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Yu Yuliang (Hematitum): Heavy in texture, astringent, and capable of securing the lower jiao. Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and astringent. It is a heavy agent entering the blood level of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It treats cough with inverted qi, dysentery, blood stasis (masses), and metrorrhagia, capable of securing the lower jiao (Li Xianzhi stated: "Diseases of the lower jiao are difficult to treat; one must use Yu Yuliang and Chishizhi"), and can also induce labor. The yellow powder within the stone grows in ponds and marshes. Those without sand particles are superior. Peony Root Bark (Mudanpi) serves as the guiding herb.

Haifushi (Pumice): Also known as Haishi. Its functions are to drain fire and soften hardness. Salty in taste, moistening, descending, and cold in nature, it drains fire. White in color and light in weight, it enters the Lung Meridian to clear its upper source (the Lung is the upper source of water). It stops thirst and cough, unblocks stranguria, softens hardness, eliminates phlegm-heat in the upper jiao, and resolves goiter and scrofula masses (formed by stubborn phlegm; salty flavors can soften hardness. Yu Yan's *Xishang Futan* states: "The Liver belongs to Wood and should float but sinks instead; the Lung belongs to Metal and should sink but floats instead. Why? Because the Liver is excess and the Lung is deficient. Thus stones sink in water, yet there is sinking-water incense in the South Sea, showing such reversal of deficiency and excess"). It forms from aged sea foam; those from the sea with a saltier taste are better.

Pengsha (Borax): Functions include moistening, generating fluids, and removing phlegm-heat. Sweet and slightly salty, cool in nature. White in color and light in texture, thus it clears phlegm-heat in the upper jiao chest and diaphragm, generates fluids, and stops cough. It treats throat bi, oral and dental diseases (if one feels swelling and pain in the throat initially, holding it in the mouth to dissolve and swallow the saliva prevents the formation of bi). It cleans metals and removes grease, thus treating dysphagia, accumulations, scrofula-like growths, corneal opacities, and bone splinters (alkaline properties soften hardness; hold in mouth, dissolve, and swallow juice). Those from Western regions are white like alum; those from Southern regions are yellow like peach gum. It can refine mercury and "dumb copper" (Borax and Sand can both be used for gold and silver soldering).

Naosha (Sal Ammoniac): Functions include purging and digesting meat accumulations. Salty, bitter, pungent, hot in nature, and toxic. It digests food and breaks blood stasis. It treats dysphagia and abdominal masses, removes eye opacities and growths, warms the uterus, and assists yang function (its nature is very hot and can corrode metals. *Bencao* claims it can turn human heart into blood, which is an exaggeration; it should not be taken in large doses. When boiling hard meat, adding a small amount makes it tender easily, hence it has special efficacy for dysphagia, masses, and meat accumulations. *Jifeng Fang* states: "Human viscera often fall ill due to external pathogens, and the Spleen and Stomach are most susceptible. Excessive eating leads to stagnation and indigestion. Imbalance of cold and heat leads to vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery, especially among those consuming rich foods. Lack of dietary restraint requires digestive herbs. Some say that since food injury occurred previously, it cannot be counterattacked with toxic drugs; they avoid Naosha and Croton Seed, using only Medicated Leaven and Biota Seed instead. They do not understand that ancient and modern prescriptions have specific indications. Medicated Leaven and Biota Seed only digest grains; if meat is injured, only Naosha and Ferula can treat it. If fish or crab is injured, Citrus Peel, Perilla Leaf, and Ginger are required; if vegetables or fruits are injured, Clove and Cinnamon Heart are needed; if water retention is injured, Morning Glory Seed and Genkwa Flower are necessary. One must examine the cause of injury and prescribe accordingly for cure. Dosage varies according to the patient's qi and blood. For deficient patients with chronic accumulation, direct purging is contraindicated; herbs should be wax-coated, as wax stays long in the intestines and stomach without damaging qi, allowing gradual digestion. For those with Spleen deficiency and slow digestion, nourishing the Spleen and Stomach is appropriate, as natural digestion will resume, eliminating the need for digestive herbs. For long-standing accumulations forming masses, Sparganium and Turtle Shell are required. For cold-induced accumulations, Aconite and Magnolia Bark are used for mild cases; Alum and Sulfur for severe cases. For blood stasis masses, Rhubarb and Peach Kernel are used. Users must deliberate carefully"). It originates from Western Regions. It forms from brine crystallization, resembling salt blocks, and dissolves when placed in cold, damp environments. White and clean ones are superior. Processed by water levigation, boiled in vinegar, and dried until frost-like (avoids vinegar). Contraindicated with sheep blood.