（《本经》中品）
【释名】铁液（《别录》）、铁屑（《拾遗》）、铁蛾。
弘景曰∶铁落，是染皂铁浆也。
恭曰∶是锻家烧铁赤沸，砧上锻之，皮甲落者。若以浆为铁落，则钢浸之汁，复谓何等？
落是铁皮，滋液黑于余铁，故又名铁液。
时珍曰∶生铁打铸，皆有花出，如兰如蛾，故俗谓之铁蛾，今烟火家用之。铁末浸醋书
字于纸，背后涂墨，如碑字也。
【气味】辛，平，无毒。
《别录》曰∶甘。
【主治】风热恶疮，疡疽疮痂，疥气在皮肤中（《本经》）。
除胸膈中热气，食不下，止烦，去黑子，可以染皂（《别录》）。治惊邪癫痫，小儿客忤，
消食及冷气，并煎汁服之（大明）。主鬼打鬼疰邪气，水渍沫出，澄清，暖饮一二杯（藏器）。
炒热投酒中饮，疗贼风痉。又裹以熨腋下，疗狐臭，有验（苏恭）。平肝去怯，治善怒发狂
（时珍）。
【发明】时珍曰∶按《素问·病态论》云∶帝曰∶有病怒狂者，此病安生？
岐伯曰∶生于阳也。阳气者，暴折而不决，故善怒，病名阳缺。曰∶何以知之？曰∶阳
明者常动，巨阳、少阳不动而动大疾，此其候也。治之当夺其食即已。夫食入于阴，长气于
阳，故夺其食即已。以生铁落为饮。夫生铁落者，下气疾也。此《素问》本文也，愚尝释之
云∶阳气怫郁而不得疏越，少阳胆木，挟三焦少阳相火、巨阳阴火上行，故使人易怒如狂，
其巨阳、少阳之动脉，可诊之也。夺其食，不使胃火复助其邪也。饮以生铁落，金以制木也。
木平则火降，故曰下气疾速，气即火也。又李仲南《永类方》云∶肿药用铁蛾及针砂入丸子
者，一生须断盐。盖盐性濡润，肿若再作，不可为矣。制法∶用上等醋煮半日，去铁蛾，取
醋和蒸饼为丸。每姜汤服三、四十丸，以效为度，亦只借铁气尔，故《日华子》云煎汁服之。
不留滞于脏腑，借铁虎之气以制肝木，使不能克脾土，土不受邪，则水自消矣。铁精、铁粉、
铁华粉、针砂、铁浆入药，皆同此意。
【附方】新一。
小儿丹毒∶ 铁屎研末，猪脂和敷之。（《千金方》）
(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Names] Tieye (Iron Liquid, from *Mingyi Bie Lu*), Tiexie (Iron Filings, from *Xinxiu Bencao · Shiyi*), Tie'e (Iron Moths).
Tao Hongjing stated: "Tieluo" is the iron slurry used for dyeing silk black.
Su Gong stated: "It is the scale that falls off when blacksmiths heat iron until red-hot and forge it on an anvil. If one were to use iron slurry as 'Tieluo', then what would one call the juice obtained by soaking steel?"
"Tieluo" refers to flakes of iron skin; its infused liquid is darker than other irons, hence also named "Tieye".
Li Shizhen stated: "When cast iron is forged, patterns emerge on the surface, resembling orchids or moths, hence commonly called 'Tie'e' (Iron Moths), which are now used by pyrotechnicians. Iron filings soaked in vinegar can be used to write characters on paper; ink is applied to the back, resembling inscriptions on stone steles."
[Properties and Flavor] Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic.
*Mingyi Bie Lu* records: Sweet.
[Indications] Treats severe sores caused by Wind-Heat, carbuncles, ulcers with crusts, and scabies qi within the skin (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Clears hot qi in the chest and diaphragm, aids digestion when food intake is difficult, relieves irritability, removes dark spots, and can be used to dye silk black (*Mingyi Bie Lu*). Treats fright evil and epilepsy, pediatric Ke Wu (a condition in children caused by fright or alien influences), promotes digestion, and dispels cold qi; all should be taken as a decoction (*Tang Bencao*). Mainly treats Gui Da (ghost strike) and Gui Zhu (ghost consumption) evil qi; soak in water, remove foam, clarify, and drink one or two cups warm (*Bencao Shiyi*). Heat-fried and thrown into wine for drinking treats Ze Feng (treacherous wind) causing spasms. Also wrapped in cloth and applied as a hot compress to the armpits to treat axillary osmidrosis (fox odor), with verified efficacy (Su Gong). Calms the Liver, removes timidity, and treats excessive anger and mania (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: According to *Suwen · Bingtai Lun*: The Yellow Emperor asked, "There is a person suffering from anger and mania; how does this disease arise?"
Qibo answered, "It arises from Yang. When Yang Qi suffers sudden frustration and fails to resolve, the person becomes prone to anger; the disease is named Yang Jue (Yang Reversal)." The Yellow Emperor asked, "How do you know this?" Qibo said, "The Yangming channel usually pulsates, while the Taiyang and Shaoyang channels do not; if they pulsate rapidly and vigorously, this is the sign. Treatment involves depriving the patient of food, which will cure it. Food enters the Yin and generates Qi in the Yang; thus, depriving food cures it. One should drink Shengtie Luo (Raw Iron Drops). Shengtie Luo is a substance that descends Qi rapidly." This is the original text of *Suwen*. I have interpreted it as follows: When Yang Qi is stagnant and cannot vent freely, the Wood of the Shaoyang Gallbladder, carrying the Ministerial Fire of the Sanjiao and Shaoyang, and the Yin Fire of the Taiyang, ascends, causing people to become easily angered and manic. The pulses of the Taiyang and Shaoyang channels can be diagnosed here. Depriving food prevents Stomach Fire from further assisting the pathogen. Drinking Shengtie Luo uses Metal to control Wood. When Wood is balanced, Fire descends; hence it is said to descend Qi rapidly, where Qi is Fire. Furthermore, Li Zhongnan's *Yonglei Fang* states: For pills treating edema containing Tie'e and Zhen Sha, salt must be strictly avoided for life. Because salt has a moistening nature, if edema recurs, it will be incurable. Preparation method: Boil superior grade vinegar for half a day, remove the Tie'e, take the vinegar, mix with steamed dough balls to make pills. Take 30–40 pills each time with Ginger Decoction, adjusting until effective. This merely borrows the Qi of iron; hence *Rihua Zi Bencao* states it should be taken as a decoction. The Qi of iron does not stagnate in the Zang-Fu organs; it borrows the Qi of the Iron Tiger to control Liver Wood, preventing Liver Wood from overacting on Spleen Earth. Since Spleen Earth is not attacked by pathogens, Water naturally dissipates. Tie Jing (Iron Essence), Tie Fen (Iron Powder), Tie Hua Fen (Iron Flower Powder), Zhen Sha (Needle Sand), and Tie Jiang (Iron Slurry) used in medicine all follow this principle.
[Attached Prescriptions] New Prescription 1.
Pediatric Dan Du (Erysipelas): Grind Tieshi (Iron Excrement/Slag) into powder, mix with Pig Fat, and apply externally (*Qianjin Fang*).