（《日华》）
【释名】鹏砂（《日华》）、盆砂。
时珍曰∶名义未解。一作硼砂。或云∶炼出盆中结成，谓之盆砂，如盆硝之义也。
【集解】颂曰∶硼砂出南海，其状甚光莹，亦有极大块者。诸方稀用，可焊金银。
宗 曰∶南番者，色重褐，其味和，入药其效速；西戎者，其色白，其味焦，入药其功
缓。
时珍曰∶硼砂生西南番，有黄白二种。西者白如明矾，南者黄如桃胶，皆是炼结成，
如砂之类。西者柔物去垢，杀五金，与硝石同功，与砒石相得也。
【气味】苦、辛，暖，无毒。
颂曰∶温、平。时珍曰∶甘、微咸，凉，无毒。独孤滔曰∶制汞，哑铜，结砂子。
土宿真君曰∶知母、鹅不食草、芸苔、紫苏、甑带、何首乌，皆能伏硼砂。同砒石 过
，有变化。
【主治】消痰止嗽，破症结喉痹（大明）。
上焦痰热，生津液，去口气，消障翳，除噎膈反胃，积块结瘀肉，阴溃骨哽，恶疮及口
齿诸病（时珍）。
【发明】颂曰∶今医家用硼砂治咽喉，最为要切。
宗 曰∶含化咽津，治喉中肿痛，膈上痰热。初觉便治，不能成喉痹，亦缓取效可也。
时珍曰∶硼砂，味甘微咸而气凉，色白而质轻，故能去胸膈上焦之热。《素问》云∶热
淫于内，治以咸寒，以甘缓之，是也。其性能柔五金而去垢腻，故治噎膈积聚、骨哽结核、
恶肉阴 用之者，取其柔物也；治痰热、眼目障翳用之者，取其去垢也。洪迈《夷坚志》云∶
鄱阳汪友良，因食误吞一骨，哽于咽中，百计不下。恍惚梦一朱衣人曰∶惟南硼砂最妙。遂
取一块含化咽汁，脱然而失。此软坚之征也。《日华》言其苦辛暖，误矣。
【附方】新十二。
鼻血不止∶硼砂一钱，水服立止。（《集简方》）
劳瘵有虫∶硼砂、 砂、兔屎等分为末，蜜丸梧子大。每服七丸，生甘草一分，新水一
钟，揉汁送下。自朔至望，五更时，令病患勿言，服之。（《乾坤秘韫》）木舌肿强∶硼砂末，
生姜片蘸揩，少时即消。（《普济方》）咽喉谷贼肿痛∶硼砂、牙硝等分为末。蜜和半钱，含
咽。（《直指方》）咽喉肿痛∶破棺丹∶用硼砂、白梅等分。捣丸芡子大。每噙化一丸。（《经
验方》）喉痹牙疳∶盆砂末，吹，并擦之。（《集简方》）骨哽在咽∶方见发明。小儿阴溃，
肿大不消。硼砂一分。水研涂之，大有效。（《集玄方》）饮酒不醉∶先服盆砂二钱，妙。（《相
感志》）饮食毒物∶硼砂四两，甘草四两，真香油一斤。瓶内浸之。遇有毒者，服油一小盏。
久浸尤佳。（《瑞竹堂经验方》）一切恶疮∶方同上。弩肉瘀突∶南鹏砂（黄色者）一钱，片
脑少许。研末。灯草蘸点之。（《直指方》）
【附录】特硼杀（《拾遗》） 藏器曰∶味辛、苦，温，小毒。主飞金石用之，炼丹亦须
用。生西国，似石脂、蛎粉之类，能透金、石、铁无碍下通出。
(From *Ri Hua Ben Cao*)
[Names] Pengsha (from *Ri Hua Ben Cao*), Pensa.
Li Shizhen stated: The meaning of the names is not fully understood. It is also written as "Pengsha" (Borax). Some say: It forms crystals in a basin after refining, hence called Pensa, similar to the meaning of Pensaltpeter.
[Collection and Explanation] Su Song stated: Borax originates from the South Sea. Its appearance is very lustrous and crystal clear; there are also extremely large chunks. It is rarely used in various prescriptions but can be used for soldering gold and silver.
Chen Cheng stated: That from Nanfan (Southern Barbarian lands) is dark brown in color and mild in taste, acting quickly when used in medicine; that from Xirong (Western Rong tribes) is white in color and scorched/bitter in taste, acting slowly in efficacy.
Li Shizhen stated: Borax grows in the southwestern barbarian regions, coming in yellow and white varieties. The western variety is white like alum, while the southern variety is yellow like peach gum. Both are formed by refining and crystallizing, resembling sand grains. The western variety can soften metals and remove dirt, possessing effects similar to Niter (Saltpeter), and is compatible with Realgar.
[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, acrid, warm nature, non-toxic.
Su Song stated: Warm, neutral. Li Shizhen stated: Sweet, slightly salty, cool nature, non-toxic. Dugu Tao stated: It can control Mercury, cause哑铜 (dull copper) to form crystals.
Tusux Zhenjun stated: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Centipedae Herba (Ebusicaocao), Brassica campestris var. tricolor (Yuntao), Perillae Folium (Zisu), Caudex Lycopodii (Zengdai), Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Heshouwu) can all subdue Borax. When processed together with Realgar, changes occur.
[Indications] Eliminates phlegm and stops coughing, breaks up masses and treats throat obstruction (from *Da Ming Ben Cao*).
Upper jiao phlegm-heat, generates body fluids, removes bad breath, eliminates eye cataracts/opacities, treats dysphagia and regurgitation, accumulations, congealed blood stasis and fleshy growths, genital ulceration, bone splinters stuck in the throat, malignant sores, and various oral and dental diseases (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Su Song stated: Currently, physicians use Borax to treat throat diseases, which is most critical.
Chen Cheng stated: Holding it in the mouth to dissolve and swallow the saliva treats swelling and pain in the throat, and upper diaphragm phlegm-heat. If treated at the first sign, it prevents the formation of throat obstruction, or yields slow but effective results.
Li Shizhen stated: Borax has a sweet and slightly salty flavor with a cool qi, is white in color and light in texture, thus it can clear heat from the chest, diaphragm, and upper jiao. The *Suwen* states: "When heat disorders prevail internally, treat them with salty-cold substances, and soothe them with sweet flavors." This is correct. Its property softens metals and removes greasy dirt; therefore, it is used for dysphagia, accumulations, bone splinters, tubercles, malignant flesh, and yin ulcers because of its ability to soften objects; it is used for phlegm-heat and eye opacities because of its ability to remove dirt. Hong Mai's *Yijian Zhi* records: Wang Youliang from Poyang accidentally swallowed a bone, which got stuck in his throat. Despite hundreds of attempts, it would not go down. In a trance, he dreamed of a person in red robes who said: Only Southern Borax is best. He then took a piece, held it in his mouth to dissolve and swallow the juice, and the bone fell out naturally. This is a sign of softening hardness. The statement in *Ri Hua Ben Cao* that it is bitter, acrid, and warm is incorrect.
[Attached Prescriptions] Twelve new prescriptions.
Unceasing epistaxis: One qian of Borax, taken with water, stops immediately. (*Ji Jian Fang*)
Consumption with parasites: Equal parts of Borax, Sal Ammoniac, and rabbit feces are ground into powder and made into pills the size of wutong seeds. Take seven pills each time, with one fen of raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) and one cup of fresh water, rubbed to extract juice and taken orally. From the first to the fifteenth day of the lunar month, during the fifth watch (3-5 AM), instruct the patient not to speak before taking it. (*Qiankun Mi Yun*) Swollen and stiff tongue: Powdered Borax, applied by wiping with slices of fresh ginger root, subsides in a short time. (*Puji Fang*) Swelling and pain of the throat due to "grain thieves": Equal parts of Borax and Glaucium salinum (Yanxiao) are ground into powder. Mixed with honey, half a qian is held in the mouth and swallowed. (*Zhizhi Fang*) Sore throat: Po Guan Dan: Equal parts of Borax and dried plum fruit are pounded and made into pills the size of euryale seed. Hold one pill in the mouth to dissolve each time. (*Jingyan Fang*) Throat obstruction and gingival disease: Powdered Pensa is insufflated into the nose/mouth and wiped on the affected area. (*Ji Jian Fang*) Bone splinter in the throat: See [Elucidation]. Genital ulceration in children with persistent swelling: One fen of Borax, ground with water and applied topically, is highly effective. (*Ji Xuan Fang*) Preventing drunkenness from alcohol: Take two qian of Pensa beforehand; this is excellent. (*Xianggan Zhi*) Poisonous food/drink: Four liang of Borax, four liang of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), and one jin of pure sesame oil are soaked in a bottle. If poisoned food is consumed, take a small cup of this oil. Soaking for a long time is better. (*Ruizhutang Jingyan Fang*) All malignant sores: Same prescription as above. Fleshy protrusions/stasis: One qian of Southern Pengsha (yellow variety) and a small amount of borneol are ground into powder. Applied using a rush pith dipped in the powder. (*Zhizhi Fang*)
[Appendix] Tebosha (from *Shiyi*)
Chen Cangqi stated: Acrid, bitter, warm nature, slightly toxic. Mainly used for smelting metals and stones; also required for alchemy. Originates from Western countries, resembling litharge or oyster shell powder. It can penetrate gold, stone, and iron without hindrance, allowing passage downwards and excretion.