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Amber (Hupo) is influenced by the Qi of wood and earth, combined with the transformation of fire; therefore, it tastes bitter, is neutral in nature, non-toxic, and red in color. It belongs to yang with a slight yin quality and has a descending property. It enters the Hand Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) meridians, and also the Foot Jueyin (Liver) meridian. It specifically enters the blood level, thus capable of breaking abscesses, resolving stasis, promoting urination, and treating strangury. Its ability to calm the five zang organs and stabilize the soul/hun and po lies in the fact that the five zang organs store the spirit; when disturbed by external pathogens, the spirit becomes unsettled. Amber can expel evil spirits and malevolent entities, thereby calming the five zang organs and stabilizing the soul/hun and po. Moreover, its inherent nature possesses sedative properties!

When used medicinally, Amber is ground into powder and taken with decoction to promote urination, treat the five types of strangury, stabilize the soul/hun and po, calm the five zang organs, break凝 clotted blood, expel evil spirits and malevolent entities, stop bleeding, generate flesh, brighten the eyes, remove nebulae, treat postpartum blood syncope and epigastric pain due to retained lochia (Erzhen Tong), heal ulcerated traumatic wounds from metal instruments, and treat epigastric pain. Poria (Fuling) is born in yin and matures in yang, having received heaven and earth qi for a short time; it can only treat qi disorders to calm the heart and promote urination. Amber is born in yang and matures in yin, having received heaven and earth qi for a long time; thus, it can treat blood disorders, settle the heart, and transform qi. Its potency is stronger than that of Poria, and it is contraindicated in cases of hyperactive fire drying up fluids (Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity). Combined with acrid-warm herbs, it moves and breaks blood; combined with bland-leaching herbs, it opens orifices and promotes water metabolism; combined with heavy-settling or abortifacient herbs, it settles the heart and calms the spirit. However, its nature is ultimately dissipating and leaching, which is unfavorable for deficient persons. In cases of internal heat, Yin deficiency, and difficulty in urination, using this herb to forcibly promote diuresis will further deplete true Yin.

Main indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Treats convulsions after smallpox/variolae, as well as difficulty in urination, acting to calm the spirit and subdue fright.

Note: Amber receives the Qi of wood and earth, combined with the transformation of fire, thus benefiting the Spleen Earth. When the Spleen can transport and transform, and Lung Metal descends, urination naturally flows freely. If difficulty in urination is caused by blood deficiency, mistaken use of Amber will instead cause suffering from dryness and urgency.

Vitex Fruit (Manjingzi) is born receiving Yang Qi and matures through the transformation of Metal. It tastes bitter and acrid, is slightly warm, and non-toxic. Its Qi is clear and light, its taste thin, and its action floats upward, belonging to Yang. It enters the Foot Taiyang (Bladder), Foot Jueyin (Liver), and additionally the Foot Yangming (Stomach) meridians. Due to its bitter-warm and acrid-dispersing nature, it primarily treats pathogenic factors of wind-cold, damp-heat, and diseases affecting these three meridians. Vitex Fruit mainly treats cold-heat in muscles and bones, spasms and contractures due to damp-bi, regulates channel headaches, tearing, heaviness and dizziness of the head, benefits joints, and stops tinnitus/cranial buzzing. It unblocks the nine orifices, expels parasites, disperses wind-damp, brightens the eyes, strengthens loose teeth, is contraindicated in Stomach deficiency (as misuse causes disaster and phlegm generation), and may exacerbate headache in cases of blood deficiency.

Main indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Should be soaked in wine and sun-dried. Used to reduce swelling on the face and head from pustules, as well as wind-induced headache, cranial buzzing, tearing, and internal pain of the eyeballs.