Library

Stone Category, Item 40

(From *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Middle Grade)
**Names**: Yangqishi (Sheep-Rising Stone) [also known as: Yangqi Shi (from *Mingyi Bielu*); Baishi (White Stone) (from *Shennong Bencao Jing*); Shisheng (Stone Born) (from *Mingyi Bielu*)].
Li Shizhen states: Named according to its efficacy.

**Collection and Description**: *Mingyi Bielu* states: Yangqishi is found in the valleys of Mount Qi, Langya, Yunshan, or Yangqi Mountain; it is the root of Yunmu (Muscovite). It can be harvested at any time.
Su Song states: Found on Mount Tai.
Tao Hongjing states: The origin of this stone is the same as that of Yunmu, and it resembles Yunmu very closely, differing only in thickness. The Yangqishi used today comes from Yizhou, where it is found mixed with Fanshi (Alumen), appearing slightly yellow-black. However, it is unclear which one is Fanshi and which is the root of Yunmu. It is rarely used by the common people but is recorded in *Xianjing* for ingestion.
Su Gong states: This stone is considered superior if its white texture resembles dark red and it contains moist, Yunmu-like inclusions; hence, *Shennong Bencao Jing* calls it Baishi. The pure black ones resembling charcoal currently in use are erroneous. The black variety of Yunmu is called Yundan; since ingesting it harms the human body, black Yangqishi must also be harmful. Mount Qi is located northwest of Qizhou and does not produce Yangqishi. The stone is actually produced in Lushan, six or seven li northwest of Mount Qi. The character "Yun" or "Lu" in *Shennong Bencao Jing* is likely a textual error. Mount Tai and Yizhou only produce black varieties, while the white variety is exclusively produced in Qizhou.
Kou Zongshi states: The yellow variety from Mount Tai is excellent, and the white variety from Queshan in Xingzhou is also good.
Su Song states: Currently, it is only produced in Qizhou and nowhere else. Qizhou has only one earthen mountain where the stone is found, locally called Yangqi Mountain. This mountain often emits warm air; even in deep winter when snow covers the entire region, this mountain remains free of accumulated snow, likely due to the steaming effect of the stone's qi. There is only one mine shaft on the mountain, which is usually sealed off by officials. In early winter, the prefecture conscripts laborers to supervise extraction. Over years, the shaft becomes deeper, making it difficult to extract by chiseling through other stones. The best quality is white, translucent, and resembles wild wolf teeth. Blocks containing other stones are inferior. After annual selection for tribute, the remainder is sold in the prefecture; otherwise, it is unobtainable. Although many vendors exist, high-quality specimens are hard to find. Old theories claim it is the root of Yunmu containing mica, but this is no longer observed. Ancient prescriptions did not use it for ingestion, but modern tonifying formulas frequently employ it.
Li Shizhen states: The best quality today is light and loose, with cloud-head and rain-foot textures resembling wild wolf teeth. Those with dense, horn-like growths are poor. *Wang Jianping Dian Shu* states: Yellow-white, heavy, and thick varieties are good, being the root of Yunmu. *Gengxin Yuce* states: Yangqi is a yang stone. The best comes from Jinshan in Qizhou; those with tips resembling arrowheads have strong potency, while those resembling dog teeth have weak potency. True Yangqishi disappears suddenly when placed in heavy snow.

**Processing**: Daming states: For medicinal use, it should be calcined until red and quenched in water; the condensed white residue is preferred.
Li Shizhen states: Calcine in fire until red, quench in wine seven times, grind into fine powder, wash with water (shui fei), and dry in the sun. Alternatively, soak in distilled liquor, combine with Zhangnao (Borneolum Syntheticum), distill in a jar, and collect the powder.

**Flavor and Toxicity**: Salty, slightly warm, non-toxic. Su Song records: Shennong and Bian Que state: Sour, non-toxic; Tongjun, Leigong, and Qibo state: Salty, non-toxic; Li Dangzhi states: Slightly cold.
Chen Cangqi states: Sweet, neutral.
Meng Shen states: Sangpiaoxiao (Ootheca Mantidis) acts as its guide drug. It is incompatible with Zexie (Alisma Rhizoma), Jungui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Leiwan (Folium Polypori), Shikuai (Lapis Calaminariae), and Shedupi (Ophichthidis Cutis). It fears Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen) and avoids Yangxue (Blood of Sheep). It is not used in decoctions.

**Indications**: Metrorrhagia and metrorrhaxis, breaking up blood stasis in the uterus, masses and stagnant qi, abdominal pain with alternating cold and heat, infertility, impotence, and tonifying deficiencies (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Treating coldness of the glans penis, damp-itching in the genital area, eliminating foul sweat, and reducing edema. Long-term use prevents hunger and promotes fertility (*Mingyi Bielu*). Tonifies Kidney qi and essence deficiency, lower back pain, cold knees, damp-bi syndrome, chronic uterine cold, cold masses, and irregular menstruation (Zhen Quan).
Treats leukorrhea, cold qi from warm epidemics, and tonifies the five exhaustions and seven injuries (Daming). Tonifies the insufficiency of Mingmen (Hao Gu).
Disperses various heat-induced swellings (Li Shizhen).

**Elucidation**: Zhang Yuansu states: For men and women with deficiency-cold in the lower jiao, exhaustion of Kidney qi, and chronic cold in the Zi Zang (uterus), it must be processed by water washing. All mineral drugs, whether cold or hot in nature, possess toxicity and should be used with caution.
Li Shizhen states: Yangqishi is a drug for the qi aspect of the Right Kidney and Mingmen. It is suitable for deficiency-cold of the Lower Jiao, but it is not a substance for long-term consumption. Zhang Hezi’s *Rumen Shiqin* states: Houbi (throat obstruction) is a disease of rapid Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire). Xianghuo is Dragon Fire, which should be driven out by fire. A man suffered from Chanhoufeng (peritonsillar abscess/swelling), affecting both exterior and interior, making oral medication impossible. Cool medicine was instilled into the nose, resulting in more than ten evacuations. Externally, equal parts of Yangqishi (calcined red) and Fulonggan (Dragon’s House Earth) were ground into fine powder and applied daily with fresh well water, rubbed one hundred times. After three days, the heat subsided, and the swelling decreased. This is an example of treating contrary to the apparent symptoms (Congzhi).

**Attached Prescriptions**: Three new prescriptions.
Dan Du (Erysipelas) with swelling and itching: Grind Yangqishi, mix with fresh water, and apply topically (*Rumen Shiqin*).
Yuanqi deficiency-cold, seminal emission without restraint, loose stools, and cold extremities: Equal parts of Yangqishi (ground) and Zhongru Fen (Stalactitum Powder). Mix with powdered Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) boiled in wine and paste made of flour to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take fifty pills on an empty stomach with rice drink, until cured (*Jisheng Fang*).
Impotence and damp sweat in the genital area: Grind Yangqishi into powder. Take two qian each time, washed down with salted wine (*Pujifang*).