Library

(Recorded in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Names]** Baishi (White Stone), Taibai Shi (Great White Stone) (*Bielu*), Lizhi Shi (Establishing Control Stone) (*Benjing*), Qingfen Shi (Green Separation Stone), Guyang Shi (Solidifying Sheep Stone) (*Benjing*), Yanshi (Salt) (*Bielu*), Zerhu (Marsh Milk), Shuxiang (Mouse Village) (*Wu Pu*).

Li Shizhen states: The meaning is unclear. Xu Shen's *Shuowen Jiezi* states: "Ci, a poisonous stone." The *Western Mountain Classic* records: "On Gaotu Mountain, there is a white stone named Ci, which can poison rats." Guo Pu commented: "Rats die if they eat it; silkworms become fat if they eat it." Thus, the meaning of "Shuxiang" (Mouse Village) lies here.

**[Collection and Explanation]** *Bielu* states: "Ci stone grows in the valleys of Hanzhong and Mount Shaoshi. It can be harvested at any time."

Tao Hongjing states: Some grow in Mount Shaoshi, some in Weixing, harvested in the twelfth month.

Tao Hongjing states: Currently, it also exists in Shu and Han regions, but the high-quality ones come from Nanyexi in Nankang and within the borders of Pengcheng, as well as the moats south of Luoyang City, and Xinning and Lingling in Xiangdong. White Ci stone can soften metals. Wrapped in yellow clay and fired with charcoal for a day and night, it decomposes and becomes usable. It is widely used in alchemical workshops and Huangbai techniques (ancient alchemy).

Meng Shen states: This stone can resist fire; long-term burning only causes it to disintegrate but does not remove its hardness. People in the market now use clean, veined marble to pass it off, which turns to ash when burned. Currently, the area west of Wudang in Hanchuan known as Liaokou, named "Ci Stone Valley," is the true source. The Ci stones from Mount Shaoshi have fine grains and veins, inferior to those from Hanzhong.

Su Song states: It is also produced in Luzhou and Jiezhou.

Li Shizhen states: See details under the entry for Tesheng Ci Shi (Specially Produced Ci Stone).

**[Flavor and Toxicity]** Pungent, extremely hot, toxic. *Bielu* states: Sweet, warm when raw, hot when cooked. Wu Pu states: Shennong and Qibo considered it pungent and toxic; Tongjun and the Yellow Emperor considered it sweet and toxic.

Li Dangzhi states: Sweet, slightly toxic. Lead tetroxide (Qian Dan) serves as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with sheep blood. It is not used in decoctions.

Xu Zhicai states: Its efficacy is enhanced by fire. Thorn needles serve as its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Mulumudugong (a plant/toxin), Ci feces, Huzhang (Aconitum carmichaelii root side product), and Xixin (Asarum), and fears water.

**[Indications]** Chills and fever, scrofula (Lymphatic tuberculosis), erosive sores with necrotic muscle, wind-bi syndrome, and hard masses/ectopic qi in the abdomen (*Benjing*).

Clears heat and brightens the eyes, directs qi downward, clears heat in the diaphragm, stops thirst, benefits liver qi, breaks up accumulations, treats chronic cold abdominal pain, and removes nasal polyps. Long-term use causes tendon contraction. After firing for one hundred days, take one Dao Gui (an ancient unit of measure) per dose.

Taking it without processing kills humans and all beasts (*Bielu*). Clears accumulated qi in the chest and diaphragm, and removes chronic cold-damp wind-bi itching lasting years (Zhen Quan).

**[Elucidation]** Tao Hongjing states: Often place raw Ci stone in water to prevent freezing; thus, the raw Ci stone possesses extreme heat properties.

Zhang Zhongjing stated: Raw use damages the heart and liver.

Meng Shen stated: This medicine is excellent for attacking diseases of accumulated cold. If other substances are substituted, treatment fails precisely because of this unique property.

Chen Zangqi stated: It is effective for treating long-standing accumulations and chronic cold abdomen, but must be used with caution; its toxicity should not be tested.

Li Shizhen states: The nature and Qi of Ci stone are similar to Bishi (Arsenic Trioxide); they are likely of the same category. In ancient prescriptions, Ci Shi and Fanshi (Alum Stone) were often confused due to the similarity of their characters. However, Fanshi is cold and non-toxic, while Ci Shi is hot and toxic; this distinction must be carefully observed. Lu Nongshi stated: The power of Ci stone is ten times that of Zhongru (Stalactite). Note: *Hong Rongzhai Suibi* records: Wang Zijing's letter on quiet rest mentions that the depth/potency of Ci stone is suspicious; those who enjoy taking powders often develop carbuncles. The "powder" refers to Hanshi San (Cold Food Powder), which many ancients took, containing Ci stone, which is hot and toxic, hence described as deeply suspicious. When Liu Biao was in Jingzhou, he climbed Zhang Mountain with Wang Can and saw a hill where no grass grew. Wang Can said, "This must be an ancient tomb; the person inside took raw Ci stone in life. The heat could not escape outward, causing the vegetation to scorch and die." Liu Biao excavated it and indeed found the tomb filled with Ci stone. Furthermore, the Luo River does not freeze because Ci stones lie beneath; people call this the "Warm Luo." Placing this stone in a jar prevents water from freezing. In Jiaozhou, storks place stones in their nests to incubate eggs, using them to assist warmth. Its nature is such—how can it be ingested? My elder brother, Lord Wen'an, governed Jinling. During autumn heat, his appetite decreased. Physician Tang Sanyi taught him to take Ci Wan (Ci Stone Pills). Soon, his food intake increased, and he took more care to consume them. Ten months later, the toxicity manifested with over a dou of epistaxis. It continued intermittently until he died from exhaustion of essence and fluid. I privately believe Lord Wen'an's illness may not have been solely due to Ci stone toxicity. It was likely compounded by his reliance on a good appetite, consumption of rich flavors, excessive sexual activity, and lack of restraint, leading to death by essence depletion. Because his appetite decreased, he took stone medicine; once eating resumed, the illness seemed gone, and the medicine should have stopped. Yet he continued taking it unrestrainedly, relying on the drug to act recklessly. Is this truly the fault of the medicine?

**[Attached Prescriptions]** One new prescription.

Wind-cold Hongxiangjiao (Gout/Foot Rheumatism): Baishi Ci 2 jin, wine 3 dou, soak for three days, drink in small amounts gradually (*Zhouhou Beiji Fang*).