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Treats *Chuan Shi Lao Zhai* (a contagious, consumptive chronic deficiency disease, historically referred to as "Ghost Tethering"), expels evil spirits, and kills parasites. Originates from *Yi Zong Bi Du*.

Prescription: Hair from the vertex of an unmarried maiden (a small tuft of hair growing at the top of the head; wash with Sophora Flavescens soup, soak in vinegar overnight, dry, wrap in paper, burn to charcoal retaining its properties) 5 qian, Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) 5 qian, Dang Gui Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 3 qian, Muxiang Aucklandiae Radix (Radix Aucklandiae) 2 qian, Taoren Prunus Persica Seed (Semen Persicae) (dehulled, stir-fried, each 2 qian), Anshixiang Benzoin Resina (Resina Benzoini) 1 qian, Xionghuang Realgar Mineral (Mineral Realgaris) 1 qian, Quanxie Scorpio (Scorpio) 2 pieces, Jiang Shang Da Li Yu River Carp Head (freshly taken carp head, roasted with vinegar). Grind the above ingredients into fine powder, divide into four doses. For each dose, take one large bowl of well water, decoct in a clean room until reduced to seven-tenths volume, add 5 fen of Hong Ying Jiang Zhuang Xiang resin powder, and burn the Beidou Talisman into the medicinal liquid. At the fifth watch of the early morning on the fifth day of the lunar month, while fasting, face north, look up to the sky, and chant the incantation: "Zhai God, Zhai God, harming living beings, I obey the Emperor's decree, taking medicine to protect the body. Swiftly as the law commands." Repeat five times. After chanting, face north and take the medicine. Upon finishing, turn south, inhale fresh air into the mouth and abdomen, burn Agarwood, place it under the bed, and repeat the medication process at noon.

[Image: Beidou Talisman Diagram] Use a square of yellow paper, grind transparent ink with a new brush and clean water, write this talisman with Cinnabar. While writing, recite the aforementioned Beidou incantation.

The *Classic* states: "The turbid within the turbid strengthens the bone marrow"; and again: "For insufficiency of essence, tonify with flavor." If not for the fact that Di Huang (Rehmannia Root) possesses the extreme Yin nature of the earth, with heavy, turbid quality and rich flavor, how could it tonify Yin? However, because its color is yellow and it obtains the upright Qi of Earth, it enters the Heart and Spleen meridians. After steaming and sun-drying until black, its cold property is reduced, and it specializes in warming and tonifying the Liver and Kidney. But since Kidney Yin is deficient, Wood loses nourishment, and Liver Blood is inevitably insufficient. Therefore, according to the principle "when deficient, tonify the mother," allowing the mother to generate the child, this refers to Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root). If even more deficient, then additionally tonify the child (Liver), fearing that child deficiency might drain the mother's Qi. Thus, Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit) is used to benefit the Liver. Furthermore, Essence desires consolidation but fears leakage; Shan Zhu Yu has a sour and astringent taste, making it suitable for consolidating Essence and Marrow, assisting the Kidney's function of storing and closing. Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome) is sweet and salty, tonifying the Spleen and entering the Kidney, addressing the source of transformation. Fu Ling (Poria) is light and leaching, guiding downward; thus, essence can enter the Kidney without the drawback of Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome) damaging Yin with long-term use. However, the Kidney resides lowest; without the strong descending action of Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), how could the medicine reach there? Moreover, combined with Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark), it strengthens sinews and bones, serving as an assistant to Shu Di Huang.

However, all things are born from Yang, not Yin, just as Spring and Summer promote growth while Autumn and Winter bring肃杀 (desolation) and storage. Therefore, alongside the Yin herbs Di Huang and Shan Zhu Yu, Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark) with its sweet and pungent nature is added to tonify the True Fire of the Ming Men (Gate of Life); Fu Zi (Aconite Lateral Root) with its vigorous and fierce nature is used to revive dried-out Yang, so that Yin grows with Yang, for without Yang, Yin cannot be generated. Yet, considering that plants and trees are emotionless, we borrow from different species—emotionally connected substances—to pair with the emotionally connected products of Essence and Blood. This refers to Lu Rong (Deer Antler Velvet). Deer possess pure Yang constitution, and antler contains vitalizing Qi, assisting the herbal medicines in vigorous tonification, transforming emotionless materials into emotionally potent ones. By tonifying this Fire and stabilizing its position, Wood returns to its source, forming one Yang trapped between two Yins (the Kan trigram image), eliminating all diseases, signaling longevity. Alas, humans exist in the intersection of Qi, moving more than still; movement generates Fire. There is genuine fear that pungent-warm medicines will ascend uncontrollably. Therefore, Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) is added to astringe Lung Metal and moisten Water, generate fluids, strengthen Yin, specializing in gathering Qi and storing the source. The *Classic* says: "The Five Zang organs are the houses of Spirit and Mind, therefore there is no purgative method for them." As for the Kidney, it is the repository of Essence, the place of extreme Yin, characterized by emptiness rather than fullness, having only tonification and no purgation. The text states: "Ten parts tonification, never one part purgation," which describes this formula.

(Used frequently by Zhang. In the absence of Lu Rong, it can also treat adults and children with insufficient Kidney Yuan and weak Spleen-Stomach, showing superior efficacy compared to Ba Wei Wan.)