气味甘、平，无毒。主心腹邪气，安中，养脾气，平胃气，通九窍，助十二经，
补少气、少津液，身中不足，大惊，四肢重，和百药。久服轻身延年。
陈修园曰∶大枣气平入肺，味甘入脾。肺主一身之气，脾主一身之血，气血调和，故有
以上诸效。
气味苦、寒，无毒。主治百病，除寒热邪气，逐五脏六腑积聚，固结留瘕。能化
七十种石。炼饵服之，轻身神仙。
张隐庵曰∶雪花六出，元精石六棱，六数为阴，乃水之成数也。朴硝、硝石，面上生
牙，如圭角，作六棱，乃感地水之气结成，而禀寒水之气化，是以形类相同。但硝石遇火能
焰
止禀地水之精，不得天气，故遇火不焰也，所以不同者如此。
气味甘、微寒，无毒。主身体五脏百病，养精神，安魂魄，益气明目，杀精魅邪
恶鬼。久服通神明不老。
陈修园曰∶丹砂气微寒入肾，味甘无毒入脾，色赤入心。主身体五脏百病者，言和平之
药，凡身体五脏百病，皆可用而无顾忌也。心者，身之本，神之居也；肾者，气之源，精之
处也；心肾交，则精神交养。随神往来者谓之魂，并精出入者谓之魄，精神交养则魂魄自安
。气者得之先天，全赖后天之谷气而昌，丹砂味甘补脾所以益气。明目者，以石药凝金之气
，金能鉴物，赤色得火之象，火能烛物也。杀精魅邪恶鬼者，具天地纯阳之正色，阳能胜阴
，正能胜邪也。久服通神明不老者，明其水升火降之效也。
[Date Fruit (Dazao)]
Odor and Flavor: Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats pathogenic factors in the heart and abdomen, calms the middle jiao, nourishes Spleen Qi, harmonizes Stomach Qi, opens the nine orifices, assists the twelve meridians, supplements deficient Qi and body fluids, addresses physical weakness and insufficiency, sudden great fright, heaviness of the four limbs, and harmonizes various medicinal herbs. Long-term consumption lightens the body and prolongs life.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Date fruit has a neutral qi that enters the Lung meridian and a sweet flavor that enters the Spleen meridian. The Lungs govern the Qi of the whole body, and the Spleen governs the Blood of the whole body. When Qi and Blood are harmonious, it produces the aforementioned effects.
[Pollux Nitri (Puxiao)]
Odor and Flavor: Bitter, cold, non-toxic. It treats all diseases, eliminates pathogenic factors of cold and heat, expels accumulations, consolidations, and lingering masses in the five zang and six fu organs. It can dissolve seventy types of minerals. After refining and taking it, one becomes light-bodied and immortal.
Zhang Yin'an stated: Snowflakes have six petals, and Yuanjing Stone has six edges. The number six represents Yin, which is the generative number of Water. Pollux Nitri and Niter develop crystalline structures on their surfaces resembling the angles of a jade tablet, forming six edges. They are formed by sensing the Qi of Earth and Water and inheriting the transformation of Cold Water Qi, hence their similar morphology. However, Niter ignites when exposed to fire, whereas Pollux Nitri only inherits the essence of Earth and Water without receiving Heaven's Qi; therefore, it does not ignite when exposed to fire. This is why they differ.
[Cinnabar (Dansha)]
Odor and Flavor: Sweet, slightly cold, non-toxic. It treats various diseases of the five zang organs in the body, nourishes Spirit (Shen), calms Hun and Po, benefits Qi and brightens the eyes, and kills spirits, demons, evil ghosts. Long-term consumption enhances spiritual clarity and prevents aging.
Chen Xiuyuan stated: Cinnabar has a slightly cold qi that enters the Kidney meridian, a sweet and non-toxic flavor that enters the Spleen meridian, and a red color that enters the Heart meridian. Saying it treats various diseases of the five zang organs implies that as a mild and harmonious medicine, it can be used for any disease of the five zang organs without reservation. The Heart is the root of the body and the residence of Shen; the Kidneys are the source of Qi and the dwelling of Jing. When Heart and Kidney interact, Spirit and Essence mutually nourish each other. What travels with Shen is called Hun; what enters and exits with Jing is called Po. When Spirit and Essence mutually nourish, Hun and Po naturally calm down. Qi originates from congenital sources but relies entirely on postnatal Grain Qi to flourish. Since Cinnabar is sweet and tonifies the Spleen, it benefits Qi. Its ability to brighten the eyes stems from the mineral nature condensing the Qi of Metal; Metal reflects objects, and red is the image of Fire, which illuminates objects. Its ability to kill spirits and demons arises because it possesses the pure Yang color of Heaven and Earth; Yang overcomes Yin, and Righteousness overcomes Evil. Long-term consumption enhancing spiritual clarity and preventing aging demonstrates its effect of ascending Water and descending Fire.