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Xuanmingfen (Mirabilite, refined): The qi is cold, the taste is pungent and sweet. It is non-toxic.
*Tangye Bencao* states: It treats heart-heat with irritability, stagnation in the five zang organs, and zheng jia (abdominal masses). It brightens the eyes, clears deficient heat above the diaphragm, and reduces swelling and toxicity. The commentary contains a phrase about treating yin du (critical illness caused by direct invasion of cold pathogen), stating it should not be used unless there is fu yang (yang qi constrained within). If used solely to eliminate yin du, it kills very rapidly. Under the entry for Yaxiao (Sal Nitrata), the supplementary note on Taiqing Lianlingsha says it is the essence of extreme yin, capable of neutralizing the toxicity of huoshi (mineral drugs such as sulfur).
*Xianjing* states: It is a substance that contains yang within yin.

Liuhuang (Sulfur): The qi is warm, extremely hot; the taste is sour; it is toxic.
*Bencao* states: It primarily treats erosion of the female genitalia, ju zhi (ulcerative hemorrhoids), and evil blood. It strengthens bones and tendons, and treats alopecia. It treats accumulation of evil qi in the heart and abdomen, leng pi (cold constraint) in the hypochondrium, coughing and rebellious qi, cold pain and weakness in the feet, epistaxis, malignant sores, and sores in the lower orifices. It stops bleeding and kills scabies mites.
*Tangye Bencao* states: Just as Taibai Dan uses Xiaoshi (Niter) as an assistant, and Laifu Dan uses substances like Xiaoshi, this represents using extreme yang assisted by extreme yin. This is similar in principle to Zhang Zhongjing's Baitong Tang using human urine and pig bile; the main idea is to overcome geju han (cold rejection due to true cold and false heat). When fu yang is present, this approach is necessary; if there is no fu yang and it is merely a pure yin syndrome, there is no need to assist with yin-substances. Liuhuang is also called "General"; its function is to break evil and return to righteousness, transform stagnation into clarity, bring forth yang essence, dissolve yin turbidity, transform po, and generate hun.

Xionghuang (Realgar): The qi is warm and cold [Note: Text likely implies conflicting descriptions or specific processing effects, literal translation: warm qi, cold nature], the taste is bitter and sweet; it is toxic.
*Bencao* states: It treats chanre shu lou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis) and malignant sores, ju zhi, and necrotic muscle tissue. It treats da feng (leprosy) in scabies lesions, accumulation and pi qi, zhong e (sudden illness from foul pathogens), abdominal pain, and gui zhu (a contagious chronic wasting disease).

Wuse Shizhi (Five-Colored Kaolin): The qi is extremely warm; the taste is sweet, sour, and pungent; it is non-toxic.
*Bencao* states: It nourishes heart qi, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence. It treats abdominal pain and diarrhea, dysentery with red and white discharge, promotes urination, and treats carbuncles, ulcers, sores, and hemorrhoids. For women, it treats bengzhong loudxia (metrorrhagia and leukorrhea), difficult labor, and retained placenta. Long-term use supplements marrow, improves complexion, benefits the elderly by reducing hunger, lightens the body, and prolongs life. The five-colored Shizhi enter the five zang organs respectively for tonification.
Li Dongyuan states: Chishizhi (Red Kaolin) and Baishizhi (White Kaolin) are both warm and non-toxic. They are incompatible with Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Yuanhua (Genkwa Flower), and they repel Dahuang (Rhubarb Root).
*Shennong Benjing* states: Astringency can treat slippage/incontinence; Shizhi is an astringent agent. For retained placenta, astringents can induce expulsion. Red enters Bing (Fire); White enters Geng (Metal).
Lei Xiao states: Both Chishizhi and Baishizhi are sweet and sour, representing yin within yang, and they secure collapse.
Zhang Yuansu states: Sweet and warm, sifted into powder for use. It treats slippage, using astringency to consolidate the intestines and stomach.
*Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang Bencao* states: Qingshizhi (Green Kaolin) nourishes liver and gallbladder qi and brightens the eyes; Heishizhi (Black Kaolin) nourishes kidney qi, strengthens yin, and treats genital erosion sores; Huangshizhi (Yellow Kaolin) nourishes spleen qi and treats jaundice. The remaining colors share the same functions as Chishizhi and Baishizhi.