Library

Gold Foil: [Pungent, neutral in nature, toxic, enters the Heart and Liver meridians. When decocted with other herbs in soup, borrowing its Qi is very effective. Raw gold has severe toxicity and can cause death.] It calms the Heart Spirit (Shen), [Heavy substances can anchor the Heart]. It stabilizes fright and evil influences, [Fright should be treated by calming it]. If the Heart Qi is deficient causing the Soul (Hun) and Spirit (Shen) to be unsettled, without external fright invading, one should tonify the Heart and calm the Spirit; Gold Foil is not suitable for this purpose. Taking it without cause consumes body fat. Grinding it into powder and taking a single dose of less than three qian will cause excruciating pain in the heart and abdomen, tearing sensation in the intestines and stomach, leading to death.

Silver Foil: [Pungent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.] Its efficacy is the same as Gold Foil.

Black Lead: [Sweet, cold in nature, used in pills. Melt in an iron pot, remove dregs and use the clear liquid.] Treats various diseases caused by rebellious Qi descending, [Such as vomiting, vertigo, dysphagia (Yi Ge), Ben Tun asthma and critical conditions, it has the power to reverse the disease process]. Applied externally to treat scrofula nodules and swollen sores, [It inherits the primordial Ren-Gui water Qi to generate extreme Yin essence, thus it can resolve all heat toxins.] Detoxification is very effective, [Toxins from arsenic trioxide, sulfur, calomel, and other mineral drugs are resolved by decocting and drinking]. Insecticidal effect is miraculous. [Eat a slice of pork first, then take two to four qian of lead ash mixed with sugar water at dawn; all parasites will be expelled.] Black color connects to the Kidney, heavy weight and slippery nature, it is a heavy sedative agent.

Generally, mineral drugs are incompatible with the viscera, Qi, and Blood of the human body; things of different categories rarely harmonize, so they should not be taken in large amounts.

Natural Copper: [Pungent, neutral in nature, fire-calcined and vinegar-quenched seven times, ground fine and processed with water flotation.] Heals tendons and sets bones, restores fractures to their original state, resolves blood stasis and breaks stagnation, eliminating pain immediately.

Stop when the disease is cured; do not overuse.

Cinnabar: [Sweet, slightly cold, enters the Heart meridian. Avoid all blood products. Must be ground extremely fine, processed with water flotation, and used raw. If calcined by fire, its heat toxicity equals that of arsenic, causing death. Use Guangming Sha.] It is a superior drug for clearing and anchoring Minister Fire. [Red color corresponds to Fire, contains mercury, Yang in body but Yin in nature, it anchors floating fire and calms the Spirit. Heart heat cannot be cleared without this drug; thus, it is needed for vexation, insomnia, palpitations, and fright.] Treats epilepsy and mania, [Epilepsy belongs to Heart Qi deficiency with heat; mania was called "loss of Heart" by ancients. It anchors the Heart, calms the Spirit, and clears heat, so it is used for these conditions.] Regulates infantile fright-heat. [Five qian of Cinnabar, one fen of Realgar ground to powder, take one spoonful mixed with Rhinoceros Horn juice, or a small amount of Rehmannia and Licorice decoction; administer to newborns to stop fetal fright and resolve fetal toxins.]

Used alone or in large doses, it causes dullness and mental stagnation.

Gypsum: [Pungent, sweet, bland, severely cold, enters the Lung and Stomach meridians, crushed.] Mainly treats dry mouth, scorched tongue, thirst, and desire to drink, [In Shanghan, warm diseases, and epidemics, Yangming syndrome is often involved; thus, whenever vexation, thirst, and desire to drink appear, it can be used.] Eliminates confusion, delirium, and madness. [Stomach heat rushing to the Heart causes confusion, delirium, and even madness. Sweet-cold clears and resolves Yangming pathogenic heat, causing these symptoms to recede.] Useful for asthma and Qi oppression. [If due to Lung heat and rebellious Qi, it is used to descend Phlegm-Heat from the Lung meridian.] Urgently sought for macules and rashes. [Macules and rashes arise from heat pathogens transmitting to the Lung and Stomach.] Can stop vomiting and abdominal pain, [Vomiting with thirst, red face, short dark urine or dysuria belongs to Stomach Fire rebellion; it is essential here. Stomach pain due to Fire also uses it. The Classic states it treats firm abdominal pain; although originally a lower jiao syndrome, it works because once Yangming pathogenic heat is resolved, the interior Qi harmonizes, dryness and accumulation pass naturally, and abdominal pain stops. If purgation is indeed indicated, purgatives should still be used.] Can treat high fever and headache. [Due to its pungent flavor, it has muscle-releasing and sweating capabilities; forehead pain with thirst belongs to Yangming and requires it; otherwise, do not use. Wind-heat syndromes also suit its use.] A true holy medicine for heatstroke, [Sweet-cold clears and resolves summerheat; this is the holy medicine.] Also a divine pill for malaria. [Malaria is also due to summerheat pathogens; thus, for cases with much heat and thirst, it is indispensable.] Treats oral ulcers and lip sores, [Ulceration and sores. Zhong Chun said: Oral ulcers, lip sores, bad breath, bland taste, acid regurgitation, fullness, and hunger pangs all belong to Stomach Fire.] Selected for toothache and wind-headache. [Upper and lower gum pain belongs to Stomach and Large Intestine Fire; wind-headache is due to Fire. All cases of red and swollen head/face, sudden red painful eyes are suitable for it.] Resolves Yangming pathogenic heat, eliminates Phlegm-Fire of Metal (Lung). A divine drug for dispelling summerheat and stopping vexation/thirst; use for excess-heat patterns, bringing the dying back to life, efficacy equal to Golden Liquid. Both have thin flavors and aromas; if the dose is too small, efficacy cannot be expected. Physicians of the world do not understand this, so I specifically highlight it.

Do not use if there is no significant internal heat; misuse causes loose bowels and loss of appetite due to Cold damaging the Stomach. If headache and body heat exist without thirst, the pathogen has not transmitted to Yangming; do not use. If summerheat combines with dampness causing diarrhea, do not use in those with severe Spleen-Stomach weakness. Strictly contraindicated for patients with bleeding disorders and postpartum women with Blood deficiency causing fever, vexation, and thirst presenting like Baihu Tang syndrome.

Talc: [Sweet, bland, cold, enters the Heart, Stomach, Bladder, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. Grind fine. Boil in Peony Decoction, dry, and use.] Promotes urination, [Shizhen said: Slippery substances benefit all orifices, not just urination. Superiorly benefits hair follicles and interstices, inferiorly benefits seminal and urinary orifices; Danxi emphasized it as a key drug for stone strangury.] Moves stagnation, [Nature is heavy and slippery, thus it unblocks obstruction, descends turbid grease; it is a substance-based drug.] Required for heatstroke, [Sweet harmonizes Stomach Qi, Cold dissipates summerheat.] Suitable for dysentery. [Functions include dissipating summerheat, clearing heat, promoting urination, dispelling dampness, moving stagnation, and driving out blood stasis.]

Contraindicated for Yin deficiency with internal heat and difficult urination.

Magnetite: [Pungent, cold, slightly warm, enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. Fire-calcined, vinegar-quenched, water-flown; do not use if it does not attract iron.] Tonifies Kidney deficiency in men, [Black color enters the Kidney and benefits Essence, thus treating various Kidney diseases, improving hearing and vision, impotence; soaked in wine and drunk. For lumbar discomfort, add and use.] Treats infantile fright-epilepsy, [Fright-epilepsy is due to timid Heart Qi and abundant Phlegm-Heat. Heavy substances remove timidity; salty substances moisten, descend, and soften hardness, hence its use.] Restores hearing in deafness, [Sedative and descending, preventing Kidney Qi from rebelling upward; should be used with Kidney-tonifying herbs. Also, real lodestone inserted into the diseased ear, and iron sand wrapped in silk inserted into the healthy ear, allows natural permeability.] Restores vision in dimness. [Used in Ci Zhu Wan to anchor and nourish True Essence, preventing Shen Water from shifting outward.] Nature is balanced and mild, lacking fierce energy.

Hematite: [Sweet, bitter, cold, enters the Heart and Liver meridians. Fire-calcined until red, vinegar-quenched three times, ground fine, water-flown.] Stops retroflexion (regurgitation), treats hiccups, removes asthma, regulates hernia. [All taken as powder, relying on their heaviness to descend and suppress rebellious Qi.] Revives male impotence, [Excessive Fire consumes Qi; if Fire Qi is too strong, the genitals become flaccid; bitter-cold drains excess Fire.] Infantile fright-epilepsy. [Epilepsy attacks involve staring, convulsions, tongue protrusion, lip chewing, sounds like animals, caused by fright. This drug anchors and descends into the Liver and Pericardium meridians, hence it governs these conditions.]

Contraindicated for deficiency-cold. Contraindicated for Yang deficiency with impotence and fright-epilepsy due to wind pathogens. Due to its descending nature causing abortion, pregnant women also avoid it.

Qingmengshi (Blue Calamine): [Salty, neutral, enters the Liver meridian. Equal parts with saltpeter, fire-calcined until golden yellow, ground fine, water-flown.] Transforms stubborn phlegm and accumulations, moves food stagnation. [Salty softens hardness, heavy descends. Tang Shi treated infantile phlegm-saliva obstructing the throat, life hanging in the balance, using mint juice mixed with raw honey, 5 fen or 1 qian, to descend wind-phlegm; it is a holy drug for treating fright and benefiting phlegm.]

Endowed with fierce nature and attacking capability; contraindicated for Spleen-Stomach weakness.

Sea Floating Stone: [Salty, neutral, enters the Kidney meridian.] Can transform accumulated old phlegm, dissolve goiters and scrofula nodules.

[Because salty substances soften hardness.] Formed from water foam, light and void in texture, slippery and descending in nature, thus it has the function of clearing Metal (Lung) and descending Fire.

Overconsumption damages Qi and Blood.

Mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas): [Salty, severely cold, enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians.] Removes pathogenic heat, [When heat floods internally, treat with salty-cold.] Unblocks both bowels, [Salty flavor descends and leaks, belonging to Yin.] Breaks firm accumulations and sweeps away old feces, drives out blood stasis and attacks congealed phlegm. [Salty softens hardness, salty moves Blood, salty moistens and descends.]

Processed Xuanming Powder: [Boil Mirabilite with sliced radish in river water, filter through silk into a basin, expose overnight. For every jin, boil with one liang of Licorice, filter clean, expose again. Pack the salt tightly in a jar, coat thickly with salt mud, leave open, place in furnace, wait for boiling to settle, cover with a tile, seal with mud, calcine again, cool, take out, spread on ground through paper, cover with basin for three days to remove fire toxicity, grind to powder. Add one liang each of raw and cooked Licorice powder per jin, mix well, store in bottle.] Main indications are the same, efficacy is slightly milder, can retreat diaphragmatic heat, eliminate vexation. [Pathogen resolved, Heart cools, vexation naturally disappears.] Water-decocted and poured into a basin, the coarse sediment at the bottom is Puxiao (Raw Mirabilite), [Also known as Pi Xiao, Yan Xiao], heavy and turbid in quality, force is urgent but not harmonious, only applicable to robust and sturdy individuals, and for external application to swollen toxins and erysipelas. The part floating up like wheat awns is Mangxiao (Mirabilite), like teeth is Mayaxiao (Teeth Mirabilite), quality is clearer. Using the clear quality, further refined by boiling and smelting, becomes Xuanming Powder, which is particularly pure. Ultimately, their functions are the same; no heat is not swept away, no accumulation is not dispersed, no hardness is not ground, no stagnation is not pushed. Its nature is brave and forward-moving, thus for deep-seated pathogenic heat and firm blockage, it works miraculously.

Contraindicated if not pathogenic accumulation in the Lower Jiao with firm pain unpressable, fearing it may wrongly attack True Yin. Strictly forbidden for blood depletion and fluid exhaustion causing Large Intestine dry constipation. It promotes bowel movements and causes abortion; for pregnant women who need purgation, Xuanming Powder can substitute, but must be combined with Rhubarb to guide it directly into the intestines and stomach, moistening dryness, softening hardness, and draining heat, ensuring safety for both mother and child. However, it is unsuitable in the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth months. Alchemists' exaggerated claims of Xuanming Powder curing diseases and prolonging life are baseless.

Fenghua Xiao (Weathered Mirabilite): [Mirabilite exposed to wind and sun until moisture evaporates, becoming light white powder.] Treats Upper Jiao Heart-Lung Phlegm-Heat, without causing diarrhea.

Niter (Potassium Nitrate): [Also known as Huoxiao, Yanyan.] Used by alchemists to refine metals and minerals, by silversmiths to melt gold and silver, by military for gunpowder; its functions resemble Puxiao. But Puxiao's nature only descends, cannot ascend, Yin within Yin. Niter's nature only ascends, Fire within Water.

Green Vitriol (Ferrous Sulfate): [Acid, astringent, cool, calcined in vinegar until red, ground fine.] Dries Spleen dampness and transforms phlegm-saliva, eliminates stagnation and treats malnutrition worms. [For hard meat accumulations in the abdomen difficult to digest with other herbs, combine with Spleen-tonifying and digestion-promoting herbs into pills; administration leads to dissolution. For infantile malnutrition worms eating earth and living things, it is also miraculous.] Effective for distension, yellow swelling, intestinal wind, and malaria. [Green color, sour taste, turns red when calcined. Enters Blood level, controls Wood, dries dampness, transforms saliva, eliminates accumulation, thus governing distension, yellow swelling, malaria, and malnutrition qi. For treating intestinal wind bloody stool, it is due to drying dampness, clearing heat, and astringency.]

Can cause diarrhea; not for frequent use by those with weak Stomach. Lifelong avoidance of buckwheat and pufferfish is required after taking this; violation leads to death.

Alum: [Acid, astringent, cold] Taken with Yellow Beeswax pills, protects membranes and prevents carbuncle toxins from attacking inward, [When treating carbuncles and sores, take it to protect the membrane; if the membrane does not break, even severe cases will recover. One person with snake-head-like sores all over recovered after taking it.] Soak feet in Sophora and Alum decoction to treat taint attacking the Heart. [To remove heat, dry dampness, and sink turbidity.] Can be blown into throat bi, [To remove heat and detoxify.] Used to wash rectal prolapse. [To astringe.]

Sinking turbidity, detoxifying, removing heat, drying dampness; a drug with urgent astringent nature, overconsumption causes upper vomiting and lower diarrhea.

Red Halloysite: [Pungent, sweet, sour, warm, enters Heart, Kidney, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Grind fine, suitable for mixing and taking.] Stops chronic dysentery and diarrhea, removes metrorrhagia and bloody stagnation. [Lower Jiao deficiency collapse, inability to secure and store; other astringents are mostly light and floating, only this is heavy and astringent, entering Lower Jiao Blood level directly to secure collapse.] Vomiting fluids unpredictably, uncontrollable urination, stopping upon mixing and taking, [Someone frequently vomited thin clear phlegm-water, other herbs ineffective, recovered after taking this.] Rectal prolapse, difficult muscle regeneration, applying brings immediate effect, [All non-healing sores and carbuncles, sprinkle Red Halloysite powder, generates flesh miraculously.]

Contraindicated if dysentery accumulation is not fully cleared; taking it brings disaster.

Huariusshi (Flower Porphyry): [Acid, pungent, warm, calcined and ground to powder.] Dissolves blood stasis miraculously, [All blood stasis, mixed with children's urine and taken 3-5 qian, transforms into yellow fluid.] Highly effective for applying to metal wounds. [Acid gathers Blood and resolves stasis; applying causes immediate closure without pus formation.]

Do not use if no blood stasis remains.

Realgar: [Pungent, bitter, warm, toxic, enters Stomach and Liver meridians.] Divine product for killing insects, resolves blood stasis and transforms phlegm-saliva, applies to snake bites and covers malignant sores; stop when disease is cured.

Pengsha (Borax): [Pungent, bitter, salty, cool; white like clear alum, yellow like peach gum.] Can resolve chest-diaphragm Phlegm-Heat, [Thus stops cough, removes dysphagia, used for its softening hardness property.] Good at treating sore and swollen throat, [Pungent disperses, bitter drains, salty softens.] Treats fish bone stuck in throat miraculously, [Hold in mouth, swallow juice, suddenly disappears, due to softening power.] Washing eye cataracts is quite effective. [Removing dirt power.] Applies to mouth sores, [Mouth and tongue sores, noma both effective.] Rubs wooden tongue swelling, points at polyps and applies to infantile scrotal swelling. [Swelling does not subside, applying heals itself.] Nature can soften five metals, remove dirt and grease, a dissolving and reducing drug.

Suitable for attacking excess, contraindicated for deficiency; can be used temporarily but not long-term.