Library

Toxic. Grows in rocks.

Realgar (Ci Huang) [Note: Ci Huang is Arsenic Sulfide, often translated as Orpiment, but contextually grouped with Realgar minerals. WHO term: Orpiment] (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*) mainly treats malignant sores, alopecia with crusts on the head, scabies, and ringworm; it kills toxic insects and lice, treats body itching, evil qi, and various toxins. After prolonged refining and long-term use, it lightens the body, increases longevity, and prevents aging. (The above red characters are recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing*). It can also erode nasal polyps, treat sores in the lower parts, vitiligo (white patches on the face), dead skin tissue, and mental confusion caused by evil qi; it kills bee and snake venom. Long-term use makes the brain full. (The above black characters are recorded by famous physicians.) [Origin] (*Tujing* states) It grows in the valleys of Wudu, in the same mountains as Realgar (Xiong Huang). Where there is gold ore on the shady side of the mountain, the essence of gold fumes and generates Orpiment. Currently, it is produced in Jiezhou because its color resembles gold and looks like mica; those that are layered and can be split are superior. Those mixed with stone or black like iron should not be used. Some say a piece weighing four liang can be split into a thousand layers, which is particularly wonderful. [Harvest Time] Any time. [Usage Standard] Those soft like rotten gold and splittable are superior. [Texture] Similar to mica. [Color] Yellow. [Flavor] Pungent, Sweet. [Nature] Neutral, Great Cold. [Qi Attribute] Thin Qi, Yin within Yang. [Odor] Odorous. [Main Action] Expels evil, removes filth, treats sores, kills toxins. [Processing] (Leigong says) When processing, do not let women, chickens, dogs, or foul-smelling substances touch it. If touched, its color turns black like iron and becomes unusable, and it harms human lifespan. For every four liang of Orpiment, mix with five liang each of Tianbi Zhi, Heyang Cao, and Susui Zi Cao. Double the amount for dry or wet herbs. Boil in a porcelain crucible for three "Fu" periods (summer dog days) until the color is like golden juice, forming a lump at the bottom. Rinse vigorously with water from the east-flowing stream three times, drain the water, take out, wipe dry, pound in a mortar, sieve, and grind into dust for use. Do not use in decoctions. [Combined Treatment] Grind into powder, mix with vinegar and egg yolk, beat until uniform, and apply to sores. Reapply when dry. Treats black leprosy (Wu Lai Chuang) and kills parasites.

Non-toxic. Attached to Jade Fire Stone. Grows in rocks.

Gypsum Fibrosum (Shi Gao) (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*) mainly treats wind-stroke with cold and heat, rebellious qi in the heart region, palpitations and wheezing, dry mouth and scorched tongue, inability to breathe, hardness and pain in the abdomen, expels evil spirits, and treats postpartum conditions and metallic wounds. (The above red characters are recorded in *Shennong Bencao Jing*). It also eliminates epidemic headache, body fever, great heat in the Sanjiao, skin heat, stagnation of qi in the intestines and stomach, releases the muscle layer, induces sweating, stops thirst, relieves irritability and rebellion, abdominal distension, sudden breathlessness, throat heat, and can also be used as a bath decoction. (The above black characters are recorded by famous physicians.) [Name] Xi Shi. [Origin] (*Tujing* states) It grows in the valleys of Qi Mountain, Qi Lu Mountain, and Lu Meng Mountain. Currently, it is also found in Fenzhou, Mengzhou, Guozhou, Yaozhou, and Xingyuan Fu. It grows on mountain rocks, with a lustrous white color; yellow ones are inferior. This stone is extremely similar to Calcite (Fangjie Shi), and true specimens are hard to obtain now. Only unbroken pieces can be used to distinguish them. Calcite grows independently without adhering to rock, has soil and water moss on the exterior, and breaks into square prisms. Gypsum is naturally bright and jade-like, which is the difference. (Tao Hongjing says) Currently, it is produced in Qiantang, found underground, emerging after rain, resembling chess pieces. This also grows independently without adhering to rock. According to *Bencao*, it also resembles Feldspar (Chang Shi). Discussants say that white veins penetrating through green stones, resembling fat in meat, are Gypsum. This is also what *Bencao* calls Lizhi. Currently, in the southeast corner of Jiuxian Mountain in Mizhou, a stone emerges from the ground, blue-white and brittle, producing sparks when struck, called Jade Fire Stone. Local doctors often use it, saying it is sweet and slightly pungent, warm, treats wind-cold with sweating, stops dizziness and pain in the head and eyes, with effects equal to Gypsum. Locals sometimes substitute it for Gypsum. Various schools differ in opinion; how to determine authenticity? According to Danxi: The naming of medicines is indeed obscure, but often carries meaning. Generally, Gypsum, when finely ground and fired, sealed with vinegar in alchemical furnaces, is more secure than Litharge. If it did not have the quality of "paste/grease," how could it function? This name derives from both texture and function, consistent with Litharge. Yan Xiaozhong wrongly took Calcite as Gypsum. Moreover, Gypsum is pungent and sweet, belonging to the Yangming Meridian. Yangming governs the muscles. Its sweetness can soothe the spleen, boost qi, stop thirst, and remove fire. Its pungency can release the muscle layer and induce sweating, ascending to the head, and entering the Hand Taiyin and Hand Shaoyang meridians. Calcite only has heavy weight, firm texture, and cold nature. How can it be called the master of these three meridians? Is it not difficult for doctors to achieve efficacy? Generally, Gypsum should be genuine if it has fine grains and a lustrous white appearance, as stated in the classics. Without fine grains and lacking luster, it is fake. It should come from specific regions as stated in the classics to be suitable for medicine. Thus, one will not be confused by divergent theories and will have clear certainty. [Harvest Time] Any time. [Usage Standard] Fine-grained and white is good. [Texture] Similar to Feldspar but fine-grained. [Color] White. [Flavor] Sweet, Pungent. [Nature] Slightly Cold, some say Great Cold. [Qi Attribute] Thin Qi, Strong Flavor, Yang within Yin. [Odor] Rotten. [Main Action] Clears the Stomach, removes heat, releases the muscle layer, induces sweating. [Meridian Tropism] Foot Yangming, Hand Taiyin, Shaoyang. [Assistant] Egg Yolk acts as an assistant. [Incompatibilities] Feared by Iron; dislikes Aconitum carmichaelii (Mangcao), Croton seed (Badou), and Horse Eye Poison Gong. [Processing] (Leigong says) First, pound in a stone mortar into powder, sift through fine silk gauze, fly with raw Licorice water, clarify and dry, then re-grind for use. [Treatment] (*Yaoxing Lun* says) Treats wind-cold headache, high fever, skin hot as fire, irritability and thirst, releases the muscle layer to expel toxic sweat, clears stagnation and irritability in the stomach, urgency in the heart region, restlessness, dry lips and scorched tongue. (Rihuazi says) Treats epidemic heat mania, nipple wind, spinning tooth cleaning to benefit teeth. (*Bielu* says) For burns from hot oil or fire causing unbearable pain, apply powdered form to heal. [Combined Treatment] Decoct with Scallion and drink as tea to treat headache. ○ Combine with Anemarrhena, Licorice, and Rice to treat wind-cold heat disease, or after profuse sweating with surging pulse, dry mouth and tongue, headache, and extreme thirst. ○ Combine with Angelica dahurica (Xiang Baizhi) to treat toothache. [Contraindications] Yellow ones cause strangury and should not be taken. [Counterfeits] Calcite is counterfeit.