矾有五种。初生皆石。采得烧炼乃成矾。（恭 颂）惟白者方士谓之白君。出晋
。青州吴中者次之。色洁白为雪矾。质光明为明矾。亦名云母矾。文如束针。状如粉扑者。
为波斯白矾。入药并良。（濒湖） 枯者名巴石。轻白者名柳絮矾。（又）
味咸酸涩。气寒。主胸中痰癖。除风去热。消风痰热痰。风热喉痛。疗不恶寒喉痹。中
风痰厥。风痰痫病。治阴蚀恶疮。去鼻中息肉。悬痈垂长。目翳 肉。反胃呕吐。除固热在
骨髓。暖水藏。疗泄利赤白浊。愈下血。又治女劳疸。交接劳复。其性燥急。收涩解毒。除
热坠浊。（仲淳）多服损人心肺。却水故也。（水化书纸上。干则水不能濡。故知其性却水。
治膈下涎药多用者为此。宗 ）久服伤人骨。本除热在骨髓。多服则反伤骨。本能却水消痰。
多服反伤心肺。（门）凡病痈疽发背。一切肿毒。不问老少。皆宜服黄矾丸。（今名蜡矾丸）
服至一两以上。无不作效。最止疼痛。不动脏腑。活人无算。用明矾一两生研。黄蜡七钱。
溶化和丸梧子大。每服十丸。渐加至二十丸。熟水下。未破则消。已破即合。如服金石发疮
者。引以白矾末一二匙。温酒调下。三五服效。有人遍身生疮。状如蛇头。服此亦效。但一
日中服近百粒则有力。不惟止痛生肌。兼防毒瓦斯内攻护膜。（膜苟不破虽剧必瘥）止泻托里
化脓之功甚大。服至半斤尤佳。皮肤疥癣脓窠坐板肥疳等疮。各合所宜以资之。用以制半夏。
能散湿痰。及食积痰。兼除五饮。同焰消。可烧水银成粉。治一切疮中有虫。中风痰厥。四
肢不收。气闭膈塞者。白矾一两。牙皂五钱为末。每服一钱。温水调下。吐痰为度。喉痈乳
蛾。白矾三钱。银铫内熔化。（忌用铜铁）入劈开巴豆三粒。煎干去豆。研矾末。用鹅翎吹
入喉。流出热涎立愈。甚者以醋调灌之。名通关散。木舌肿强。白矾桂心。等分为末。安舌
下。鼻中息肉。明矾一两。蓖麻仁七个。盐梅肉五个。麝香二字。杵丸。绵裹塞之。化水自
下。口舌生疮。下虚上壅。用白矾泡汤濯足。香港脚冲心。白矾三两。水一斗五升。煎沸浸洗。
妇人阴脱作痒。矾石烧研。空心酒服方寸匕。日三。按上二方。收阴而归元。此方因肾为真
阴之元。即以归元者疗之。非取其酸涩固脱也。反胃呕吐。白矾硫黄各二两。铫内烧过。入
朱砂一分。为末。面糊丸。小豆大。每姜汤下十五丸。此方收阴归元。引阳亦归元。煞有妙
义。妇人黄胆。经水不调。房事触犯所致。白矾黄蜡各半两。陈橘皮三钱。为末。蜡丸梧子
大。每服五十丸。以滋血汤或调经汤下。按世知此方为痈疽护膜。而不知此证用之。正可参
究。交接劳复。卵肿或缩入。腹痛欲绝。矾石一分。硝三分。大麦粥清服方寸匕。日三。热
毒从二便出。此与女劳黄胆治同。但分两及制法有异。益知白矾之奏功于肾如是。犹可以酸
涩固脱尽之耶。虚惫便浊。滴地成霜。莲肉干藕节龙骨远志各一两。枯白矾灵砂各二钱半。
为细末。糯米糊丸梧子大。每服十五丸。食前白汤下。疔肿恶疮。临时用生矾黄丹等分。以
三棱针刺血待尽敷之。不过三上。决愈。
〔论〕白矾气寒。其味咸少而酸涩为多。寒者水气。合之咸味。以归于木酸金涩。夫酸
者阴中之阳。未能大畅以达其阴也。涩者阳中之阴。未能大畅以和其阳也。阴之在下者。既
不得藉阳以达。致阴之在下而欲上者。又不能即和于阳以化。是则白矾性味。为至阴结于寒
水。而只以成其润下之用无疑。（即治小儿口疮及香港脚冲心。俱用矾汤浴足。又二便不通。
女子阴脱等证用之。则专于润下可知。）然何以又曰性燥。盖惟只成其润下之用。则在上阳
中之阴少。故曰燥。本燥金（色白味涩）以成寒水。而专归于下。故每用之收水。寇氏固谓
多服有伤心肺也。（至阴结于寒水。是谓收阴。本燥金之气以成寒水之归下。是谓上燥。燥
又助之收也。总归于收阴。不则仍为金生水矣。）夫阴阳本不宜相离。兹味之收阴。不似离
于阳乎。抑知非真阴之能离于真阳。亦非真阳之可以离真阴也。其收阴一似令阳失所依者。
乃阳之邪也。乃阳亢而为风。风更鼓阳以伤其寒水所化之液。凝而为痰。大蚀真阴。而并令
真阳失所归者也。人身惟寒水为至阴之初气。而至阳出焉。阴中之阳得升于天表以行其化。
而至阴之精气。亦依阳以上而为之行其化。是即为阳中之阴矣。如六淫七情。一伤其阳中之
阴。则阳无以行其化。淫而为风。风之厉气。既已鼓阳而伤阴。举寒化之液。燥而为痰。而
寒水所化之痰。复以滋热而蚀阴。将使至阴初气赋在五脏者。无不受伤。此内经所谓失守而
阴虚也。斯时即欲抑阳而益阴。犹水沃石耳。盖未能消痰。则风之壅也不静。未能静风。则
阳之狂也不化。惟投此收阴归元而离于阳者。俾阴气有主。令寒水所凝之痰自消。而亢阳失
恃。是由祛痰而风静。由静风而阳化也。（收阴即以全寒水之初气。使阴不受蚀于阳邪耳。
如治外证之阴蚀恶疮。举同斯义。）阳化即邪散。而真阳亦得依真阴以归其元矣。真阳随阴
而降。是阳中之阴得行其化。还归于寒水之至阴。别录所谓除固热在骨髓也。寒水至阴之中。
至阳亦得所宅而畅其气化。日华子所谓暖水脏也。然则斯味收阴于亢阳之中。以散阳邪而救
真阴。是其首功。及归元阴于最初之地。以裕阴化而畅元阳。是其全功。夫至阳本出于阴中。
兹味反全至阴于阳中。人身阴阳以合而神其分之用。兹味乃似由离而效其合之用也。方书凡
治风热痰痫喉舌耳鼻为病。皆收真阴于亢阳之中。而治其 焰之上行极者。统由阴之不能引
阳而下也。惟第病于热。犹属阴虚不能驭阳。若风痰相煽而剧。则阳之蚀阴急矣。（本经故
主阴蚀恶疮）用此味收阴以消痰。总归于寒水得收以获奇效。即中风之投稀涎。亦此义也。
又凡治口疮香港脚（浴足）下血（断红丸鲫鱼方）泻痢（大断下子午丸）痔浊等证。亦皆收阴
以归阳。即俾阳能化阴。而转为阳生之本也。女劳疸治以硝石白矾者。一取出地之初阳。升
散肾中之郁阴。一取归地之元阴。专补肾中之虚阳。均不得以上治概其功也。总之。白矾疗
风热之痰。不疗寒湿之痰。其治风也。治内淫之风。不治外受之风。其除热也。止除元阴受
伤之热。不除外邪所郁之热。此身半以上之治也。至疗下血。乃疗阳虚而阴微之血。不疗寒
泣及湿滞之血。其补阳也。直补阴虚而真元不归之阳。不补阴郁而元气不达之阳。其化阴也。
即化气盛而血能化精之阴。不化气虚而血不裕气之阴。此身半以下之治也。或曰。矾性燥急。
何以不治湿痰。不知性即燥急。亦止成收阴下归之用。不能藉之燥湿也。世医因泻利黄胆赤
白浊阴蚀恶疮等证。多由于湿热。遂入于湿热以言治。岂知白矾之所以治。迥乎不同。可以
寻准绳而得之矣。
其性燥急而能劫水。用之贵得所宜。咽喉痛者尤宜审之。目痛由阴虚血热。而不由 肉。
及
〔修治〕色白光明者佳。细研入罐。火 半日。色如轻粉者名枯矾。惟化痰生用。治
齿痛喉痹。棉裹生含咽之。
矾石有五种。最初都是石头，开采后经过烧炼才成为矾。（苏恭 赞颂）其中白色的被方士称为“白君”。产自晋地的最好，青州和吴中产的质量稍次。颜色洁白如雪的称为雪矾，质地光亮透明的称为明矾，也叫做云母矾。纹理像束针、形状像粉扑的，是波斯白矾，入药效果都很好。（李时珍）烧枯的称为巴石，轻而白的称为柳絮矾。（又注）
味咸、酸、涩，气寒。主治胸中的痰癖，祛除风邪，清除热邪，消除风痰和热痰，治疗风热引起的喉痛，疗治不怕冷的喉痹，中风导致的痰厥，风痰引发的痫病，治疗阴部蚀烂恶疮，去除鼻中息肉，悬痈下垂过长，目翳胬肉，反胃呕吐，清除骨髓中固定的热邪，温暖水脏（肾），治疗泄利赤白浊，治愈下血。又治疗女劳疸，房事后的劳复证。它的性质燥急，具有收敛、涩滞、解毒的功效，能除热、降浊。（陈实功/仲淳）多服会损伤人心肺，这是因为其性能够排斥水分的原因。（《水化书》记载：矾石化在水中，干了水也不能湿润它，所以知道它能拒水。治疗膈下涎饮的药物多用此，因为此理。宗）久服会伤害人的骨骼。本来它是用来清除骨髓中的热邪，但多服反而伤骨。它本能的特性是拒水消痰，多服反而伤心肺。（门人注）凡是患有痈疽发背，一切肿毒，不问老少，都适宜服用黄矾丸。（现在叫蜡矾丸）服用到一两以上，没有不生效的。最能止痛，不扰动脏腑，救活的人无数。用明矾一两生研，黄蜡七钱，溶化和丸如梧桐子大。每次服十丸，逐渐增加到二十丸，用熟开水送服。疮未破则消散，已破则愈合。如果服用金石类药物导致发疮的，用白矾末一二匙，温酒调下，三五次见效。有人遍身生疮，状如蛇头，服用此方也有效。但是一天中服用近百粒才有力道，不仅能止痛生肌，还能防毒瓦斯内攻护膜。（如果膜不破，即使病情严重也必痊愈）。止泻、托里、化脓的功效很大，服用到半斤尤其好。皮肤疥癣、脓窠、坐板疮、肥疳等疮疡，各配合适宜的药物来辅助它。用来炮制半夏，能散湿痰及食积痰，兼除五饮。同焰硝一起，可烧水银成粉，治疗一切疮中有虫。中风痰厥，四肢不能收持，气闭膈塞的，用白矾一两，牙皂五钱为末，每次服一钱，温水调下，以吐出痰液为度。喉痈乳蛾，用白矾三钱，在银铫内熔化。（忌用铜铁器）放入劈开的巴豆三粒，煎干去豆，研细矾末，用鹅毛管吹入喉中，流出热涎立即痊愈，严重的用醋调灌之，名叫通关散。木舌肿强，白矾、桂心等分为末，放在舌下。鼻中息肉，明矾一两，蓖麻仁七个，盐梅肉五个，麝香二字的量，捣丸，绵裹塞入，化成水自然流下。口舌生疮，下虚上壅，用白矾泡汤洗脚。香港脚冲心，白矾三两，水一斗五升，煎沸浸洗。妇人阴脱作痒，矾石烧研，空腹酒服方寸匕，每日三次。按上面两个方子，是收敛阴气回归本源。这个方子是因为肾是真阴的本源，所以用归元的方法治疗，不是取其酸涩固脱的作用。反胃呕吐，白矾、硫黄各二两，在铫内烧过，加入朱砂一分，为末，面糊丸，小豆大，每次姜汤送下十五丸。这个方子收敛阴气回归本源，引导阳气也回归本源，煞有深意。妇人黄胆，经水不调，因房事触犯所致，白矾、黄蜡各半两，陈皮三钱，为末，蜡丸梧子大，每次服五十丸，用滋血汤或调经汤送下。按世人只知道此方用于痈疽护膜，而不知道此证用它，正可以参究。交接劳复，睾丸肿胀或缩入，腹痛欲绝，矾石一分，硝三分，大麦粥清送服方寸匕，每日三次。热毒从二便排出，这与女劳疸的治疗相同，只是分量及制法有差异。更知道白矾在肾脏奏效如此，难道可以用酸涩固脱来概括吗？虚惫便浊，滴地成霜，莲肉、干藕节、龙骨、远志各一两，枯白矾、灵砂各二钱半，为细末，糯米糊丸梧子大，每次服十五丸，饭前白开水送下。疔肿恶疮，临时用生矾、黄丹等分，用三棱针刺血待尽敷之，不超过三次，必定痊愈。
〔论〕白矾气寒，其味咸少而酸涩居多。寒是水气，结合咸味，归于木（酸）、金（涩）。酸是阴中之阳，不能完全畅达以通达其阴；涩是阳中之阴，不能完全畅达以调和其阳。在下位的阴，既然不能借助阳来通达，导致在下位的阴想要上行，又不能即刻与阳调和以化生。那么白矾的性味，就是至阴结于寒水，而只成就其润下的作用无疑。（即治疗小儿口疮及香港脚冲心，都用矾汤浴足，以及二便不通、女子阴脱等证使用它，则专于润下可知。）然而为什么又说它性燥？大概只成就其润下的作用，所以在上的阳中之阴就少了，所以说燥。本属燥金（色白味涩）以成就寒水，而专门归于下位，所以常用它来收摄水液。寇氏确实说多服会伤心肺。（至阴结于寒水，这叫收阴；本属燥金之气以成就寒水归下，这叫上燥；燥又帮助收摄。总归于收阴，否则仍为金生水。）阴阳本来不应该分离，这味的收阴，不像使阴离于阳吗？殊不知并非真阴能离于真阳，也并非真阳可以离于真阴。它的收阴似乎让阳失去了依托，那是阳的邪气，是阳亢而为风，风更鼓动阳气伤害由寒水所化的津液，凝结为痰，大蚀真阴，并令真阳失去归宿。人身只有寒水是至阴的初气，而至阳出于其中。阴中之阳得升于天表以行其化，而至阴的精气，也依阳以上行以行其化，这就是阳中之阴了。如六淫七情，一旦伤了阳中之阴，则阳无法行其化，淫而为风。风的厉气，既已鼓动阳气伤害阴，举凡寒化之液，燥而为痰，而寒水所化的痰，又滋润热邪而蚀阴，将使赋存在五脏的至阴初气，无不受伤。这是内经所说的失守而阴虚。此时即使想抑阳而益阴，犹如用水浇石头。如果不能消痰，则风的壅滞不会平静；不能静风，则阳的狂躁不会化解。只有投用这种收阴归元而离于阳的药，使阴气有主，令寒水所凝之痰自消，而亢阳失去依靠。这是由祛痰而风静，由静风而阳化。（收阴即以保全寒水的初气，使阴不受阳邪侵蚀。如治疗外证的阴蚀恶疮，道理相同。）阳化即邪散，而真阳也能依真阴回归本源。真阳随阴而降，是阳中之阴得行其化，还归于寒水的至阴，《别录》所谓除固热在骨髓。寒水至阴之中，至阳也得以安居而畅达气化，《日华子》所谓暖水脏。然而这味药在亢阳之中收阴，以散阳邪而救真阴，是其首要功劳；及将归元之阴置于最初之地，以充裕阴化而畅达元阳，是其完整功效。夫至阳本出于阴中，这味药反而在阳中保全至阴。人身阴阳以合而神其分之用，这味药乃似由离而效其合之用。方书凡是治疗风热痰痫喉舌耳鼻为病，都是收真阴于亢阳之中，而治疗其炎焰之上行极甚者，统由阴不能引阳而下所致。如果只是病于热，尚属阴虚不能驭阳；若风痰相煽而剧烈，则阳蚀阴之急矣。（《本经》故主阴蚀恶疮）用此味收阴以消痰，总归于寒水得收以获奇效，即中风投用稀涎散，也是此义。又凡是治疗口疮、香港脚（浴足）、下血（断红丸鲫鱼方）、泻痢（大断下子午丸）、痔浊等证，也都是收阴以归阳，即让阳能化阴，而转为阳生之本。女劳疸用硝石、白矾治疗，一是取出地之初阳，升散肾中之郁阴；一是取归地之元阴，专补肾中之虚阳，都不能以上治概其功。总之，白矾治疗风热之痰，不治疗寒湿之痰；其治风，治内淫之风，不治外受之风；其除热，只除元阴受伤之热，不除外邪所郁之热。这是身半以上的治疗。至于治疗下血，乃是治疗阳虚而阴微之血，不治疗寒泣及湿滞之血；其补阳，直补阴虚而真元不归之阳，不补阴郁而元气不达之阳；其化阴，即化气盛而血能化精之阴，不化气虚而血不裕气之阴。这是身半以下的治疗。有人说：矾性燥急，为什么不治湿痰？不知其性即燥急，也只成就收阴下归的作用，不能借此燥湿。世医因泻利、黄胆、赤白浊、阴蚀恶疮等证，多由于湿热，遂将其纳入湿热以言治，岂知白矾之所以治，迥乎不同，可以寻准绳而得之矣。
Alum exists in five types. Initially, they are all stones; only after mining and calcination do they become alum. (Su Gong) Among them, the white variety is called "White Lord" by alchemists. The best quality comes from Jin, followed by those from Qingzhou and Wuzhong. Those that are pure white like snow are called Snow Alum; those with a bright and transparent texture are called Clear Alum, also known as Cloud Mother Alum. Those with textures resembling bundled needles and shapes like powder puffs are Persian White Alum, which is excellent for medicinal use. (Li Shizhen) Calcined alum is called Ba Shi; light and white alum is called Willow Catkin Alum. (Note)
It tastes salty, sour, and astringent, and its nature is cold. It primarily treats phlegm-rheum in the chest, dispels wind, clears heat, eliminates wind-phlegm and heat-phlegm, treats throat pain caused by wind-heat, heals throat bi syndrome without aversion to cold, treats wind-stroke with phlegm syncope, epilepsy caused by wind-phlegm, treats ulcerative sores of the yin organs, removes nasal polyps, treats prolapsed caruncle, pterygium, regurgitation and vomiting, clears fixed heat in the bone marrow, warms the Water Organ (Kidney), treats dysentery with red and white discharge, and cures lower bleeding. It also treats female labor jaundice and post-coital relapse syndromes. Its nature is drying and urgent, possessing astringent, consolidating, and detoxifying properties, capable of clearing heat and descending turbidity. (Chen Shigong/Gongchun) Excessive consumption damages the Heart and Lungs because it repels water. (Shuihua Shu records: When alum dissolves in water, even when dry, water cannot moisten it again, indicating its water-repelling nature. Medications for sub-diaphragmatic salivary rheum often use this due to this principle.) Long-term use harms the bones. Originally intended to clear fixed heat in the bone marrow, excessive use反而 damages the bones. Its innate property is to repel water and eliminate phlegm, but excessive use反而 damages the Heart and Lungs. (Student's Note) For any case of carbuncles, back abscesses, or all kinds of swelling and toxicity, regardless of age, it is appropriate to take Yellow Alum Pills. (Now known as Wax Alum Pills). Taking more than one qian (approx. 3-5g) ensures efficacy. It is most effective at stopping pain without disturbing the Zang-Fu organs, saving countless lives. Use one liang (approx. 30g) of raw ground Clear Alum and seven qian of yellow beeswax, melt and mix into pills the size of wutong seeds. Take ten pills initially, gradually increasing to twenty pills, taken with warm boiled water. If the sore is unbroken, it will dissipate; if broken, it will heal. If sores are caused by taking mineral drugs, take one or two spoons of White Alum powder mixed with warm wine; three to five doses yield results. Someone with body-wide sores resembling snake heads also benefited. However, taking nearly a hundred pills daily provides strength; not only does it stop pain and generate flesh, but it also protects against toxic vapors attacking internally (if the membrane remains intact, severe cases will surely recover). Its ability to stop diarrhea, support the interior, and transform pus is significant; taking half a jin (approx. 250g) is especially good. For skin conditions such as scabies, pustules, sitting-sores, and malnutrition-related sores, combine with suitable herbs to assist. Used to process Pinellia Rhizome, it disperses damp-phlegm and food-stagnation phlegm, and resolves the Five Drinks. Combined with Nitre, it can calcimize mercury into powder to treat parasites in sores. For wind-stroke with phlegm syncope, inability to move limbs, qi obstruction, and diaphragmatic blockage, use one liang of White Alum and five qian of Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit as powder; take one qian per dose with warm water until phlegm is vomited. For throat abscesses and tonsillitis, melt three qian of White Alum in a silver crucible (avoid copper or iron); add three split Croton Seeds, boil until dry, remove beans, grind alum into powder, and blow into the throat with a goose feather quill; hot saliva will flow out and cure immediately. Severe cases can be treated by pouring vinegar mixture. This is called Tongguan San. For swollen and stiff tongue, equal parts White Alum and Cinnamon Twig powder placed under the tongue. For nasal polyps, one liang of Clear Alum, seven Castor Seeds, five Salted Plum meats, and musk equivalent to two characters, pounded into pills, wrapped in silk, inserted into the nose; it melts into water and flows down. For mouth and tongue ulcers with deficiency below and excess above, soak feet in White Alum decoction. For podagra attacking the heart, boil three liang of White Alum in fifteen sheng of water and soak/wash. For women with vaginal prolapse and itching, calcine and grind Alum Stone, take one fangcun bi (approx. 2-3g) with wine on an empty stomach, three times daily. According to the above two formulas, the purpose is to gather Yin and return it to the source. This formula works because the Kidney is the origin of True Yin, thus using methods to return to the source, not merely relying on astringency to consolidate collapse. For regurgitation and vomiting, use two liang each of White Alum and Sulfur, calcined in a crucible, add one fen of Cinnabar, make powder, bind with wheat paste into pills the size of soybeans, take fifteen pills with ginger soup. This formula gathers Yin to return to the source and guides Yang to return to the source, having profound meaning. For women's jaundice and irregular menstruation caused by sexual activity violation, use half a liang each of White Alum and Yellow Beeswax, three qian of Aged Tangerine Peel, make powder, bind with wax into wutong-sized pills, take fifty pills per dose with Zixue Decoction or Tiaojing Decoction. People generally know this formula protects membranes in carbuncles, but not for this condition; it warrants study. For post-coital relapse with testicular swelling or retraction, and excruciating abdominal pain, use one fen of Alum Stone and three fen of Nitre, taken with barley gruel, one fangcun bi per dose, three times daily. Heat toxins exit through urination and defecation; this treatment is similar to female labor jaundice, differing only in dosage and preparation. This further confirms Alum's efficacy on the Kidney; can it be fully explained by astringency alone? For deficiency exhaustion with turbid urine dripping like frost, use one liang each of Lotus Seed, Dried Lotus Root Node, Dragon Bone, and Polygala Root; two and a half qian each of Calcined White Alum and Ling Sha, make fine powder, bind with rice paste into wutong-sized pills, take fifteen pills before meals with plain water. For malignant boils and sores, use equal parts raw Alum and Red Lead, prick blood with a triangular needle until exhausted, apply externally; no more than three applications guarantee recovery.
[Discussion] White Alum has a cold nature and a taste that is slightly salty but predominantly sour and astringent. Cold is the Qi of Water; combined with the salty taste, it returns to Wood (Sour) and Metal (Astringent). Sour is Yang within Yin, unable to freely reach its Yin; Astringent is Yin within Yang, unable to freely harmonize its Yang. The Yin located below cannot rely on Yang to ascend, causing the Yin seeking to rise from below to fail to harmonize with Yang for transformation. Thus, the nature and flavor of White Alum represent Extreme Yin congealing in Cold Water, serving only its function of moistening and descending (clearly indicated by its use in foot baths for pediatric mouth ulcers and podagra, and for urinary/fecal retention and vaginal prolapse). Yet why is it said to be drying? Precisely because it serves only the function of moistening and descending, the Yin within Yang located above becomes deficient, hence described as drying. Originally belonging to Dry Metal (white color, astringent taste) to form Cold Water, it specializes in returning downward, so it is often used to collect water. Kou Zongshi indeed stated that excessive use damages the Heart and Lungs. (Extreme Yin congealing in Cold Water is called gathering Yin; the Qi of Dry Metal forming Cold Water's descent is called Upper Drying; Drying assists gathering. Ultimately, it gathers Yin; otherwise, it would still be Metal generating Water.) Yin and Yang should not separate; does this property of gathering Yin not seem to separate Yin from Yang? One must understand that True Yin cannot truly separate from True Yang, nor can True Yang separate from True Yin. Its gathering of Yin seems to leave Yang without support, but this is actually the pathogenic Yang, where Yang hyperactivity generates Wind. Wind further stirs Yang to damage the fluids transformed by Cold Water, condensing them into Phlegm, severely eroding True Yin, and causing True Yang to lose its residence. In the human body, Cold Water is the initial Qi of Extreme Yin, from which Extreme Yang emerges. The Yang within Yin ascends to the celestial surface to perform transformation, while the essence-Qi of Extreme Yin relies on Yang to ascend and perform transformation; this is the Yin within Yang. If Six Evils or Seven Emotions damage the Yin within Yang, Yang loses its ability to transform, becoming Wind. The fierce Qi of Wind stirs Yang to damage Yin, turning all fluids of Cold transformation into dry Phlegm. The Phlegm transformed from Cold Water then nourishes Heat and erodes Yin, damaging all Initial Qi of Extreme Yin endowed in the Five Viscera. This is what the Neijing calls loss of guardianship leading to Yin deficiency. At this time, attempting to suppress Yang and benefit Yin is like pouring water on stone. If Phlegm is not eliminated, Wind stagnation will not calm; if Wind is not calmed, Yang mania will not resolve. Only by administering this agent that gathers Yin and returns it to the source while separating from Yang, giving Yin a master, can the Phlegm condensed from Cold Water dissolve naturally, and Hyperactive Yang lose its reliance. This leads to Wind calming via Phlegm elimination, and Yang resolving via Wind calming. (Gathering Yin preserves the initial Qi of Cold Water, preventing Yin from being eroded by Yang pathogens, as seen in treating external ulcerative sores.) When Yang resolves, pathogens scatter, and True Yang can rely on True Yin to return to its source. True Yang descends with Yin, allowing the Yin within Yang to perform its transformation and return to the Extreme Yin of Cold Water, as recorded in the Bie Lu as removing fixed heat in the bone marrow. Within the Extreme Yin of Cold Water, Extreme Yang finds residence and畅达s its Qi transformation, as noted by Ri Hua Zi as warming the Water Organ. Therefore, this herb gathers Yin amidst Hyperactive Yang to disperse Yang pathogens and save True Yin—this is its primary merit. And by returning Yin to its original place to enrich Yin transformation and畅达 Yuan Yang—this is its complete merit. Since Extreme Yang originates from Yin, this herb instead preserves Extreme Yin within Yang. Human Yin and Yang unite to mystify their divided functions; this herb seemingly achieves union through separation. Medical texts generally treat wind-heat, phlegm, epilepsy, and disorders of the throat, tongue, ears, nose, and eyes by gathering True Yin amidst Hyperactive Yang and treating extreme upward flaming fire, all stemming from Yin's inability to guide Yang downward. If merely diseased by Heat, it belongs to Yin deficiency failing to control Yang; if Wind and Phlegm fan each other severely, Yang's erosion of Yin is urgent. (The Ben Jing therefore primarily treats ulcerative sores of the yin organs.) Using this herb to gather Yin and eliminate Phlegm ultimately relies on Cold Water being gathered to achieve miraculous effects; even the use of Xi Xian San for wind-stroke follows this principle. Furthermore, treating mouth ulcers, podagra (foot bath), lower bleeding (Duan Hong Wan Carp Formula), dysentery (Da Duan Xia Zi Wu Wan), hemorrhoids, and turbidity all involve gathering Yin to return Yang, allowing Yang to transform Yin and become the root of Yang generation. Female labor jaundice is treated with Nitre and White Alum: one extracts the initial Yang from the earth to ascend and disperse depressed Yin in the Kidney; the other returns the primal Yin of the earth to specifically tonify deficient Yang in the Kidney. Neither can be generalized by upper-body treatments. In summary, White Alum treats wind-heat phlegm, not cold-damp phlegm; it treats internal invading wind, not externally contracted wind; it clears heat only from injury to Original Yin, not from heat constrained by external pathogens. This is treatment for the upper half of the body. Regarding lower bleeding, it treats blood from Yang deficiency and Yin weakness, not from cold coagulation or damp stagnation; it tonifies Yang by directly supplementing Yang where Yin deficiency causes Yuan Yuan to not return, not Yang where Yin depression prevents Yuan Qi from reaching; it transforms Yin by processing Yin where Qi abundance allows Blood to refine Essence, not Yin where Qi deficiency prevents Blood from supporting Qi. This is treatment for the lower half of the body. Some ask: Alum is drying and urgent; why doesn't it treat damp-phlegm? Unknown is that its drying nature only serves to gather Yin and descend, unable to dry dampness. Physicians attribute dysentery, jaundice, red-white turbidity, and ulcerative sores to damp-heat, thus categorizing treatment under damp-heat. How can they know that White Alum's mechanism is entirely different? One can find the standard by following these principles.
Its nature is drying, urgent, and capable of seizing water; its use requires appropriateness. Throat pain patients must examine carefully. Eye pain due to Yin deficiency and blood heat, not due to pterygium.
[Processing] Choose those that are white and bright. Grind finely, place in a jar, calcine over fire for half a day. Those turning color like light powder are called Calcined Alum. Use raw for eliminating phlegm; for toothache and throat bi, wrap raw pieces in cotton and suck/swallow.