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Shi Liu Huang (Mineral Sulfur)
Taste: Sour. Nature: Warm, Greatly Hot. Toxicity: Toxic. Indications: Primarily treats yin erosion in women (ulceration of the external genitalia), carbuncles and hemorrhoids, evil blood (stagnant blood), strengthens bones and tendons, cures alopecia capitis (scalp hair loss), treats accumulations and masses in the heart and abdomen, cold pi syndrome (masses) with evil qi in the hypochondrium, cough with rebellious qi ascending, cold pain and weakness in the feet lacking strength, as well as epistaxis (nosebleed), malignant sores, sores in the lower orifices, stops bleeding, kills scabies mites. It can melt gold, silver, copper, iron, and other strange substances. It grows in the Sheep Herding Valley of the East Sea, as well as Mount Tai and Hexi Mountain; it is the liquid form of alum stone.

Tao Hongjing states: The Commandery of Donghai belongs to Beizhou, and Jishan also has production. Currently, the first quality comes from Funan Linyi. Its color is like a goose egg just hatched, named Kunlun Huang (Kunlun Yellow). The next comes from foreign lands, arriving from Shu, with a deep and brilliant color. However, in prescriptions used to treat leg weakness and chronic cold, it is very effective. The *Immortal Classics* make considerable use of it. The strange substances it melts are all methods from the *Huangbai Shu* (Art of Yellow and White) and elixir making. This text says it is the liquid of alum stone; currently, there is no alum stone in the south, so this may not be accurate. Minister Yuxi et al. carefully verify:

Wu Shi says: Liu Huang (Sulfur) is also called Shi Liu Huang. Shen Nong, the Yellow Emperor, and Lei Gong state: Salty, toxic. Yi He and Bian Que state: Bitter, non-toxic. Some grow in Yiyang, some in Hexi, and there are five colors. Huang is the liquid of Pan water stone, which produces purple flames when burned. Gathered in the eighth and ninth months. Treats blood accumulation in women. *Yao Xing Lun* (Treatise on Medicinal Properties) states: Shi Liu Huang is the Sovereign herb, with great toxicity. Its toxicity can be resolved by decocting black tin (He Xi), and by eating old cold pork. Taste: Sweet. It is the essence of the Sun, where ghost flames reside. Various methods of sublimation and refining are transmitted by the author. It can direct qi downward, treat leg weakness, long-term coldness of the waist and kidneys, and remove stubborn bi syndrome caused by cold wind. It is also said: Used raw to treat tinea and scabies, and to treat cough with rebellious qi accompanied by alternating chills and fever. Refined and taken internally to treat deficiency and damage, seminal emission. Xiao Bing states: Liu Huang is the Minister herb. Ri Hua Zi states: Shi Ting Zhi (Red Sulfur) and Ceng Qing (Azurite) serve as Envoys. It is incompatible with Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Feilian (Cardui Thistle), and Iron. It strengthens the yang pathway, treats pi cold qi, tonifies tendons and bones damaged by overstrain, wind-labor qi, stops cough and rebellious qi, and treats lower orifice hemorrhoids, malignant sores, and tinea, killing intestinal parasites and evil spirits. Decocting Phyllanthus emblica juice can counteract its toxicity.

*Tujing* (Illustrated Classic) states: Shi Liu Huang grows in the Sheep Herding Valley of the East Sea, as well as Mount Tai and Hexi Mountain; it is the liquid form of alum stone. Currently, it is only produced in the various Fan nations of the South Sea. There may be some in prefectures and commanderies beyond the Lingling region, but it is not very good. The true product is that whose color resembles a freshly hatched goose egg, called Kunlun Huang. The red-colored one is named Shi Ting Zhi, the green-colored one is called Dongjie Shi (Winter Solidified Stone), and the half-white half-black one is named Shenjing Shi (God Startled Stone); none of these are suitable for medicinal use. There is also a type of earth sulfur produced in Guangnan and Rongzhou, flowing out of stream waters. Its taste is pungent, nature hot, and odor fishy and foul. It primarily treats scabies and kills insect toxins. It can also be refined into a liquid to coat vessels, resembling the yellow of a goose egg.

Carefully according to ancient prescription books, there were no records of ingesting sulfur. The functions described in the *Ben Jing* (Classic of Materia Medica) are limited to treating ulcerative sores, attacking accumulations and cold qi, and leg weakness. In recent times, however, fire-refining has become a common method for preparing pills and powders for daily use. Observing the methods of refining and ingestion, they lack any fundamental basis, unlike Ru Shi (Mica stones) which have discussions and regulations. Therefore, taking it, although the effect is rapid, the harm comes even faster. Can one fail to be vigilant?

Hai Yao (Marine Medicines) carefully verifies: The *Guangzhou Ji* states: Produced under the sun at Kunlun, in granular blocks that are crystal clear and pure without stone impurities is good. It primarily treats wind-cold deficiency and exhaustion, kidney cold, rebellious qi, weak and emaciated legs and knees, nourishes flesh and skin, benefits qi and strength, treats seminal emission, hemorrhoidal fistulas, and wind-constipation in the elderly. All should be calcined and taken internally. Immortal formulas call it Huang Sha (Yellow Sand), which can destroy the five metals and can also create gold color. If humans can subdue it and return it to its original state, taking it can cure ten thousand diseases. If it activates, it should be resolved with pork, duck soup, and Phyllanthus emblica tea. Ya Zhou in Shu also produces it, which is smooth and fine, but its efficacy does not match that imported by ship. Lei Gong states: When using, do not use those that are blue-red, half-white half-blue, or half-red half-black. The natural yellow, internal and crystal clear like living things, is precious. For every four liang, first mix one yi of natural juice from Longwei Hao (Artemisia argyi), three yi of east-flowing river water, one yi of juice from Zibei Tiankui (Omphalodes nipponica), and one yi of juice from Susui Zi stem. Mix the four ingredients evenly. Use one pot, seal the bottom with Liuyi Ni (Six-One Mud). Crush the sulfur and put it in the pot. Slowly add the herbal juices while heating until the liquid is exhausted. Then, add ten liang of Baibu powder (Stemona Root), two jin of Liu Mo (Willow bark powder), and two jin of Yicuan Cao. Finely chop them. Boil the sulfur with east-flowing water and herbs for two shichen (four hours). After the time is up, remove the herbs. Take out the sulfur, wash it with cooked Gancao Tang (Licorice Decoction), put it in a mortar, and grind it twenty thousand times before use.

*Shenghui Fang*: Treats various sores where flesh protrudes like a snake several inches long. Grind one liang of sulfur finely, apply thinly on the flesh, and it will immediately retract. *Waitai Miyao*: Qianjin treats pediatric ear disease (otomycosis/aural furuncle). Dust sulfur powder into the ear, once day and night, stop when cured. *Zhouhou Fang*: For female yin sores, apply powdered sulfur externally. *Jingyan Fang*: Greatly treats Yuan Zang (Primordial Viscera), qi flare-ups from long-standing cold, abdominal pain with deficient diarrhea; urgent and highly effective. *Yufen Dan*: Five liang of raw sulfur, one liang of green salt. Grind both finely together. Form pills like mung beans using steamed dough. Take five pills each time with warm wine on an empty stomach, followed by food to suppress it. *Meishi Fang*: Treats damp sores growing in the yin. Grind mineral sulfur into powder and apply to the sore three times a day. *Boji Fang*: Treats Yin and Yang Er Du Shanghan (Cold Damage due to Yin and Yang Poisons). Place sulfur at the bottom of the pan, then place Ban Dou (Croton Seed) on top, cover again with sulfur. Pour half sheng of strong vinegar over it. Cover tightly with a lid, seal the seams with wet paper so no air escapes, and rewet the paper with vinegar when dry. Simmer over mild and moderate heat, keeping someone watching. When the Ban Dou inside makes noise and the count reaches half, remove the pan from the fire and immediately pound it finely in a mortar. Add a little rice vinegar and a small piece of steamed dough, pound again until cool. Shape into pills the size of a corn kernel. For Yin Poison, decoct forty-nine Sichuan peppercorns and two stalks of white onion in one sheng of water until reduced to six-tenths; take one pill. For Yang Poison, decoct forty-nine fermented soybeans and two stalks of white onion in one sheng of water; swallow one pill without chewing.

*Sun Shangyao*: Treats qi deficiency and cold injury, sudden watery diarrhea, thirty to twenty movements per day, unceasing abdominal pain; prepared for emergencies during summer travel. *Zhaozhen Dan*: Two liang of sulfur, ground horn of buffalo extremely fine, half liang of dried white alum. Grind together uniformly, soak in water, remove water traces using steamed dough, mix and form pills the size of sophora seeds, coated with Cinnabar. Take fifteen to twenty pills each time with rice drink or salt water. *Yuji Fang*: Wang Fangping Tongling Wang Fen San: Treats waist and knees, warms the Water Viscera (Kidneys), enhances complexion; its merits cannot be fully recorded. Stir-fry over high fire. If not sufficiently processed, boil further until done. Grind into powder. Dig a pit one chi two cun deep, pour water into it, wait for the water to clear. Take the clear water and mix with sulfur water (do not use too much). Boil in a crucible until it becomes like paste. Take one side of an iron coin, do not put it on fire. Place fine sand between paper, slowly scoop the sulfur onto the paper to drip. Naturally it becomes jade-colored, shining brightly. This is called Yufen San (Jade Powder). Grind finely. To make pills, use rice dough to form pills the size of hemp seeds. Take ten pills on an empty stomach daily with salt water. For powder form, mix two qian with salt water. Extremely effective. My fellow townsman Wang Zhaozui compounded and took it. At ninety years old, his appearance was like a child's; he could read small characters at night, and his strength was double that of ordinary people.

*Taiqing Fuliang Lingsha Fa*: Shi Liu Huang originally came from Persia, in the southern Ming region. It formed from the essence of pure yang fire stones. Its nature is fluid, containing fierce toxicity. Among medicines, it is called the General. Its function is to break evil and return to righteousness, reverse stagnation to clarity, stand firm with yang essence, and dissolve yin to transform soul. *Danfang Jingyuan*: Mineral sulfur can dry mercury. The formula says: This sulfur turns black upon contact with the five metals and turns red upon contact with quicksilver. It is also called Huang Ya (Yellow Tooth). Qingxiazi: Sulfur disperses pi masses.

*Yanyi* states: Mineral sulfur is currently used by people to treat deficiency-cold of the lower yuan, impending extinction of primordial qi, chronic cold diarrhea, spleen and stomach weakness, and imminent death; taking it is invariably effective. Once the disease is addressed, one should stop; do not finish the entire dose. People generally know that using it brings blessings, but do not know that long-term use brings disaster. This substance acts with both benefit and harm. If completely discarded and unused, how could one manage in an emergency? Or perhaps, if processed by specific methods to resist its fire-nature and taken regularly, this is also a failure to reflect. The *Ben Jing* does not mention such ingestion methods, but focuses specifically on treating women. Those who do not understand often take it with wine; is this advisable? Or if there is long-standing cold in the viscera, taking it may cause initial purging. If the condition is critical heat, one may increase the number of pills; too few will be ineffective. It still acts like Fuzi (Aconite), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), and Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig).