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[Background] (Recorded in the Upper Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Correction] Merged with Persian Alum from *Haiyao Bencao* and Willow Catkin Alum from *Jiayou Bencao*.
[Names] Nie Shi (Nie Stone) (*Bencao Gangmu*), Yu Nie (Feather Nie) (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Yu Ze (Feather Marsh) (*Mingyi Bielu*). The dried form is called Ba Shi (Ba Stone), and the light, white form is called Liuxu Fan (Willow Catkin Alum).
Li Shizhen stated: "Fan" refers to calcination; it is made by calcining stone. *Shan Hai Jing* states: "On the northern slopes of Mount Nüchuang, there is much Nie Shi." Guo Pu annotated: "This is Fan Shi (Alum Stone)." People in Chu called it Nie Shi, while people in Qin called it Yu Nie.
[Collection of Explanations] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Alum Stone is produced in the valleys of Hexi, as well as in Wudu and Shimen of Longxi. It can be harvested at any time. It can transform iron into copper.
Tao Hongjing stated: "It is currently produced in the northern part of Yizhou and Western Sichuan, coming from Hexi. Its color is greenish-white. The raw form is called Machi Fan (Horse-tooth Alum); after refining, the pure white form is called Bai Fan (White Alum), which people in Shu use as a substitute for Xiao Shi (Saltpeter). The yellow-black form is called Jishi Fan (Chicken-dung Alum), which is not used medicinally but can be used for plating to combine with refined copper. When thrown into vinegar, it turns iron copper-colored on the surface, though the internal quality remains unchanged."
Su Gong stated: "There are five types of Alum Stone: Bai Fan (White Alum) is mostly used medicinally; Qing Fan (Green Alum) and Hei Fan (Black Alum) treat gan disease (pediatric malnutrition) and sores; Huang Fan (Yellow Alum) also treats sores to promote flesh growth and is used for leather dyeing; Jiang Fan (Crimson Alum) is originally green but turns red after calcination, hence its name."
Su Song stated: "Alum Stone is initially stone; after harvesting, it is calcined, crushed, decocted, and refined to become alum. There are five kinds with different colors: Bai Fan, Huang Fan, Lü Fan (Green Alum), Hei Fan, and Jiang Fan. Currently, Bai Fan is produced in Jinzhou, Cizhou, and Wuwei Jun, and is widely used in medicine and dyeing. Huang Fan is needed by alchemists and is also used in medicine. Hei Fan is only produced in the Western Regions, also known as Zao Fan (Soap Alum), used for dyeing eyebrows/hair, medicinal purposes, and leather dyeing. Lü Fan is used in throat and dental medicines and for dyeing. Jiang Fan turns red when calcined and is rarely seen today. There are also Fan Jing (Alum Essence), Fan Hudié (Alum Butterfly), Ba Shi, and Liuxu Fan, all of which are Bai Fan. When refining Bai Fan, when it boils vigorously and splashes from the center of the pan like an object flying out, catch it with an iron spoon; if it forms a worm-like shape, it is Fan Hudié. If it forms a block that is smooth and translucent like crystal, it is Fan Jing. Both have stronger medicinal potency than ordinary alum. The form that is light and hollow like cotton after refining is Liuxu Fan. The form where the juice is completely burned off and the color is white as snow is called Ba Shi."
Kou Zongshi stated: "Bai Fan produced in Persia and Daqin (Byzantium/Rome) is white and crystal clear, with needle-bundle patterns inside. It is used by alchemists and has greater efficacy than that from Hexi or Shimen. Recently, various foreign goods from various prefectures often contain it. Persia also produces Jin Xian Fan (Gold-line Alum), where breaking it reveals gold-line patterns inside; this is superior and mostly used by refiners."
Li Shizhen stated: "When broken and distinguished, Alum Stone is not limited to five types. Bai Fan, referred to as Bai Jun (White Lord) by Daoist alchemists, is best when produced in Jin; those from Qingzhou and Wuzhong are secondary. Snow Fan (Snow Alum) is pure white; Ming Fan (Bright Alum) is luminous, also called Yunmu Fan (Mica Alum). Those with needle-bundle patterns resembling powder puffs are Persian Bai Fan, all of which are good for medicinal use. Hei Fan is Qian Fan (Lead Alum), produced in Jin; those resembling black mud are Kunlun Fan; those resembling Chishi Zhi (Red Earth Lipid) with gold stars are Tie Fan (Iron Alum); those resembling Zi Shi Ying (Purple Quartz) which turn into gold lines when heated and appear purple-red when drawn on a knife are Persian Zi Fan (Purple Alum). None of these are used for internal ingestion, only for alchemy and external sores. Lü Fan, Jiang Fan, and Huang Fan are described elsewhere in this entry. The miscellaneous colored ones include Jishi Fan, Yashi Fan (Duck-dung Alum), Jimao Fan (Chicken-feather Alum), and Zhou Fan (Porridge Alum), all classified as Lower Grade, also used by external alchemists."
[Preparation] Kou Zongshi stated: "To use Bai Fan Shi, place it in a porcelain bottle, heat it in fire until red inside and out. Use tongs to lift the lid, immediately insert a stone bee hive, and burn. For every ten liang of alum, use six liang of hive. Burn until exhausted. Take out, let cool, grind into powder, wrap in paper, and bury in a five-cun deep soil pit overnight before use. Another method: Select alum bright as crystal with complete sour, salty, and astringent tastes, grind into powder. Place in a porcelain bottle sealed with Liu Yi Ni (Six-One Mud). Wait for it to dry, add three sheng of powder, then slowly add one yi of natural juice from Wufang Cao and Zi Bei Tian Kui. Apply fire to force the juice to dry. Cover the bottle mouth, seal top and bottom with mud, and fire with 100 jin of fuel. From Si hour to Wei hour, remove fire and take out. The color will be like silver; grind into fine powder for use."
Li Shizhen stated: "Currently, people only use the dried juice form, called Ku Fan (Dry/Withered Alum), while the non-dried form is Sheng Fan (Raw Alum). If used for ingestion, one must follow proper methods. According to *Jiuding Shendan Mijue*, the method for refining Alum Stone for ingestion: Use a new mulberry wood vessel. Cleanly sweep a secret room, heat the floor by fire, sprinkle water or vinegar on it, then spread Bai Fan on the floor. Cover with a mat, and secure the four sides with ash. After one day and night, the essence of the stone flies onto the mat. Sweep and collect it. Repeat the process until finished; this is called Fan Jing. To make water, dissolve one jin of collected Fan Jing in one dou of three-year-old vinegar, clarifying it. This is called Fan Hua; stored for 100 days is better. For urgent use, seven days suffice."
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sour, cold, non-toxic. Pu stated: Shennong and Qibo said: Sour; long-term use damages bones. Bian Que said: Salty. Lei Gong said: Sour, non-toxic. Xu Zhicai said: Astringent, cool, slightly toxic.
Xu Zhicai stated: Gan Cao (Licorice Root) is its guiding herb; it is incompatible with Mu Li (Oyster Shell) and fears Ma Huang (Ephedra). Dugu Tao stated: Process with Red Heart Ash.
[Indications] Treats chills and fever, dysentery with white discharge, genital erosion and malignant sores, eye pain, and strengthens bones and teeth. Refined and ingested, it lightens the body, prevents aging, and increases lifespan (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Clears persistent heat in the bone marrow, removes nasal polyps (*Mingyi Bielu*). Dispels wind and clears heat, resolves phlegm and stops thirst, warms the Water Organ (Kidney/Bladder), treats stroke-induced aphasia. Bathing with Tao Ren (Peach Kernel) and Cong Tang (Scallion Decoction) induces sweating (Tang Dynasty - Da Ming). Sucking and swallowing saliva treats acute throat obstruction (Bi Syndrome). Treats epistaxis, rat sores (Lymphatic Tuberculosis), scrofula, scabies, and tinea (Tang Dynasty - Zhen Quan). Ku Fan applied to ingrown nails stops bleeding from gum gaps (Song Dynasty - Zongshi). Induces vomiting and purging of phlegm-fluid retention, dries dampness, detoxifies, draws out salivation, stops bleeding and pain, eliminates foul flesh, promotes healthy flesh growth, treats carbuncles, furuncles, malignant sores, epilepsy, jaundice, unblocks large and small intestines, treats diseases of the mouth, teeth, eyes, and wounds from tigers, dogs, snakes, scorpions, and insects (Ming Dynasty - Shizhen). Persian Bai Fan (*Haiyao Bencao*)
[Flavor and Toxicity] Sour, astringent, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats leukorrhea (red and white), genital erosion, dysentery, sores, and scabies. Resolves toxins from all insects and snakes. Removes redness and swelling of the eyes and toothache. Best when calcined (Tang Dynasty - Li Xun). Willow Catkin Alum (*Jiayou Bencao*)
[Flavor and Toxicity] Same as Alum Stone.
[Indications] Resolves phlegm and stops thirst, nourishes the Heart and Liver (Tang Dynasty - Da Ming).
[Invention/Analysis] Tao Hongjing stated: "Common practice involves firing medicine until dry to treat toothache; excessive use damages teeth, which is evidence of bone damage. Yet *Bencao Jing* says it strengthens bones and teeth, which is indeed suspicious."
Kou Zongshi stated: "Do not take in large amounts; it damages the Heart and Lungs because it repels water. Writing with alum solution on paper, once dry, the water cannot wet it again, proving its nature repels water. This is why it is often used in medicines for phlegm below the diaphragm."
Li Shizhen stated: "The uses of Alum Stone are fourfold: Vomiting and purging wind-heat phlegm-saliva, utilizing its sour and bitter draining action; treating various blood pains, rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, and sores, utilizing its sour and astringent astringent action; treating phlegm-fluid retention, dysentery, metrorrhagia/metrostaxis, and wind-eye, utilizing its astringent and drying-dampness action; treating throat obstruction, carbuncles, gu poisoning, and snake/insect bites, utilizing its detoxifying action. Note: *Li Xun Yongju Fang* states: For anyone suffering from carbuncles or back abscesses, regardless of age, Huang Wan (Yellow Pill) should be taken. Taking over one liang is invariably effective, especially for stopping pain without disturbing the zang-fu organs, saving countless lives. Use one liang of bright Bai Fan ground raw, melt seven qian of good yellow beeswax, mix and pill to the size of wutong seeds. Take ten pills per dose, gradually increasing to twenty pills, washed down with cooked water. If not ruptured, it dissipates internally; if ruptured, it heals immediately. If sores are caused by mineral drugs, take one or two spoons of Bai Fan powder mixed in warm wine, showing effect in three to five doses. Someone with widespread sores resembling snake heads also responded well. All formulas claim miraculous effects, but taking nearly a hundred pills a day provides strength. This drug not only stops pain and generates flesh but also prevents toxic vapors from attacking internally, protects membranes, stops diarrhea, and greatly aids in pushing out pus. Taking half a jin is particularly good. Do not underestimate its simplicity; know that Bai Fan greatly detoxifies. Now called La Wan (Wax Pill), it is indeed effective."
[Attached Formulas] Twenty-five old formulas, sixty-four new formulas.
Stroke with phlegm-jue, limbs unable to move, qi closure and diaphragm blockage: Bai Fan one liang, Ya Zao Jiao (Tartar Bean) five qian. Grind to powder. Take one qian per dose, mixed with warm water, until phlegm is vomited up. (Chen Shigu Formula) Phlegm stagnation in the chest, headache, loss of appetite: Fan Shi one liang, water two sheng, boil to one sheng, add half he of honey, take at once. Expect profuse vomiting shortly; if not vomiting, drink some hot water to induce it. (*Waitai Miyao*) Wind-phlegm epilepsy: Huatan Wan (Phlegm-Resolving Pill): Raw Bai Fan one liang, Fine Tea five qian, grind to powder, refine honey and pill to wutong seed size. Ten pills for one-year-old, taken with tea/water; fifty pills for adults. Long-term use expels phlegm via stool, cutting the root of the disease. (Deng Bifeng *Zaxing*) Pediatric fetal cold, crying inducing epilepsy: Bai Fan roasted for half a day, pill with jujube meat to millet size. One pill under milk feeding, stop when cured; excellent for removing phlegm. (*Baoyou Daquan*) Postpartum muteness: Hu Shi Gufeng San: One qian of raw Bai Fan powder, mixed with cooked water. (*Furen Liangfang*) Locked jaw unable to open: Bai Fan and Yanhua (Salt Flower) in equal parts. Apply externally; saliva flows out and jaw opens. (*Jijian Fang*) Rapid-onset throat obstruction: Apply raw Bai Fan powder on a cotton swab, press into throat, breaks immediately. Cotton swab made by wrapping cotton around elm twig to date size. (*Rumen Shiqin Fang*) Throat abscess/polydactyly tonsils: *Jisheng* Zhangdai San: Three qian of alum, melt in iron pot, add three split bitter almonds, fry until dry, remove almonds, grind alum. Insert into throat for immediate cure. Severe cases, mix with vinegar and pour. Also called Tongguan San. Processed Wulong Dan: Fill pig gallbladder with Bai Fan powder, air-dry, grind. Blow one qian into throat to extract phlegm. Swollen painful throat/gullet: Sprinkle small amount of raw Alum Stone powder on swollen area, induce salivation, stop when itching occurs. (*Shenghui Fang*) Wind-heat sore throat: Half jin of Bai Fan, grind to powder, dissolve in water. Soak a new brick, dry in sun, repeat until water dries. Soak in latrine for one month, wash, place in shade, wait for frost to form, sweep and collect. Take half qian, washed down with water. (*Puji Fang*) Hanging abscess, long protrusion, chest stuffiness: Calcined Bai Fan and Yanhua in equal parts. Grind to powder. Frequently apply to upper lip with chopstick tip, remove saliva. (Sun Yonghe *Mibao Fang*) Pediatric tongue membrane: Newborns may have white membrane covering tongue or root. Scratch with fingernail to bleed, apply half mung bean size of calcined Alum powder. If not removed, child will be mute. (Yao Hezhong *Zhibao Fang*) Tooth swelling/pain: Bai Fan one liang (calcined to ash), Dalu Fengfang (Large Honeycomb) one liang (lightly roasted), grind to powder. Use two qian, decoct in water, gargle to remove saliva. (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*) Teeth crumbling/almost gone: Wrap Alum Stone in cotton, chew, spit out juice. (*Zhouhou Fang*) Gum bleeding uncontrollable: Alum Stone one liang (calcined). Water three sheng, boil to one sheng, gargle. (*Qianjin Fang*) Wooden tongue/swelling/stiffness: Bai Fan and Guixin (Cinnamon Heart) in equal parts, grind to powder. Place under tongue. (*Shenghui Fang*) Taiyin Mouth Ulcer: Raw Gancao two cun, Bai Fan size of millet grain. Hold in mouth, swallow saliva. (*Huofa Jiyao*) Mouth/tongue ulcers, lower deficiency with upper congestion: Dingzhai Formula: Wash feet with Bai Fan soaked water. Zhang Zihe Formula: Equal parts Bai Fan (powder) and Huangdan (Malachite, water-ground and roasted), grind, apply. Pediatric oral thrush, rotten white mouth: Ku Fan one qian, Zhusha (Cinnabar) two fen. Grind to powder. Apply small amount occasionally, three times daily, miraculous. (*Puji Fang*) Pediatric tongue ulcer, inability to suckle: Mix Bai Fan with egg, place in vinegar, apply to infant's soles, heal in 14 days. (*Qianjin Fang*) Bad breath: Ming Fan (Bright Alum), add She Xiang (Musk), grind to powder, rub on teeth. (*Shengsheng Bian*) Uncontrollable epistaxis: Blow Ku Fan powder, miraculous. (*Shengji Fang*) Nasal polyps: *Qianjin*: Calcine alum to powder, mix with pig fat, wrap in cotton, insert into nose. Polyps exit with medicine after several days. Alternative: Ming Fan one liang, Ricinus Seed seven, Salt Plum Flesh five, She Xiang one zi, pound into pill. Wrap in cotton, insert, melts into water and drains downward. Eyebrow loss: Bai Fan ten liang. Calcine, grind, pill with steamed bread dough to wutong seed size. Take seven pills on empty stomach with warm water, increase one pill daily until day 49, then decrease one pill daily, cycle until healed. (*Shengji Lu*) Strange macule syndrome: Person with red eyes, bulging nose, severe panting, whole body covered in spots, hair like copper/iron. Heat-toxin vapor accumulated in Lower Jiao. Bai Fan and Huashi (Talc) each one liang, grind to powder, take as one dose. Decoct three bowls of water to half, administer continuously until finished, then stable. (Xia Zi Yi *Qiji Fang*) Eye nebula/pterygium: Put Bai Fan Stone size of millet grain into eye, induce tearing. Use daily, bad fluid goes, disease decreases daily. (*Waitai Miyao*) White membrane on eye: Fan Shi one sheng. Water four ge, decoct in copper vessel to half ge, add little honey, filter through cotton. Instill three to four times daily. (Yao Hezhong *Yanling Zhibao Fang*) Red eye wind-swelling: Grind Ming Fan in Gancao water, apply to eyelids, effective. Or frequently rub Ku Fan on glabella. (*Jijian Fang*) Rotting eyelid margin wind-eye: Calcined Bai Fan one liang, Tongqing (Verdigris) three qian. Grind to powder, soak in hot water, clarify, instill/wash. (*Yonglei Fang*) Ear discharge: Ku Fan one liang, Qiandan (Lead Tetroxide, roasted) one qian. Grind to powder, blow into ear daily. (*Shengji Lu*) Sudden death with high fever: Fan Shi half jin, water one dan and half, decoct soup, soak feet and ankles, revive immediately. (*Zhouhou Fang*) Podagra rushing to heart: Bai Fan three liang. Water one dan and five sheng, boil, soak/wash. (*Qianjin Fang*) Wind-damp knee pain, foot/knee wind-damp, deficiency sweating, weakness, many pains, and yin sweat. One spoonful of calcined Alum powder, throw into boiling water, rinse painful area. (*Yuyao Yuan Fang*) Yellow edema/water swelling: Tuiche Wan: Ming Fan two liang, Qing Fan (Green Alum) one liang, White Flour half jin, stir-fry together until red, paste with vinegar-boiled rice flour, pill. Take thirty pills with jujube soup. (*Jiji Fang*) Female labor jaundice/yellow family, afternoon fever with aversion to cold, bladder urgency, lower abdominal fullness, whole body yellow, forehead black, heat under feet, resulting in Black Jaundice. Abdominal distension like water, stool must be black, sometimes loose. This is female labor disease, not water swelling. Caused by great fatigue/heat, entering water after intercourse. Full abdomen is difficult to treat. Use Fan Shi (calcined) and Xiao Shi (roasted yellow) in equal parts, grind to powder. Mix with barley porridge juice, take one cun-bi. Three times daily. Disease exits via large/small intestine, urine becomes truly yellow, stool truly black, this is the sign. (Zhang Zhongjing *Jingui Fang*) Female jaundice, irregular menstruation, caused by sexual activity contact. Bai Fan and Huangla (Yellow Beeswax) each half liang, Chenjupi (Aged Tangerine Peel) three qian. Grind to powder, melt wax, pill to wutong seed size. Take fifty pills, washed down with Zixue Tang or Tiaojing Tang. (*Jiyin Fang*) Female white discharge, irregular menstruation, hard masses in uterus, dry blood inside, white discharge. Use Fan Shi three parts (calcined), Xingren (Apricot Seed) one part, grind evenly, refine honey, pill to date pit size, insert into uterus, change daily. (Zhang Zhongjing *Jingui Fang*) Female vaginal prolapse with itching: Calcine and grind Alum Stone, take one cun-bi with wine on empty stomach, three times daily. (*Qianjin Yi*) Male/female enuresis: Ku Bai Fan and Muli Fen (Oyster Powder) in equal parts. Grind to powder. Take one cun-bi, washed down with warm wine, three times daily. (*Yu Jushi Xuanqi Fang*) Urinary and fecal obstruction: Fill umbilicus with Bai Fan powder, drip fresh water, feel cold penetrating abdomen, naturally unblocks. If flat umbilicus, surround with paper ring. (*Jingyan Fang*) Cholera vomiting/diarrhea: Ku Bai Fan powder one qian, mixed with boiling water. (Hua Tuo Weibing Fang) Summerheat hidden diarrhea: Yuhua Dan: Calcined Bai Fan powder, vinegar paste pill. Dosage by size, washed down with Papaya Soup. (*Jingyan Fang*) Elderly continuous diarrhea: Ku Bai Fan one liang, Helile (Chebula, roasted) seven qian half. Grind to powder. Take two qian with rice drink, until cured. (*Taiping Shenghui Fang*) Red/white dysentery: Bai Fan passed through water, grind to powder, good vinegar, refined wheat flour, pill to wutong seed size. Red dysentery, washed down with Gancao Soup; White dysentery, washed down with Ganjiang Soup. (*Shengsheng Fang*) Qi dysentery unceasing: Bashí Wan: Take one da jin of Bai Fan, burn on clean charcoal fire until juice is gone, color like snow, called Bashí. Take one liang, grind to powder, make pills with cooked beef liver to wutong seed size. Empty stomach, adjust dosage. Water buffalo liver is better. For vegetarians, use steamed bread pill. Or say green/black Bai Fan is called Bashí. (Liu Yuxi *Chuanxin Fang*) Cold consumption dysentery/appetite loss, other drugs ineffective: Bai Fan three liang (calcined), Sheep Liver one piece (remove fat), strong vinegar three sheng, boil until soft, mash into paste, mix and pill to wutong seed size. Take twenty pills, washed down with rice drink, morning and evening. (*Puji Fang*) Diarrhea/dysentery: Bailong Dan: Calcined Ming Fan powder, refined wheat flour vinegar paste pill to wutong seed size. Take 20-30 pills, White Dysentery with Ginger Soup; Red Dysentery with Gancao Soup; Diarrhea with Rice Soup. (*Jingyan Fang*) Malaria chills/fever: Same formula above, washed down with decoction of seven Southeast Peach Hearts. Regurgitation/vomiting: Bai Fan and Liuhuang (Sulfur) each two liang, roast in pot, add Zhusha one fen, grind to powder, wheat paste pill to soybean size. Take fifteen pills with Ginger Soup. Another formula: Ku Bai Fan three liang, steamed bread pill to wutong seed size. Take fifteen pills with rice drink on empty stomach. (*Puji Fang*) Resolve phlegm/cough: Ming Fan two liang, Sheng Shen (Raw Ginseng) powder one liang, bitter vinegar two sheng. Boil into paste, wrap in oil paper, pill to pea size. Take one pill, place under tongue, cough stops immediately, phlegm dissolves. *Dingxi Hou Fang*: Only Ming Fan powder, vinegar paste pill to wutong seed size. Take 20-30 pills with tea before sleep. *Zhaiyao*: Equal parts Ming Fan (half raw half calcined) and Shanzhizi (Gardenia, charred black), grind to powder, ginger juice paste pill. Take as above. *Zaxing Fang*: Equal parts Bai Ming Fan and Jiancha (Jian Tea), grind to powder, paste pill. All Heart-Qi Pain: *Rumen Shiqin* Formula: Raw Alum size of soap pod, one cup vinegar, decoct to 70%, take, stops immediately. Shao Zhenren Formula: Ming Fan one liang (calcined), Zhusha one qian, Jinbo (Gold Foil) three sheets, grind to powder. Take one qian half, washed down with plain water on empty stomach.