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Yunmu (Muscovite)

It tastes sweet, is neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It primarily treats dead skin and muscle (numbness and insensitivity of the skin and muscles), wind-stroke with alternating cold and heat, with symptoms resembling motion sickness on carriages or boats. It expels evil qi, calms the five zang organs, benefits zi jing (substance related to reproduction and essence), brightens the eyes, directs qi downward, strengthens the muscles, reconnects severed tendons and bones, tonifies the middle jiao, treats the five labors and seven injuries, deficiency and shortness of breath, and stops dysentery. Long-term consumption makes the body light and extends life, enhances complexion and delays aging, provides resistance to cold and heat, and elevates aspirations to that of an immortal. It is also known as Yunzhu (Cloud Pearl), which is mostly red; Yunhua (Cloud Flower), which possesses all five colors; Yunying (Cloud Jade), which is mostly green; Yunye (Cloud Liquid), which is mostly white; Yunsha (Cloud Sand), which is yellowish-green; and Linshi (Phosphor Stone), which is pure white. It grows in the valleys of Mount Tai, Qi region, Mount Lu, and between the rocks of Beiding Mountain north of Langya. It is harvested in the second lunar month. (Zexie [Alisma Rhizome] acts as its guiding herb; it fears "jia" [likely referring to shellfish or specific minerals] and flowing water.)

Tao Hongjing states: According to the "Immortal Classics," there are eight types of muscovite: When viewed against the sun, if the color is blue-white with much black, it is named Yunmu; if yellow-white with much green, it is named Yunying; if green-yellow with much red, it is named Yunzhu; like ice or dew, fluctuating between yellow and white, it is named Yunsha; yellow and white mixed, it is named Yunye; bright, pure white and clear, it is named Linshi. These six types are suitable for consumption, each having its appropriate season. Those that are dull, purely black, with patterns mottled like iron, are named Yundan; those that are mixed black and strong/fat in texture, are named Dizhuo. These two types must not be consumed. There is a specific method for refining muscovite, which requires meticulous processing; otherwise, ingesting it will severely harm the abdomen. Currently, in pills and powders used for consumptive diseases, muscovite is merely crushed and sifted, which is highly inappropriate. Langya is northeast of Pengcheng, and Qi province also has it. Currently, only muscovite from Mount Lu in Jiangdong is considered superior, cultivated in sandy soil over time. When refining it now, using alum stone makes it soft and rotten, demonstrating the effect of mutual inhibition. Dew from hundred herbs surpasses east-flowing water; rainwater dripping from thatched roofs in the fifth lunar month is also used. Minister Yuxi et al. carefully note according to "Laozi's Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals": Yunmu powder is the sovereign herb, dislikes Xuchangqing [Caulis Lomatae], and forbids sheep blood. The powder is divided into six grades, with white being the highest grade; it has slight toxicity, treats lower dysentery and intestinal disorders, and warms kidney cold. Yang Sunzhi says: Green, red, white, yellow, and purple varieties can all be taken, but black ones cannot be used as they harm people. Rihua Zi says: Among the various types, those that are transparent and thin/light are superior.

"Tujing" states: Yunmu grows in the valleys of Mount Tai, Qi Mount Lu, and rock crevices north of Beiding Mountain at Langya. Currently, Yunmu from Yunmeng Mountain in Yanzhou, Jiangzhou, Haozhou, and Hang-Yue regions forms sheets that can be folded layer by layer; those that are bright, smooth, and white are superior. Those produced in Jiangnan are mostly dark green or black and are unsuitable for medicinal use. The clean ones are currently used by some to decorate lanterns, which is a remnant of ancient practices for screens and fans. Carefully consulting medical texts, Yunmu used in prescriptions values the white and lustrous type above all; only the single-consumption method of Zhongshan Weishuqing mentions Yunmu with all five colors, which corresponds to the "Yunhua" mentioned in the "Ben Jing." This indicates different varieties within one substance. Ge Hong's "Baopuzi · Inner Chapters" states: There are five types of Yunmu, which people cannot distinguish. One should hold it up to the sun to observe its color and analyze it carefully to know the truth. If viewed in the shade, mixed colors are not seen. Those with all five colors but predominantly green are named Yunying, suitable for spring consumption; those with all five colors but predominantly red are named Yunzhu, suitable for summer consumption; those with all five colors but predominantly white are named Yunye, suitable for autumn consumption; those with all five colors but predominantly black are named Yunmu, suitable for winter consumption; those with only green and yellow colors are named Yunsha, suitable for late summer consumption; pure white ones are named Linshi, suitable for year-round consumption. Thus, the pure white Yunmu used in medical formulas is merely one type, Linshi. Ancient methods for consuming the "Five Yun" were numerous, as detailed in Tao Hongjing's "Taiqing Various Stone Medicine Transformation Formulas." Although recorded in Daoist texts, the details of cultivation and regulation are likely too complex for text to fully explain, and indeed, one should not lightly ingest them.

Additionally, countries in Southwest Tianzhu (India) etc. produce a stone called Huoji, which is also a type of muscovite. Its color resembles purple gold; when separated, it is like cicada wings; when piled, it resembles layered gauze. It is also said to be similar to glaze/glass and can be used medicinally.

Lei Gong says: For usage, those that are yellow-black, thick, and stubborn, or red, or handled by women's hands, are useless. The best are those that are lustrous and ice-like in color. To process one jin, first take Xiao Didancao [Radix Bupleuri? Note: Text says small ground gall grass, likely local name], Zibeitiankui [Achyranthes bidentata var. longibracteata?], fresh Gancao [Licorice Root], and Dihuang juice [Rehmannia Juice], each one yi (ancient weight). Dry herbs are finely chopped, wet ones yield juice. Place Yunmu and these herbs in a porcelain pot, add three yis of Tianchi water, and boil over fire for seven days and nights. Do not let the fire and water conditions deviate. The Yunmu will naturally turn into a jade-green paste at the bottom of the pot. Then, vigorously pour Tianchi water into it, stir, and remove any floating substance resembling snail slime. Repeat this washing process three times. Take one liang of Chenxiang [Aquilaria Wood], grind into powder, decoct in three sheng of Tianchi water to make Chenxiang soup, divide into three portions, and use to wash the Yunmu paste again. Sun-dry and use as needed. "Shenghui Fang": Treats burnt sores and tissue damage. Mix Yunmu powder with raw sheep marrow, blend into mud, and apply. "Qianjin Fang": Treats generalized urticaria (wind-rash) unresponsive to hundreds of treatments. Take Yunmu powder, mix with clear water, and administer orally, adjusting dosage according to patient size. "Qianjin Yi Fang": Treats wind-heat with sweating and chest oppression. Take Yunmu mixed with water; no more than two doses, and recovery is immediate. Another formula: Treats leukorrhea. Administer three fangcun bi (square-inch spoonfuls) with warm water; divine efficacy is seen immediately, and cure follows. Another formula: Treats chronic bloody and white dysentery unresponsive to treatment. Take one fangcun bi mixed with water; divine efficacy is seen after two doses. Another formula: Treats metal wounds and all malignant sores. Apply Yunmu powder topically; extremely effective. Another formula for strangury: Take three qian bi (coin-sized spoonfuls) with warm water. "Jingxiao Fang": Passed down by Kang Feng, abbot of Zhangren Guan on Qingcheng Mountain, for treating hundred diseases. Method for preparing Yunmu powder: Take one jin of Yunmu, break and crush it, place in a large bottle, pack tightly, add one liang of mercury on top, seal tightly, roast over ten jin of intense fire until red-hot, remove, then mix with Xiangcong [Fragrant Scallion] and Zi Yin Qiaocao [Purple Herb?], pound into mud, place in a double-layer silk bag, shake in a large basin of water to extract powder. If residue remains, add more herbs and pound again as before to extract powder. Let settle in water, dry. Use a small wooden tray, press a shallow pit into ash, line with paper, pour powder in, wait until dry, move to fire for baking, remove, grind finely, bind with wheat starch paste into pills the size of paulownia seeds. For patients, administer orally.

"Yixin Jing": Treats pediatric bloody/white dysentery and watery dysentery. Take half a da liang of Yunmu powder, grind into fine powder, mix with boiled white porridge, and consume on an empty stomach. "Baopuzi": Consuming the "Five Yun" jade transformed into water, or placed in iron vessels to be boiled with dew into water, or mixed with saltpeter in tubes and buried to become water, or kneaded with honey into cheese-like consistency, or soaked in autumn dew for one hundred days, bagged as powder, or combined with Xuehe [Blood Mixture?] from Wudiancao to ingest. After one year of consumption, hundred diseases are eliminated. After three years of long-term use, one returns to youthful appearance; after five years without interruption, one can command spirits and gods. Entering fire does not burn, entering water does not wet, walking on thorns does not injure skin, and one meets immortals. Other objects buried in earth rot and burn upon contact with fire, but the "Five Yun" in fierce fire do not burn for a long time, and when buried, never decay, thus enabling longevity. After ten years of consumption, cloud qi often covers the head. Consuming the mother leads to the son, which is the natural principle. "Minghuang Zalü": During the Kaiyuan era, there was a famous doctor named Ji Peng. By observing facial expressions and conversation, he knew the depth of illness without pulse diagnosis. The Emperor heard of this and summoned him to the Ye Ting palace to examine a palace maid who laughed, sang, cried, and howled every afternoon, appearing manic, and whose feet could not touch the ground. Ji Peng examined her and said: This must be due to eating full and exerting great strength, causing a sudden fall to the ground. He gave her Yunmu soup, allowing her to sleep soundly. Upon waking, her suffering vanished. Upon inquiry, she stated that during the birth of Princess Taihua, the palace held grand songs and music. She was the lead singer, fearing her voice would not be clear and long, ate pig trotter soup to fill her stomach, sang major tunes at the banquet. After the song, she felt intense heat in her chest, played on a tiled terrace, fell from height, and woke up long later. She became manic, and her feet could not reach the ground. "Danfang Jingyuan": Yunmu powder can refine mercury and subdue cinnabar, and is edible. "Shenxian Zhuan": Gong Song consumed Yunmu and retained a youthful appearance for hundreds of years. "Qingxia Zi": Long-term consumption of Yunmu makes cold and heat difficult to invade.

"Yanyi" states: Yunmu had consumption and refinement methods in ancient times, but few people consume it today, showing extreme caution. Markets often break it into flower shapes for sale. Currently, it is only compounded into Yunmu ointment to treat all carbuncles, toxins, sores, etc. The Huimin Bureau has separate methods.