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Dai Zhe (Hematitum)

Bitter, sweet, cold, non-toxic. It primarily treats Gui Zhu (ghostly infection, a chronic wasting disease caused by evil qi), Zei Feng (sudden invasion of pathogenic wind), Gu Du (poisoning from gu worms or evil qi), kills spirits and evil ghosts, eliminates toxic evil qi in the abdomen; treats women with red leukorrhea and metrorrhagia, various leukorrhea diseases, difficult labor, retained placenta, post-abortion conditions to nourish blood and replenish qi; clears heat from the blood vessels of the five zang organs, treats Xue Bi (blood stasis causing numbness and pain) and blood stasis; treats adults and children with fright qi entering the abdomen and impotence. Also known as Xu Wan; those produced in Gumu are called Xu Wan, while those produced in Dai Jun are called Dai Zhe. Also known as Xue Shi (Blood Master). Grows in the valleys of Qi State. The best quality is red, crimson, and bluish-purple like a rooster's comb, glossy, and stains fingernails without fading. Collection has no fixed time. (Averse to Tian Xiong/Aconiti Radix Preparata.)

Tao Hongjing said: Old theories state it is soil from under the city gates of Dai Jun. It has been long absent in the Jiangdong region; what was recently presented by the Wei state is merely local red earth, not the true substance. Although its use in secular medicine is sparse, it is essential in immortal formulas, along with Rong Yan (Roccae Salis) and Lu Xian (Halitum), which are all urgently needed. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: This stone mostly comes from Dai Zhou, claimed to be mined from mountains, not soil from under city gates, and also says it grows in the valleys of Qi land. Currently, Chi Shi (red stone) is produced at Ting Mountain in Qi Zhou, with colors including red, crimson, and green. The red ones resemble a rooster's comb and are glossy; locals only use them to paint pillars, while the purple ones are duller. This substance resembles that from Dai Zhou and has been used since ancient times. Now, in the border of Mingsha County, Ling Zhou, north of the Yellow River, digging four or five chi deep yields material with a red slippery skin and a purple interior like chicken liver, greatly surpassing those from Qi and Dai. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully note according to *Yao Xing Lun*: Dai Zhe serves as a guiding drug; soil from Yanmen City, with Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) as an assistant drug, tastes sweet and is neutral. It treats women with Beng Zhong (metrorrhagia/menorrhagia), continuous dripping, and treats infants whose umbilical cords have not yet fallen off; taken as powder with warm water, it wards off ghosts and demons. Xiao Bing stated: Dai Zhe is a minister drug. Ri Hua Zi stated: Dai Zhe is averse to Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata). It stops hematemesis, epistaxis, Chang Feng (hematochezia due to wind-heat), hemorrhoids, menorrhagia, pediatric convulsions, gan disease (malnutrition syndrome), regurgitation, dysentery, spermatorrhea, hematuria, enuresis, promotes flesh growth in traumatic wounds, calms the fetus, strengthens the spleen, and treats nocturnal polyuria.

*Tujing* states: Dai Zhe grows in the valleys of Qi State; it is now also found in the mountains of Hedong and Jingdong. The best quality is red, crimson, and bluish-purple like a rooster's comb, glossy, and does not fade when staining fingernails. Ancient formula Zi Wan uses Dai Zhe for pediatric treatment, stating that genuine ones are rare, so Zuogu Muli (Ostreae Concha) is used as a substitute, indicating that genuine materials are hard to obtain. Current physicians mostly select large pieces where the surface has protrusions resembling floating bubbles, considered superior, called Ding Tou Dai Zhe (Nail-head Hematitum). Collection has no fixed time. The next entry mentions Bai E (Kaolinite), growing in the valleys of Handan, which is used by painters, abundant and cheap, also known as Bai Shan Tu (White Good Earth). Hu Jushi said: In Jinxiang Township, Xiaogui County, Shixing, there is Bai Shan, rarely used in folk prescriptions. It is now available everywhere, often used by households for washing clothes. *Shan Hai Jing · Western Mountain Classic* records the Mountain of Stone Gui, where the Guan River originates on the northern slope and flows north into the Yu River; it contains Liu Zhe (flowing hematite), which, when applied to cattle and horses, prevents disease. Guo Pu annotated: Zhe is red earth. People nowadays apply cinnabar to ox horns, claiming it wards off evil. It also states: On the mountain of Da Ci, the southern slope is rich in E. Also, *Northern Mountain Classic* mentions Tian Chi Mountain, where there is much yellow E. Also, *Central Mountain Classic* mentions Conglong Mountain, where there is a large valley rich in white, black, green, and yellow E. The annotation states: This refers to mixed-color kaolin. Thus, Zhe from western regions is prized; E comes in five colors, but only white is used in medicine.

Lei Gong said: Regardless of quantity, grind finely with wax water, repeatedly using the water flotation method. Discard any red film on the water surface resembling thin clouds. Then boil in fine tea dregs decoction for one fu (approx. 12 hours), remove, and grind ten thousand times before use. Take a clean iron cauldron, heat until the bottom is red-hot, add one liang of white wax to the bottom, wait briefly, then pour in fresh well water to stir. Boil one or two thousand times, let cool, and use. Dou Men Formula: Treats Xiao Chang Qi (intestinal qi stagnation/hernia). Use one liang of Xue Shi, one sheng of rice vinegar. Heat the Xue Shi until red-hot, quench in vinegar until exhausted, grind into powder. Mix with decoction and take one da qian; recovery is miraculous. Xue Shi is Dai Zhe. Imperial Medical Academy Formula: For unbearable itching and pain from wind-rash. Grind red earth finely, take one qian with warm wine on an empty stomach. *Dan Fang Jing Yuan* states: Dai Zhe appears golden. *Bie Shuo* states: According to records, Chuzhou annually presents tribute, exceeding ten thousand jin, with bright red color.

*Yanyi* states: Dai Zhe is frequently used in alchemical furnaces. Those with nail-heads, glossiness, firmness, and red-purple color are excellent. Bai E is Bai Shan Tu, also known as Bai Tu Zi in the capital. Cut into segments about one cun square, sold in markets, people use it for washing clothes. Nowadays, people mix Wang Gua (Trichosanthes cucumeroides) in equal parts, grind into powder, take two qian with hot water to treat headache. Chi Tu (red earth) is currently used by official mansions to decorate rafters. Mix fine powder with water, take one or two qian to treat wind-rash.