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This is the pericarp of Areca nut (Binglang). Its flavor and therapeutic actions are roughly similar to those of Areca nut (Binglang), but Areca nut has a potent nature and breaks Qi most rapidly, whereas Da Fu Pi (Areca Pericarpium) has a mild nature and descends Qi slightly slower. It tastes bitter and pungent, is slightly warm, and is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Its pungent-warm qi makes it an herb that promotes circulation, descends rebellious Qi, and resolves damp-heat stagnation leading to edema and distension. Vulture birds (Zhen Niao) often gather on Areca nut trees; when using this herb, one should first wash away the black juice, then wash with wine, steam with soybeans and wash again, dry in the sun before use.

Da Fu Pi (Areca Pericarpium) is excellent for descending excess Qi from the diaphragm, very rapid in reducing edema, and is a key herb for widening the chest, relieving distension, and removing water qi. However, it should not be used for patients with deficiency syndromes. It can regulate various cold and hot Qi stagnations, unblock the Large Intestine and Small Intestine, stop cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, phlegm obstruction, and acid regurgitation. It treats carbuncles and toxins in the heart, abdomen, and Large Intestine. It is suitable for excess syndromes but contraindicated in deficiency syndromes. Those shaped like steamed buns are called Da Fu Zi (Areca Seed); those shaped like chicken hearts are called Binglang (Areca Nut).

Indications (referencing *Dou Zhen He Can*): Eliminates abdominal distension, removes edema, disperses toxic vapors. The substance is light and floating, tastes salty and has astringent properties, thus it moves outward to reduce swelling and guides water to unblock Qi. However, it is prohibited for those with Spleen deficiency leading to water flooding.

It inherits the nature of Wood while combining Fire and Metal, so its taste is pungent and slightly salty, its temperature is warm, and it has slight toxicity. It enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Pungent-warmness can disperse, and saltiness can soften hardness, making it an herb that disperses wind, resolves phlegm, breaks masses, removes bi-syndrome, unblocks orifices, and opens passages.

Sao Jia Chang Ban Jia (Long Pod of Gleditsia Sinensis) regulates Qi and disperses wind. Zhu Ya Jia (Pig Tooth Pod of Gleditsia Sinensis) treats dental accumulation and can be made into powders or pastes, but not pills or decoctions. Topical application treats swelling and pain; internal use induces sneezing via nasal irritation. When calcined white alum (Fan Shi) is added, it is named Xi Xian San (Thin Saliva Powder), which is good at inducing vomiting to expel wind-phlegm. Mixed with refined honey, it can be molded into suppositories (Dao Jian) to expel accumulated feces, kill parasites, treat wind-bi and necrotic tissue, promote stagnation resolution, search out wind and drive out phlegm, unblock orifices, treat cephalalgia with tearing, break masses, and induce abortion. However, its nature is extremely sharp and penetrating, opening all closures and breaking all hardness. Therefore, it is relied upon as a miraculous emergency pill for any case of lockjaw. If stroke-like conditions are due to Yin deficiency, or in pregnant women, it is strictly contraindicated. Sao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Sinensis Spina) treats ulcers and can guide other herbs directly to the ulcerated area to achieve success. Its nature is sharp and piercing, making it a miraculous herb for treating carbuncles, mastitis, and furuncles that have not yet suppurated. Once a carbuncle has ruptured, it should not be taken internally, and it is also contraindicated in pregnancy. Boiling young spines in rice vinegar and applying them topically is effective for tinea, utilizing the principle of guiding herbs to the lesion. Sao Jiao Zi (Gleditsia Sinensis Semen) has the same flavor and aroma as the pod. After stir-frying, pounding, and removing the red skin, soak in water until soft, boil thoroughly, and eat with sugar syrup. It guides and unblocks wind-heat stagnation in the Five Zang organs and treats Large Intestine deficiency constipation, scrofula, malignant sores, and swelling/toxins.

Sao Jiao Ci (Gleditsia Sinensis Spina), Indications (referencing *Dou Zhen He Can*): Resolves heat toxins. Used to guide interior-tonifying and pus-promoting herbs to reach the lesion when treating flat measles/rashes, causing them to rise and fill with pus. For post-measles carbuncles, it is also used to guide herbs to the toxin site to promote rapid suppuration and rupture.

Fei Zao He (Soap Nut Kernel) grows during the peak of Yang energy in summer and matures in the Metal month of autumn, obtaining Fire and Metal qi. Thus, its taste is pungent, temperature is warm, and it is toxic. Whenever there is greasy filth in the intestines and stomach, and foul qi stagnates in the middle jiao, external manifestations such as scrofula, malignant sores, swelling/toxins, and dysentery with pus and blood occur. This herb specifically purges greasy filth and promotes the unblocking of foul accumulations. Once the intestines and stomach are clean, various symptoms naturally resolve. To treat scrofula, remove the kernel from the soap nut, place Mylabris (Ban Mao) inside, tie tightly, steam to remove the toxicity of Mylabris, then add Fritillaria (Bei Mu), Trichosanthes Root (Tian Hua Fen), Scrophularia (Xuan Shen), Licorice (Gan Cao), Arctii Fructus (Niu Bang Zi), and Forsythia (Lian Qiao) to make pills. Take 1 qian each time, washed down with plain water. Abdominal pain after taking the medicine need not be worried about; this is due to the drug's power driving out toxins. For syphilis (Mei Chuang), the single-kernel variety mixed with pig pancreas, Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua), Gleditsia Spine (Sao Jiao Ci), Banana Root (Ba Jiao Gen), Pickled Mustard Greens (Xue Li Hong), Acanthopanax (Wu Jia Pi), Smilax Glabra (Tu Fu Ling), Gleditsia Seed (Sao Jiao Zi), White Bombyx (Bai Jiang Can), Papaya (Mu Gua), Cicada Slough (Chan Tui), and Dictamnus Root Bark (Bai Xian Pi) is used. For chronic deficiency, add Ginseng (Ren Shen), Astragalus (Huang Qi), and Coix Seed (Yi Yi Ren) to also treat condyloma-like lesions. For intestinal wind bleeding, burn the single-kernel soap nut until carbonized, grind into powder, make into pills with paste, and take with rice drink. For "La Li" head sores, use the single-kernel soap nut, remove the kernel, fill with rock sugar and two Croton seeds (Ba Dou), tie securely, seal with salt mud, burn until carbonized, then add Areca Nut (Bing Lang) and Calomel (Qing Fen) 6-7 fen, grind evenly, mix with sesame oil, and apply. First wash the area with hot water, dry it, then apply. Effect is seen overnight.