toxins. (*Rihua Zi Bencao* records): Shitingzhi strengthens sexual function, removes accumulated cold qi, strengthens muscles and bones, treats exhaustion, wind-wasting, stops cough, addresses rebellious qi, and treats lower body hemorrhoids, malignant sores, scabies, and tinea, killing abdominal parasites and evil spirits.
[Detoxification] To detoxify sulfur poisoning, use pork and duck soup, and Yuganzi (Phyllanthus emblica).