White Descending Pill

Processing

First, place the lead in an iron ladle and melt it over a fire. Remove from the heat, add the mercury, and let it cool and solidify before removing it; it will then be in powder form. Grind it into a fine powder.Cinnabar, realgar, white arsenic, and borax should also be ground together into a fine powder. Then combine all the ingredients and grind them into a fine powder. Place a large earthenware pot over a charcoal fire, gradually add the mixture, and stir with bamboo chopsticks. As the mixture melts and dissolves, continue stirring until it gradually thickens and dries; stop when all the white smoke has dissipated. Next, spread the mixture evenly inside the pot, ensuring it adheres firmly and uniformly from the bottom to the sides.Once the mixture has dried and will no longer melt, remove the pot from the fire. Then invert the pot over the fire; the mixture will not fall out. This process is called “settling the embryo.” If the white smoke has not completely dissipated, or if the mixture is not evenly adhered, invert the pot and apply heat again, and the mixture will fall out. The skill in refining this elixir lies in mastering the “settling the embryo” process.Place an empty “mother” jar at the bottom and a filled “father” jar on top, fitting them together. Secure the handles with iron wire. Mix saltwater with cinnabar to form a paste, and use it to seal the opening tightly. Allow it to air-dry, then place red charcoal between the jars to bake the seal, ensuring there is no moisture or cracks. Dig a clean pit,place a basin of clean water inside it, and position the female pot so that it is half-submerged in the water—taking care not to let the water touch the sealing clay. Use clean bricks or tiles to tightly cover the pit around the pot, continuing until the rim of the lower pot is level with the surface. Place four thin bricks vertically on all four sides of the upper pot, and place four pieces of broken brick in the space between them to support the charcoal; ensure the bricks do not touch the pot. Prepare a water bowl, clean chopsticks, incense sticks, an incense burner, and a red charcoal brazier.First, place two sections of glowing red charcoal on top of the upper jar. Wait until the incense has burned down by 2 inches, then add another layer of red charcoal around the rim of the jar. Wait until the incense has burned down another 2 inches, then add more red charcoal—it is best to do this gently so as not to make a sound. If you see any spots where the charcoal has burned away and the jar is exposed, quickly and gently patch it with one section of red charcoal. If any charcoal turns black, replace it immediately with red charcoal.If you notice any gas escaping from the jar’s opening, immediately and gently seal it with clay. Wait until three sticks of incense have burned down, then gently and gradually remove the charcoal. Once it has cooled completely, gently sweep away the charcoal ash, carefully lift the double jar, place it upright on a table, gently scrape away the clay from the opening, and remove the upper jar. The elixir in the lower jar will be as white as snow and as pure as silver.This ensures there is no moisture in the jar, resulting in dry elixir; if there is moisture in the jar, the elixir at the bottom will be watery. Therefore, when removing the jars, place them upright—do not lay them flat.If this elixir causes extreme pain upon use, do not remove it immediately. Instead, add 1 liang of raw gypsum powder to the elixir, mix it thoroughly, cover the jar’s opening with a separate bowl, and place it on the stove over low heat for the duration of one stick of incense. After it has cooled completely, scrape out the elixir and store it securely. This method is called the “Revitalization Method,” and using it can alleviate the pain.