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Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Primarily serves to calm the Spirit (Shen), stabilize palpitations and fright, subdue mania and epilepsy, and eliminate pathogenic heat.

Note: The reason gold and silver enter the Lung meridian is due to their elemental affinity with Metal. Their nature is heavy and dense, capable of restraining the light and ascending qualities of the Fire organ (Heart); therefore, they also enter the Heart meridian. Overconsumption will inevitably lead to poisoning, which can be antidoted with Partridge meat.

Pungent in flavor, slightly cold in nature, toxic. Meridian tropism is not recorded. Primarily serves to induce vomiting for rebellious Qi, treat mania and epilepsy, relieve pain, and promote tissue regeneration.

Note: Huangdan (Lead Oxide) is produced by smelting Lead. Lead is essentially "Metal within Water," possessing a strong capacity to suppress Fire. Since conditions such as vomiting and mania are largely driven by Fire, how could they fail to heal given this suppressing action?

Pungent in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Meridian tropism is not recorded. Primarily serves to treat various carbuncles, swellings, and diverse toxins, as well as necrotic flesh. It kills three types of parasites and breaks up accumulations and masses.

Note: Hufen (Basic Lead Carbonate), also known as Fenxi, is actually derived from smelted Lead. Its ability to break up stagnation and kill parasites likely stems from its heavy and descending properties.

Bitter and astringent in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. Meridian tropism is not recorded. Primarily serves to consolidate traumatic wounds, treat blurred vision, stop bleeding, kill parasites, and remove necrotic tissue.

Note: Tongqing (Verdigris) is the essence obtained by applying vinegar to copper. Vinegar has astringent properties; thus, it consolidates sores and stops bleeding. Its ability to remove necrotic tissue is also attributed to the action of vinegar.

Sweet and astringent in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Primarily serves to treat epilepsy and manic confusion, resolve various toxins ingested into the abdomen, treat snake and dog bites, calm the Spirit, brighten the eyes, and cleanse knee ulcers, leading to immediate healing.

Mixed with oil for topical application, it can cover malignant sores and scabies; ground with garlic and applied, it treats spider bites.

Note: Tiejiang (Ferrous Sulfate solution) is the liquid obtained from soaking iron. It is blue-green in color and can dye silk black. Its substance belongs to Metal, making it suitable for the Lung meridian; its nature is sinking, making it suitable for calming the Heart. Brightening the eyes and treating lacquer dermatitis are both due to its Wood-subduing (Metal overcoming Wood) function. Tielu (Iron Rust) can also be applied to sores and toxins. This is because substances acting on the exterior possess the meaning of dispersal.

Pungent in flavor, cold in nature, toxic. Meridian tropism is not recorded. Primarily serves to treat rash crusts, ulcers, alopecia capitis, and skin diseases; kill lice; induce abortion and sterilization; and detoxify gold, silver, copper, and tin. When melted and re-refined into pills and taken, it is said to confer immortality. However, it is inhibited by Magnetite (Cishi) and Arsenic Trioxide (Pishuang).

Note: The efficacy of Shuiyin (Mercurius, Mercury) in treating worm-related rashes and other conditions is indeed due to its toxicity. Its ability to neutralize the toxicity of the five metals is likely because its Yin and soft nature can dissolve metals into mud. If it enters the ear, it can consume the brain entirely; if it enters the flesh, it causes contraction of all joints, leading to the severance of Yin and Yang. Its nature is slippery and heavy, easily penetrating the flesh, requiring utmost caution. It can expel dead fetuses and may be administered via enema.

Lei Gong stated: Substances extracted from herbs or found in vermilion lacquer should not be used. Those processed by other medicines should not be used. Those that have wrapped corpses or half-dead bodies should not be used. If produced within Cinnabar (Zhusha), the mercury appears reddish in hue. After collection, store it in a gourd to prevent loss. If first boiled together with the natural juices of Zibeitiankui (Basella rubra) and Yejiaoteng (Polygonum multiflorum vine) for one shichen (two hours), its toxicity will naturally dissipate. To process ten taels of mercury, use seven yi of each of the two decocted juices, mix them, and boil until sufficient.