味辛、苦，大寒。主五脏积聚，久热、胃闭，除邪气，破留血，腹中痰实结搏，通经
脉，利大小便及月水，破五淋，推陈致新。生于朴硝。
石苇为之使，畏麦句姜。案《神农本经》无芒硝，只有硝石，名芒硝尔。后名医别载此
说，其疗与硝石正同，疑此
即是硝石。旧出宁州，黄白粒大，味极辛、苦。顷来宁州道断都绝。今医家多用煮练作者，
色全白，粒细，而味不甚烈。
此云生于朴硝，则作者亦好。又皇甫士安解散硝石大凡说云∶“无朴硝可用硝石，生山之阴，
盐之胆也。取石脾与硝石，
以水煮之，一斛得三斗，正白如雪，以水投中即消，故名硝石。其味苦，无毒。主消渴热中，
止烦满，三月采于赤山。
朴硝者，亦生山之阴，有盐咸苦之水，则朴硝生于其阳。其味苦无毒，其
腹中饱胀，养胃消谷，去邪
气，亦得水而消，其疗与硝石小异”。按如此说，是取芒硝合煮，更成为真硝石，但不知石
脾复是何物？本草乃有石脾、
石肺，人无识者，皇甫既是安定人，又明医药，或当详。练之以朴硝作芒硝者，但以暖汤淋
朴硝，取汁清澄煮之减半，
出着木盆中，经宿即成，状如白石英，皆六道也，作之忌杂人临视。今益州人复炼矾石作硝
石，绝柔白，而味犹是矾石
尔。孔氏解散方又云∶熬炼硝石令沸定汁尽。如此，
硝石犹是有汁也。今仙家须之，能化他石，乃用于理第一。
〔谨案〕晋宋古方，多用硝石，
少用芒硝，近代诸医但用芒硝，鲜言硝石，岂古人昧于芒硝也。《本经》云生于朴硝，朴硝
一名硝石朴，硝石一名芒硝，理既明白，不合重出之。
味辛、苦，大寒。主五脏积聚，久热、胃闭，除邪气，破留血，腹中痰实结搏，通经脉，利大小便及月水，破五淋，推陈致新。生于朴硝。
【白话翻译】
味道辛、苦，性质大寒。主治五脏的积滞和聚结，长期的发热、胃气闭塞，祛除邪气，破除停滞的瘀血，腹部中痰湿与实邪凝结阻滞，疏通经脉，通利大小便以及月经，破除五种淋证（石淋、血淋、膏淋、劳淋、热淋），去除陈旧之物，生成新的气血。它是由朴硝（未经精炼的粗制硝石）生成的。
石苇为之使，畏麦句姜。案《神农本经》无芒硝，只有硝石，名芒硝尔。后名医别载此说，其疗与硝石正同，疑此即是硝石。旧出宁州，黄白粒大，味极辛、苦。顷来宁州道断都绝。今医家多用煮练作者，色全白，粒细，而味不甚烈。
【白话翻译】
石苇（Shiwei, *Pyrrosia leaf*）作为它的引经药（使药），畏惧麦句姜（Maijujiang, 一种草药）。据考证，《神农本草经》中没有记载芒硝，只有硝石（Xiaoshi, Niter），只是名字叫芒硝罢了。后来的名医另外记载了这种说法，认为它的治疗作用与硝石完全相同，怀疑这其实就是硝石。过去产自宁州，呈黄白色，颗粒较大，味道极其辛、苦。近来由于通往宁州的道路中断，产地断绝。现在的医生多使用经过煎煮提炼制成的产品，颜色纯白，颗粒细小，但味道不是很猛烈。
此云生于朴硝，则作者亦好。又皇甫士安解散硝石大凡说云∶“无朴硝可用硝石，生山之阴，盐之胆也。取石脾与硝石，以水煮之，一斛得三斗，正白如雪，以水投中即消，故名硝石。其味苦，无毒。主消渴热中，止烦满，三月采于赤山。朴硝者，亦生山之阴，有盐咸苦之水，则朴硝生于其阳。其味苦无毒，其腹中饱胀，养胃消谷，去邪气，亦得水而消，其疗与硝石小异”。按如此说，是取芒硝合煮，更成为真硝石，但不知石脾复是何物？本草乃有石脾、石肺，人无识者，皇甫既是安定人，又明医药，或当详。练之以朴硝作芒硝者，但以暖汤淋朴硝，取汁清澄煮之减半，出着木盆中，经宿即成，状如白石英，皆六道也，作之忌杂人临视。今益州人复炼矾石作硝石，绝柔白，而味犹是矾石尔。孔氏解散方又云∶熬炼硝石令沸定汁尽。如此，硝石犹是有汁也。今仙家须之，能化他石，乃用于理第一。
【白话翻译】
这里说芒硝由朴硝生成，那么人工炼制的方法也是好的。另外，皇甫士安（Huangfu Mi, courtesy name Shian）在论述解散硝石的总体原则中说：“如果没有朴硝，可以使用硝石，它生长在山的北面，是盐的精髓。取石脾（Shipi, Stone Spleen）和硝石，用水煮它们，一斛原料可得三斗成品，洁白如雪，投入水中即刻溶解，所以名叫硝石。它的味道苦，无毒。主治消渴病和中焦热盛，消除烦闷胀满，三月在赤山采集。朴硝，也生长在山的北面，在有盐分、咸苦的水域附近，则朴硝生长在水流的向阳面。它的味道苦，无毒，主治腹中饱胀，养胃助消化，祛除邪气，遇水也能溶解，它的治疗作用与硝石略有不同。”按照这样的说法，是将芒硝混合煎煮，再次炼制成真正的硝石，但不清楚石脾究竟是什么？本草书中虽然有石脾、石肺的记载，但没有人认识它们。皇甫谧既然是安定人，又精通医药，或许应当有详细的说明。用朴硝炼制芒硝的方法，是用热水淋洗朴硝，取澄清的汁液煮沸至减半，倒出放入木盆中，过夜后即成，形状像白石英，共有六道工序，制作时忌讳外人围观。现在益州的人又炼制矾石（Fanshi, Alum）来冒充硝石，质地非常柔白，但味道仍然是矾石的味道。孔氏的解散方又说：“熬炼硝石直到沸腾且汁液干尽。”像这样，硝石仍然含有汁液。现在的修道之人需要它，能够熔化其他石头，这在药理应用上排在第一位。
〔谨案〕晋宋古方，多用硝石，少用芒硝，近代诸医但用芒硝，鲜言硝石，岂古人昧于芒硝也。《本经》云生于朴硝，朴硝一名硝石朴，硝石一名芒硝，理既明白，不合重出之。
【白话翻译】
【严谨考证】晋朝和宋朝的古方中，多使用硝石，少使用芒硝；近代的各位医生只使用芒硝，很少提及硝石，难道古人对于芒硝的认识模糊吗？《神农本草经》说芒硝生于朴硝，朴硝的一个名字是硝石朴，硝石的一个名字是芒硝，道理既然已经明白，就不应该重复列出。
Taste: Acrid (Xin), Bitter (Ku). Nature: Great Cold (Da Han). Indications: Accumulations and masses in the five Zang organs (Wu Zang Ji Ju), chronic fever (Jiu Re), gastric closure (Wei Bi), expelling pathogenic factors (Chu Xie Qi), breaking stagnant blood (Po Liu Xue), phlegm-dampness and solid excretions knotting in the abdomen (Fu Zhong Tan Shi Jie Bo), unblocking meridians and collaterals (Tong Jing Mai), promoting urination and defecation as well as menstruation (Li Da Xiao Bian Ji Yue Shui), breaking the five types of strangury (Po Wu Lin), eliminating the old and generating the new (Tui Chen Zhi Xin). It is generated from Glauber's salt crude (Puxiao).
Shiwei (*Pyrrosiae Folium*) serves as its guiding herb (Shi), and it fears Maijujiang. According to records, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* does not list Mangxiao, only Xiaoshi (Niter/Xiaoshi), merely naming it Mangxiao. Later famous physicians recorded this separately, stating that its therapeutic effects are identical to those of Xiaoshi, leading to suspicion that they are the same substance. Historically produced in Ningzhou, it was yellowish-white with large granules, possessing an extremely acrid and bitter taste. Recently, due to the interruption of routes to Ningzhou, production has ceased. Currently, physicians mostly use the boiled and refined product, which is pure white, fine-grained, but less potent in taste.
The text states it is generated from Puxiao, implying that artificial refinement is also acceptable. Furthermore, Huangfu Shian (Huangfu Mi) generally discussed the dispersal of Xiaoshi saying: "If Puxiao is unavailable, Xiaoshi can be used. It grows on the shady side of mountains and is the gall of salt. Take Shipi (Stone Spleen) and Xiaoshi, boil them in water; from one hu (a unit of volume), three dou are obtained. It is pure white like snow, dissolves immediately when thrown into water, hence named Xiaoshi. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic. It treats thirst-heat in the middle jiao, stops irritability and fullness, and is harvested in March at Chishan. Puxiao also grows on the shady side of mountains; where there is salty, bitter water, Puxiao grows on the sunny side. Its taste is bitter, non-toxic. It treats abdominal fullness, nourishes the stomach and aids digestion, expels pathogens, and also dissolves in water. Its therapeutic effects differ slightly from Xiaoshi." Based on this description, Mangxiao is boiled together to become true Xiaoshi, but it remains unknown what Shipi is. The Materia Medica mentions Shipi and Shipei (Stone Lung), yet no one recognizes them. Since Huangfu Mi was from Anding and knowledgeable in medicine and pharmacology, he might have detailed explanations. To refine Puxiao into Mangxiao, pour hot water over Puxiao, collect the clear juice, boil it until reduced by half, pour it into a wooden basin, and let it stand overnight until formed. It resembles white quartzite and involves six processes. During production, it is taboo to have unrelated people watching. Currently, people in Yizhou refine Fanshi (Alum/Fanshi) to imitate Xiaoshi; it is extremely soft and white, but retains the taste of Fanshi. Kong's formula for dispersal also states: "Boil and refine Xiaoshi until boiling and the juice is exhausted." In this case, Xiaoshi still contains juice. Now, practitioners of immortality arts require it because it can melt other stones, making it the primary application in theory.
[Strict Examination] Ancient prescriptions from the Jin and Song dynasties mostly used Xiaoshi and rarely used Mangxiao. Modern physicians only use Mangxiao and seldom mention Xiaoshi. Could it be that ancients were ignorant of Mangxiao? The *Bencao Jing* states it is generated from Puxiao. Puxiao is also known as Xiaoshi Pu, and Xiaoshi is also known as Mangxiao. Since the principle is clear, it should not be listed redundantly.