Library

[Sulfur]
Taste: Sour. Nature: Extremely hot, toxic. Meridian Tropism: Mingmen (Gate of Life) meridian. Indications: Lower jiao deficiency-cold, Yang exhaustion with failure to rise, alopecia, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, tinea, scabies, epigastric and abdominal masses (Pi), cold pain in feet and knees, deficiency-induced seminal emission. The best quality is bright, clean, and free from stone impurities. It should be boiled in Licorice Decoction before use. It is incompatible with Mirabilite (Puxiao), Asarum (Xixin), and Leontodon (Feilian). It is contraindicated with the blood of various poultry and beasts.

Commentary: Sulfur is the essence of Fire, suitable for entering the Mingmen to tonify Fire. Humans possess True Fire, which resides in the right kidney; without this Fire, life cannot be sustained. Once this Fire extinguishes, all things lose their "father" (origin); who else but Sulfur can tonify it? Taiqing states: Sulfur inherits pure Yang energy, is known as the General, breaks evil to return to righteousness, transforms turbidity into clarity, stands firm in Yang essence, and eliminates Yin to transform Po spirit. Dai Yuanli states: Hot herbs are generally drying, but Sulfur is not drying; this has been frequently praised by sages. Nowadays, people absolutely do not use it, truly fearing its heat toxicity. However, for syndromes of declining Fire, there is no better remedy than Sulfur. Is it acceptable to discard it out of fear? For those poisoned by it, detoxification can be achieved using pork meat, duck soup, or Phyllanthus emblica (Yuganzi) decoction.

Lei Gong states: When using Sulfur, do not use those that are green-red, half-white half-yellow, or half-red half-black. The true product is yellow like a chick just hatching from an egg.
For four liang of Sulfur, first mix one yi of natural juice from Longwei Hao (Artemisia longipes?), three yi of East-flowing water, one yi of juice from Zibei Tiankui (Ophiopogon japonicus var. bulbifer?), and four yi of juice from Suzhuzi stem. Stir well, place in a clay pot, seal the bottom with Liuyi Mud (Six-to-One Mud). Crush the Sulfur, put it in the pot, and slowly add the aforementioned herbal juices to boil until the liquid is exhausted. Then, take ten liang of powder of Stemona (Baibu), two jin of powder of Willow insect (Liuchong), two jin of Yicucao (One-cluster grass), finely chop them, and boil the Sulfur together with East-flowing water and these herbs for two fushi (four hours). Remove all herbs, take out the Sulfur, wash it with Licorice Decoction, place it in a mortar, and grind it twenty thousand times to achieve the desired effect.

[Chenpi / Aged Tangerine Peel]
Taste: Pungent, bitter. Nature: Warm, non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung, Liver, Spleen, Stomach meridians. Indications: Directs Qi downward, promotes digestion, resolves phlegm, breaks stagnation, stops vomiting and coughing, stabilizes Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome), treats vomiting and diarrhea, promotes urination, treats five types of strangury (Wulin), expels lingering heat from the bladder, kills roundworms (Cunbai), fruit seeds treat lower back pain and hernia pain, leaves treat mastitis and hypochondriac abscesses, flesh quenches thirst. Excessive consumption causes Qi rebellion and phlegm generation. Removing the white pith enhances the ability to dispel cold and release the exterior; retaining the white pith enhances the ability to tonify the Stomach and harmonize the middle. Use after slight stir-frying. Produced in Guangzhong region; aged peel is superior.

Commentary: The pungent and bitter nature of Chenpi can vent the Lung. Metal controls Water, so it enters the Liver home; Earth is not insulted, so it enters the Spleen and Stomach. At the time of harvesting, its nature is extremely hot, like a person becoming old, where the fierce temperament gradually diminishes. After storage and aging, passing through plum rain and summer seasons, the fierce energy completely dissipates, warming the middle without causing dryness-heat.