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(Ju Jizi, *Quisqualis Indica*) It absorbs the central qi of the earth and is influenced by the climate of late spring in its growth; therefore, its taste is sweet, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Sweet flavor enters the Spleen. Thus, it enters the Foot-Taiyin Splein Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, serving as a key herb for tonifying the Spleen and strengthening the Stomach. The five types of *Gan* syndrome (malnutrition syndrome due to parasites or indigestion) in children, turbid stool, diarrhea, dysentery, and intestinal worms all arise from deficiency of the Spleen and weakness of the Stomach, leading to stagnation of milk and food, with damp-heat and blood stasis blocking the pathways. When the Spleen is healthy and the Stomach qi opens, these preceding symptoms are eliminated. Being neither bitter nor pungent, it can kill *Gan* parasites and roundworms, regarded as a superior medicine for children. The shell should be removed to take the flesh, which is then cut open, dried in the sun, or roasted between papers over fire until dry. It is used in pills and powders, not in decoctions. If chewed directly, it can be taken raw or steamed. However, after taking Ju Jizi, one must avoid eating cooked foods and drinking hot tea, as doing so will induce diarrhea.

Ju Jizi removes turbidity, treats the five *Gan* syndromes, kills roundworms, stops diarrhea and dysentery, supports the Middle Jiao (central digestive system), and consolidates deficient heat. Most vermifuges are bitter, but Ju Jizi is uniquely sweet. Eating several pieces on an empty stomach will cause the worms to die and pass out the next day. Some claim it should not be eaten, which is incorrect. Trees have borers, houses have ants, and states have thieves; whether this is a disaster or a blessing depends. If roundworms reside in the Spleen and Stomach digesting grain, and if they do not exit via the meridians but instead erode Qi and Blood, growing up to a foot long and causing disturbances, it is necessary to allow the use of this herb to kill them. For those without food stagnation, it should not be used indiscriminately.

(Ba Dou, *Croton Tiglium L.*) It forms during the peak Yang season of midsummer and matures in the Metal month of autumn; therefore, its taste is pungent, its nature is warm, and it possesses the fierce and rigid energy of Fire, making it highly toxic. Another view states: raw is warm, cooked is cold. It is likely that cooked Ba Dou is not very cold. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. This herb inherits the rapid nature of Fire and the dispersing property of Pungent-Warmth, thus entering the intestines and stomach to scour away all有形 (tangible) accumulations, dispelling pathogens such as summerheat-dampness and warm malaria. However, due to its hot nature and high toxicity, it inevitably damages True Yin. Hence, it is said to be unfavorable to men's Yin essence, and merely stating it stops diarrhea is incomplete. *Bie Lu* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica Supplement) also states: "Refined and taken as an electuary, it benefits the blood vessels." This is likely inaccurate. It should be processed by removing the heart and membrane, roasted over fire, ground into fine powder, and defatted.

Ba Dou, also known as Ba Jiao, is incompatible with Qian Niu Zi (*Pharbitidis Semen*). It breaks up masses and nodules, resolves retained fluids and phlegm-stagnation, treats abdominal distension with fluid accumulation, warm malaria with alternating chills and fever, scours the zang-fu organs, opens blockages, eliminates ghost toxins and infectious diseases, kills parasites, and treats female amenorrhea and fetal decay. It has the power of scouring and attacking, truly acting like a general who breaches city gates. In treating diseases, urgency must be distinguished: for urgent attack to promote the unblocking of water and grain, remove skin, heart, membrane, and oil, and use raw; for slow treatment to dissolve hard accumulations, stir-fry until yellow-black with no smoke remaining. Raw and cooked forms differ slightly in speed and intensity, but both consume body fluids and damage Yuan Qi. Danxi stated that it removes cold accumulation in the Stomach; those without cold accumulation should avoid it. Overall, caution is required. Like Da Huang (*Rhei Radix et Rhizoma*), it is a purgative, but Da Huang is cold-natured and enters the Blood level, suitable for fu-organ diseases which are mostly heat-related. Ba Dou is hot-natured, enters the Qi level, and is suitable for zang-organ diseases which are mostly cold-related. Shicai stated: "It scours the five zang organs and washes the six fu organs, almost like boiling intestines and scraping the stomach; it attacks hard accumulations and breaks phlegm-stagnation, effectively breaching gates. Qi, Blood, food, phlegm, worms, and water are all exhausted or poured out without remainder. Fetus is expelled immediately upon contact, and carbuncles/toxins are drawn out instantly. However, although stagnation is opened, True Yin and Marrow are damaged. If even a small amount touches the skin, blisters form in moments. How much more so for the delicate tissues of the intestines and stomach, scorched by its fumes, can they avoid ulceration? Only when absolutely necessary should it be stir-fried, defatted, and used in small amounts, stopping immediately. Do not use in large doses."