气味甘寒，无毒。主治身热泄癖，女子乳难，癃闭，利小便，荡胃中积聚寒热，益精
气。久服轻身耐饥，长年。
（滑石一名液石，又名 石，始出赭阳山谷及太山之阴，或掖北白山，或卷山，今湘州、
永州、始安、岭南近道诸处皆有。初取柔软，久渐坚硬，白如凝脂，滑而且腻者佳。）
滑石味甘属土，气寒属水，色白属金。主治身热泄癖者，禀水气而清外内之热也。热在
外则
身热，热在内则泄 也。女子乳难者，禀金气而生中焦之汁，乳生中焦，亦水类也。治癃闭
，禀土气而化水道之出也。利小便，所以治癃闭也。荡胃中积聚寒热，所以治身热泄癖也。
益精气，所以治乳难也。久服则土生金而金生水，故轻身耐饥，长年。
气味苦寒，无毒。主治五脏积热，胃胀闭，涤去蓄结饮食，推陈致新，除邪气。炼之
如膏。久服轻身。
（硝石又名火硝，又名焰硝。丹炉家用制五金八石，银工用化金银，军中用作烽燧火药，
得
火即焰起，故有火硝、焰硝之名。始出益州山谷及武都、陇西，西羌，今河北、庆阳、蜀
中
皆有，乃地霜也。冬间遍地生如白霜，扫取以水淋汁，煎炼而成，状如朴硝，又名生硝。再
煎提过，或有锋芒如芒硝，或有圭棱如马牙硝，故硝石亦有芒硝、牙硝之名，与朴硝之芒
牙同称，然水火之性则异也。）
硝石乃冬时地上所生白霜，气味苦寒，禀少阴、太阳之气化。盖少阴属冬令之水，太阳
主六
气之终。遇火能焰者，少阴上有君火，太阳外有标阳也。主治五脏积热，胃胀闭者，言积热
在脏，致胃府之气胀闭不通。硝石禀水寒之气，而治脏热。具火焰之性，而消胃胀也。涤
去蓄结饮食，则胃府之胀闭自除。推陈致新，除邪气，则五脏之积热自散。炼之如膏，得阴
精之体，故久服轻身。硝石、朴硝皆味盐性寒，《本经》皆言苦寒，初时则盐极而苦，提过
则转苦为咸矣。
[Odor, Flavor, and Indications]
Flavor: Sweet. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: It treats fever of the body, diarrhea, and dysentery; difficulty in lactation for women; strangury and urinary retention; promotes urination; eliminates accumulated cold and heat pathogens in the stomach; and benefits essence and qi. Long-term consumption makes the body light, resistant to hunger, and extends longevity.
(Huashi [Talcum], also known as Yeshi [Liquid Stone] or simply Shi [Stone], was first found in the valleys of Zheyang and on the north side of Mount Tai, or in Baishan north of Ye County, or in Juanshan. Currently, it is available in Xiangzhou, Yongzhou, Shian, and various places near the roads in Lingnan. When first harvested, it is soft; over time, it gradually hardens. Those that are white like congealed fat, smooth, and greasy are considered superior.)
Huashi's sweet flavor corresponds to Earth; its cold nature corresponds to Water; its white color corresponds to Metal. The treatment of fever and diarrhea/dysentery is due to its endowment of Water Qi, which clears heat from both the interior and exterior. Heat on the exterior manifests as body fever; heat in the interior leads to diarrhea. The treatment of difficulty in lactation is because it endows Metal Qi to generate fluids in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner); milk is generated in the Middle Jiao and belongs to the category of Water. The treatment of strangury and urinary retention is because it endows Earth Qi to transform and unblock the pathways of water excretion. Promoting urination is used to treat strangury and urinary retention. Eliminating accumulated cold and heat in the stomach is used to treat fever and diarrhea/dysentery. Benefiting essence and qi is used to treat difficulty in lactation. Long-term consumption allows Earth to generate Metal, and Metal to generate Water; thus, it makes the body light, resistant to hunger, and extends longevity.
[Odor, Flavor, and Indications]
Flavor: Bitter. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic.
Indications: It treats accumulated heat in the five zang organs, gastric distension and obstruction, washes away accumulated food stagnation, pushes out the old to bring forth the new, and eliminates pathogenic factors. After refining, it becomes paste-like. Long-term consumption makes the body light.
(Xiaoshi [Niter], also known as Huoxiao [Fire Niter] or Yanxiao [Flame Niter]. Alchemists use it to refine the "Five Metals and Eight Stones"; silversmiths use it to melt gold and silver; the military uses it to make beacon fires and gunpowder. It ignites upon contact with fire, hence the names Huoxiao and Yanxiao. It was first found in the valleys of Yizhou, as well as Wudu, Longxi, and Xiqiang. Currently, it is available in Hebei, Qingyang, and Shu regions. It is essentially ground frost. In winter, it grows all over the ground like white frost; it is swept up, leached with water to extract the juice, and then boiled and refined into a form resembling Puxiao [Mirabilite], also known as Shengxiao [Raw Niter]. After further boiling and extraction, some forms have sharp edges like Mangxiao [Glauber's Salt], while others have rhombic shapes like Mayaxiao [Saltpeter]. Thus, Xiaoshi also shares the names Mangxiao and Yaxiao with Puxiao, although their Fire and Water natures differ.)
Xiaoshi is the white frost generated on the ground in winter. Its odor and flavor are bitter and cold, endowing the qi transformation of Shaoyin (Lesser Yin) and Taiyang (Greater Yang). Generally, Shaoyin corresponds to the Water of winter, and Taiyang governs the end of the Six Qi cycles. The fact that it ignites with fire indicates that there is Ministerial Fire above Shaoyin and Marking Yang outside Taiyang. The treatment of accumulated heat in the five zang organs and gastric distension/obstruction refers to accumulated heat in the zang organs causing the qi of the fu organs (specifically the Stomach) to become distended and obstructed. Xiaoshi, endowing the cold nature of Water, treats the heat of the zang organs; possessing the nature of flame, it dissipates gastric distension. By washing away accumulated food stagnation, the distension and obstruction of the stomach fu are naturally removed. By pushing out the old to bring forth the new and eliminating pathogenic factors, the accumulated heat of the five zang organs naturally disperses. Refining it into a paste yields the form of Yin Essence, so long-term consumption makes the body light. Both Xiaoshi and Puxiao taste salty and are cold in nature. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states they are bitter and cold. Initially, the salt content is extreme, manifesting as bitterness; after refinement, the taste turns from bitter to salty.