神农本草经玉石（下品）

Shennong Bencao Jing: Jade and Stone Category (Lower Grade)

Overall Paraphrase

This chapter is from the Lower Grade of the Jade and Stone category in Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica), covering nine mineral medicines. The ancients classified medicines into three grades—Upper, Middle, and Lower; the Lower Grade mostly consists of items with potent and harsh properties, biased toward attacking pathogens, toxic, or unsuitable for prolonged use. Each item is explained below in modern plain language.

Lime (Limestone) (Shihui)
Acrid in taste, warm in nature. The ancients believed it treated carbuncles, ulcers, scabies with itching, heat-toxic sores, malignant sores, leprosy-like skin lesions, necrotic flesh, and eyebrow loss; it could kill hemorrhoid parasites, and remove dark moles and polyps on the skin. It is also known as "E Yang" (Vicious Sore) and grows in mountain valleys. Later commentators added： another name is "Xi Yang," produced in Zhongshan. Collators suspect that the character "E Hui" (vicious ash) should perhaps be read as "E Hui" (white earth ash), involving a question of phonetic variation in pronunciation.

Yu Stone (Arsenic-containing Stone) (Yaoshi)
Acrid in taste, greatly hot in nature. The ancients believed it treated alternating chills and fever, mouse fistulas (similar to tuberculous lymphadenitis with ulceration), corrosive sores, necrotic flesh, wind-bi (arthropathy), and hard masses in the abdomen. It is also known as Qingfen Stone, Lizhi Stone, and Guyang Stone. The Yulan (Imperial Reader) quotes it as being able to remove heat and kill all beasts. It is produced in mountain valleys. Wu Pu said： white Yu Stone is also called Shuxiang; Shennong and Qibo considered it acrid in taste and toxic; Tongjun considered it toxic; Huangdi considered it sweet in taste and toxic. Master Li said： it is produced either in Weixing or in Shaoshi, harvested in the twelfth month. Later commentators further added such alternative names as Taibai, Zeru, and Shiyan, and cited the Shuowen and Xishan Jing for textual evidence： this is a poisonous stone from Hanzhong, capable of poisoning rats. The ancients associated its "rat-poisoning" function with its use for mouse fistulas. ⚠️ This is an arsenic-containing toxic stone with extreme toxicity and must never be taken internally.

Lead Tetroxide (Qiandan)
Acrid in taste, slightly cold in nature. The ancients believed it treated counterflow of stomach qi, vomiting, fright epilepsy, and manic-depressive disorders; it could remove heat and descend qi. It was also said that after refinement it could return to "Nine Radiances" (with Daoist overtones). Furthermore, it was said that "prolonged use communicates with the spirits," and the Yulan even states that "prolonged use leads to immortality." It is produced in flat plains and marshes. Also known as Lead Essence (Qianhua), produced in Shujun. Tao Hongjing said： this is the yellow dan made today by smelting lead. ⚠️ Lead tetroxide contains lead and is toxic; the claim of "prolonged use leads to immortality" is a historical limitation and cannot be trusted.

Powdered Tin (with Tin Mirror Nose) (Fenxi)
Acrid in taste, cold in nature. The ancients believed it treated "hidden corpse" (an ancient disease name, similar to deeply hidden parasitic accumulations), and toxic insect stings; it could kill the "three worms" (a general reference to parasites). It is also known as Jiexi (Dissolved Tin). The old edition had a separate entry for "Tin Mirror Nose," now merged here： it treats amenorrhea in women, abdominal masses (zhengjia), hidden intestinal issues, and infertility. It is produced in mountain valleys, from Guiyang. ⚠️ Such lead-tin mineral substances are toxic and must not be used without professional guidance.

Red Ochre (Daizhe)
Bitter in taste, cold in nature. The ancients believed it treated "ghost infestation" (an ancient disease name, similar to contagious consumptive diseases), thief-wind (pathogenic wind), and gu toxin (parasitic poison); it could kill spirit entities and evil ghosts, remove pathogenic qi and toxic qi from the abdomen, and treat red and white vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding in women. It is also known as Xuwan. It is produced in the state of Qi; the best variety is red like a cockscomb, lustrous, and can dye the nails without fading. It is harvested at any time. This is a type of hematite mineral.

Rock Salt (with Coarse Salt and Brine Salt) (Rongyan)
Rock salt： primarily brightens the eyes, treats eye pain, boosts qi, strengthens muscles and bones, and removes gu toxin.
Coarse salt： can induce vomiting.
Brine salt： bitter in taste, cold in nature; primarily treats great heat, wasting-thirst, mania and vexation, removes pathogenic influences, expels gu toxin, and softens and moistens the skin.
These salts are produced in ponds and marshes. The old edition listed rock salt, coarse salt, and brine salt as three separate items; they are now merged into one entry. Coarse salt is similar to table salt; rock salt is halite; brine salt is salt crystallized from salt-pond brine.

White Chalk (Bai'e)
Bitter in taste, warm in nature. The ancients believed it treated alternating chills and fever in women, abdominal masses, eye closure, and accumulations. It is produced in mountain valleys. Also known as Baishan (White Good), produced in Handan. It is a type of white clay earth.

Winter Ash (Donghui)
Acrid in taste, slightly warm in nature. It primarily treats dark skin spots, removes warts and polyps, ulcers and erosions, and scabies with itching. Also known as Li Hui (Goosefoot Ash). It is produced in rivers and marshes. It is roughly the ash obtained from burning plants.

Green Langgan (Tourmaline-like Mineral) (Qinglanggan)
Acrid in taste, neutral in nature. Primarily treats body itching, fire burns, ulcerous wounds, scabies with itching, and necrotic flesh. Also known as Stone Pearl. Produced in plains and marshes, from Shujun. Commentaries cite the Yugong and other texts, suggesting that langgan resembles pearl-like minerals.

Finally, a note on the original table of contents： the Jade and Stone category Lower Grade altogether comprises nine medicinals. The old edition divided them into twelve： Powdered Tin and Tin Mirror Nose were once two separate entries, and Rock Salt, Coarse Salt, and Brine Salt were once three separate entries; after textual research, they should each be merged into one, giving a total of nine.

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🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Principles 💡

1. Lower Grade Positioning： Attacking Pathogens Without Prolonged Use
   Shennong Bencao Jing classifies medicines into three grades—Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Lower Grade of the Jade and Stone category consists mostly of metal and mineral substances, characterized by potent and harsh properties, predominantly acrid-warm-hot or bitter-cold, and mostly toxic. The ancients believed that Lower Grade medicines "treat disease" and are "mostly toxic and unsuitable for prolonged use," reflecting the principle of "when using highly toxic medicines to treat disease, eliminate only six-tenths of it."

2. Core Therapeutic Tendencies of Mineral Medicines
   The primary indications in this chapter concentrate on ulcers, ringworm, necrotic flesh, insect toxins, abdominal masses and accumulations, mania and vexation, and uterine bleeding—conditions of excess pathogen or surgical-dermatological disorders. The academic logic is：

• Using poison to attack poison： such as Yu Stone, Lead Tetroxide, and Powdered Tin for stubborn sores and insect toxicity.
• Heavy settling to descend counterflow： such as Lead Tetroxide "removing heat and descending qi" for stomach qi counterflow and fright epilepsy.
• Astringing, drying dampness, removing putrefaction and killing parasites： such as Lime, Winter Ash, and Rock Salt for necrotic skin, scabies, and eye pain.
• Softening hardness and dispersing accumulations： such as White Chalk and Red Ochre for abdominal masses and accumulations.

1. "Toxicity" Was Itself Regarded as a Medicinal Property by the Ancients
   The ancients did not completely reject toxicity, but emphasized dosage, processing, compatibility, and "stopping once the disease is subdued." However, limited by historical conditions, their understanding of the toxicity of mineral drugs was imprecise, especially regarding the cumulative toxicity of arsenic-, lead-, and copper-containing heavy metals.

Modern Understanding 🌟

1. Chemical Compositions Are Now Essentially Clear

• Lime： mainly contains calcium oxide; releases significant heat upon contact with water and is strongly corrosive.
• Yu Stone： mostly arsenic-containing minerals, highly toxic; improper external use can lead to transdermal absorption poisoning.
• Lead Tetroxide： mainly contains red lead (Pb₃O₄), a lead compound with toxic effects on the nervous, hematopoietic, and renal systems.
• Powdered Tin： possibly lead powder or tin compounds, likewise carrying heavy-metal toxicity risks.
• Red Ochre： mainly contains hematite (iron oxide), relatively low in toxicity but heavy in nature.
• Rock Salt, Coarse Salt, Brine Salt： mainly sodium chloride and other salts; their emetic or external effects relate to osmotic pressure and irritation.
• White Chalk： mainly contains calcium carbonate, relatively inert.
• Winter Ash： plant ash, mainly containing alkaline substances such as potassium carbonate, with corrosive and cleansing effects.
• Green Langgan： possibly a copper-containing mineral, such as malachite, with potential copper toxicity risk.

1. Ancient Experience Must Be Viewed Rationally
   When the ancients used Lime and Winter Ash to remove warts and dark spots, they were utilizing their alkaline corrosive action—an approach that resonates with certain modern external therapies. Red Ochre, as an iron-containing mineral, was used for uterine bleeding and reddish discharge, perhaps related to the astringent and supplementary physical effects of iron preparations. However, such experiences cannot be directly equated with modern pharmacological therapy.

2. Historical Limitations Should Be Explicitly Acknowledged
   "Prolonged use communicates with the spirits" and "prolonged use leads to immortality" are clearly historical limitations. In particular, long-term internal use of Lead Tetroxide and Yu Stone can cause severe poisoning and even death. Terms like "killing spirit entities and evil ghosts," "ghost infestation," and "gu toxin" are more accurately era-specific expressions for infectious diseases, parasitic infections, and mental abnormalities, and should not be interpreted literally or superstitiously.

3. Safety Bottom Line
   Lead Tetroxide, Yu Stone, and Powdered Tin—arsenic-, lead-, and copper-containing minerals—can no longer be used as internal health supplements or "immortality" drugs. Even for external use, they must be administered under professional regulation and must not be self-prepared.

Wellness Insights ⚡

• 🧂 Moderate Salt Intake： Several salts are mentioned in this chapter. From a daily-life perspective, dietary salt intake should be moderate; avoid excessive saltiness over the long term.
• 🧤 Stay Away from Heavy Metals： Avoid contact with lead- and arsenic-containing heavy metal dusts in daily life, such as old paint, unidentified mineral powders, and smelting waste residues.
• 🚫 Do Not Self-Treat Skin Conditions： For skin abnormalities such as dark moles, warts, polyps, and sores, seek proper medical care instead of self-applying corrosive substances like lime or plant ash.
• 🌿 Rational View of "Mineral Immortality"： Claims of "prolonged use leads to immortality" or "communicating with the spirits" belong to historical limitations. Wellness should be grounded in balanced diet, regular daily routine, and emotional equanimity, not in pursuing extreme mineral properties.
• ⚖️ Attacking Pathogens with Moderation： Even when understanding the Lower Grade's "attacking pathogens" concept culturally, it reminds us that aggressive external treatments should be used with restraint and not prolonged. Daily health maintenance should prioritize balance and moderation.

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📚 Related Knowledge

• Related Concepts

  • Three-Grade Classification of Materia Medica： Upper Grade nourishes life, Middle Grade nurtures nature, Lower Grade treats disease—mostly toxic and unsuitable for prolonged use.
  • Jade and Stone Category： traditional classification of mineral medicines, oriented toward heavy settling, attacking pathogens, removing putrefaction, and killing parasites.
  • Using Poison to Attack Poison： an ancient approach of using toxic medicines to treat stubborn sores and insect toxicity.
  • Heavy Settling to Descend Counterflow： the traditional theory behind using Lead Tetroxide and Red Ochre for qi counterflow, epilepsy, and mania-vexation.
  • Removing Putrefaction and Promoting Tissue Regeneration： the line of thinking behind Lime, Winter Ash, and Green Langgan in externally treating necrotic skin and ulcers.

• Further Reading

  • Shennong Bencao Jing·Preface： for the three-grade classification and the principle of "toxic versus non-toxic."
  • Huangdi Neijing·Suwen·Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun： "When using highly toxic medicines to treat disease, eliminate only six-tenths; when using moderately toxic medicines, eliminate only seven-tenths..."
  • Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)·Jade and Stone Section： for a more systematic collation of the origins, toxicity, and applications of mineral medicines.
  • Bencao Jingshu or relevant sections of Bencao Jing Jizhu： for further study of early materia medica textual criticism and commentaries.

This content is based on classical Chinese medical texts and is provided solely for the study of traditional culture. It does not constitute any medical diagnosis, prescription, or treatment advice. Please consult a qualified physician if you feel unwell.
— Respectfully recorded by Bu Gua