Library

Ferro (Iron), Quenching Iron Water, Needle Sand, Forged Iron Filings, Blade Edge, Plowshare Tip.

Tie Jing (Iron Essence) (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*): Primarily brightens the eyes and resolves copper toxicity. (The above text in red characters is cited from *Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats palpitations (*Jingji*), calms the heart qi; treats pediatric wind epilepsy (*Xiao'er Fengxian*), ulceration of the yin region, and rectal prolapse.

○ Forged Iron Filings: Used to stop Fengshui (pathogenic wind combined with water-dampness), does not rot when immersed in water, treats chapped hands and feet, indurated sores, tendon nodules (*Luo Li*), and toxic swellings. Dyes beard and hair black permanently. When applied while hot and not yet solidified, it dries and hardens after a short time. Burning peach kernels for fumigation also kills parasites effectively.

○ Quenching Iron Water: Pungent in flavor, non-toxic. Mainly treats pediatric erysipelas (*Dan Du*); drink one he.

○ Needle Sand: Neutral in nature, non-toxic. Can be used to dye white substances into soap-black color, and when mixed with Myrobalan (*Mei Shizi*) to dye beard hair black. Processed into fine powder by flying, its efficacy is similar to that of Iron Powder.

○ Blade Edge: Pungent in flavor, non-toxic. Mainly treats snakebite poison entering the abdomen: take two blades, grind them against each other in water, and drink the juice. Also, take two blades, grind them against each other over the ear opening to make sound; this treats insects entering the ear—the insect will exit upon hearing the blade sound.

○ Iron Filings: Treats fright evil (*Jing Xie*), epilepsy, pediatric external pathogen shock (*Ke Wu*), aids digestion, and resolves cold qi; all taken as decocted juice.

○ Plowshare Tip soaked in water is named Tie Jing; it can neutralize the toxicity of Cinnabar (*Zhu Sha*), Styptic Stone (*Ting Zhi*), and Mercury (*Shui Yin*). (The above text in black characters is recorded by famous physicians).

[Origin] (*Tu Jing Ben Cao* states): Old texts do not specify the producing provinces. Currently, it is found wherever there are smelting workshops in Jiangnan and Western Shu. It is purple dust-like matter flying out from iron forging furnaces, light and porous, which can be used to polish bronze vessels. (Ri Hua Zi states): Plowshare tip soaked in water is named Tie Jing. These two statements are contradictory. Upon careful examination, prescriptions use "Tie Jing Fen" (Iron Essence Powder), which aligns with the classic text. The plowshare tip soaked in water only serves to neutralize the toxicity of Cinnabar, Styptic Stone, and Mercury, and has no therapeutic value for diseases. As for the iron filings falling during forging, these are particles from the iron anvil, specifically debris from the anvil at smelting sites. Furthermore, rubbing bamboo or wood on knife or axe edges heated by fire produces a lacquer-like fluid known as "Dao Yan" (Blade Smoke), often used by people in Jiangdong to repel water, which is correct. If referring to Quenching Iron Water, it is the water in the iron trough used when quenching forged items. Needle Sand is simply the fine powder ground by needle-makers. Regarding their therapeutic effects, each should be used according to its specific suitability.

[Collection Time]: No fixed season.

[Usage]: Powdered.

[Texture]: Resembles dust, light and porous.

[Color]: Purple.

[Flavor]: Pungent.

[Nature]: Neutral, slightly warm.

[Qi and Flavor]: Strong odor, thin flavor; Yin within Yang.

[Odor]: Fishy.

[Main Indications]: Palpitations, wind epilepsy.

[Treatment]: (*Bie Lu* states): For postpartum vaginal/uterine prolapse, apply powder internally to restore position; for pain from snake bone splinters or toxin, place one bi of powder in a tube and blow it into the wound, then apply externally; for yin swelling; for pediatric rectal prolapse due to dysentery.

[Combination Therapy]: Mix with sheep fat until thick, wrap in cloth, heat, and apply as a hot compress for genital prolapse. ○ Mix with chicken liver, form pills the size of tung tree seeds, take five pills per dose with wine, to treat gu poison from food, abdominal hardness and pain, yellowish-green complexion, emaciation, and unpredictable pathological changes.

[Contraindications]: Excessive consumption damages the lungs.