《葛仙翁肘後備急方》Vol. 6

This is a collection of practical prescriptions for treating eye diseases from Zhouhou Beiji Fang (Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve) by Ge Hong (the Immortal Lord Ge). It primarily records rapid treatment methods for several common eye conditions:

For red, painful eyes with blurred vision, the text mentions a special method transmitted by Hua Tuo: the patient should use two fingers to hold open the affected eyelid while reciting the incantation "Pǐ pǐ wūshè xiázhǎi bùróng sùkè jí chū yě" ("Narrow dwelling, no room for lingering guests—depart now!"). This reflects the ancient Daoist medical practice combining zhuyou (incantation therapy) with treatment.

For watery eyes with red, itchy corners, a milk-based decoction is recommended: three fen of coptis root, two fen of hedge prinsepia seed, and four fen of dried ginger soaked overnight in one sheng of breast milk, then simmered over low heat until reduced to three ge (about 300ml). After straining, apply a grain-of-rice-sized amount to the eye corners.

For eye injuries or ruptures, apply bovine regurgitated saliva (niúxuán) twice daily while avoiding wind exposure—effective even for damaged pupils. Another method from Fan Wang's formula suggests placing a soybean-sized salt crystal into the eye, rinsing repeatedly with cold water after dissolution.

For Wind-Dispersing Powder treating swollen, itchy eyes caused by wind toxin (external pathogenic wind): grind one liang of Chinese gallnut and 1.5 liang of chastetree berry into powder. Decoct two qian per dose in water for warm compresses; the dregs can be reused twice.

For cold tears and photophobia due to liver deficiency (liver function insufficiency), mix half liang of selfheal spike and one liang of cyperus tuber powder, taking one qian with wax tea as needed. Shenghui Fang records: severe eye itch responds to bear bile drops; for acute conjunctivitis (wind-red eyes), take 2.7 qian of powder from ten dried earthworms (dilong) with cold tea before bed.

For cataracts caused by cold damage heat toxin, apply a fine powder of two liang cuttlebone with a little borneol (longnao) three to four times daily. Chronic cataracts respond well to honey pills the size of phoenix tree seeds made from equal parts plantago seed, dried rehmannia, and ophiopogon root.

This passage records several ancient prescriptions for treating eye diseases, the most remarkable being the origin story of the Sheep Liver Pill. The preparation method is as follows: take one liang of powdered coptis root and a fresh white sheep liver (with membrane removed), grind them into fine powder in an earthen mortar, then hand-roll into pill-sized balls resembling phoenix tree seeds. Take fourteen pills per dose with warm fermented rice water during meals. Five consecutive courses show efficacy against various eye conditions including cataracts and glaucoma, though pork and cold water must be avoided during treatment.

The text recounts a miraculous tale: Official Cui Chengyuan once saved a condemned prisoner, who years later appeared as a ghost at midnight to repay the kindness by imparting this prescription. After months of taking the remedy, Cui's blind eyes regained sight, prompting him to disseminate the formula.

Several eyewash formulas are also documented:

1. Eye Cleansing Decoction: Equal parts angelica root, peony root, and coptis root ground finely, boiled into concentrated liquid with snow water or sweet water. Apply warm to eyes, reheating when cooled. Effective for bloodshot eyes and cataracts caused by wind toxins. Traditional medicine attributes most eye ailments to blocked blood vessels, hence these blood-activating herbs combined with hot compress prove particularly effective.

2. Night Blindness Remedy: Two liang of atractylodes powder mixed with sheep liver—split the liver with bamboo knife, insert powder, bind with hemp rope, then boil in rice-washing water. First fumigate eyes, then consume.

3. Twilight Vision Blurriness: Slice green sheep liver to dip in mild vinegar, either raw or cooked.

4. Protruding Eyeballs: Rinse repeatedly with freshly drawn well water.

5. Lastly, raspberries (called Western Grass or Bilengga) are noted for treating dim vision.

These prescriptions embody the ancient therapeutic principle of "using liver to nourish liver," while emphasizing blood circulation activation and heat-clearing methods. The legend of the Sheep Liver Pill also reflects the Daoist belief in "virtue begetting blessings."

This passage records several ancient prescriptions for treating eye diseases, primarily sourced from medical texts like Ge Hong's Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve (《葛仙翁肘后备急方》). Here are modern interpretations of these treatments:

For red, swollen eyes with blurred vision (青盲, "green blindness") or epidemic eye diseases (天行目暗, "heavenly vision dimness"): Collect a plant called "Western Kingdom Herb," dry it in sunlight, pound it into powder, wrap it in thin cotton cloth, and soak it in human male breast milk. Apply the solution while lying on one's back. Vision will restore to youthful clarity within three to four days. Avoid alcohol and greasy food during treatment.

Pediatric eye disorder (黑花眼翳, "dark-flower nebula") treatment: Burn one liang (approx. 37g) of seashells into ash, grind into fine powder, and mix with a small amount of borneol (a fragrant resin). This makes an effective eye drop.

Vision-enhancing longevity formulas: Steam one dan (ancient unit ≈60kg) of sesame seeds through thirty cycles, then grind into powder. Take one sheng (≈0.2L) daily with wine. Another method: Soak sophora seeds in ox gallbladder, dry in shade for one hundred days, and swallow one pellet after meals. After ten days, the body feels lighter; after thirty days, white hair turns black; after one hundred days, one attains spiritual clarity (通神明).

Sun Simiao (the Immortal Sun)'s method for removing eye nebula: Take one large liang of mirabilite (芒硝), heat intensely on copperware over strong fire, cool, then filter through fine gauze. Apply to eye corners nightly before sleep.

"White Dragon Powder" (白龙散) preparation for nebula removal: Wrap purified sodium sulfate in thick paper and carry against the skin for 120 days. Grind into powder mixed with minimal borneol. Effective for any duration of illness unless pupils have dispersed. Apply grains the size of two rice grains per dose.

Treatment for internal/external eye obstructions: Soak four liang of atractylodes rhizome in rice-washing water for seven days (changing water daily), scrape off black skin, slice thinly, and fry with one liang of green salt until yellow (discard salt). Then soak two liang of horsetail weed in children's urine overnight, dry over low heat, and pound into powder. Take with meals for remarkable effects.

Formula for deficient-fatigue vision dimness: Collect March turnip flowers, dry in shade, and grind into powder. Take 2.7 qian (≈10g) on empty stomach daily with well water. Long-term use enables night reading.

For eye nebula and pterygium: Cut the whitest alum stone into rice-grain-sized pieces and apply directly to affected areas.

The Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve by Immortal Master Ge records several practical methods for treating eye diseases and deafness:

For eye disorders: When treating corneal opacities (eye nebula), rub the affected area with pure, high-quality white alum until tears flow freely, which will gradually alleviate the symptoms. The Liver-Nourishing Powder can cure thirty-year blindness—prepare it by drying tribulus fruit in shade, pounding it into powder, and taking one small spoonful (approximately 1.7cm³) with water after meals. Night blindness can be treated by simmering pig's bile over low heat until it forms millet-sized pills; placing these briefly in the eyes brings immediate relief. For severe corneal opacities, sun-dry pig's gallbladder membrane into thin threads, burn them to ash, and apply the ash to the affected area—three to five applications suffice for complete recovery. To improve eyesight and lighten the body, boil and sun-dry gardenia seeds three times, grind them into powder, and take with water three times daily.

A clever remedy for acute conjunctivitis ("fire eyes"): Burn mugwort leaves and collect the soot deposited on an inverted bowl. Mix this black ash with warm water to wash the eyes—adding coptis rhizome enhances the effect. For eyelid growths, chew seven raw almonds and apply the warm paste directly to the affected area.

The text also recounts the story of Gu Han curing his sister-in-law's blindness with python gallbladder: After a youth delivered the gallbladder and transformed into a bluebird that flew away, her vision was restored.

For sudden deafness: Drop rat's bile into the ear—initial worsening may occur, but improvement follows within half a day. Thirty-year chronic deafness can be treated by blending croton seeds with goose fat into small pills, wrapping them in cotton, and inserting them into the ear, replacing daily. These methods derive from ancient physicians' empirical knowledge.

This scripture records various ancient remedies for ear ailments, primarily addressing ear pain, tinnitus, deafness, and ear discharge.

For sudden tinnitus, one could heat seven sheng of salt and place it beneath the ear as a pillow, replacing it when cooled—this method also treats sudden ear pain. Another remedy involves shaping Trichosanthes root to fit the ear canal, frying it three times in winter-month lard, then inserting it into the ear with daily replacement until recovery within seven days.

Yao's prescription for suppurative ear pain: fry apricot kernels until blackened, pound into paste, wrap in cloth for ear insertion, changing three times daily with effects in three days. For purulent ear discharge: blow "moonlight ash" (a medicinal substance) into the ear until pus and blood drain naturally.

Deafness treatment with Acorus calamus root pills: combine one cun of calamus root with one peeled croton seed, pulverize and sift into seven pills, wrapping in cloth for nightly ear insertion with results in ten days. For purulent discharge, infuse fine aconite powder with scallion juice for ear drops—scallion juice alone also suffices.

Tinnitus remedy: insert fresh rehmannia root slices, replacing over ten times daily. Suppurative ear powder: combine two liang of calcined alum, one liang of coptis root, and one liang of cuttlefish bone into jujube pit-sized pills for ear insertion. Deafness treatment with croton pills: insert a mixture of one croton seed and one blister beetle, crushed together.

Sudden ear pain responds to hot salt compress. For unbearable pain, drip a mixture of calamus and aconite powder with sesame oil into the ear. Purulent discharge can be treated with axle grease (chēxiá zhī) insertion. A final appended prescription addresses swollen, suppurating ears.

These remedies predominantly employ common ingredients through straightforward methods—ear insertion, drops, or compresses—demonstrating ancient practical medical wisdom.

This passage documents various ancient treatments for ear ailments, primarily drawn from Ge Hong's (the Immortal Ge) Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve and other proven medical recipes. These methods demonstrate the wisdom of ancient practitioners in using common medicinal materials, though modern application requires caution.

For treating ear suppuration: Burn alum into powder and blow it into the ear through a brush tube three to four times daily, or wrap the powdered medicine in cotton cloth for insertion. Another recipe involves lightly roasting mantis egg cases (sangpiaoxiao) until 80% cooked, grinding them with a small amount of musk into powder for application. If pus is present, clean with cotton swabs before medication.

Several methods address sudden deafness: Wrap a croton seed in wax, pierce it with a needle, and insert into the ear. Alternatively, mix three liang of pine resin with one liang of croton, crush thoroughly, wrap in thin cotton, and insert into the ear canal, replacing daily.

For deafness caused by kidney deficiency: Slice a pair of deer kidneys (removing fat membranes), cook with japonica rice and fermented soybean juice into porridge for consumption on an empty stomach. Deer kidneys may also be made into soup or steeped in wine. Another method involves stir-frying forty-nine small scorpions with equal amounts of ginger slices until dry, grinding into powder taken with warm wine before sleep until intoxicated—reportedly effective by the next day.

Other remedies include: Inserting dried earthworms with salt into scallion stalks to collect dripping juice for ear application; wrapping equal parts of realgar and sulfur powder in cotton for ear insertion; soaking vitex seeds in wine for seven days as a claimed cure for thirty-year deafness; sharpening aconite fried in vinegar for ear insertion; crushing mustard seeds mixed with breast milk for ear packing; and applying burned monkshood ash with equal parts calamus for tinnitus.

The text concludes with Ge Hong's method for insect removal from ears, though the original record is incomplete. While these formulas predominantly use common ingredients, some contain toxic components (e.g., croton, monkshood) requiring professional guidance for modern use.

Here are several emergency methods for removing small insects from the ear:

Pour warm, high-quality liquor into the ear, and the insect will crawl out on its own. Another method involves holding one's breath while someone else blows air into the ear through a reed tube. Alternatively, stuffing peach leaves into both ears will cause the insect to emerge immediately.

For centipedes that have entered the ear, wrap salt ash in leaves, heat it, and apply it to the ear. Replace with a fresh, warm application when it cools, and the centipede will soon exit.

To deal with millipedes (similar to centipedes), there are several approaches: place roasted fragrant sesame seeds in a kudzu cloth bag and use it as a pillow—the insect will be lured out by the aroma. Alternatively, fill the ear with niuru (a type of dairy product), and the millipedes will dissolve and flow out. Drinking one or two liters of high-quality niuru on an empty stomach can also dissolve millipedes in the abdomen, turning them into yellow liquid that is expelled.

For ants in the ear, place roasted pork fat near the ear canal—the ants will be drawn out by the scent. Another unusual method involves frying a plucked young chicken until golden, piercing it with chopsticks, and using it as a pillow while sleeping.

Other ingenious remedies include: placing earthworms inside scallion leaves to dissolve them into liquid, then dripping it into the ear to melt millipedes; dripping rooster comb blood into the ear; pouring leek juice into the ear; using a glue-coated hemp rope to extract foreign objects from the ear; or applying axle grease to the ear canal.

A documented case tells of an official who suffered for half a month with a millipede in his ear, enduring unbearable headaches and banging his head against doorposts in agony. Imperial physicians failed to cure him until the method of using sesame oil-fried cakes as a pillow finally brought relief. These techniques are compiled from the practical experience of ancient physicians.

This text records several emergency methods for treating foreign objects in the ear, food choking, and fishbone throat obstruction:

For insects entering the ear: Garlic juice, bitter vinegar, or soy sauce can be poured into the ear to make the insect crawl out. If a moth flies into the ear, striking metal objects nearby can drive it away. When water enters the ear, a few drops of peppermint juice prove effective.

For sudden food choking: Holding a small amount of honey in the mouth helps swallowing. Another method involves dissolving cow saliva (about the size of a date pit) in water and drinking it—said to prevent choking permanently. Additional remedies include boiling tangerine peel water or making honey pills with fine rice bran. A curious account mentions a monk whose autopsy revealed a fish-like creature in his chest, later dissolved using indigo dye (a traditional blue pigment).

For fishbone throat obstructions: Placing the fishbone on top of the head reportedly helps, or the bone may dislodge during coughing. Alternatively, chew softened Chinese chives (Allium macrostemon), tie them with string to swallow, then pull up when reaching the obstruction. Another method involves repeatedly tossing the remaining fishbone behind one's back. For other lodged objects, loosening clothing to look downward or slowly swallowing honey aids passage.

Most methods derive from ancient physicians' experience, some bearing folk remedy characteristics. The mentioned "indigo dye" was a traditional plant-based blue pigment, "Chinese chives" refer to Allium macrostemon, while "fine rice bran from mortar tips" indicates bran collected from rice-pounding tools.

This passage primarily records ancient practical methods for treating various foreign objects stuck in the throat. Here's a plain explanation:

Solutions for fish bones stuck in throat:

• Form maltose into egg-yolk sized pills to swallow; if ineffective, gradually increase pill size and continue swallowing
• Grind deer antler into powder, hold in mouth and swallow with saliva
• Take one small spoonful (ancient measurement called "fangcun bi") of powdered tiger bone with water
• Swallow the brain matter of a mole cricket (an insect)
• Repeatedly chant the word "cormorant" (lúcí)
• Burn carp scales into ashes and take with water

Other foreign object treatments:

• For children or adults with bone or bamboo/wood splinters: Use dried mandarin fish gallbladder collected during the twelfth lunar month, decoct with wine when needed—drinking induces vomiting to expel the object. If unavailable, silver carp, grass carp or crucian carp gallbladders may substitute.
• Sudden voice loss: Peel and roast apricot kernels, mix with cinnamon into paste, wrap in cloth and hold in mouth.
• Accidentally swallowed hairpin: Cook and swallow whole bunches of wilted garland chrysanthemum (a wild vegetable).
• Ingested metal: Eat plenty of fatty lamb or greasy foods to coat the object.
• Swallowed copper/iron: Heat crossbow copper components red-hot and quench in water, then drink this water.
• Swallowed coins: Take one spoonful of charcoal powder or drink three liters of honey.

These methods demonstrate ancient people's wisdom in utilizing locally available materials. However, modern cases of throat obstructions require prompt medical attention—do not attempt these ancient remedies. The mention of "collecting in the twelfth month" reflects the ancients' emphasis on seasonal herb gathering, while "fangcun bi" refers to an ancient medicinal spoon measurement.

This text records various practical remedies for accidentally swallowed foreign objects and treatments for facial sores.

Regarding swallowed objects:

• For hair stuck in the throat: Burn hair collected from a comb into ash, take 1.7 qian (about 5 grams) of the ash with water. Another method is to burn goose feathers into powder and ingest it.
• For swallowed copper coins: In the twelfth lunar month, consume half a sheng (about 300 ml) of malt sugar in one dose, or drink a strong decoction of mugwort leaves.
• For swallowed silver jewelry: Take half a liang (about 15 grams) of mercury—continuous ingestion will expel the object.
• For children who have swallowed needles: Polish a lodestone the size of a date pit, drill a hole through it, thread it with string, and hold it in the mouth—the needle will be drawn out.
• For children who have swallowed copper or iron: Burn the roots of southern bamboo into fine powder, mix 1 qian (about 3 grams) with warm water and ingest.
• Other methods include holding a lodestone in the mouth, drinking a mugwort decoction, or slowly consuming 1 jin (about 500 grams) of malt sugar.

For treating facial sores:

• For youthful acne due to excessive blood Qi (vital energy): Mix lead powder, mercury, and lard from the twelfth lunar month, apply in the evening, and wash off in the morning—repeat for three days. Alternatively, apply elk fat directly.
• Another remedy: Soak an egg in three-year-old vinegar for three days, then apply the egg white to the affected area.

These methods stem from ancient medical experience and involve special ingredients like mercury and lead powder. Modern users should exercise caution regarding safety.

This scripture records several ancient medicinal formulas for treating skin conditions and cosmetic methods:

Take equal parts of coptis root and oyster shell (two liang each), pound and sift them, then mix with water to form a paste for application on sores. After the pus is absorbed, the powdered medicine proves remarkably effective.

The Winter Mallow Powder consists of winter mallow seeds, arborvitae seeds, poria fungus, and melon seeds (one liang each), ground into powder. Take one small spoonful with wine after meals, three times daily.

For rosacea and facial blemishes: Mix equal parts of pearl powder, lead powder, and mercury with lard for topical application. Alternatively, combining cormorant droppings with winter-month lard also yields excellent results.

Those with dark facial spots or freckles may boil atractylodes in vinegar for frequent facial application—the spots will gradually fade.

Another whitening formula: Take one fresh egg, remove the yolk, add one liang of cinnabar powder, seal with lacquer (another version suggests wax), and incubate like a hatching egg. Applied to the face, it instantly whitens. A secret palace recipe attributed to the Queen Mother of the West involves adding two liang of cinnabar powder to an egg incubated beneath a white hen—this tightens and smoothes skin. The cinnabar imparts rosy cheeks, reportedly achieving jade-like fairness within five applications.

For sudden flour-like white patches: Boil alum and mix with wine for application, said to work within three treatments.

Another method: Combine two fen of ampelopsis root, half fen of apricot kernel, and one fen of chicken droppings, pound with honey and water for facial application.

Treating scalp and facial ringworm: Blend realgar, sulfur, and powdered alum with lard for topical use. Alternatively, apply liquid from tree borers followed by cinnamon powder multiple times daily. Another approach involves rubbing the affected area hundreds of times with shed snakeskin until warm, then discarding it.

For dark complexion and rough skin: Crush lamb leg bones mixed with egg white as a facial mask, washing with rice water after drying—results appear in three days. Another formula combines two liang of turnip seeds, one liang of crushed apricot kernels, deseeded trichosanthes fruit, five pig pancreases, and pure wine for nighttime application. In winter, it serves as hand cream, reportedly rejuvenating the elderly and lightening dark skin. Adding one liang of earth cucumber root and seven jujubes with prolonged use yields increasing fairness.

These formulas reflect ancient physicians' ingenious use of materia medica, though modern knowledge recognizes certain ingredients like mercury and cinnabar as toxic, requiring cautious application.

Here are several ancient cosmetic prescriptions primarily addressing facial dullness and wrinkles. These formulas utilize natural medicinal ingredients to improve complexion through topical application.

The first formula combines equal portions (two liang each) of cuttlefish bone, asarum herb, trichosanthes root, dried ginger, and Sichuan pepper. After soaking in vinegar for three days, add two jin of refined ox marrow and decoct until the vinegar aroma dissipates. Applied to the face, this preparation reportedly transforms dull skin into radiant whiteness.

The second whitening formula requires one sheng each of sheep fat and dog fat, half sheng of angelica root, seven and a half chi of licorice (an ancient measurement), half liang of summer herb, and fourteen aconite roots for decoction. Stored in white porcelain and applied for twenty days, the complexion reportedly changes so dramatically that even close relatives might fail to recognize the user.

The pearl beauty treatment involves separately grinding pearl powder and cinnabar, with two liang each of winter melon seeds and aged tangerine peel. Four liang of mercury (water silver) is wrapped in multiple silk layers and simmered in copperware with vinegar broth for a full day and night. The mercury is then blended with facial cream before incorporating the pearl powder, cinnabar, and melon seed powder for application.

The nourishing facial cream combines one liang each of asarum herb, fragrant solomonseal, astragalus root, wild yam, white aconite, magnolia flower, Sichuan lovage, and angelica root, with one fen each of trichosanthes and magnolia bark in two sheng of refined lard. The chopped herbs are wrapped in cloth, soaked overnight in wine, then decocted with lard. After seven rounds of decoction, the filtered liquid serves as facial treatment—also reputed to heal knife wounds and hematemesis.

The final skin-rejuvenating formula uses deer antler tips ground on flat stone to extract thick juice. One large spoonful is mixed with one large liang of sifted, pounded dried ginger. Applied nightly after honey massage on cleansed skin and washed off each morning, visible results appear within two to three weeks—though users must avoid wind and sun exposure during treatment.

These ancient formulas reflect traditional Chinese medicine's "external nourishment for internal benefit" cosmetic philosophy. However, certain ingredients like mercury compounds are toxic by modern standards and should never be replicated without professional guidance.

This records several medicinal formulas for beauty and complexion care from Ge Hong's (the Immortal Lord Ge) Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve. The primary methods involve using natural ingredients to improve skin tone and remove dark spots.

The first formula involves peeling and crushing apricot kernels, then mixing them with egg white to form a paste. Applied after washing the face at night and removed in the morning, it treats facial blemishes and makes skin firm and smooth. Physician Yao's version suggests leaving it on overnight before removal for better results.

Crushed and sifted roots of the earth cucumber (土瓜根) mixed with fermented rice water (浆水) can be applied at night and washed off with the same liquid in the morning. Consistent use for a hundred days reportedly makes skin radiant to the point where even spouses might not recognize the user.

For internal whitening: Dry and powder peach blossoms from three trees in shade. Take one small spoonful (方寸匕) before meals three times daily. Physician Yao notes this formula also slims the waist. Another internal formula combines white melon seeds, white poplar bark, and peach blossoms in specific ratios—taken after meals. For paler skin, increase melon seeds; for rosy complexion, add more peach blossoms. Thirty days of use whitens the face, while fifty days lightens hands and feet.

A mineral-based formula uses red lead (铅丹) with vinegar. After ten days, stools turn black; by twenty-one days when the whole body whitens, the treatment stops. However, those over thirty may see limited effects, and users must avoid pungent foods like onions and garlic during treatment.

Other formulas include: Cinnabar (朱砂) with peach blossoms taken with well water—noticeable in ten days, significantly whitening by twenty days, with darkened urine as side effect; pine resin and rehmannia (地黄) mixed with honey into pills that expel parasites while whitening; dried ginger and cinnamon twigs steeped in wine—one month of use makes skin fair and tender.

External applications include: Goat gallbladder, pork pancreas, and asarum (细辛) boiled into facial wash (removed next morning with vinegar water); poria fungus (茯苓) and white halloysite (白石脂) blended with honey for topical use thrice daily. The final formula involves fried soybeans and lard formed into pills taken with wine, gradually increasing dosage for visible results within a month.

These formulas emphasize dual internal-external treatment—combining topical ointments with oral pills—to enhance beauty by regulating the body internally while nurturing skin externally. Caution is advised with mineral ingredients like red lead and cinnabar, as some components may carry toxicity risks.

Here are several ancient formulas for treating hair and beauty issues, all practical folk remedies:

For hair loss and promoting new growth: Soak three sheng of hemp seeds and two ge of Qin pepper (a type of Sichuan pepper) in rice-washing water overnight. Strain the liquid and wash hair daily—within a month, hair can grow two chi long. Another method uses three fen of vitex seeds and two crushed monkshood roots boiled in seven sheng of wine for twenty-one days. Washing hair with this for ten days can grow one chi of hair, but avoid contact with facial skin to prevent unwanted hair growth.

For yellowing hair and beard: Mix ashes from phoenix tree wood with breast milk to create a paste. Applying this to skin and facial hair yields excellent results.

For dyeing white hair black: Boil black bean lacquer in vinegar solution to produce a glossy black dye. Alternatively, blend lime and ancient cosmetic powder (hufen) into a paste, apply before bed, wrap with oiled cloth, and wash out next morning for blackened hair.

To turn white hairs black: After plucking white hairs, apply high-quality honey to the follicles to encourage black regrowth. For sparse eyebrows, lightly prick the area with needles before applying honey. Some have successfully used clove juice on plucked follicles to grow black hairs with remarkable effectiveness.

For dandruff treatment: Refer to the "Hair Oils" section at the end of this text.

Yao's beauty formulas: For dark spots, apply a white honey and poria cocos (fuling) mixture for seven days. For acne, use fresh dodder vine juice for three to five applications. A whitening solution involves boiling goat bile, ox bile, and three sheng of pure wine until reduced by two-thirds, then applying to the face.

For severe facial sores: Mix equal parts (five liang each) of coptis root (huanglian), phellodendron bark (huangbo), and cosmetic powder (hufen). Sieve finely and apply to affected areas.

Ge Hong's Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve records multiple proven prescriptions for treating body odor and fox-stench (hircismus), all of which have demonstrated remarkable efficacy.

Methods for treating underarm fox-stench:

The first method involves washing the armpits with urine on New Year's Day (Zhengdan). Physician Yao attested to its exceptional effectiveness.

The second method requires burning high-quality alum into powder, placing it in a silk pouch, and frequently applying it to the armpits. Alternatively, burning horse-tooth alum until dehydrated and grinding it into powder works equally well.

The third formula combines two liang of costus root, one liang of aconite, and one liang of lime, ground into fine powder for application on sweaty underarms. Physician Yao's version adds half a liang of burnt alum.

The fourth method involves kneading hot rice into balls to rub the armpits, then feeding the used rice to dogs. Performing this weekly shows results.

The fifth method uses two boiled eggs—peeled while hot and clamped under the arms until cool, then discarded at a crossroads without looking back. Repeating three times proves highly effective.

Physician Yao also recommended mixing beef fat, lead powder (hufen), and Sichuan pepper for underarm application—one night brings relief, while two or three applications cure permanently.

For foul sweating in armpits, palms, soles, or groin:

Mix half liang each of dried wolfberry root, dried livestock root, and licorice with one liang each of dried pokeberry root, lead powder, and talcum powder. Apply the vinegar-mixed paste to sweaty areas. Reapply after sweating and changing clothes—no more than three treatments needed. Repeat if symptoms recur, but avoid over-application to prevent skin irritation. Effective for other sweaty areas too.

For damp, foul-smelling groin or sores:

Simply apply lead powder directly—a commonly used, reliable prescription.

A hermit's fox-stench remedy:

Grind two liang each of clove, agastache, costus root, and lead powder into powder. Wrap in cotton cloth and tuck underarms—regular use brings results.

Formulas for body fragrance:

First formula: Equal parts angelica, sweetgrass, pollia, asarum, and ligusticum mixed with honey into pills. Take three pills mornings and four evenings—after twenty days even feet become fragrant, with legendary effects.

Second formula: Two fen each of melon seeds, ligusticum, ligusticum root, angelica, asarum, and asarum herb, plus five fen each of angelica dahurica and cinnamon bark. Crush and take one spoonful after meals thrice daily. In five days breath freshens; in ten days the whole body exudes fragrance—exceptionally effective.

Additionally, the Minor Miscellaneous Formulas records:

Equal parts licorice, pine root and bark, jujube, and sweet melon seeds prepared together.

Here are several ancient prescriptions for treating forgetfulness and excessive sleepiness, along with hair care formulas:

For forgetfulness, multiple remedies exist: The first involves secretly placing spider webs inside one's collar on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month without others knowing. The second method prescribes quietly purchasing Polygala tenuifolia (yuanzhi herb) on the Dingyou day (the 34th of the 60-day cycle), concealing it in a headscarf's corner before grinding it into powder for consumption. The third recommends wearing turtle shell amulets on one's belt on the Bingwu day (the 43rd). The fourth involves drying and powdering the hearts of oxen, horses, pigs, or chickens to be taken with wine. Other formulas combine Poria cocos (fuling), Polygala (yuanzhi), Acorus calamus (changpu), and ginseng for morning and evening doses.

Notably, the text references Confucius' Pillow Formula (detailed in Volume 9) and a preparation using century-dried Phytolacca flowers ground into powder—consumed before sleep to gain dream revelations. Another prophetic formula combines Shangdang ginseng with cannabis flowers steamed together.

Somnolence treatments include: consuming calcinated horse skull ashes, applying a mixture of calcinated mouse eyes and fish oil to eyelid corners, or decoctions of ephedra (mahuang), atractylodes (shu), and licorice. A particularly "divinely effective" (shenliang) formula blends Acorus, Poria, ginseng, and Polygala.

Two hair care preparations are described: The first infuses Costus root (qingmuxiang), angelica dahurica (baizhi), lysimachia (linglingxiang), spikenard (gansongxiang), and lycopus (zelan) in wine before simmering with oil, then blending with trace amounts of lead powder and rouge to create pomade. The second, a similar fragrant oil preparation, proves exceptionally effective when applied to hair.

These formulas emphasize precise herb-gathering dates and clandestine preparation—reflecting ancient medicine's deep interconnection with calendrical systems and ritual taboos.

Here are several ancient cosmetic and beauty-preserving formulas collected and compiled by Ge Hong (the Immortal Master Ge).

The first is a hand cream recipe: Take one pig's pancreas, combined with Angelica dahurica (one liang each), peach kernels (one liang each), Magnolia biondii buds (two fen each), winter melon seeds (two fen), Asarum sieboldii (half fen), cucumber and Trichosanthes seeds (three fen each). First boil the Angelica dahurica and other herbs in one large sheng of oil until it boils two or three times, then strain out the residue. Mash the pig's pancreas to extract all its juices, add powdered winter melon seeds and peach kernels, and mix into an ointment. Applying this will make the skin smooth.

The second is a whitening facial wash: Use one sheng of hyacinth beans, combined with Aconitum coreanum, Ligusticum chuanxiong, white peony root, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Phytolacca acinosa, peach kernels, and winter melon seeds (two liang each). Pound and sift the mixture. Before use, wash face and hands with water, then apply this powder.

The third is a clothing incense recipe: Take one piece of agarwood, one liang of musk, storax coated with honey (lightly roasted until slightly discolored), and one liang of benzoin. Crush the agarwood into soybean-sized pieces and break cloves into two or three segments. Mix all spices with honey to form incense sticks—use about half a liang when scenting clothes. Adding one liang of patchouli enhances the effect.

Hair growth formula: Soak three fen of vitex seeds and two raw aconite pieces (crushed) in seven sheng of wine, sealed in porcelain for fourteen days. Before use, wash hair with plant ash water and dry, then apply black chicken fat three times daily for seven days. Afterwards, apply the medicinal liquid three to four times daily—after forty days, hair can grow over one chi long (avoid applying to areas with existing hair).

Additional simple remedies:

1. For dark spots: Mix Poria cocos powder with white honey and apply for seven days.

2. For freckles: Boil one ram's gallbladder in two sheng of wine until it boils three times, apply three times daily.

3. For facial wrinkles: Crush rapeseeds and add to daily facial cream.

4. Scar-removing ointment: Roast yellow alum until it releases liquid, stir-fry lead powder until yellow (eight fen each), then combine.

These formulas reflect the ancient concept of "medicine and food sharing the same origin," using common herbs and ingredients with simple, practical preparation methods. However, modern users should consult professional physicians before use, as constitutions and living environments have significantly changed since ancient times.

This passage documents various ancient topical remedies for skin conditions, all being practical folk prescriptions. I've organized them by symptoms as follows:

For scar fading and spot reduction: First rub the affected area with raw cloth until slightly sore, then apply an ointment made with lard rendered in the twelfth lunar month five times. Another formula mixes the white part of eagle droppings (ying shi bai) with burned swallow nest grass ashes in equal parts with human breast milk for application, which can eliminate scars and restore smooth skin.

Several methods for facial dark spots and moles: One uses peeled and finely ground plum kernel mixed with egg white into a paste, applied at night then washed off with diluted rice water before dusting with ancient cosmetic powder (hu fen), showing results in five to six days. Sun Simiao's recorded method applies hot lime-treated glutinous rice after it dissolves. Another approach involves applying concentrated white sandalwood juice at night after warm water cleansing, washing it off by day while using eagle dropping powder in combination.

Skin whitening formulas: Litharge (mi tuo seng), a mineral medicine, boiled with milk for facial application also treats acne and rosacea. Another version mixes two liang of powdered litharge with human milk for nightly application. Pig trotter collagen, applied overnight and washed at dawn, improves skin elasticity.

Mole removal: Filter five liang of black false hellebore ashes with water, then double-boil the liquid into black ointment. After lightly pricking the mole, apply the ointment—effective within three treatments. For eyebrow growth, use dried July black sesame flowers powdered and soaked in black sesame oil for nightly application.

Other dermatological treatments: Fox odor (body odor) can be treated with furnace heart soil (fu long gan) mud applied to armpits. Pediatric pox scars respond to litharge mixed with water for overnight application. Genital moisture and odor remedies appear in the Secret Essentials from the Outer Terrace.

These formulas emphasize fine ingredient grinding and specific combinations. Key usage notes: Egg white must be fresh, lime freshly prepared, rice water diluted, and skin cleansed with mild friction before application to enhance absorption. Most require overnight application with morning removal, aligning with skin's nocturnal repair cycle.

Aristolochia (qingmuxiang, a Chinese medicinal herb) soaked in high-quality vinegar and placed under the armpits can treat body odor. For newly developed body odor, a mixture of aged three-year vinegar and lime can be applied to the affected area. The Jingyan Fang (Experience Formulas) records an effective method for treating body odor: applying ginger juice to the armpits can cure it permanently.

Another formula darkens facial and head hair, preserves youthful appearance, strengthens tendons and bones, improves vision and hearing, dispels wind-dampness, and nourishes the skin. Long-term use makes the body light and vigorous. The method is as follows: Take an appropriate amount of Atractylodes (cangzhu), soak it in rice-washing water for two to three days, changing the water daily. Afterward, scrape off the black outer layer, slice, dry in the sun, lightly stir-fry until yellow, and grind into powder. Mix one pound of Atractylodes powder with half a pound of steamed Poria (fuling), then blend with honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take fifteen pills with warm water on an empty stomach before sleep. Additionally, mix six liang of Atractylodes powder with one liang of licorice (gancao) powder to brew as a supplementary drink. Avoid peaches, plums, sparrows, clams, and the "three whites" (possibly referring to scallions, garlic, and shallots) during treatment.

The Qianjin Fang (Thousand Gold Formulas) records a hair growth method: Fry hemp seeds until black, extract the oil, and apply to the scalp to promote hair growth. Another method: Use sheep dung ash filtered into a liquid to wash the hair every three days—new hair should grow within ten applications. For eyebrow and beard loss: Mix three sheng of lime with water, stir-fry until scorched yellow, place in a silk bag, and soak in one dou of fine wine—sealed for fourteen days in winter or seven days in spring and autumn. Drink one ge each time, maintaining slight intoxication. It is said that new hair will grow within a hundred days.

Sun Zhenren’s (Sun Simiao) hair growth formula: Grind dried Platycladus (cebaiye) leaves into powder, mix with oil, and apply. Another blackening formula: Boil black soybeans in vinegar, remove the beans, and reduce to a thick paste for hair application. For baldness: Apply Brassica (wujingzi) powder mixed with vinegar three times daily.

The Meishi Fang (Master Mei’s Formulas) treats premature graying in youth: Pluck white hairs and apply white honey to the follicles to grow black hair. If ineffective, mash wutong seeds for juice and apply—black hair will surely grow.

The Qianjin Yi (Wings of the Thousand Gold) treats dry, yellow hair: Apply bear oil, comb through, then lie face-down with hair loose for the time of a meal. Upon rising, the hair will darken—less than one sheng of bear oil is needed for effect.

The Yangshi Chanru (Yang’s Obstetrics and Nursing) treats white scalp lesions and tinea: Apply pure bear fat (xiongbai) directly to the affected area.

There are several methods for treating alopecia. The first involves applying tiger fat to the affected area.

The Shenghui Fang records a treatment for white alopecia: First pound white pigeon droppings into a fine powder, then wash the affected area with vinegar and rice-washing water before applying the powder. Results appear quickly.

For red alopecia of the scalp: Burn white horse hooves into ashes and grind them into powder, then mix with lard from the twelfth lunar month (La Yue) and apply to the affected area.

The Jianyao Jizhong prescribes a remedy for scalp sores: Burn large bamboo sheath leaves into ashes, take an appropriate amount according to the sore's size, mix with raw oil, and apply. Adding a small amount of talcum powder (hua shi fen) enhances the effect.

(These prescriptions all originate from the sixth volume of Ge Hong's Zhouhou Beiji Fang [Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve], representing ancient emergency remedies for baldness and scalp sores.)