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[Background Information]
Book: Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, 6th Year of Wanli
Chapter: Rock Salt (2/2) / Rongyan (Rong Salt)
Category: Materia Medica

[Original Text Translation]

To relieve the toxicity of yellow flies: There are many small yellow flies in the Wumeng Mountain Gorge, living among the scales of venomous snakes. When they bite people, there is initially no sensation, but gradually itching occurs leading to sores. Do not scratch; simply wash with cold water and rub a little salt on it, and sores will not form. (From *Fangyu Shenglan*)

For snake bites: Chew salt and apply it to the wound, moxibustion for three cones (zhuang), then chew salt and apply again. (From Xu Boyu's Formula)

Strange disease of lice emerging: Upon lying down, lice emerge all over the body, amounting to about five sheng (a unit of volume). This leads to the decay of flesh and blood. The number increases each night, causing indescribable pain and itching. The patient can only drink water, lies in bed crying day and night, with continuous bleeding from the tip of the tongue, blackening of the body and teeth, trembling lips, and open nostrils. Drinking salt and vinegar soup for more than ten days brings relief. (From Xia Ziyi's *Qiji Fang* [Formulas for Strange Diseases])

To relieve the toxicity of wild wolf poison: Drink salt juice. (From *Qianjin Fang* [Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold])

Poison arrow gas/toxicity: Apply salt to the sore, perform moxibustion for thirty cones (zhuang); this is effective. (From *Jiyan Fang* [Collected Proven Formulas])

Rescuing drowning victims: Lay the victim supine on a large stool, elevate the feet high, rub salt into the umbilicus, wait for water to flow out naturally. Do not lift the victim upside down to extract water. (From *Jiuji Fang* [Emergency Rescue Formulas])

Itching from ulcerating carbuncles: Rub salt around the periphery of the lesion; the itching stops immediately. (From *Waike Jingyi* [Essentials of Surgery])

(Listed in the Lower Grade of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

[Names]
Hu Yan (Barbarian Salt) (*Mingyi Bielu*); Qiang Yan (Qiang Salt) (*Rihua Bencao*); Qing Yan (Green Salt) (*Bencao Gangmu*); Tudeng Yan (*Tang Bencao*); Yin Tu Yan (Yin Earth Salt).

Da Ming said: Since it is eaten by the Xifan (Western Tribes), it is called Rong Yan (Rong Salt) or Qiang Yan.

Gong said: Rong Yan is Hu Yan. In Shazhou it is called Tudeng Yan, and in Guozhou it is called Yin Tu Yan. It grows in the rocky soil on the shady side of riverbanks and mountains, hence the name.

[Collection and Explanation]
*Mingyi Bielu* says: Rong Yan grows at Huyan Mountain, as well as in Beidi of the Western Qiang, and the southeast corner of Fulu City in Jiuquan. That from the North Sea is green; that from the South Sea is red. Harvested in the tenth month.

Dangzhi said: Rong Yan has a bitter, foul taste. It is formed when seawater tides wash mountain rocks, and after a long time, salt condenses and adheres to the stones. Those taken from the North Sea are green; those from the South Sea are red.

Hongjing said: Historical books state that there are nine types of salt among the barbarians: Bai Yan (White Salt) and Shi Yan (Common Salt) are for daily consumption; Hei Yan (Black Salt) treats abdominal distension and fullness; Hu Yan treats deafness and eye pain; Rou Yan (Soft Salt) treats horse back sores; there are also Chi Yan (Red Salt), Bo Yan (Mottled Salt), Chou Yan (Foul Salt), and Machi Yan (Horse Tooth Salt) four types, none of which are used for food. Machi Yan is Da Yan (Large Salt); Hei Yan is suspected to be Lu Jian (Halite/Lye); Rou Yan is suspected to be Rong Yan. However, this Rong Yan is also called Hu Yan, causing confusion between the two. Currently, Rong Yan is very common among the barbarians, coming from Liangzhou and Dunhuang. Its shape is like flakes, or like chicken/duck eggs, or like tartary buckwheat grains. The color is purple-white, the taste is not very salty, and it smells foul when tasted, just like rotten eggs; this is the true variety. Also, in the mud of the Yanchi (Salt Pool) in Henan, there is naturally condensed salt like stone flakes, which breaks into squares, is blue-black, and is good for treating horse back sores; I suspect this is Rong Yan. Furthermore, in the northern cliffs of Quxian in Badong, there are salt wells where brine condenses naturally, producing Sanzi Yan (Umbrella Salt), one or two inches square, protruding in the center like an umbrella, or square like gypsum or Go pieces.

Gong said: Rong Yan is Hu Yan, growing in the rocky soil on the shady side of riverbank mountains. Its size varies, it is hard and white like stone, and does not crackle when burned.

Zong said: Rong Yan forms mounds, cut like pillows, fine and white, with a sweet and salty taste.

Song said: The nine types mentioned by Tao [Hongjing] cannot be fully recognized by people today. Physicians often use Qing Yan (Green Salt) for treating eyes and in descending tonic prescriptions, suspecting it to be Rong Yan. The materia medica states: "North Sea is green, South Sea is red." Currently, Qing Yan from the Western Qiang comes in square-edged blocks, bright and translucent, blue-black, which is most unique. That from the North Sea comes in large blocks, not glossy, with many pores like beecombs, and its color is lighter than the western salt. Locals call it Yan Zhen (Salt Pillow), which is inferior for medicinal use. Northern Barbarians also have another type of salt, flaky like broken white stone, also called Qing Yan by them, sealed in boxes, given as gifts along with Salt Pillows. What color category is this?

Shizhen said: The materia medica states regarding Rong Yan: "North Sea is green, South Sea is red." Yet various commentaries use Bai Yan (White Salt), which seems inconsistent with the original text. Checking *Liangzhou Yiwuzhi*, it says: "The ruins of Jianglai, now called Longcheng. A thousand li of saline land, shaped like tribulus. Below it grows salt, accumulating like chess pieces. It originates from the Barbarian State, hence named Rong Yan." The eulogy says: "Two peaks of Salt Mountain, two colors as substance. Red like cinnabar, black like lacquer. Size follows intent, carved into objects. Made into beasts to ward off evil, wearing them is auspicious. Some call Rong Yan, which can treat diseases." This description matches the original text, mentioning only red and black colors, not white. Probably Bai Yan is Guangming Yan (Bright Light Salt), while Qing Yan and Chi Yan are Rong Yan. Thus, *Xiliang Ji* says: "Salt from Qingyan Pool is square, half an inch, stone-like, very sweet and delicious." *Zhenla Ji* says: "There are stones in the mountains, tastier than salt, can be carved into vessels." *Liang Jiegong Zhuan* says: "Between Jiaohe, digging several feet below the gravel, there is Zi Yan (Purple Salt), red-purple, fresh-colored and sweet. About a zhang deeper, there is amber." *Buhu Lu* also says: "Taohua Yan (Peach Blossom Salt) emerges from Zhangye Pool, colored like peach blossoms, waxing and waning with the moon." Currently, in Ningxia near Liangzhou, Qing Yan from salt wells is square, bright, and stone-like. Shandan Wei, which is Zhangye land, has pools producing Hong Yan (Red Salt), which is red. These two salts are the green and red varieties of Rong Yan. Medical formulas only use Qing Yan and do not use Hong Yan, not knowing both are named Rong Yan. The so-called South Sea and North Sea refer to the north and south of the West Sea, not the southern tropical South Sea.

Zhangguo's *Yudong Yaojue* says: Chi Rong Yan comes from the Western Barbarians, inheriting the natural qi of water and soil, condensing into substance. The local water and soil qi is yellow-red, so the salt grows following the earth qi. It is less salty than rock salt, and its power can subdue Yang Essence. If heated in fire until the juice is red-hot, and upon solidification the color becomes more vibrant, it is genuine. It is also called Jiang Yan (Crimson Salt). The book *Baopuzi* has methods for making Chi Yan. Additionally, a type of Hong Yan in Lingnan is dyed, neither being true Hong Yan. Also, *Danfang Jingyuan* says: Man Yan can subdue yin and yang; for making gold, Hong Yan is superior.

[Flavor and Nature]
Salty, Cold, Non-toxic.

Zong said: Sweet, Salty.
Da Ming said: Neutral.

Dugu Tao said: Rong Yan has red and black colors, can stack eggs, dry mercury, and control cinnabar.

[Indications]
Brightens eyes and relieves eye pain, benefits Qi, strengthens muscles and bones, removes toxic gu parasites (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).

Heart and abdominal pain, hematuria, hematemesis, bleeding from teeth and tongue (*Mingyi Bielu*). Assists the Water Organ (Kidney), benefits Essence and Qi, eliminates organ masses and accumulations in the heart and abdomen, painful sores, scabies, and tinea (*Da Ming*). Resolves toxicity of Mylabris (Yuanqing) and Lytta vesicatoria (Banmao) (*Shizhen*).

[Elucidation]
Zong said: Rong Yan is sweet and salty, its function is to stop bleeding and enter the Kidney channel, treating stasis, redness, astringency, and dimness in the eyes.

Shizhen said: Rong Yan has effects similar to Shi Yan (Common Salt), but without needing refining, and its taste is salty with a hint of sweetness, seemingly superior for medicinal use. *Zhouli Zhu* says: Yi Yan (Malt Salt) tastes sweet, which is Rong Yan; I wonder if this is true? Or some say it is salt mixed with malt syrup.

[Attached Formulas] Five new ones.

Impeded Urination: Rongyan Tang (Rong Salt Decoction): Use one piece of Rong Yan (size of a bullet), Ban Liang of Poria (Fu Ling), and two liang of Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu). Decoct in water and take. (From Zhang Zhongjing's *Jingui Yaolue*)

Wind-Heat Toothache: One jin of Qing Yan (Green Salt), half a jin of Sophora Branch (Huai Zhi). Four bowls of water, decoct to obtain two bowls of juice, boil the salt until dry, stir-fry and grind. Use daily to brush teeth and wash eyes. (From Tang Shi's *Jingyan Fang*)

Strengthen Teeth and Brighten Eyes: Two liang of Qing Yan (Green Salt), four liang of Bai Yan (White Salt), four liang of Sichuan Pepper (Chuanjiao). Decoct juice, mix with salt, stir-fry until dry. Use daily to brush teeth and wash eyes, permanently preventing dental and ocular diseases. (From *Tongbian Yaofa*)

Wind Eye with Ulcerated Margins: Dissolve Rong Yan in water, instill into the eyes. (From *Puji Fang*)

Hemorrhoids and Fistula Sores: Four liang of Alum (Baifan), four liang of Qing Yan (Green Salt). Grind into powder, place in one pig bladder, dry in shade. Take five qian each time, with warm water on an empty stomach. (From Zhao Shi's *Jingyan Fang*)