Library

Taste and nature: Acrid, neutral, toxic. Indications: Malignant sores, alopecia capitis (scalp baldness), scabies with crusts, killing poisonous insects and lice, treating body itching, pathogenic factors, and various toxins. After prolonged refining and long-term ingestion, it lightens the body, increases longevity, and prevents aging.

(Ci Huang [Realgar's female counterpart/Orpiment] and Xiong Huang [Realgar] are found in the same location. Xiong Huang grows on the sunny side of mountains (Yang aspect), while Ci Huang grows on the shady side (Yin aspect). One is Yin and one is Yang, resembling the way of husband and wife, hence named "Female" and "Male".

Li Shizhen stated: Ci Huang and Xiong Huang originate from the same place but are distinguished by receiving Qi from the mountain's shade or sun. Those who practice ingestion for health preservation value Xiong Huang, taking advantage of its pure Yang essence. Ci Huang contains Yin Qi as well, so it is not valued as highly. However, when used to treat diseases, the efficacy of both is quite similar; generally, they are used for their ability to warm the middle, search the Liver, kill parasites, detoxify, and dispel pathogens.

I observe: The taste and nature of Xiong Huang and Ci Huang should be the same. Currently, Xiong Huang is recorded as Bitter-neutral, and Ci Huang as Acrid-neutral. It must be understood that Xiong Huang is Bitter-neutral yet also Acrid, while Ci Huang is Acrid-neutral yet also Bitter. The similarities in taste and nature cannot be fully enumerated, so there are slight differences between them, left for people to deduce.

Taste and nature: Acrid, cold, toxic. Indications: Crusted rashes, ulcers, tinea capitis (white baldness), killing lice in the skin, inducing abortion, clearing heat, resolving toxicity of gold, silver, copper, and tin, and melting back into cinnabar. Long-term ingestion leads to immortality.

(Mercurius [Quick Silver/Mercury], also known as Gong, Ling Ye, or Cha Nu [Fairy Maiden]. In ancient times, it was produced in Fuling Pingtu, originating within Cinnabar, though sometimes found separately in sandy areas. Today, it is produced in Qinzhou, Shangzhou, Daozhou, Shaowu Jun, Xi Qiang, Nanhai tribes, and various prefectures beyond the Five Ranges. *Chen Ting Mo Tan* records: In the land where the sun sets in Fulín Kingdom, there is a Sea of Mercury spanning forty to fifty li. People take it from about ten li near the sea by digging dozens of pits and wells. Strong men riding fine horses, covered in gold foil, walk towards the seaside. When sunlight hits the shore, causing golden reflections, the mercury boils like a tide and rushes forward, appearing to cling to them. The riders then gallop away swiftly; if they move slowly, they and their horses will be extinguished/suffocated by the mercury. If they move fast, the mercury's force weakens and retreats, accumulating in pits and ditches, allowing for collection. Additionally, ten jin of dried Portulaca oleracea (Ma Chi Xian) can yield eight liang of mercury, called Grass Mercury.)

Mercurius has an acrid and cold nature, inheriting the true essence of Metal and Water. It is the alchemical mercury used in refinement. When Cinnabar is burned, it remains bright red; when calcined into powder, it becomes crystal clear and white, just as human milk turns white. This is the refined juice generated by Heaven and Earth. Its indication for crusted rashes, ulcers, and tinea capitis stems from its inheritance of Water's essence, enabling it to clear heat and nourish blood. Its ability to kill skin lice and induce abortion stems from its inheritance of Metal's essence, possessing austere and attacking properties. Its cold nature allows it to clear heat. As the essence of the five metals, it can resolve the toxicity of gold, silver, copper, and tin. Originating from Cinnabar, it represents Yin within Yang. Upon melting, it returns to being Cinnabar, becoming Yang within Yin. Named Ling Ye and Cha Nu, it is the refined juice of Heaven and Earth, thus long-term ingestion leads to immortality.

(Humans die if they accidentally ingest Mercurius. *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* states "long-term ingestion leads to immortality." This refers to the ancients' practice of using Lead and Mercury, refining them over a long period with gentle and strong fires to create Huan Dan (Returning Elixir). Ingesting this elixir extends life and prevents aging. This statement refers to the elixir, not raw Mercurius. However, this method has been lost for a long time. Alchemists stole this theory to deceive people. Anyone who ingests raw Mercurius will inevitably die, as recorded numerous times in classics. One should not mistakenly try it just because *Ben Cao Jing* contains these words. Conversely, claiming that these six characters in *Ben Cao Jing* were entirely added by later alchemists is likely incorrect as well.)