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Shi Liuhuang (Stone Sulfur)
Tu Liuhuang (Earth Sulfur)

Acidic in taste, warm in nature, extremely hot. Toxic. It is the liquid residue of alum, originating from Mount Tai. The genuine product resembles a chick just hatched from its shell; after melting with fire and soaking in water, it can be ingested. It is incompatible with Xixin (Asarum), Feilian (Leontopodium), and iron, but is compatible with Cengqing (Azurite) and Shitingzhi (Litharge). It belongs to the essence of extreme Yang, capable of refining the "five metals" and other strange substances. Its form resembles the promotion of sexual function; for conditions of deficiency-cold in the lower jiao where primal Yang is about to perish, it shows remarkable efficacy; it can stop cold-type diarrhea, and for those with declining spleen and stomach function facing death, it produces immediate results. Cease use once the disease is cured; overdose is inadvisable. It can treat hemorrhoids by packing, kill scabies mites, strengthen bones and tendons, and cure alopecia. It removes epigastric and abdominal masses (Pi-Block), and relieves cold pain in the legs and knees. It also eliminates rejection-type cold and bears the title of "General." This is because its function is to break evil and return to righteousness, transform stagnation into clarity, bring forth Yang essence, resolve Yin soul, and generate Hun (Ethereal Soul).

(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Sulfur is hot in nature and is often used to treat rejection-type cold. If this condition is accompanied by latent Yang within, it is essential to add Yin herbs as assistants for optimal effect. Ancient formulas such as Taibai Dan and Laifu Dan each contain substances like Nixiao (Potassium Nitrate). These are all extreme Yang agents assisted by extreme Yin agents, which is precisely appropriate. If there is no latent Yang and only a Yin syndrome exists, one need not be bound by rigid rules; simply using Yang herbs suffices.
Refer to the commentary following the entry for Dahuang (Rhubarb) in Volume 3.

Xionghuang Diagram 1
Xionghuang Diagram 2

Bitter, pungent, and sweet in taste; neutral and cold in nature. Non-toxic. Some say it is extremely hot and toxic. It grows on the south slope of Huangshan in Wudu Commandery, named "Xiong" (Male). Large chunks weighing three to five taels are highly valued, comparable to gold. It has no offensive odor when smelled; if red like a rooster's comb and clear/translucent, it is considered top-grade. Grind finely and process by water flotation (Fei), then make into powders or pills, taken freely with wine. (Refined ingestion is said to allow it to enter the human brain.) With long-term use over years, one becomes light-bodied and immortal-like. Carrying it during travel keeps ghosts and spirits away. Pregnant women wearing it can change a female fetus to male. It can also transmute red copper into gold, highly prized by alchemists. (One theory states: Xionghuang turns into gold after a thousand years. Another says: Xionghuang suppressed by medicinal herbs, when refined into juice, retains its fetal color; if prepared into medicinal juice and added to, it can be ingested at the upper level, transmute copper to gold at the middle level, and turn silver to gold at the lower level.) For hard and stubborn Qi accumulation (this is called Chouhuang and should not be ingested); it only treats sores and ulcers. It repels demonic influences and ghostly evils, kills snake and insect venom. It removes nasal polyps, breaks bones and severs tendons. It eliminates rat-fistula, hemorrhoids, carbuncles, accumulations, and masses. For accidental poisoning, Fangji (Stephania Root) can detoxify it.