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Alum Stone: Sour in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. It treats alternating chills and fever (Hanchre), diarrhea and dysentery (Xielì), excessive leukorrhea (Baiwo), erosion and ulceration of the genitalia (Yinshi), malignant sores (Echuang), eye pain, strengthens bones and teeth, eliminates persistent heat in the bone marrow, and removes nasal polyps. After refining and taking it, one becomes light-bodied, ages slowly, and gains longevity. Qibo said: Long-term use damages human bones. It can transform iron into copper. Also known as Yu. Currently produced in the western Sichuan region north of Yizhou, transported from Hexi. The color is greenish-white; the unrefined form is called Machi Alum (Ma Chi Fan). The fully refined pure white form is used by people in Shu as Nuxiao (Mirabilite) and is called Bai Fan (White Alum). The yellow-black variety is called Jishi Fan (Chicken Dropping Alum), which is not used for medicinal purposes but is suitable for plating to combine with annealed copper. When thrown into Kujiu (vinegar), applying it to iron makes it appear copper-colored. Although the exterior resembles copper, the internal quality remains unchanged. The *Xianjing* (Scripture of Immortals) uses it alone for ingestion, and alchemical formulas also employ it. In worldly medicine preparation, it is first boiled over fire until boiling and dry to treat toothache, but often quickly destroys teeth, which is evidence of bone damage, yet it claims to strengthen bones and teeth, which is indeed doubtful. (From *Xinxiu Bencao*, page 22; *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 3; *Zhenghe Bencao*, page 8)

Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas): Pungent and bitter in taste, extremely cold in nature. It treats accumulations and masses in the five zang organs (Wuzang Jiju), chronic heat, gastric obstruction, expels pathogenic factors, breaks up retained blood, resolves phlegm-dampness solid masses and binding in the abdomen, unblocks meridians and collaterals, promotes urination and defecation as well as menstruation, breaks up five types of strangury (Wulin), and pushes out the old to generate the new. It is derived from Puxiao (Raw Mirabilite). (Shiwei acts as an assistant herb; it fears Maijujiang.) According to records, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not list Mangxiao, only Nuxiao (Salpetrae Nitrum), named Mangxiao. Later famous physicians recorded this separately; its therapeutic effects are exactly the same as Nuxiao, leading to suspicion that... [the text implies uncertainty about identity]... The color is entirely white, particles are fine, and the taste is not very pungent. This text states it is born from Puxiao, suggesting the author was also fond of research. Furthermore, Huangfu Mi's explanation of Nuxiao generally states: "If Puxiao is unavailable, Nuxiao can be used. It grows in the shady south of mountains, being the gall of salt. Taking Shipi and Nuxiao, boiling them in water yields three dou from one hu, perfectly white like snow. It dissolves when water is added, hence the name Nuxiao. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic. It treats thirst-heat in the middle jiao, stops irritability and fullness. Harvested in March at Chishan. Puxiao also grows in the shady south of mountains; where there is salty, bitter water, Puxiao grows on the sunny side. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic, color yellowish-white. It treats heat, abdominal fullness, nourishes the stomach, aids digestion, expels pathogens, and also dissolves in water. Its therapy differs slightly from Nuxiao." Based on this description, Mangxiao is obtained by boiling together to become true Nuxiao, but it is unknown what Shipi is. The Bencao mentions Shipi and Shipei, but no one recognizes them. Since Huangfu Mi was from Anding and understood medicine, he might have detailed it. The method of refining Puxiao into Mangxiao is simply to wash Puxiao with warm water, take the clear juice, boil it down by half, pour it into a wooden basin, and after overnight, it forms, resembling Baoying stone, undergoing six cycles of refinement. During production, it is taboo to have others watch. Now, people in Yizhou refine Alum Stone to make Nuxiao, which is extremely soft and white, but the taste remains that of Alum Stone. Kong Shi's explanatory formula also says: Boil Nuxiao until boiling and the juice is exhausted. Thus, Nuxiao still contains juice. The current practitioners of immortality require it because it can transform other stones, making it the primary choice in theory. (From *Xinxiu Bencao*, page 20; *Daguan Bencao*, Vol. 3; *Zhenghe Bencao*, page 86)