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(From *Zhenglei Bencao*)

[Names] Erqi Sha (Two-Qi Cinnabar).

Shen Wei stated: *Maoting Kehua* records that feeding monkeys, parrots, rats, dogs, etc., with Lingsha can alter their nature, causing them to suddenly speak human language. This is considered a manifestation of spiritual attainment in alchemy.

Li Shizhen stated: This is because it uses extreme Yang to draw out extreme Yin, shedding the Yin and returning to Yang; hence it is called Lingsha.

[Preparation] Shen Wei stated: To prepare Lingsha, take one tael of Mercury (Hydrargyrum) and six zhu of Sulfur. Grind them finely and stir-fry until they form "Qingsha Tou" (Green Sand Head). Then place them in a furnace for the mutual completion of Water and Fire. When the substance exhibits textures resembling bundled needles, the preparation is complete.

Li Shizhen stated: According to Hu Yan's *Dan Yao Mi Jue*, the method for sublimating Lingsha is as follows:
Place a new pot on a Xiaoyao furnace. Wipe the bottom of the pot with honey and heat gently over a mild fire. Add two taels of Sulfur and melt it. Throw in half a jin of Mercury and stir rapidly with an iron spoon to form Qingsha Tou. If flames arise, spray vinegar to extinguish them. Once the mercury no longer shows star-like gleams, remove it, grind it finely, and place it in a Shuihuo Ding (Water-Fire Cauldron). Seal the cauldron tightly with salt mud. Heat from below using natural fire until twelve lamps' worth of water has evaporated. If the resulting product shows bundled-needle textures, it is successful. *Gengxin Yuce* states: Lingsha is a divine substance. Sulfur and Mercury are processed into form, known as the Dan Ji (Cinnabar Base). It usurps the creative power of Heaven and Earth and steals the unfathomable mysteries of Yin and Yang. It can transform the Five Elements and refine into the Nine-Return Elixir.
Those not yet sublimated in the cauldron are called Qingjin Dan Tou (Green Gold Elixir Head); those already sublimated are called Lingsha. There are three types of Lingsha: One formed by Zhou Tian fire (circulation of celestial fire) within one Fu period (approx. 12 hours) is called Jinding Lingsha (Golden Cauldron Lingsha); one formed by nine cycles of addition/subtraction using Zhou Tian fire is called Jiuzhuan Lingsha (Nine-Turn Lingsha); one formed by stir-frying for thirty days according to earthly numbers is called Yijia Laohuo Lingsha (Physician's Old-Fire Lingsha). All should be boiled in vinegar leached from mulberry ash after being "fu" (fixed/stabilized) before use to ensure quality.

[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Treats diseases of the five Zang organs and hundred ailments; nourishes the spirit, calms the Hun and Po; tonifies Qi, brightens the eyes, unblocks blood vessels, stops irritability and fullness, benefits the mind and spirit, and eliminates evil spirits and demonic influences.
Long-term consumption promotes spiritual clarity, prevents aging, lightens the body, and leads to immortality, enhancing mental agility (Shen Wei). It treats conditions of excess above and deficiency below, excessive phlegm-saliva, dizziness, vomiting, cholera with regurgitation, cold pain in the heart and abdomen; it regulates the ascending and descending of Yin and Yang, achieves the mutual completion of Water and Fire, harmonizes the five Zang organs, and assists Yuan Qi. Ground into powder, made into pills with glutinous rice paste, and taken with jujube decoction, it has strong sedative properties and is a divine elixir (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: Sulfur is the essence of Yang; Mercury is the essence of Yin. Combining them follows the way of husband and wife, uniting pure Yin and pure Yang bodies. Thus, it can capture the wonders of creation, regulate the ascent and descent of Yin and Yang, achieve the mutual completion of Water and Fire, and serve as a divine elixir for rescuing critical conditions. However, it should not be taken for long periods. Su Dongpo said: This medicine treats chronic regurgitation and all forms of vomiting and reverse flow, as well as infantile convulsive vomiting, with miraculous effect, due to its subtle coordination of Yin and Yang. Li Shizhen often administered it with Yin-Yang water, which was particularly effective.

[Attached Prescriptions] Seven new prescriptions.
For latent heat causing vomiting and diarrhea: Yinyang Wan (Yin-Yang Pill): Use half a tael of Sulfur and one qian of Mercury. Grind until black. Make pills the size of small beans using ginger juice paste. Children aged three take three pills with cold water; adults take 30-40 pills. (Zheng Shi's *Xiao'er Fang*)
For various types of vomiting and reverse flow: Same prescription as above.
For cholera with vomiting and reverse flow: Regardless of deficiency/excess or cold/heat. Erqi San (Two-Qi Powder), also known as Qingjin Dan: Use equal parts of Mercury and Sulfur. Grind until no star-like particles remain. Take one zi to half a qian each time, mixed with ginger soup. (Qian Shi's *Xiao'er Fang*)
For spleen pain and regurgitation: One tael of Lingsha, one tael of Bifen (Mussel Shell Powder) (stir-fried together until red), forty-nine grains of Dingxiang (Clove), and forty-nine grains of Hujiao (Pepper). Grind into powder. Cook with natural ginger juice. Make pills the size of wutong seeds using Banxia powder paste. Take twenty pills with ginger soup each time. (*Puji Fang*)
For cold qi causing heart pain: Three fen of Lingsha, one fen of Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung). Grind into powder. Make pills the size of hemp seeds using thin paste. Take twenty pills each time before meals, washed down with Shichangpu (Acorus) and ginger soup. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
For bleeding from the nine orifices caused by sudden fright, with a deficient pulse: Thirty grains of Lingsha, taken with Ginseng decoction. Cure after three doses. This condition must not be mistaken for blood flowing due to heat; mistakenly using cooling medicines will cause harm. (Yang Renzhai, *Zhizhi Fang*)
Yangzheng Dan (Nourishing Righteousness Elixir): Also known as Jiaotai Dan, this is a formula by Baolin Zhenren Gu Boyang. It expels evil and supports righteousness, aids Yang and connects with truth.
It treats deficiency of Yuan Qi, chaotic interaction of Yin pathogens, excess above and deficiency below, failure of Qi to ascend and descend, insufficient respiration, dizziness and shortness of breath, timidity and palpitations, empty irritability and delirium, night sweats, abdominal and lower back pain, regurgitation and vomiting, cholera with muscle cramps, and coughing/wheezing. It also treats wind-stroke with tidal phlegm, unconsciousness, impending collapse of Yang, and cold extremities. For cold damage with Yin excess and spontaneous sweating, blue lips, and deep pulse. For postpartum women with irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, and abdominal pain. Take one black bowl, melt black lead into liquid, add Mercury, then add Zhusha (Cinnabar) powder, stir-fry until no star-like particles remain. After a moment, add Sulfur powder and stir rapidly. Extinguish flames with wine and vinegar. Remove, grind into powder, and make pills the size of mung beans using glutinous rice flour paste. Take twenty pills each time with salt water. The four ingredients are in equal proportions. This medicine regulates Yin and Yang, achieves the mutual completion of Heart and Kidney, and is extremely effective. Details cannot be fully enumerated. (*Heji Ju Fang*)