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[Correction] Merged with Raw Silver (Sheng Yin) from *Kaibao Bencao*.
[Names] White Metal (Bai Jin, *Bencao Gangmu*), Wu (Wu, gilding or white copper).
Li Shizhen states: *Erya* records that silver is called "Yin," and the finest quality is called "Guan" (Guàn, a type of silver ornament). *Shuowen Jiezi* states: "Wu is white metal." The Sanskrit term is Aluba.
[Collection and Explanation] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Silver flakes are produced in Yongchang, collected at any time.
Tao Hongjing states: The sources of silver are the same as gold, but it is found in the earth. The methods of refining and ingesting are also similar to gold. Yongchang belonged to Yizhou, and now belongs to Ningzhou.
Su Gong states: Silver and gold have different origins; silver is found everywhere, but the best comes from Guozhou (modern Lingbao, Henan). Others often contain lead impurities and are inferior. Silver foil from Goryeo claims not to be mined from silver ore, but its color is bluish and inferior to that of Guozhou.
Kou Zongshi states: Raw silver is found in silver mines in Leping and other areas of Raozhou. It resembles hard tin; those with rough, interlaced, and natural textures are genuine.
Su Song states: Silver in the ore is mixed with copper. Locals mine it and refine it repeatedly with lead to produce refined silver (Shu Yin). Raw silver (Sheng Yin) is taken directly from raw silver ore, resembling hard tin. In gold mines, silver seeps through soil and rock into strips like silk hairs, locally called "Old Man's Beard" (Lao Weng Xu), which is extremely rare. Medical texts specify that only this kind counts as genuine raw silver.
Tang Shenwei states: According to *Nanyue Zhi*, Persia has naturally occurring medicinal silver used for test rings. Silver accumulates under pots used for grinding cinnabar over many years, called "Cup-Lead Silver" (Bei Qian Yin), which is lustrous and soft, similar in efficacy to Persian silver, though rare. Modern smelters obtain only one or two zhu of silver per jin of raw lead. *Shan Hai Jing* states: Tangshao Mountain in Leping Commandery in the northeast produces much silver. Silver from Qian is hard and unsuitable for medicine.
Chen Cheng states: Silver comes from ore and must be refined before use, hence called refined silver. Raw silver refers to silver that forms naturally rather than being mined, also called "Old Man's Beard." Their uses differ. Alchemists synthesize silver from cinnabar, lead-mercury mixtures, or scorched copper. Since these lack the qi of creation, they cannot be used in medicine and must be distinguished.
Li Shizhen states: Silver is produced in mountains in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jinghu, Raozhou, Xinzhou, Guangzhou, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Some is smelted from ore, some from sand and soil. This raw silver is commonly known as "Silver Bamboo Shoot" (Yin Sun) or "Silver Tooth" (Yin Ya), also called "Mountain-Emerging Silver." Dugu Tao’s *Danfang Jingyuan* describes brown stones from lead pits shaped like shoots; when broken, they are white inside, named Natural Tooth, Natural Lead, or Raw Lead. These undergo transformation and are unfit for ingestion, referring to this substance. *Guanzi* states: Where there is lead above, there is silver below. *Dijing Tu* states: Where green onions grow on the mountain, silver lies beneath. The qi of silver appears pure white at night, dispersing on the ground, its essence transforming into a white rooster. *Baozang Lun* states there are seventeen types of silver plus four others. "Natural Tooth" grows in stone crevices within silver mines, looking like tangled silk; red ones are superior, those turning purple-white like root fibers upon heating are secondary, and those holding black stones are most peculiar. Produced in mountains producing lead in Leping and Poyang, also named Dragon Tooth or Dragon Whisker, this is true raw silver, non-toxic, and the fundamental basis for excellent medicine. Raw silver forms in stone ores into irregular blocks resembling hard tin. "Mother Cinnabar Silver" grows in cinnabar caves in Wuxi, with reddish luster. "Black Lead Silver" derives qi from mother and child. These four are true silver. Water Mercury Silver, Grass Cinnabar Silver, Tsengqing Silver, Malachite Silver, Realgar Silver, Orpiment Silver, Sulfur Silver, Chalcanthite Silver, and Spirit Grass Silver are all made by pharmaceutical processes. Danyang Silver, Copper Silver, Iron Silver, and White Tin Silver are chemically altered by reagents; these thirteen are fake silver. Additionally, there are four high-quality types: Silla Silver, Persian Silver, Linyi Silver, and Yunnan Silver.

Silver Flakes (Yin Xi)
[Processing] Tao Hongjing states: Used in medical formulas for calming the heart, but should not be taken directly. To make flakes, grind with mercury until dissolved.
Su Gong states: Physicians use ready-made silver foil, dissolving it in mercury to form a paste, mixing with saltpeter and salt, grinding into powder, heating to remove mercury, washing away salt and stones, resulting in very fine powder for optimal use. Simply grinding into fragments is insufficient.
Li Shizhen states: For medicinal use, thin silver foil is preferred. If prepared with mercury, salt, and saltpeter, it becomes toxic.
*Longmu Lun* calls it Silver Liquid (Yin Ye). Tin foil may be used as a counterfeit and should be distinguished.
[Taste and Property] Acrid, Neutral. Toxic.
Tang Shenwei states: Greatly Cold, Non-toxic. See details under Raw Silver.
[Indications] Calms the five viscera, stabilizes the mind and spirit, stops palpitations and fright, eliminates pathogenic factors. Long-term use lightens the body and prolongs life (*Mingyi Bielu*). Stabilizes will, removes fright and epilepsy, treats infantile convulsions and manic running (Zhen Quan). Breaks cold and dispels wind (Qingxiazi). Silver Foil: Strengthens bones, calms the heart and brightens eyes, eliminates wind-heat and epilepsy. Used in pills and powders (Li Xun).

Raw Silver (Sheng Yin)
[Taste and Property] Acrid, Cold, Non-toxic. Dugu Tao states: Lead-contained silver is toxic.
Baosheng states: Averse to Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian), Licorice Root (Gancao), Bidens Pilosa (Feilian), Stilbite (Shitingzhi), and Arsenic Trioxide (Pishi). Dislikes Sheep Blood and Ma Mu Du Gong (a venomous insect).
Daming states: Cold, slightly toxic. Averse to Magnetite (Cishi), dislikes Tin, avoids raw blood.
Li Shizhen states: Lotus leaf and mushroom ash can powder silver. Antelope Horn, Cuttlefish Bone, Rat Tail, Turtle Shell, Fresh Ginger, Rehmannia Root, and Magnetite can thin silver. Lamb fat and Perilla Seed can soften silver.
[Indications] Heat-induced mania and palpitations, onset of epilepsy with confusion, restless sleep with delirium, pathogenic factors and malevolent influences.
Ingestion brightens the eyes, calms the heart, and stabilizes the spirit. For various heat-toxin erysipelas in infants, grind with water and ingest; efficacy surpasses Zi Xue (*Kaibao Bencao*). For infantile evil invasion with heat-toxin and restlessness, grind with water and ingest (Daming). Boil in water with scallion white and rice to make porridge; treats restless fetus and bleeding (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Wang Haogu states: White silver corresponds to the Lung.
Su Song states: Silver flakes are used in Ge Hong’s *Zhouhou Beiji Fang* in the Five Minerals Decoction for carbuncles.
Chen Cheng states: Materia Medica states silver flakes are toxic while raw silver is non-toxic, an omission by commentators. Raw silver has dispersed outward, lacking stagnant qi, thus non-toxic. Ore silver remains trapped in stone with condensed, unventilated qi, thus toxic.
Li Shizhen states: This view is incorrect. Raw silver freshly smelted retains its natural texture and is non-toxic. When melted with a little copper, it forms golden flower patterns; too much copper ruins it, but removing copper restores it. However, residual copper cannot be fully removed, and forgers add mineral salts, lead, and tin. Ancient methods used mercury to dissolve silver into foil paste for medicine, rendering silver flakes toxic. Silver itself is non-toxic; the toxicity comes from additives. Modern people use silver vessels for food and drink; they turn black upon contact with poison. Silver objects are used to test for poisoning in deceased persons, proving silver is non-toxic. Its medicinal use aligns with soothing the liver and calming timidity. Thus, *Taiqing Fuliang Shu* states: Silver embodies the acrid-yin spirit of the West, condensing essence into substance. Its nature is rigid and harsh; ingestion harms the liver, which is correct. *Baopuzi* claims drinking liquid silver grants immortality, which is alchemical fallacy and unreliable.
Tang Shenwei states: Gold, silver, copper, and iron should only be placed whole in decoctions to impart their qi and enhance efficacy, not ingested, as they consume body fat.
[Attached Formulas] Two old, four new.
Pregnancy lower back pain like breaking: Silver 1 liang, water 3 sheng, decoct to 2 sheng, ingest (*Zimu Milu*).
Fetus moving dangerously with unbearable pain: Silver 5 liang, Ramie Root 2 liang. Clear wine 1 zhan, water 1 large zhan, decoct to 1 zhan, take warm (*Funren Liangfang*).
Fetal heat causing oppression: Raw Silver 5 liang, Scallion White 3 cun, Fried Donkey-hide Gelatin 0.5 liang. Water 1 zhan, decoct and ingest. Can add glutinous rice for porridge (*Shenghui Fang*).
Wind toothache: Wen Silver 1 liang, heat red-hot, quench in 1 zhan of distilled liquor, gargle and drink hot for immediate relief (*Jijian Fang*). Mouth/nose gangrene eroding lips and cheeks: Silver Flakes 1 liang, water 3 sheng, decoct in copper vessel to 1 sheng, wash 3-4 times daily (*Shengji Lu*).
Red spots on body/face: Rub frequently with silver until warm; gradually disappears (*Qianjin Yi Fang*).

[Appendix] Yellow Silver (Huang Yin, *Bencao Shiyi*)
Su Gong states: Yellow Silver is not recorded in Materia Medica. Folklore says it wards off evil as an auspicious object.
Zangqi states: Recorded in *Ruiwu Tujing*, since it can be made into vessels, it is clearly not an auspicious omen.
Li Shizhen states: According to *Fang Shuo Bozhai Bian*, Yellow Silver originates in Shu, looks like gold but turns white when touching stone. *Xiong Taigu Ji Yue Ji* states Yellow Silver is rare; Daoists say ghosts fear it. *Liutie* records Emperor Taizong granting Fang Xuanling a belt, noting folklore that ghosts fear Yellow Silver. *Chunqiu Yundou Shu* states if a ruler bears the virtue of Metal, Yellow Silver appears. People mistaking certain stones for Yellow Silver are wrong. That stone is actually yellow brass formed by alchemy.

Black Silver (Wu Yin)
Zangqi states: People smoke silver with sulfur, wait two nights, then wash it, turning it black. Craftsmen use it for vessels. Health cultivators use these vessels to boil medicine and collect dew at night from heights of one or two zhang in courtyards to drink, promoting longevity and warding off evil.