刘表在荆州，与王粲登障山，见一冈不生百草，粲曰∶此必古冢，其人在世，服生矾石，热蒸出外，故草
木焦枯。凿看，果矾石满墓堂。（《客斋随笔》。）
按∶仲宣元识若此，何仲景预告以眉发脱落而不之信耶？事见旧按，第文太略。
洪容斋云∶予仲兄文安公镇金陵，因秋暑减食，当涂医汤三益，教以服矾石圆，已而饮啖日进，遂加意服
之。越十月而毒作，鼻衄血斗余。自是数日不止，竟至津液皆竭。迨于捐馆，偶见前语，使人追痛，因书之以
戒来者。（同上。）
按∶阴虚火盛之人，初服桂、附、姜、萸等燥热刚药，始则甚得其力，所谓劫治也。昧不知止，久而决
裂，莫可挽回。余目击其敝者，数十人矣。此亦与初服矾石圆，而饮啖日进同也。
毛公弼守泗洲，泄痢久不愈，及罢官归，遂谒庞安常求治。安常诊之曰∶此丹石毒作，非痢也。乃煮葵菜
一釜，令公弼食之。且云∶当有所下。明日，安常规之曰∶毒未去，问食几何？曰∶才进两盂。安常曰∶某煮
此药，铢两升合，自有制度，不尽不可。如是再煮，强令进之。已乃洞泄，烂斑五色。安常视之曰∶此丹毒也，
疾去矣。但年高人久痢，又乍去丹毒，脚当弱，不可复饵他药。因赠牛膝酒两瓶，饮尽遂强如初。（《独醒杂
言》曾达臣。雄按∶葵菜善解毒，小儿食之稀痘。）
虞都巡者，曾达臣先人同僚也，自言常服石燕。其法取雄者十枚， 以火透红，则出而渍酒中，候冷复 ，
既复渍，如是者无算。度干酒一升，乃取屑之，每早作以二钱匕，擦齿上，漱咽以酒。虞时年五十，服此药
二年，肤发甚泽，才如三十许人，自谓服药之功。一日勿觉热气贯两目，睛突出，痛不堪忍而死。因人服金石
药，鲜有不为其所毒者。（同上。）
临川周推官平生孱弱，多服丹砂、乌、附药，晚年发背疽。医悉归罪丹石，服解毒药不效。疡医老祝脉之，
曰∶此乃极症，正当多服伏火丹砂及三建汤。乃用小剂试之，复作大剂。三日后用膏敷贴，半月而疮平。凡服
三建汤一百五十服。（《齐东野语》见《本草纲目》。意其人必 阴之体，故耐大热之剂。）
张路玉治孙古修，误服伏火丹砂中毒。察其本元素亏，近因虚火上炎，舌下肿胀，延及两颐。医用苦寒清
热太过，神思不宁。药中每服加丹砂五钱，甫进一剂，觉胸中有物触者数次。请政于医，复出丹砂视之，色黑
而晦，丹炉中伏火砂也。医令易砂，更服四剂，日夜烦躁不宁，背时洒淅恶寒，头面烘热，大汗，胫膝逆冷如
冰，忽忽气逆欲绝。张诊之，六脉涩数模糊。次验唇舌，俱色如汗泥，而肿浓湿滑。若系热极似阴，必无湿滑
之理。若系寒犯三阴，必无反浓之理。惟酒食内蕴，徽酱色现则有之。审其二便调适，胸腹柔和，决无食停胃
腑之理。以脉合症，洵为阴受热郁最急者。恐其喘汗欲脱，乃以生脉、六味合剂，以救肺肾。一服神稍安，汗
稍敛。再进人事稍知，稀粥稍进，犹未言及伏火砂也。见其舌沿稍转微红，而气微足冷如故，前方入桂心五分，
五味数粒。服后足稍温和，气稍接续，语稍有次，方详述伏火砂之误。前方减去地黄、桂心、五味，入枣仁、
秋石、人中黄，专解丹砂之毒。三服舌转微红，虽未鲜洁，而伏毒渐解。缘两尺弦细，乃去人中黄，仍用地黄
以填补下元。数日之间，或去人中黄用地黄，或去地黄而用人中黄，随脉证更迭出入。二味不兼用者，恐人中
黄味甘恋膈，载地黄之腻，不能速达下元。下元虽亏，调补药中，宁用鹿茸、河车，而不入桂、附者，虑其鼓
舞丹砂之余烈也。
罗谦甫曰∶僧阎仲章服火炼丹砂二粒，项出小疮，肿痛不任，牙痒不能嚼物，服凉膈散半斤始缓。以饮酒
辄发，药以寒凉之剂则缓，终身不愈。
何横泾好色，平居进热剂，偶与方灵谷对奕，呼小童取一厘散来，童误听为七厘也。何时拈子布算，不及
观遽服之，是夕卒于书斋。后十余年，孙理庵倩居其室，偶至书斋见一人仰卧榻上。问之，答曰∶我何横泾也。
孙大骇疾走，不十日卒。（《云间杂志》无名氏。）
秀州张生，本郡中虞侯，其妻遇神人，自称皮场大王，授以痈疽异方一册，且诲以手法，遂用医着，俗呼
张小娘子，又转以教厥夫。吴人韦县丞祖母，章子浓外家也，年七十疽发于背。邀治之，张先溃其疮，以盏贮所
泄脓秽，澄滓视之，其凝处红如丹砂。谓丞曰∶此服丹药毒所致也。丞怒曰∶老人平生尚不服一暖药，况于丹
乎，何妄言若是？病患闻之亟呼曰∶其说是也，我少在汝家时，每相公饵服大丹，必使我辈伴服一粒，积久数
多，故贮蓄毒根，今不可悔矣。张谢去，母竟以是终。（李日华《六研斋笔记》。）
陈良甫治一富室男子，鼻血不止，六脉洪数。究竟云服丹药太过，遂用黄连、黄芩、大黄为末，水煎服愈。
调服亦可。（良方。）
无锡华氏，年六十，患背疮溃发，大如旋盘而色赤。想是平日多服金石药毒发所致，问之果然。因令浸晨
饮羊血三五升，始用退热解毒生气血之剂， 以生肌膏。半月后肌生脓少，予因归，令服此药百余帖方可全安。
一月后复来招往，视其疮，皮肉已坚浓如常，但食少无力。因问前日之药服几何？曰∶疮将平，遂止不服。脉
之，沉微甚。因知其气血只可供给疮平而已，真气则已竭，不可治，即古人所谓死于疮结痂之后。果不出半月
而死。此脓出后之虚，若因虚而发痈疽者亦然。（《药要或问》。）
张忠定公安道居南都，炼丹一炉，养火数十年，丹成不敢服。时张刍圣民守南都，羸瘠殊甚，闻有此丹，
坚求饵之。安道云∶不敢吝也。但此丹服火之久，不有大功，必有大毒，不可遽服。圣民求之甚力，乃以一粒
如粟大以与之，且戒宜韬藏，慎勿轻饵。圣民得之即吞焉，不数日便血不止，五脏皆糜溃而下，竟死云。（张邦基
《墨庄漫录》。）
士大夫服丹砂死者，前此固不一。余所目击林彦振，平日充实，饮啖兼人，居吴下每以强自夸。有医周公
辅，言得宋道方炼丹砂秘术，可延年而无后害。道方，拱州良医也。彦振信之，服三年疽发于脑。始见发际如
粟，越两日，项颔与胸背略平，十日死。方疾亟时，医使人以帛渍所渍脓血，濯之水中，澄其下，略有丹砂，盖
积于中与毒俱出也。谢任伯平日闻人蓄伏火丹砂，不问其方，必求服，惟恐不尽，去岁亦发脑疽。有人与之语，
见其疾将作，俄倾觉形神顿异，而任伯犹未之觉。既觉，如风雨，经夕死。十年间亲见此两人，可以为戒矣。
（《避暑录》叶梦得少蕴。）
吴兴吴景渊刑部，服硫黄，人罕有知者。其后二十年，子橐为华亭市易官，发背而卒，乃知流毒传气，尚
及其子，可不戒哉。（《泊宅编》。）
叶天士曰∶新场镇有升绸缎铺，湖州沈里千之子，号赤文，年二十，读书作文，明敏过人，其父母甚爱之。
将毕姻，令全鹿丸一料，少年四人分服之。自冬至春，忽患浑身作痛，有如痛风，渐渐腹中作痛，有形之块累
累于肠，肌肉削瘦，饮食不进。延刘公原瞿治之，乃父一闻消导清火之药，畏惧不用，惟以参、术投之。七月
初旬，余至叶坤生家，道经其门，乃父邀进问余，言小儿晚间大便去黑粪如拳大一块，目下遍身如火，欲饮井
水，不知何故。余进诊视，脉息数大，身体骨立，渴喜冷冻饮料。视其所下之块黑而坚硬，意为瘀血结成。适闵介
申家有酒蒸大黄丸，用二钱，下黑块不计其数。用水浸之，胖如黑豆。询其所以，乃全鹿丸未化也，始知为药
所误，不数日热极而死。同服三少年，一患喉痹而死，一患肛门毒而死，一患吐血咳嗽而死。此皆无病而喜
服温补药之害也。录此以劝世人，不必好补而服药。
刘表在荆州时，与王粲登上障山，看见一座山冈上不长任何草木。王粲说：“这一定是古墓，墓中人生前服用过生矾石，热气从体内蒸腾而出，导致草木焦枯。”于是开棺查看，果然墓堂里装满了矾石。（出自《客斋随笔》）
按语：王粲（字仲宣）能有这样的见识，为什么张仲景曾预言他会眉发脱落而他却不相信呢？这件事见于旧案的按语，只是文字太过简略。
洪迈（号容斋）说：“我的二哥文安公镇守金陵时，因秋季暑热导致食欲减退，当涂县的医生汤三益建议他服用矾石丸。不久之后，他的饮食逐渐增加，于是便刻意多加服用。过了十个月毒性发作，鼻出血达一斗多。从此几天不停，最终导致津液枯竭。直到去世前，偶然看到前面的记载，让人追悔痛心，因此记录下来以告诫后来的人。（同上）”
按语：阴虚火旺的人，刚开始服用桂枝、附子、干姜、山茱萸等燥热刚烈的药物，起初效果很好，这就是所谓的“劫治”（强行压制症状）。如果愚昧地不知道停止，久而久之就会造成身体决裂崩溃，无法挽回。我亲眼目睹这种弊端的，有几十人了。这也和刚开始服用矾石丸，饮食日渐增加的情况是一样的。
毛弼担任泗州太守时，患有泄泻痢疾长久不愈，罢官回家后，就去拜见庞安常求治。庞安常诊脉后说：“这是丹石毒发作，不是痢疾。”于是煮了一大锅葵菜，让毛弼吃下去。并且说：“应当会有排泄物排出。”第二天，庞安常再次诊视说：“毒素未去，问吃了多少？”回答说：“才吃了两碗。”庞安常说：“我煮这个药，分量尺寸自有定规，没吃完也没关系。”像这样再煮一次，强迫他吃下去。随后毛弼剧烈腹泻，排出五色烂斑。庞安常看后说：“这是丹毒，病邪已去。但老人久患痢疾，又突然排出了丹毒，脚力会变弱，不能再吃其他药物了。”于是赠送两瓶牛膝酒，喝完后果然体力恢复如初。（出自《独醒杂言》，作者曾达臣。编者按：葵菜善于解毒，小儿食用可少出痘疹。）
虞都巡是曾达臣祖先的同僚，自称经常服用石燕。方法是取十枚雄性的石燕，用火烤透变红，然后取出浸泡在酒中，冷却后再烤，反复如此无数次。大约消耗干酒一升，然后将其捣碎成粉末，每天早晨用两钱匕的量，涂抹在牙齿上，漱口后咽下，并用酒送服。虞当时五十岁，服用此药两年，皮肤头发很有光泽，精力像三十多岁的人，自认为是服药的功效。有一天忽然觉得热气贯穿双眼，眼球突出，疼痛难忍而死。因为服用金石类药物，很少有不中毒的。（同上）
临川周推官一生体弱，多次服用丹砂、乌头、附子等药物，晚年背部发了疽疮。医生们都归咎于丹石之毒，服用解毒药无效。外科医生老祝诊脉后说：“这是极重的病症，正当多服用伏火丹砂及三建汤。”于是先用小剂量试用，后又加大剂量。三天后使用膏药敷贴，半个月后疮口平复。总共服用了三建汤一百五十剂。（出自《齐东野语》，见《本草纲目》。推测此人必定是阴寒体质，所以能耐受大热的药剂。）
张路玉治疗孙古修，因误服伏火丹砂中毒。观察其素来体质亏虚，近期因虚火上炎，舌下肿胀，蔓延至两侧面颊。医生使用苦寒清热药太过，导致神志不安。用药时每服加入丹砂五钱，刚进一剂，就觉得胸中有物体触碰数次。向医生请教，医生拿出丹砂查看，颜色黑而晦暗，是丹炉中伏火的丹砂。医生令更换丹砂，继续服用四剂，日夜烦躁不安，背恶寒战栗，头面烘热，大汗淋漓，小腿膝盖逆冷如冰，恍惚气逆欲绝。张路玉诊察，六脉涩数模糊。其次查验唇舌，颜色都像汗泥，且肿浓湿滑。如果是热极似阴，必然没有湿滑的道理。如果是寒邪侵犯三阴，必然没有反浓（指脓液浓稠或肿胀严重）的道理。只有酒食内蕴，呈现酱色时才可能有这种情况。审察其二便调适，胸腹柔和，绝无食物停滞胃腑的道理。结合脉象和症状，确实是阴分受热郁结最急迫的情况。担心他喘促汗出欲脱，于是用生脉散、六味地黄丸合方，以救肺肾。一服后神志稍安，汗稍收敛。再进服人事稍知，稀粥稍进，还没提到伏火丹砂的事。见其舌边稍转微红，而气息微弱、脚冷依旧，前方中加入桂心五分，五味子数粒。服后脚稍温和，气息稍接续，说话稍有次序，这才详细陈述误服伏火丹砂的错误。前方减去地黄、桂心、五味子，加入枣仁、秋石、人中黄，专门解除丹砂之毒。三服后舌转微红，虽然不鲜洁，但伏毒渐解。因为两尺脉弦细，于是去掉人中黄，仍用地黄以填补下元。几天之间，有时去掉人中黄用地黄，有时去掉地黄用人中黄，随脉证更迭出入。这两味药不兼用的原因，是担心人中黄味甘恋膈，携带地黄的腻滞，不能迅速到达下元。下元虽亏，但在调补药中，宁愿用鹿茸、紫河车，而不入桂枝、附子的原因，是顾虑它们会鼓动丹砂剩余的烈性。
罗谦甫说：僧人阎仲章服用火炼丹砂二粒，颈部长出小疮，肿痛难忍，牙痒不能咀嚼食物，服用半斤凉膈散才缓解。因为饮酒就发作，用寒凉药剂则缓解，终身不愈。
何横泾好色，平时进服热性药剂，偶然与方灵谷下棋，叫小童取一厘散来，小童误听为七厘。何正在拈棋子布算，来不及观看就服下了，当晚死在书房。十多年后，孙理庵借住他的屋子，偶然到书房看见一个人仰卧在床上。问他，回答说是我何横泾。孙大惊疾走，不到十天也死了。（出自《云间杂志》，无名氏）
秀州的张生，是本郡的中虞侯，他的妻子遇到神仙，自称皮场大王，传授给她一本痈疽异方，并教导手法，于是成为医生，俗呼张小娘子，又转而教她的丈夫。吴人韦县丞的祖母，是章子浓的外家，七十岁时背部发疽。邀请她医治，张先溃破疮口，用盏盛接流出的脓秽，澄清渣滓观察，凝固处红如丹砂。对韦县丞说：“这是服用丹药之毒所致。”县丞生气地说：“老人平生尚且不吃暖药，何况是丹砂，为何妄言如此？”病人听到后急忙喊道：“说得对，我年轻时在你家时，每次相公服用大丹，必让我们伴服一粒，积久数量多，所以蓄积了毒根，现在不可后悔了。”张告辞离开，母亲最终因此去世。（李日华《六研斋笔记》）
陈良甫治疗一个富室男子，鼻血不止，六脉洪数。究其原因是服用丹药太过，于是用黄连、黄芩、大黄为末，水煎服痊愈。调服也可以。（出自《良方》）
无锡华氏，六十岁，患背疮溃发，大如旋盘且色赤。想必是平日多服金石药毒发所致，询问后确实如此。于是令清晨饮羊血三五升，开始用退热解毒生气血的药剂，外敷生肌膏。半月后肌肉生长脓少，我因事回去，令服用此药百余帖方可全安。一月后复来招我去，看他的疮，皮肉已坚浓如常，但食少无力。于是问前日的药服了多少？回答说：“疮将平，就停止不服了。”诊脉，沉微甚。于是知道气血只够供给疮平而已，真气已竭，不可治，就是古人所说的死于疮结痂之后。果然不出半月而死。这是脓出后的虚损，如果因虚而发痈疽的也是这样。（《药要或问》）
张忠定公安道居南都，炼丹一炉，养火数十年，丹成不敢服。当时张刍圣民守南都，瘦弱殊甚，听说有此丹，坚决要求服用。安道说：“不敢吝啬。但这丹服火已久，不有大功，必有大毒，不可遽服。”圣民求之很迫切，于是给了一粒如粟米大的丹，并且告诫应该韬藏，千万不要轻率服用。圣民得到后立即吞下，不几日便血不止，五脏皆糜溃而下，最终死去。（张邦基《墨庄漫录》）
士大夫服用丹砂死去的，在此之前固然不止一个。我亲眼目睹的林彦振，平日身体充实，饮食过人，居住在吴下时常以强壮自夸。有医生周公辅，说得到了宋道方炼丹砂秘术，可延年而无后害。道方是拱州良医。彦振相信了他，服用三年后脑部长疽。起初见发际如粟米大小，两天后，项颔与胸背略平，十日死。在病危时，医生让人用帛浸渍所流的脓血，在水中洗涤，澄清底部，略有丹砂，大概是积于体内与毒一起出来的。谢任伯平日听人说有伏火丹砂，不问其方，一定要求服用，惟恐不尽，去年也发了脑疽。有人与他说话，见其病将作，俄顷觉得形神顿异，而任伯自己还未察觉。既察觉，如风雨般急剧，通宵死。十年间亲眼见此两人，可以作为警戒了。（《避暑录》，叶梦得少蕴）
吴兴吴景渊刑部，服用硫黄，很少有人知道。其后二十年，儿子橐做华亭市易官，发背而死，才知道流毒传气，还波及到儿子，可不戒慎吗？（《泊宅编》）
叶天士说：新场镇有升绸缎铺，湖州沈里千的儿子，号赤文，二十岁，读书作文，明敏过人，父母很爱他。即将结婚，让全鹿丸一料，四个少年分服。自冬至春，忽然患浑身作痛，有如痛风，渐渐腹中作痛，有形之块累累于肠，肌肉削瘦，饮食不进。延请刘公原瞿治疗，父亲一听到消导清火的药，畏惧不用，只用参、术投之。七月初旬，我到叶坤生家，路过其门，父亲邀进问余，说小儿晚间大便去黑粪如拳大一块，眼下遍身如火，欲饮井水，不知何故。我进诊视，脉息数大，身体骨立，渴喜冷冻饮料。看其所下的块黑而坚硬，以为是瘀血结成。适逢闵介申家有酒蒸大黄丸，用二钱，下黑块不计其数。用水浸之，胖如黑豆。询问其原因，是全鹿丸未化也，始知为药所误，不数日热极而死。同服的三个少年，一个患喉痹而死，一个患肛门毒而死，一个患吐血咳嗽而死。这都是无病而喜服温补药的危害。记录此以劝世人，不必好补而服药。
Liu Biao was in Jingzhou when he and Wang Can climbed Zhang Mountain. They saw a ridge where no grass or trees grew. Wang Can said, "This must be an ancient tomb. The person buried here likely consumed raw alum (Mingfan, 明矾) during their lifetime. Heat steamed out from within, causing the vegetation to scorch and wither." Upon excavation, it was indeed found that the tomb chamber was filled with alum. (From *Ke Zhai Sui Bi*)
Note: Wang Can (courtesy name Zhongxuan) possessed such insight. Why did Zhang Zhongjing predict his loss of eyebrows and hair, yet he did not believe it? This incident is recorded in older annotations, though the text is too brief.
Hong Mai (styled Rongzhai) said: "My second brother, Lord Wen'an, was stationed in Jinling. Due to autumn heat reducing his appetite, Tang Sanyi, a physician from Dangtu, advised him to take Alum Pills. Soon after, his diet improved, so he deliberately increased the dosage. Ten months later, toxicity manifested as severe epistaxis (nosebleed), losing over one dou of blood. It continued for several days until all body fluids were exhausted. Just before his death, he accidentally saw the previous record, causing deep regret. He wrote this down to warn future generations." (Ibid.)
Note: In individuals with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire, initially taking dry, hot, and rigid drugs like Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi, 桂枝), Aconite Root (Fuzi, 附子), Dried Ginger (Ganjiang, 干姜), and Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu, 山茱萸) may yield immediate results. This is known as 'Jie Zhi' (Robbing Treatment). If one ignorantly fails to stop, long-term use leads to irreversible collapse. I have witnessed dozens of such cases. This is similar to the initial effect of Alum Pills increasing appetite.
Mao Bi, Prefect of Sizhou, suffered from chronic diarrhea and dysentery. After resigning, he sought treatment from Pang Anchang. Pang diagnosed, "This is toxicity from cinnabar and minerals (Dan Shi Du), not dysentery." He boiled a large pot of Malva Verticillata (Kuicai, 葵菜) and instructed Mao to eat it, predicting bowel movements. The next day, Pang re-examined him, noting toxins remained, and asked how much was eaten. Mao replied only two bowls. Pang stated his preparation had fixed proportions and forced him to consume more. Mao subsequently experienced profuse diarrhea, expelling five-colored putrid matter. Pang declared, "The Dan toxicity is expelled. However, due to age and chronic dysentery, followed by sudden expulsion of mineral toxins, his legs will weaken. Do not take other medicines." He gifted two bottles of Achyranthes Bidentata Wine (Niuxi Jiu, 牛膝酒). After consumption, Mao regained his strength. (From *Du Xing Za Yan*, Zeng Dacheng. Editor's Note: Malva Verticillata is good at resolving toxicity; children eating it rarely develop smallpox.)
Inspector Yu, a colleague of Zeng Dacheng’s ancestor, claimed to frequently consume Stone Swallow (Shiyan, 石燕). The method involved roasting ten male stones red-hot, soaking them in wine, cooling, and repeating indefinitely until one sheng of dry wine was consumed. The residue was powdered. Each morning, two qian bi were rubbed on the teeth, swished, and swallowed with wine. At fifty, after two years, Yu’s skin and hair became lustrous, and he felt energetic like a man of thirty, attributing this to the medicine. Suddenly, he felt heat piercing both eyes, eyeballs protruded, pain was unbearable, and he died. Few who consume metallic/mineral drugs escape toxicity. (Ibid.)
Zhou Tuiguan from Linchuan was frail throughout life and frequently took Cinnabar, Aconitum (Wutou, 乌头), and Prepared Aconite Root (Fuzi, 附子). In old age, he developed a carbuncle on the back. Physicians blamed mineral toxicity; detoxifying herbs failed. Surgeon Lao Zhu diagnosed, "This is a critical condition requiring heavy doses of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar (Fuhuo Dansha, 伏火丹砂) and Sanjian Decoction (Sanjian Tang, 三建汤)." Starting with a small dose, then increasing, and applying plasters after three days, the ulcer healed in half a month. Zhou consumed 150 doses of Sanjian Tang. (From *Qi Dong Ye Yu*, cited in *Bencao Gangmu*. Speculation: The patient likely had a Yin-cold constitution, tolerating strong heating agents.)
Zhang Luyu treated Sun Gxiu for poisoning caused by accidental ingestion of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. Sun’s constitution was deficient, with recent deficiency fire flaring up, causing sublingual swelling extending to the cheeks. Previous physicians used excessive bitter-cold clearing herbs, leading to mental restlessness. The prescription included five qian of Cinnabar per dose. After one dose, Sun felt objects touching inside his chest. The physician inspected the Cinnabar, finding it dark and dull—indicating Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. After switching the herb and taking four more doses, Sun suffered day-and-night irritability, chills on the back, burning heat on the head and face, profuse sweating, and ice-cold knees and calves. He felt faint with rebellious Qi. Zhang’s pulse was choppy, rapid, and indistinct. Lips and tongue were muddy, swollen, thick, wet, and slippery. Extreme heat mimicking Yin would not present as wet/slippery; Cold invading the Three Yin meridians would not present as thick/swollen. Only food stagnation might show sauce-like color. With normal urination/defecation and soft abdomen, food stagnation was ruled out. Pulse and symptoms indicated acute Yin heat constraint. Fearing collapse via panting and sweating, Zhang combined Shengmai Powder (Shengmai San, 生脉散) and Liuwei Dihuang Pill (Liuwei Dihuang Wan, 六味地黄丸) to rescue Lung and Kidney. One dose brought slight calm and sweat reduction. Further doses restored consciousness and slight appetite. Observing the tongue edges turning slightly red but cold feet persisting, Zhang added Cinnamon Heart (Guixin, 桂心) and Schisandra Berry (Wuweizi, 五味子). Feet warmed, Qi connected, speech stabilized. Zhang then explained the error of Fire-Quenched Cinnabar. The formula was modified: removing Rehmannia, Cinnamon Heart, and Schisandra; adding Ziziphus Seed (Zaoren, 酸枣仁), Autumn Stone (Qiushi, 秋石), and Human Waste Ash (Renzhonghuang, 人中黄) to specifically detoxify Cinnabar. After three doses, the tongue turned slightly red, and toxicity gradually resolved. Due to wiry-thin pulses at the Chi position, Renzhonghuang was removed, and Rehmannia was retained to tonify the Lower Yuan. Over several days, these two were alternated based on pulse/symptoms. They were not used together because Renzhonghuang’s sweet taste lingers in the diaphragm, carrying Rehmannia’s cloying nature, preventing rapid delivery to the Lower Yuan. Although Lower Yuan was deficient, deer antler (Lurong, 鹿茸) and Placenta (Heche, 紫河车) were preferred over Cinnamon/Aconite to avoid stirring residual Cinnabar toxicity.
Luo Qianfu reported: Monk Yan Zhongzhang took two pills of Fire-Refined Cinnabar, developing a painful, swollen sore on the neck, and itching teeth preventing chewing. Half a jin of Liangge San (Liangge San, 凉膈散) provided relief. Recurrence was triggered by alcohol; cold herbs provided temporary relief, but the condition persisted lifelong.
He Hengjing, prone to lust, regularly took heating tonics. While playing chess with Fang Linggu, he ordered a child to fetch "Yili San" (One-Cli Powder), but the child misheard "Qili San" (Seven-Cli Powder). He ingested it without checking and died that night in his study. Years later, Sun Li’an, renting the room, saw a figure lying supine. The figure claimed to be He Hengjing. Sun fled in terror and died ten days later. (From *Yunjian Zazhi*, Anonymous)
Scholar Zhang from Xiuzhou, a mid-level officer, had a wife who received a divine revelation from the God Pichang, teaching her a secret formula for abscesses and manipulation techniques. She became a doctor, known as Little Lady Zhang, and taught her husband. Wei Xiancheng’s grandmother (from the Zhang family) developed a back abscess at seventy. Zhang drained the pus, observed it clarified into a red substance resembling Cinnabar, and told Wei, "This is toxicity from alchemical pills." Wei angrily denied taking warming drugs or pills. The patient interrupted, admitting she was forced to take one pill whenever her husband took Grand Elixirs, accumulating toxic roots. Zhang left; the mother died from this. (Li Rihua, *Liuyan Zai Biji*)
Chen Liangfu treated a wealthy man with continuous epistaxis and surging-rapid pulses. The cause was excessive alchemical pill consumption. Chen prescribed powder of Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian, 黄连), Scutellaria Root (Huangqin, 黄芩), and Rhubarb (Dahuang, 大黄), decocted in water, which cured him. Mixing with liquid was also effective. (From *Liangfang*)
A sixty-year-old woman from Wuxi surnamed Hua developed a back ulcer the size of a plate, red in color. Suspected to be caused by long-term mineral drug toxicity, this was confirmed. She was instructed to drink three to five sheng of sheep blood each morning, followed by heat-clearing, detoxifying, and Qi/blood-generating herbs, applied externally with a flesh-regenerating ointment. After half a month, granulation tissue formed with little pus. I returned home, advising continued medication for full recovery. A month later, upon return, the skin/flesh was firm and normal, but she was weak with poor appetite. She admitted stopping meds once the ulcer seemed flat. Her pulse was deep and minute. Her Qi and Blood were depleted, insufficient even for healing; true Qi was exhausted. As ancients said, death occurs after scab formation. She died within half a month. This illustrates post-purulent deficiency; similar outcomes occur if abscesses arise from deficiency. (From *Yaoyao Huowen*)
Zhang Angdao (Lord Zhongding) smelted elixirs in Nandu for decades but dared not take them. Zhang Shimin, Governor of Nandu, was emaciated and begged for the elixir. Zhang warned, "It has been fired for a long time; without great merit, it holds great toxicity. Do not take it hastily." Reluctantly, Zhang gave one millet-sized pill, advising caution. Shimin swallowed it immediately. Within days, he suffered continuous hematochezia, internal organs disintegrated, and he died. (Zhang Bangji, *Mo Zhuang Man Lu*)
Many scholar-officials died from Cinnabar. I witnessed Lin Yanzhen, robust and strong, believing Physician Zhou Gongfu’s claim of a secret Song Dynasty Cinnabar refining method for longevity. After three years, Lin developed a brain carbuncle. Initially millet-sized, it spread to the neck, jaw, chest, and back, killing him in ten days. When critically ill, doctors washed the bloody pus in cloth, revealing Cinnabar particles at the bottom, proving accumulation and excretion of toxicity. Xie Renbo also sought Fire-Quenched Cinnabar indiscriminately. Last year, he developed a brain carbuncle. Friends noticed his spirit changing abruptly before he felt symptoms. He died overnight. Witnessing these two in ten years serves as a warning. (Ye Mengde, *Bishu Lu*)
Wu Jingyuan, Minister of Justice from Wuxing, secretly consumed Sulfur (Huangqi, 硫黄). Twenty years later, his son Tuo, serving as Market Exchange Official in Huating, died of a back carbuncle. Toxicity transmitted through Qi affected his son. One must beware. (From *Bo Zhai Bian*)
Ye Tianshi reported: In Xinchang Town, Shen Liqian’s son, Shen Chiwen (20 years old), was bright and beloved. Before marriage, four youths shared a supply of Whole Deer Pill (Quanlu Wan, 全鹿丸). From winter to spring, Shen developed全身 pain (like gout), abdominal pain with palpable intestinal masses, emaciation, and anorexia. Physician Liu Yuanqu suggested digestive and fire-clearing herbs, but the father refused, using only Ginseng (Renshen, 人参) and Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu, 白术). In early July, I visited Ye Kunsheng. The father described his son passing black, fist-sized stools nightly, feeling burning heat, craving well water. Pulse was rapid-large; body was skeletal. The black stool was hard. I suspected blood stasis. Using Two-Qian Wine-Steamed Rhubarb Pill (Jiuzheng Dahuang Wan, 酒蒸大黄丸), he passed countless black blocks. Soaked in water, they swelled like black beans. Inquiry revealed these were undigested Whole Deer Pills. Mismedication led to death from extreme heat in days. The other three youths died of throat obstruction, anal toxicity, and hematemesis/cough respectively. These are harms of taking warming tonics without illness. Recorded to advise against unnecessary supplementation.