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Pear matures in autumn, its flowers and fruits are all white; did it obtain the Yin Qi of the West (Metal element)? Its taste is sweet with a slight sourness, its nature is cold and non-toxic. When stored together with radish, it does not rot or decay. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It mainly treats chest fullness, obstruction, and heat accumulation; cures aphasia caused by exogenous heat and stroke; resolves the hot qi and frightful evil caused by Dushi (mineral drugs); promotes urination and defecation; relieves thirst; when applied externally, it treats burns and scalds; internally, it stops hot coughs and phlegm, moistens the lungs, eliminates phlegm, descends fire, and removes heat. Those who consume rich foods, strong wines, and live without restraint often develop phlegm-fire, carbuncles, and sudden stroke. Regular consumption of pears can turn severe conditions into mild ones and eliminate diseases before they arise. However, excessive consumption damages the Spleen and Stomach due to its overly cold and purgative nature. Nursing mothers with blood stasis should not eat pears, as blood coagulates when exposed to cold, leading to stasis pathology.

To treat blood deficiency gradually progressing to dysphagia (Yige) or sudden cough, mix pear juice with human milk, sugarcane syrup, reed rhizome juice, child's urine, and bamboo sap. Take one good pear, remove the core, crush and extract one bowl of juice. Add 40 grains of Sichuan pepper, boil once, strain, add one tael of dark maltose, dissolve completely, and slowly swallow while holding in the mouth for immediate relief. For red and white dysentery with day-and-night abdominal pain, take one good pear, crush and extract juice. Slice one qian of Coptis chinensis Rhizoma (Huanglian), soak in the juice, extract the raw juice, and instill into the nostrils while lying down. For regurgitation where food cannot pass down, take one large Sydney pear, insert 15 cloves (Dingxiang) into the pear, wrap in wet paper (four to five layers), bake until hot, remove the cloves, and eat the pear.

Pear externally disperses wind-qi and internally clears manic烦躁 (restlessness). Raw pear clears heat from the Six Fu Organs; cooked pear nourishes Yin of the Five Zang Organs. It resolves alcohol intoxication, relieves thirst, stops cough, eliminates phlegm, removes exogenous heat and Heart-Meridian heat, clears irritability and lung heat, moistens dry throat, and resolves heat knot in the chest and diaphragm. However, its nature is slippery and cold; excessive consumption disturbs the Spleen, causing cold injury and diarrhea. Contraindicated for postpartum women and those with deficiency.

[Main Indications] (Referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Clears exogenous heat, irritability, and lung heat; generates fluids, promotes smooth flow and downward movement.

Jujube is purely derived from the harmonious Qi of Earth, combined with the subtle Yang Qi of Heaven. Its taste is sweet, nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. The *Classic* states: "For insufficiency within, use sweet to tonify; for insufficiency of form, use warm to benefit Qi." Sweet flavor tonifies the Middle Jiao; warm nature benefits Qi. Sweet and warm together tonify the Spleen and Stomach, generate body fluids, thereby unblocking the Twelve Meridians, benefiting the Nine Orifices, and harmonizing the four limbs. When Righteous Qi is sufficient, the Spirit remains peaceful. Thus, jujube treats evil Qi in the heart and abdomen, urgency under the heart; tonifying the Spleen strengthens physical power; clearing the intestines and stomach treats general weakness and intestinal rumbling/diarrhea. Sweet flavor detoxifies, so jujube harmonizes various herbs. With sufficient Spleen and Stomach, Qi and Blood are abundant, and Post-Heaven Life Essence overflows; thus, long-term use lightens the body.

Jujube excels at harmonizing various herbs and supplementing the meridians. Its rich, sweet, and warm nature specifically travels through the Blood aspect of the Spleen Meridian, making it essential for tonifying the Middle and benefiting Qi. It nourishes Spleen Earth, moistens Lungs and Heart, regulates Ying and Wei, nourishes Yin-Blood, beautifies complexion, unblocks the Nine Orifices, harmonizes Spleen and Stomach, generates fluids, and stops diarrhea. It moistens the Lung Meridian, aids in strengthening pulses and spirit. When used in pills made from jujube flesh for tonifying the Five Zang, it is contraindicated for patients with fullness in the middle Jiao.

[Main Indications] (Referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Calms the Middle, nourishes Spleen and Stomach, assists the Twelve Meridians, unblocks the Nine Orifices, balances Stomach Qi, supplements deficient Qi, generates fluids, smooths Ying and Wei, harmonizes herb properties. Suitable during the pustule-filling stage of smallpox/rash. However, excessive consumption by children causes Gan syndrome (malnutrition due to spleen damage), as excessive sweet damages the Spleen. Long-term consumption damages teeth, as teeth are the surplus of Kidney Water, and Earth controls Water.

When used together with Ginger, jujube specifically circulates Spleen and Stomach fluids to harmonize Ying and Wei, and stimulates the ascending Qi of the Spleen and Stomach to disperse pathogenic factors. Red dates have similar functions but are weaker than jujubes.