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Yadanzi (Brucea javanica): Commonly known as "duck egg seed," it is the fruit of *Sophora flavescens* (Ku Shen). It has an extremely bitter taste and a cool nature. It is a crucial herb for cooling blood and resolving toxicity, skilled in treating heat-type dysentery with blood (though some cases of bloody dysentery are cold in nature), and hematochezia or hematuria caused by heat. It excels at clearing heat from the blood level and intestines, preventing putrefaction, and promoting tissue regeneration, truly possessing miraculous effects. Throughout my life, I have cured countless perilous cases of bloody dysentery with this herb, too numerous to recount. When used, the shell should be removed; each dose consists of 25 seeds, up to a maximum of 50 seeds, taken with sugar water.

The duck egg seed tastes very bitter; if chewed during ingestion, it becomes difficult to swallow. Seeds that break during shelling are also unsuitable for use, as they may cause nausea or vomiting if not expelled quickly. Therefore, in medical formulas, this herb is often wrapped in longan aril (Long Yan Rou). One piece of longan aril wraps seven or several seeds, using the number "seven times seven" (49 seeds) as a standard dose. However, for patients with severe illness but strong constitution, a higher dose is permissible, commonly using "eight times eight" (64 seeds). Nevertheless, one need not be overly rigid about these numbers.

Crushed Yadanzi with its shell, mixed with vinegar, applied externally to carbuncles (Ding Du), is very effective and provides immediate pain relief. The kernel, ground into a paste, can be used to remove moles. In my self-formulated formula "Du Lin Tang" (Poisonous Strangury Decoction), I heavily utilized this herb to treat gonorrheal toxic strangury. Its power to resolve stasis and detoxify is so profound that this explains its miraculous efficacy in treating dysentery.

Longgu (Fossilized Bone): It has a bland taste, slight pungency, and a neutral nature. Its texture is highly adhesive and astringent, possessing a contracting and absorbing force (if licked with the tongue, the tongue adheres to it, demonstrating this contracting force). Thus, it can consolidate primordial Qi, calm the spirit, and secure against slipping and discharge. It treats palpitations, profuse sweating, hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, hematuria, seminal emission, leukorrhea, loose stools, urinary incontinence, and uterine bleeding or leukorrhea in women. Its nature also benefits in resolving phlegm; it treats cough due to phlegm-fluid retention in the lungs and rebellious Qi rising. Due to its slight pungency, within its astringent properties lies an opening and unblocking force. Hence, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats dysentery with pus and blood, uterine leakage, and also addresses masses and hard accumulations (Zhen Jia Jian Jie). Longchi (Dragon Teeth) shares similar properties with Longgu but possesses stronger sedative and descending powers. Therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats convulsions and epilepsy in children and adults, manic wandering, chest qi stagnation, and inability to breathe smoothly.

In cases of sudden stroke resulting in limb paralysis where the pulse is wiry and stiff, indicating internal stirring of Liver Fire and Liver Wind, I frequently add Longgu and Muli (Oyster Shell) to the prescribed decoction to restrain and subdue them. Once the pulse becomes soft and harmonious, the disease resolves spontaneously. My self-formulated formulas "Zhen Gan Xi Feng Tang" (Decoction to Settle the Liver and Extinguish Wind) and "Jian Ling Tang" (Decoction from the High Spout) both heavily utilize Longgu, with verified case records provided after the formulas for reference.

When used raw, Longgu treats conditions such as palpitations, deficiency sweating, slipping of meridians, and floating/dissipated soul-spirit, all caused by the failure of Primordial Yang to consolidate. Heavy use of Longgu leverages its contained Primordial Yin to contract and absorb this dissipating Primordial Yang, yielding immediate efficacy. If calcined (Duan Yong), its Primordial Yin energy is damaged by the process. Although its texture remains adhesive and astringent, and this adhesiveness increases after calcination, its contracting and absorbing power is completely lost. Using Longgu relies on its adhesiveness, but it is indeed better to utilize its absorbing/contracting nature. Understanding this principle makes it even clearer why Longgu should not be calcined.

Wang Hongxu, in *Waike Zhengzhi Quansheng Ji* (Complete Collection of External Medicine Treatments), stated: "Longgu intended for use should be suspended in a well overnight before usage." This demonstrates a deep understanding of Longgu's nature and skillful application. I generally use Longgu raw; only in critical cases of uterine bleeding (Beng Lou) or impending miscarriage do I consistently use calcined Longgu, taking advantage of its slightly stronger astringent power for immediate effect.

Chen Xiuyuan said: "Phlegm is water fluid that rises with fire. Longgu can guide the rebellious fire and overflowing fluids back to their origin. When used together with Muli, it is a divine herb for treating phlegm. Modern people only know its astringent nature for securing against leakage; how shallow their understanding is!"