Library

[Yinzhu (Cinnabar/Red Mercury)]
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Toxicity: Toxic and drying. Actions: Expels phlegm, breaks up accumulations, treats sores, kills parasites. Its efficacy is not far from Qingfen (Calomel) and Fenshuang (White Calomel).

[Xionghuang / Cihuang (Realgar / Orpiment)]
Properties: Acrid, Warm. Actions: Eliminates phlegm, dispels evil qi, detoxifies, kills parasites. Those that are red and transparent are Xionghuang (Realgar); those that are yellow and dull are Cihuang (Orpiment). They can only treat sores and parasitic diseases and are unsuitable for internal medicinal use.

[Haishi (Gypsum Fibrosum - Note: Text describes Gypsum properties under Haishi title)]
Taste: Sweet, Bland, slightly Acrid. Temperature: Very Cold. Meridians Entered: Foot Yangming Stomach channel, also Hand Taiyin Lung channel and Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao channel. Texture/Action: Heavy texture descends fire; light aroma vents heat. It is the specific medicine for treating cold damage where heat persists in both exterior and interior, causing heat stagnation, irritability, and thirst. When calcined (wei), it does not injure stomach qi but can only clear fire, not vent heat, which distinguishes it from the raw form.

[Huaishi (Talcum)]
Taste: Bland, Cold, Slippery. Meridians Entered: Foot Taiyang Bladder channel, also Lung channel. Actions: Externally opens hair follicles/pores; internally purges heat from the fu organs. It is the specific medicine for clearing summerheat, relieving irritability, unblocking orifices, and promoting urination to drain dampness. Preparation: Finely grind and process by water levigation (shui fei).

[Chishizhi (Halloysitum Rubrum)]
Taste: Sweet, Warm, slightly Astringent. Meridian Level: Enters the Blood level. Actions: Astringes blood to stop bleeding, stops diarrhea/dysentery, consolidates the lower jiao, and stabilizes metrorrhagia. Preparation: Mix with vinegar, finely grind.

[Yuyuliang (Limonitum)]
Also known as Taiyi Yuliang. Taste: Sweet, Neutral. Nature: Astringent. Meridians Entered: Blood level of Hand and Foot Yangming channels. Actions: Astringes to stop dysentery, secures against prolapse, stabilizes metrorrhagia. Preparation: Finely grind, wash with water, mix with vinegar.

[Lugan Shi (Calamina)]
Properties: Sweet, Warm. Meridians Entered: Yangming channel. Actions: Dries dampness, reduces swelling, removes nebulae (cataracts/opacities), eliminates ulceration. It is the specific medicine for eye diseases. Preparation: Red-heat the mineral, quench in urine of a young boy seven times, then finely grind.

[Ziran Tong (Pyritum)**
Properties: Sweet, Salty. Meridian Level: Enters the Blood level. Actions: Invigorates blood, harmonizes blood, treats traumatic injuries and carbuncles/swellings, relieves pain, generates flesh. It is the specific medicine for orthopedics and surgery.

[Zhongru Shi (Concretio Ossea)**
Also known as Guanguan Shi. Properties: Sweet, Warm. Meridian Level: Qi level of Yangming channel. Actions: Benefits yang, unblocks orifices, promotes lactation, assists in treating deficiency. Preparation: Boil, finely grind, and process by water levigation.

[Meitan (Lead Oxide/Dan Fan - Note: Title says Coal, description matches Lead preparations)**
Also known as Meitan. Taste: Acrid, Warm. Toxicity: Toxic. Actions: Dries dampness, dispels cold, stops bleeding from metal wounds. Suitable only for external treatment, not for decoctions.

[Pishi/Bai Pi (Arsenic Trioxide - Note: Description involves alkali and rice, typical of arsenic processing)**
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Toxicity: Violently toxic. Actions: Dries dampness, kills parasites, treats leprosy/necrotic tissue, stops bleeding from metal wounds. The weathered variety is best. Boil in alkaline water until dissolved into Duanshi (soda ash), add glutinous rice, leave overnight exposed to dew until crystal-like. Apply to moles to cause blistering, remove medicine, scab forms and heals naturally. Avoid contact with raw water, as it will rot flesh. Ancient mine ash: Poison has dissipated; suitable for non-healing wound openings and stubborn sores with profuse pus, all for external use.

[Haifushi (Pumice)**
Also known as Fusshi. Taste: Salty, Cold. Actions: Softens hardness, light and floating nature enters Lung channel, eliminates old phlegm nodules, regulates cough, unblocks strangury. Formed from sea foam condensed over long periods. Overconsumption depletes human qi and blood.