Magic medicine

Either upborne elixir (Sublimatum Triplex, 升丹 shēng dān) or white downborne elixir (Praeparatio Sublimata Alba, 白降丹 bái jiàng dān), which are produced by sublimation. Upborne elixir is, according to one method, made by heating mercury (Hydrargyrum, 水银 shuǐ yín), niter (Nitrum, 硝石 xiāo shí), and alum (Alumen, 白矾 bái fán) in a container with a lid sealed on to make yellow and red crystals settle on the lid on cooling (hence upborne elixir). Downborne elixir is made by heating cinnabar (Cinnabaris, 朱砂 zhū shā), realgar (Realgar, 雄黄 xióng huáng), mercury (Hydrargyrum, 水银 shuǐ yín), borax (Borax, 硼砂 péng shā), niter (Nitrum, 硝石 xiāo shí), salt (Sal, 盐 yán), alum (Alumen, 白矾 bái fán), and melanterite (Melanteritum, 绿矾 lǜ fán) in a sealed container to produce crystals in the container rather than the lid (hence downborne elixir).