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Shi (Mineral Drug)

Pungent, sweet; extremely hot in nature. Raw form is warm, cooked form is hot; toxic. Mainly treats alternating chills and fever, scrofula (tuberculous lymphadenitis), corrosive ulcers, necrotic tissue, wind-bi (wind-rheumatism obstruction), abdominal masses, pathogenic qi of癖 accumulation, clears heat, brightens the eyes, directs Qi downward, eliminates heat in the diaphragm, stops thirst (Xiao Ke), benefits Liver Qi, breaks up accumulations, treats stubborn cold abdominal pain, removes nasal polyps. Long-term use causes tendon contraction. After calcination for one hundred days, it can be taken; dosage is one Dao Gui (ancient unit of measure). If taken uncalcined, it kills humans and all beasts. Also known as Qing Fen Shi, Li Zhi Shi, Gu Yang Shi, Bai Yu Shi, Tai Bai Shi, Ze Ru, Shi Yan. Grows in valleys of Hanzhong and Mount Shaoshi. No specific time for collection. (Calcination by fire is preferred; Ji Zhen [Spina Gleditsiae] acts as a guide drug; incompatible with Ma Mu Du Gong, Rat Feces, Hu Zhang, Xi Xin; fears water.)

Tao Hongjing states: Currently found in Shu-Han regions, but high-quality ones come from Nan Ye Stream in Nankang, within Pengcheng borders, and South Qian in Luoyang, often sourced from Mount Shaoshi. This raw stone placed in water prevents freezing, demonstrating its extreme heat property. Nowadays, people wrap it in yellow clay mud and burn it in charcoal fire for a day and night until it crumbles for use; it is excellent for treating cold stagnation. It is widely used in alchemical formulas and Huang Bai Shu (Yellow and White Alchemy); also produced in Xinning and Lingling in Eastern Xiangdong. Bai Yu Shi can soften metals. The *Tang Bencao* commentary notes: This stone resists fire; prolonged burning only causes disintegration without losing its hardness. Market vendors now substitute it with fine-grained white ordinary stones which turn to ash when burned; this is incorrect. This drug is effective against accumulations and stubborn cold diseases; substitution leads to treatment failure, precisely for this reason. Currently, Liao Kou west of Wudang in Hanchuan is named Yu Shi Valley, the true origin. Mount Shaoshi also produces it, with finer grains and texture, but inferior to those from Hanzhong. Ministers Yuxi et al. cite Wu's records: Bai Yu Shi is also called Shu Xiang. Shennong and Qibo state: Pungent, toxic. Tong Jun states: Toxic. Huang Di states: Sweet, toxic. Ji Shi says: Some grow in Weixing, some in Shaoshi, collected in the twelfth month. *Classic of Mountains and Seas* states: Gaotu Mountain has white stone named Yu, which can poison rats. Guo Pu's commentary notes: Currently, Yu stone kills rats, eating them to fatten them. *Shuowen Jiezi* states: Yu is a poisonous stone. *Baowuzhi* states: When storks incubate eggs, they place Yu stones around them to provide warmth. Alchemists take Yu stones from stork nests as authentic. *Yaoxing Lun* states: Yu stone, with Qian Dan (Lead Red Lead) as a guide drug; sweet, slightly toxic. Mainly clears accumulated Qi in chest and diaphragm, removes cold-damp wind-bi, chronic itching; avoid sheep blood. Xiao Bing states: Not used in decoctions.

*Tujing* states: Yu Stone grows in valleys of Hanzhong and Mount Shaoshi; currently also found in Luzhou. Extremely hot nature; placed in water prevents freezing; hard and fire-resistant. Burned for a day and night, it disintegrates but retains hardness. Market vendors substitute with white stones that turn to ash upon burning. This drug is good for treating accumulations and stubborn cold diseases; authentic material must be used. There is also Te Sheng Yu Shi (Specially Born Yu Stone) from Western Regions. Zhang Hua's *Baowuzhi* states: Storks take Yu stones to surround eggs for warmth. Alchemists use it, taking those from stork nests as authentic, i.e., this Te Sheng Yu Shi. However, it is rare; people mostly use Hanzhong varieties, which are purple-red externally, white like frost internally, with a central depression resembling teeth. The chunks are smaller than Bai Yu Shi, but the crystalline structure is several times larger, about the size of a small bean. Bai Yu Shi grains are fine, only the size of millet. There is also Wo Xue Yu Shi (Snow-Holding Yu Stone) from Songli Mountain west of Xuzhou, growing over a zhang underground among rotten soil and stones, white, fine, soft like human skin color. Additionally, next entry: Cang Shi, from Xicheng. Su Gong states: Te Sheng Yu Shi is also named Cang Yu Shi; specially born in Liangzhou, some are green. Fangling and Hanchuan areas where Bai Yu Shi grows also have green varieties, mostly similar to Te Sheng, but not used in prescriptions. Nowadays, physicians mostly use Yu Shi, i.e., Bai Yu Shi; shapes are similar, so careful selection is essential. Ancient formulas for cold accumulations all use Yu Shi. Hu Qia Da Lu Su Wan (Hu Qia Great Dew-Bathing Pill), main formula for cold diseases: Calcined Yu Shi, Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), Gui Xin (Cinnamon Twig Heart), Zao Jiao (Gleditsia Fruit), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) each 3 liang, Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) 2 liang. Six ingredients pounded and sifted, honey pills. Take five pills (size of wutong seeds), three times daily, gradually increasing dose until effect is achieved. You also have Xiongnu Lu Su Wan, Liu Huang Wan, all treating accumulations, inability to eat/drink, solid heart/abdomen, all using Yu Shi. Rarely used in recent times.

*Danfang Jingyuan* states: Red-skin Yu Shi can stabilize Cinnabar and nourish Mercury.

*Yanyi* states: Yu Shi and Te Sheng Yu Shi, both *Baowuzhi* and Tao Hongjing say these two stones are taken by storks to cover eggs, implying they are one substance. Hongjing further states: *Immortal Classics* do not mention "Te Sheng," so it is just the aforementioned Bai Yu Shi. Current *Supplementary Annotations* merely explain textually, missing the meaning of "Te Sheng." Essentially, the two entries refer to one substance, differing only by whether it is "specially born" or not. "Te Sheng" means not attached to other stones. Currently used very rarely, only the character "Yu" enters medicine. However, extreme caution is required due to severe toxicity. Regarding the discussion of stork nest stones, it follows erroneous theories. Stork nests do not contain such stones; the claim that storks enter water, get cold, and thus take stones to warm eggs is flawed. By this logic, cormorants and peng birds, which feed in water and reproduce naturally, would also need these stones. Such statements often adopt vulgar opinions without investigating reality or reasoning thoroughly. Having served as an official in Shun'an Army, I personally inspected stork nests and found no stones. How could Yu Shi be everywhere? Nevertheless, it is effective for long-standing accumulations and chronic cold chest/abdomen conditions, but must be used with caution because its toxicity is formidable.