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Liu Biao was in Jingzhou when he and Wang Can climbed Zhang Mountain. They saw a ridge where no grass or trees grew. Wang Can said, "This must be an ancient tomb. The person buried here likely consumed raw alum (Mingfan, 明矾) during their lifetime. Heat steamed out from within, causing the vegetation to scorch and wither." Upon excavation, it was indeed found that the tomb chamber was filled with alum. (From *Ke Zhai Sui Bi*)

Note: Wang Can (courtesy name Zhongxuan) possessed such insight. Why did Zhang Zhongjing predict his loss of eyebrows and hair, yet he did not believe it? This incident is recorded in older annotations, though the text is too brief.

Hong Mai (styled Rongzhai) said: "My second brother, Lord Wen'an, was stationed in Jinling. Due to autumn heat reducing his appetite, Tang Sanyi, a physician from Dangtu, advised him to take Alum Pills. Soon after, his diet improved, so he deliberately increased the dosage. Ten months later, toxicity manifested as severe epistaxis (nosebleed), losing over one dou of blood. It continued for several days until all body fluids were exhausted. Just before his death, he accidentally saw the previous record, causing deep regret. He wrote this down to warn future generations." (Ibid.)

Note: In individuals with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire, initially taking dry, hot, and rigid drugs like Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi, 桂枝), Aconite Root (Fuzi, 附子), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang, 干姜), and Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu, 山茱萸) may yield immediate results. This is known as 'Jie Zhi' (Robbing Treatment). If one ignorantly fails to stop, long-term use leads to irreversible collapse. I have witnessed dozens of such cases. This is similar to the initial effect of Alum Pills increasing appetite.

Mao Bi, Prefect of Sizhou, suffered from chronic diarrhea and dysentery. After resigning, he sought treatment from Pang Anchang. Pang diagnosed, "This is toxicity from cinnabar and minerals (Dan Shi Du), not dysentery." He boiled a large pot of Malva Verticillata (Kuicai, 葵菜) and instructed Mao to eat it, predicting bowel movements. The next day, Pang re-examined him, noting toxins remained, and asked how much was eaten. Mao replied only two bowls. Pang stated his preparation had fixed proportions and forced him to consume more. Mao subsequently experienced profuse diarrhea, expelling five-colored putrid matter. Pang declared, "The Dan toxicity is expelled. However, due to age and chronic dysentery, followed by sudden expulsion of mineral toxins, his legs will weaken. Do not take other medicines." He gifted two bottles of Achyranthes Bidentata Wine (Niuxi Jiu, 牛膝酒). After consumption, Mao regained his strength. (From *Du Xing Za Yan*, Zeng Dacheng. Editor's Note: Malva Verticillata is good at resolving toxicity; children eating it rarely develop smallpox.)

Inspector Yu, a colleague of Zeng Dacheng’s ancestor, claimed to frequently consume Stone Swallow (Shiyan, 石燕). The method involved roasting ten male stones red-hot, soaking them in wine, cooling, and repeating indefinitely until one sheng of dry wine was consumed. The residue was powdered. Each morning, two qian bi were rubbed on the teeth, swished, and swallowed with wine. At fifty, after two years, Yu’s skin and hair became lustrous, and he felt energetic like a man of thirty, attributing this to the medicine. Suddenly, he felt heat piercing both eyes, eyeballs protruded, pain was unbearable, and he died. Few who consume metallic/mineral drugs escape toxicity. (Ibid.)

Zhou Tuiguan from Linchuan was frail throughout life and frequently took Cinnabar, Aconitum (Wutou, 乌头), and Prepared Aconite Root (Fuzi, 附子). In old age, he developed a carbuncle on the back. Physicians blamed mineral toxicity; detoxifying herbs failed. Surgeon Lao Zhu diagnosed, "This is a critical condition requiring heavy doses of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar (Fuhuo Dansha, 伏火丹砂) and Sanjian Decoction (Sanjian Tang, 三建汤)." Starting with a small dose, then increasing, and applying plasters after three days, the ulcer healed in half a month. Zhou consumed 150 doses of Sanjian Tang. (From *Qi Dong Ye Yu*, cited in *Bencao Gangmu*. Speculation: The patient likely had a Yin-cold constitution, tolerating strong heating agents.)

Zhang Luyu treated Sun Gxiu for poisoning caused by accidental ingestion of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. Sun’s constitution was deficient, with recent deficiency fire flaring up, causing sublingual swelling extending to the cheeks. Previous physicians used excessive bitter-cold clearing herbs, leading to mental restlessness. The prescription included five qian of Cinnabar per dose. After one dose, Sun felt objects touching inside his chest. The physician inspected the Cinnabar, finding it dark and dull—indicating Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. After switching the herb and taking four more doses, Sun suffered day-and-night irritability, chills on the back, burning heat on the head and face, profuse sweating, and ice-cold knees and calves. He felt faint with rebellious Qi. Zhang’s pulse was choppy, rapid, and indistinct. Lips and tongue were muddy, swollen, thick, wet, and slippery. Extreme heat mimicking Yin would not present as wet/slippery; Cold invading the Three Yin meridians would not present as thick/swollen. Only food stagnation might show sauce-like color. With normal urination/defecation and soft abdomen, food stagnation was ruled out. Pulse and symptoms indicated acute Yin heat constraint. Fearing collapse via panting and sweating, Zhang combined Shengmai Powder (Shengmai San, 生脉散) and Liuwei Dihuang Pill (Liuwei Dihuang Wan, 六味地黄丸) to rescue Lung and Kidney. One dose brought slight calm and sweat reduction. Further doses restored consciousness and slight appetite. Observing the tongue edges turning slightly red but cold feet persisting, Zhang added Cinnamon Heart (Guixin, 桂心) and Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi, 五味子). Feet warmed, Qi connected, speech stabilized. Zhang then explained the error of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. The formula was modified: removing Rehmannia, Cinnamon Heart, and Schisandra; adding Ziziphus Seed (Zaoren, 酸枣仁), Autumn Stone (Qiushi, 秋石), and Human Waste Ash (Renzhonghuang, 人中黄) to specifically detoxify Cinnabar. After three doses, the tongue turned slightly red, and toxicity gradually resolved. Due to wiry-thin pulses at the Chi position, Renzhonghuang was removed, and Rehmannia was retained to tonify the Lower Yuan. Over several days, these two were alternated based on pulse/symptoms. They were not used together because Renzhonghuang’s sweet taste lingers in the diaphragm, carrying Rehmannia’s cloying nature, preventing rapid delivery to the Lower Yuan. Although Lower Yuan was deficient, deer antler (Lurong, 鹿茸) and Placenta (Heche, 紫河车) were preferred over Cinnamon/Aconite to avoid stirring residual Cinnabar toxicity.

Luo Qianfu reported: Monk Yan Zhongzhang took two pills of Fire-Refined Cinnabar, developing a painful, swollen sore on the neck, and itching teeth preventing chewing. Half a jin of Liangge San (Liangge San, 凉膈散) provided relief. Recurrence was triggered by alcohol; cold herbs provided temporary relief, but the condition persisted lifelong.

He Hengjing, prone to lust, regularly took heating tonics. While playing chess with Fang Linggu, he ordered a child to fetch "Yili San" (One-Cli Powder), but the child misheard "Qili San" (Seven-Cli Powder). He ingested it without checking and died that night in his study. Years later, Sun Li’an, renting the room, saw a figure lying supine. The figure claimed to be He Hengjing. Sun fled in terror and died ten days later. (From *Yunjian Zazhi*, Anonymous)

Scholar Zhang from Xiuzhou, a mid-level officer, had a wife who received a divine revelation from the God Pichang, teaching her a secret formula for abscesses and manipulation techniques. She became a doctor, known as Little Lady Zhang, and taught her husband. Wei Xiancheng’s grandmother (from the Zhang family) developed a back abscess at seventy. Zhang drained the pus, observed it clarified into a red substance resembling Cinnabar, and told Wei, "This is toxicity from alchemical pills." Wei angrily denied taking warming drugs or pills. The patient interrupted, admitting she was forced to take one pill whenever her husband took Grand Elixirs, accumulating toxic roots. Zhang left; the mother died from this. (Li Rihua, *Liuyan Zai Biji*)

Chen Liangfu treated a wealthy man with continuous epistaxis and surging-rapid pulses. The cause was excessive alchemical pill consumption. Chen prescribed powder of Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian, 黄连), Scutellaria Root (Huangqin, 黄芩), and Rhubarb (Dahuang, 大黄), decocted in water, which cured him. Mixing with liquid was also effective. (From *Liangfang*)

A sixty-year-old woman from Wuxi surnamed Hua developed a back ulcer the size of a plate, red in color. Suspected to be caused by long-term mineral drug toxicity, this was confirmed. She was instructed to drink three to five sheng of sheep blood each morning, followed by heat-clearing, detoxifying, and Qi/blood-generating herbs, applied externally with a flesh-regenerating ointment. After half a month, granulation tissue formed with little pus. I returned home, advising continued medication for full recovery. A month later, upon return, the skin/flesh was firm and normal, but she was weak with poor appetite. She admitted stopping meds once the ulcer seemed flat. Her pulse was deep and minute. Her Qi and Blood were depleted, insufficient even for healing; true Qi was exhausted. As ancients said, death occurs after scab formation. She died within half a month. This illustrates post-purulent deficiency; similar outcomes occur if abscesses arise from deficiency. (From *Yaoyao Huowen*)

Zhang Angdao (Lord Zhongding) smelted elixirs in Nandu for decades but dared not take them. Zhang Shimin, Governor of Nandu, was emaciated and begged for the elixir. Zhang warned, "It has been fired for a long time; without great merit, it holds great toxicity. Do not take it hastily." Reluctantly, Zhang gave one millet-sized pill, advising caution. Shimin swallowed it immediately. Within days, he suffered continuous hematochezia, internal organs disintegrated, and he died. (Zhang Bangji, *Mo Zhuang Man Lu*)

Many scholar-officials died from Cinnabar. I witnessed Lin Yanzhen, robust and strong, believing Physician Zhou Gongfu’s claim of a secret Song Dynasty Cinnabar refining method for longevity. After three years, Lin developed a brain carbuncle. Initially millet-sized, it spread to the neck, jaw, chest, and back, killing him in ten days. When critically ill, doctors washed the bloody pus in cloth, revealing Cinnabar particles at the bottom, proving accumulation and excretion of toxicity. Xie Renbo also sought Fire-Quenched Cinnabar indiscriminately. Last year, he developed a brain carbuncle. Friends noticed his spirit changing abruptly before he felt symptoms. He died overnight. Witnessing these two in ten years serves as a warning. (Ye Mengde, *Bishu Lu*)

Wu Jingyuan, Minister of Justice from Wuxing, secretly consumed Sulfur (Huangqi, 硫黄). Twenty years later, his son Tuo, serving as Market Exchange Official in Huating, died of a back carbuncle. Toxicity transmitted through Qi affected his son. One must beware. (From *Bo Zhai Bian*)

Ye Tianshi reported: In Xinchang Town, Shen Liqian’s son, Shen Chiwen (20 years old), was bright and beloved. Before marriage, four youths shared a supply of Whole Deer Pill (Quanlu Wan, 全鹿丸). From winter to spring, Shen developed全身 pain (like gout), abdominal pain with palpable intestinal masses, emaciation, and anorexia. Physician Liu Yuanqu suggested digestive and fire-clearing herbs, but the father refused, using only Ginseng (Renshen, 人参) and Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu, 白术). In early July, I visited Ye Kunsheng. The father described his son passing black, fist-sized stools nightly, feeling burning heat, craving well water. Pulse was rapid-large; body was skeletal. The black stool was hard. I suspected blood stasis. Using Two-Qian Wine-Steamed Rhubarb Pill (Jiuzheng Dahuang Wan, 酒蒸大黄丸), he passed countless black blocks. Soaked in water, they swelled like black beans. Inquiry revealed these were undigested Whole Deer Pills. Mismedication led to death from extreme heat in days. The other three youths died of throat obstruction, anal toxicity, and hematemesis/cough respectively. These are harms of taking warming tonics without illness. Recorded to advise against unnecessary supplementation.