味甘，微寒，无毒。主治身体五脏百病，养精神，安魂魄，益气，明目，通血脉，止烦
满，消渴，益精神，悦泽人面，杀精魅邪恶鬼，除中恶、腹痛、毒瓦斯、疥 、诸疮。久服通
神明不老，轻身神仙，能化为汞，作末名真朱，光色如云母，可析者良。生涪陵山谷，采无
时。（恶磁石，畏咸水。）
案此化为汞及名真朱者，即是今朱砂也。世医皆别取武都仇池雄黄夹雌黄者，名为丹砂。
方家亦往往俱用，此为谬矣。涪陵是涪州，接巴郡南，今无复采者。乃出武陵，西川诸蛮夷
中，皆通属巴地，故谓之巴沙。《仙经》亦用越沙，即出广州临漳者，此二处并好，惟须光
明莹澈为佳。如云母片者，谓云母沙。如樗蒲子、紫石英形者，谓马齿沙，亦好。如大小豆
及大块圆滑者，谓豆沙。细末碎者，谓末沙。此二种粗，不入药用，但可画用尔。采沙皆凿
坎入数丈许。虽同出一郡县，亦有好恶。地有水井，胜火井也。炼饵之法，备载《仙方》，
最为长生之宝。（《新修》四页，《大观》卷三，《政和》七九页）
味辛，寒，有毒。主治疥瘙，痂疡，白秃，杀皮肤中虫虱，堕胎，除热。以敷男子阴，
阴消无气。杀金、银、铜、锡毒，熔化还复为丹。久服神仙，不死。一名汞。生涪陵平土，
出于丹砂。（畏磁石。）
今水银有生熟。此云生涪陵平土者，是出朱砂腹中，亦别出沙地，皆青白色，最胜。出
于丹砂者，是今烧粗末朱砂所得，色小白浊，不及生者。甚能消金、银，使成泥，人以镀物
是也。还复为丹，事出《仙经》。酒和日曝，服之长生。烧时飞着釜上灰，名汞粉，世呼为
水银灰，最能去虱。（《新修》四○页，《大观》卷四，《政和》一○七页）
丹砂味甘，性微寒，无毒。主治身体五脏百病，滋养精神，安定魂魄，益气，明目，通利血脉，止烦闷胀满，治疗消渴症，益养精神，使面色红润光泽，驱杀精魅邪恶鬼怪，去除中恶、腹痛、毒瓦斯、疥癣及各类疮疡。长期服用可通神明、延缓衰老，使人身体轻健如神仙，它能转化为汞，研磨成粉名为真朱，光色如同云母，能够析出者品质优良。产于涪陵山谷，采集没有固定时间。（忌与磁石同用，畏咸水。）
按语：所谓能化为汞及名为真朱的，就是现在的朱砂。世俗医生都另外取武都仇池产的雄黄夹杂雌黄的矿石，命名为丹砂。炼丹家也往往一起使用，这是错误的。涪陵即涪州，连接巴郡南部，现在已不再开采。而是出自武陵、西川各少数民族地区，这些都通属巴地，所以称为巴沙。《仙经》中也使用越沙，即出产于广州临漳的，这两处产地的都好，只要以光明莹澈者为佳。像云母片状的，称为云母沙。像樗蒲子、紫石英形状的，称为马齿沙，也很好。像大小豆及大块圆滑的，称为豆沙。细碎粉末状的，称为末沙。这两种质地粗糙，不供药用，只能用于绘画。采集沙矿都要挖掘坑穴深入数丈许。即使同出一郡县，也有好坏之分。产地有水源井的，胜过有火井的。炼制和服食的方法，详细记载在《仙方》中，是最为珍贵的长生之宝。（《新修本草》四页，《大观本草》卷三，《政和本草》七九页）
水银味辛，性寒，有毒。主治疥瘙、痂疡、白秃，杀灭皮肤中的虫虱，堕胎，清热。涂抹于男子阴部，会导致阴茎萎缩无气力。能杀灭金、银、铜、锡的毒性，熔化后又恢复为丹砂。长期服用可成神仙，不死。又名汞。产于涪陵平地，从丹砂中产出。（畏磁石。）
现在的水银有生熟之分。文中说生于涪陵平土的，是从朱砂腹中产出的，也有另从沙地产出的，都是青白色，品质最好。从丹砂烧炼得到的，是现在烧粗末朱砂所得到的，颜色小白而浑浊，不如原生者好。它非常能溶解金、银，使其变成泥状，人们用它来镀物。又恢复为丹砂，此事出自《仙经》。用酒调和后日晒，服用可长生。烧炼时飞散附着在锅上的灰，名为汞粉，世人称为水银灰，最能去虱。（《新修本草》四○页，《大观本草》卷四，《政和本草》一○七页）
Cinnabar (Dan Sha) tastes sweet, is slightly cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It treats diseases of the five zang organs and hundred ailments of the body, nourishes the spirit (Shen), calms the soul (Hun) and essence (Po), supplements qi, brightens the eyes, unifies the blood vessels, stops irritability and fullness, eliminates thirst (Xiao Ke), benefits the spirit, makes the face lustrous and radiant, kills spirits and evil ghosts, removes sudden malignant conditions, abdominal pain, toxic vapors, scabies, and various sores. Long-term ingestion allows one to connect with divine clarity, prevents aging, lightens the body, and achieves immortality. It can be transformed into mercury; when ground into powder, it is called Zhen Zhu (True Vermilion). Its luster resembles mica (Yun Mu); those that can be separated into sheets are of superior quality. It grows in the valleys of Fuling, and can be harvested at any time. (It is incompatible with Magnetitum (Cishi) and fears salty water.)
Note: What transforms into mercury and is named Zhen Zhu is precisely what is now known as Cinnabar (Zhu Sha). Secular physicians often mistakenly identify a mixture of Realgar (Xiong Huang) from Qiuchi, Wudu, and Orpiment (Ci Huang) as Dan Sha. Alchemists also frequently use this mixture, which is erroneous. Fuling refers to Fuzhou, adjacent to southern Ba Commandery; mining has ceased there. It is now sourced from Wuling and the barbarian regions of Western Sichuan, all belonging to the ancient Ba territory, hence called Ba Sha. The *Immortal Classics* (*Xian Jing*) also use Yue Sha, sourced from Linzhang in Guangzhou. Both origins are good, provided the material is bright, clear, and translucent. Material resembling flakes of mica is called Yun Mu Sha. Material resembling Chupu seeds or Purpureum (Zi Shi Ying) is called Ma Chi Sha, which is also good. Material resembling beans or large, smooth chunks is called Dou Sha. Fine powder is called Mo Sha. These latter two types are coarse and unsuitable for medicinal use, serving only for painting. Mining involves digging pits several zhang deep. Even within the same commandery or county, quality varies. Sites with natural water wells are superior to those with fire wells. Methods of refining and ingesting are detailed in the *Immortal Prescriptions* (*Xian Fang*), making it the supreme treasure for longevity. (Referenced in *Xin Xiu Ben Cao* p. 4, *Da Guan Ben Cao* Vol. 3, *Zheng He Ben Cao* p. 79)
Mercury (Shui Yin) tastes pungent, is cold in nature, and is toxic. It treats scabies, crusted ulcers, alopecia capitis (white baldness), kills insects and lice on the skin, induces abortion, and clears heat. Applied to the male genitals, it causes atrophy and loss of vitality. It neutralizes the toxicity of gold, silver, copper, and tin, melting them back into cinnabar. Long-term ingestion leads to immortality and deathlessness. Also known as Geng. It grows in the flat lands of Fuling and originates from Cinnabar. (It fears Magnetitum (Cishi).)
Currently, mercury exists in raw and processed forms. The "raw" mercury mentioned as growing in the flat lands of Fuling comes from within the Cinnabar ore or separate sand deposits; it is bluish-white and of the highest quality. Mercury derived from smelting Cinnabar is obtained by burning coarse Cinnabar powder; it is pale white and turbid, inferior to the raw form. It strongly dissolves gold and silver into a paste, used by people for plating. The transformation back into Cinnabar is described in the *Immortal Classics*. Mixed with wine and sun-dried, it can be ingested for longevity. Ashes flying up and adhering to the cauldron during smelting are named Gong Fen (Mercury Powder), commonly called Shui Yin Hui (Mercury Ash), which is highly effective against lice. (Referenced in *Xin Xiu Ben Cao* p. 40, *Da Guan Ben Cao* Vol. 4, *Zheng He Ben Cao* p. 107)