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Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic, it is a drug that clears heat and promotes lubrication. Intestinal wind with bloody diarrhea and damp-heat stagnating in the middle jiao; thirst after dysentery due to residual heat remaining in the meridians and insufficiency of body fluids; restlessness and insomnia at night due to latent heat in the Heart meridian causing deficiency vexation; skin itching due to deficiency heat in the Lung and Stomach. Bitter-cold can eliminate various heats, and lubricating properties can guide out accumulated stagnation, thus it treats all these conditions.

Mu Jin (Hibiscus mutabilis), which is currently planted as hedges. The branches treat heat and thirst after dysentery, helping people sleep. The flowers treat diarrhea, dysentery, and intestinal wind, astringing the intestines and stopping bleeding. Made into a decoction to replace tea, it gradually dispels skin itching; both parts are used. They should be stir-fried before use. Also, Chuan Jin Pi (Cortex Hibisci Mutabilis) applied externally is very effective for stubborn tinea and insect sores; those with thick flesh and red color are authentic.

Fu Niu Hua (Flos Tribuli), also known as Ge Hu Ci Hua, treats generalized body pain caused by wind generation, alleviates wet bi syndrome with limb spasms and contractures, stops bleeding from the five types of hemorrhoids, and dispels dizziness and headache caused by wind.

Emerged from the soil sensing the qi of midsummer, its flavor is bitter, nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Yangming Meridian and Jueyin Meridian. Its warmth can circulate and disperse pathogens, making it necessary for eliminating alternating chills and fever, relieving cough and asthma, and descending Lung qi.

Mu Jing Shi (Fructus Viticis), comes in green and yellow varieties, only the green ones are usable for medicine. Harvested in August, dried in the sun, stir-fried until yellow and crushed before use. It descends Lung qi, relieves cough and asthma in the throat, unblocks Stomach qi, eliminates alternating chills and fever in bones and joints, calms the spirit, and treats hallucinations ("seeing ghosts"). It is also recorded in Immortal Formulas; combined with Bai Zi Ren (Arborvitae Seed) and Qing Xiang Zi (Celosia Seed), it is highly effective for treating head wind. Leaves treat edema and fullness of lower limbs (jiaqi), damp sores, cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, muscle cramps without painful urinary dysfunction or bloody dysentery. Decoction of roots expels various winds affecting the head, face, and limbs, releases the muscle layer, and induces sweating. There is also Jing Li (Vitex Juice), extracted similarly to Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap); taken evenly mixed with Ginger Juice, it eliminates phlegm miraculously, treating stroke in the elderly with aphonia and critical condition. For children with fever, convulsions, and epilepsy, those with excess qi and good appetite should take it, while those with deficient qi and poor appetite should avoid it.

Danxi said: For deficiency phlegm, use Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap); for excess phlegm, use Jing Li (Vitex Juice). Both are essential drugs for opening collaterals and promoting blood and qi circulation.

Born receiving the qi of spring, its flavor is sour, nature is slightly cold, and it is non-toxic. It is a potent drug entering the Liver to promote blood circulation. Thus, it treats residual diseases after childbirth and menstruation, and unblocks abdominal masses and blood obstruction. Women with deficiency of blood and qi should absolutely not use it, and it is strictly contraindicated during pregnancy.

Zi Wei Hua (Lantern Flower / Campsis grandiflora), also known as Ling Xiao Hua, is mainly used in gynecology. It skillfully regulates menstruation, breaks blood stasis, removes blood clots, treats abdominal masses and blood obstruction, is an essential drug for treating blood-related pain, eliminates residual diseases after childbirth, disperses alcohol-induced pathogenic wind, can clear latent fire in the blood, and treats symptoms where blood heat generates wind. It moves freely without staying put, and those with deficiency constitution should avoid it.