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Yin Qian (Silver Shavings)
Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, toxic. It primarily benefits the five Zang organs, calms the Shen (Spirit), stops palpitations and fright, expels evil Qi, and with long-term use, makes the body light and prolongs life. Produced in Yongchang. No specific time for harvesting.

Tao Hongjing stated: The sources of silver are similar to those of gold, but both are produced within stones. The methods of refining and ingesting are also similar. In current medical prescriptions, it is used when compounding Zhenxin Wan (Calming the Heart Pill), but it should not be taken directly as a primary medicine. To make silver shavings, one should grind it with Mercury (Shuiyin, 水银) until it dissolves. Yongchang originally belonged to Yizhou and now belongs to Ningzhou. The *Xian Jing* (Immortal Classic) contains records of ingestion and refining methods; however, since there are no primary therapeutic effects recorded here, it was not included in the Bencao (Materia Medica). In ancient times, gold was called Huangjin (Yellow Metal/Gold), silver was called Baijin (White Metal/Silver), and copper was called Chijin (Red Metal/Copper). Currently, copper is divided into raw and refined types; refined copper is soft and reddish, but it is not used in the Bencao. Current Tongqing (Copper Green/Verdigris) and large coins are all made of raw copper, are used in prescriptions, and according to the classification system, should belong to the Lower Grade. The Tang Ben Zhu (Note on the Tang Materia Medica) states: Silver and gold grow in different places, and gold is also found in water. When physicians use Yin Qian, they should take ready-made silver foil, dissolve it with Mercury to form a paste. Add Niter (Xiaoshi, 硝石) and salt, grind into powder, heat to drive off the Mercury, wash away the salt and stones, and obtain an extremely fine powder, which is ideal for use. Only if unavoidable should one grind shavings directly. Moreover, silver is available everywhere, but that from Guozhou is superior; others often contain impurities like Tin, making them inferior. The foil makers from Goryeo state: it is not derived from silver ore, but its color is bluish-green and inferior to that from Guozhou. There is also Huangyin (Yellow Silver), which is not recorded in the *Ben Jing* (Classic of Materia Medica); popular belief holds that vessels made of it ward off evil and are considered auspicious objects. Minister Yuxi et al., according to *Yao Xing Lun* (Discussion on Medicinal Properties), state: Yin Qian serves as the Sovereign herb. Used together with Yinbo (Silver Foil). It primarily stabilizes the will, removes fright and epilepsy, and treats pediatric epilepsy with manic running behavior.

*Tujing Bencao* (Illustrated Materia Medica) has detailed entries under the section for Jin Xie (Gold Shavings).

*Haiyao Bencao* (Marine Drug Materia Medica) states: According to *Nanyue Zhi*, it comes from Persia. There is naturally occurring medicinal silver, which Persians use for testing poisons and making rings. It is very cold in nature. It has no primary function to strengthen sinews and bones, but can calm the heart and mind, improve vision, and treat wind-heat and epilepsy. It is incorporated into foils and administered in pills and powders. Also, collecting deposits from the bottom of urns used for burning cinnabar powder over many years yields silver, known as Beiqian Yin (Cup-Lead Silver), which is lustrous and soft, similar in efficacy to Persian silver, though difficult to obtain. Current refiners can only extract one or two zhu from every jin of raw lead. The *Shan Hai Jing* (Classic of Mountains and Seas) states: Dangshao Mountain in Leping Commandery in the northeast produces much silver. Silver from Qian is hard and unsuitable for medicinal use. Furthermore, according to *Zhenguan Zhengyao* (Essentials of Governance during the Zhenguan Era): In the tenth year, Censor Quan Wanjji memorialized that the mountains in Xuan and Rao prefectures had abundant silver mines, and mining them was highly profitable. Emperor Taizong said: "I, as the Son of Heaven, lack nothing. Why should I bother with extraction?" This confirms that silver is produced there. *Zimu Milu* (Secret Records of Mother and Child) records: When a woman first becomes pregnant, she may suddenly suffer severe lower back and abdominal pain as if broken. Use one liang of Silver, three sheng of water, decoct to obtain two sheng, and drink. *Taishang Badi Xu Bian Jing* states: Silver shavings promote longevity. Qingxiazi's *Jinye Huan Dan Lun* states: Silver breaks cold and dispels wind.

*Yanyi* (Expanded Meaning) states: Regarding Yin Qian, the meaning of 'shavings' was already explained under the entry for Gold Bars. Silver originates from ore and must be smelted/refined to become what is called Shuyin (Refined Silver); therefore, a separate entry for Shengyin (Raw/Native Silver) is established later. Its usage is largely the same as Refined Silver. In the world, some alchemists can synthesize silver using Cinnabar (Zhusha, 朱砂), Lead (Qian, 铅) and Mercury (Hong, 汞), or scorched Copper. These do not possess the vital energy of natural creation and cannot be used in medicine. Since such cases exist, they must be distinguished. The so-called Raw Silver refers to silver that does not come from ore but occurs naturally; it is also called Laowengxu (Old Man's Beard), named by analogy. However, the *Jing* states that Yin Qian is toxic, while Shengyin is non-toxic. Commentators omitted this explanation. Probably because Raw Silver has already emerged outwardly, lacking stagnant Qi, thus it is non-toxic. Ore-bound Silver remains stored within stone, with condensed Qi not yet fully dispersed, hence it is described as toxic. It also dislikes Tin.