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For severe cases of the aforementioned syndrome, this pill may be taken in conjunction with other treatments, or it may be taken alone. It is also indicated for treating hemiplegia (偏枯), numbness and bi-syndrome (痹木), and various other conditions.

Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) — 2 liang
Yu Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, stir-fried) — 2 liang
Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) — 1 liang
Zhi Ma Qian Zi (Strychni Semen, processed) — 1 liang
Ru Xiang (Boswelliae Resin) — 1 liang
Mo Yao (Myrrhae Resin) — 1 liang
Quan Wu Gong (Scolopendra, large specimens, five pieces, not stir-fried)
Chuan Shan Jia (Manis Squama, 1 liang, stir-fried with Arsenici Trioxidum powder)

Grind all ingredients into a fine powder and sieve them. Form pills using refined honey, sized like wu tong zi (seeds of Koelreuteria paniculata). Take 2 qian per dose, administered with warm wine free of ash impurities. Take twice daily.

Ma Qian Zi (Strychni Semen), also known as Fan Ben Bie (Strichnos nux-vomica seed), possesses potent toxicity, with its hairs and skin being particularly toxic. However, when processed correctly, toxic substances can become non-toxic. Moreover, its efficacy in unblocking meridians and penetrating joints far surpasses that of other herbs. The method for processing Ma Qian Zi is detailed below.

Method: First, remove all hairs from the Ma Qian Zi seeds. Boil them in water for two to three boils, then immediately remove them. Scrape off the outer skin completely with a knife. Soak the seeds in hot water, changing the water once in the morning and once in the evening, for exactly three days and nights. Then, fry the seeds in sesame oil until they turn pure black. Break one open; if the center shows a slight yellow hue, the heating process is complete. Remove the seeds from the oil, wash them several times with warm water to remove all residual oil. Finally, stir-fry the seeds together with sand in a pot. When the sand absorbs the oily residue, replace the sand and continue frying until all oily odor is eliminated.

Ma Qian Zi is an excellent herb for strengthening the stomach. Although inherently toxic, when processed to be non-toxic, ingestion causes whole-body muscle twitching (an effect resulting from nerve excitation); if taken in small doses, it merely enhances gastric motility, thereby accelerating the digestion of food in the stomach. This assertion is not based on speculation but on clinical observation. For instance, Mrs. Zhu from Cangzhou, over sixty years old, suffered from epilepsy (Xian Feng) for decades. Initial treatment with Chinese medicine was ineffective, and subsequent use of Western anesthetics provided relief only through daily administration. Since these Western drugs are salty and cold in nature, prolonged use damaged her spleen and stomach, leading to reduced appetite and emaciation. Later, she was prescribed Long Ma Zi Lai Dan by Wang Xunchen, which uses Ma Qian Zi as the principal ingredient. After proper processing and taking the medication for several days, her appetite increased significantly, and within ten days, her physical strength improved. Although her epilepsy was not cured, it was greatly alleviated. This demonstrates that the stomach-strengthening efficacy of Ma Qian Zi is distinct from other herbs.

However, in Long Ma Zi Lai Dan, Ma Qian Zi is combined with Di Long (Pheretima), specifically formulated for treating epilepsy. If used for strengthening the stomach, Di Long should be omitted, and finely powdered Chao Bai Zhu (Stir-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma) should be added, which significantly enhances the stomach-strengthening effect. Therefore, the following formula is proposed:

Chao Bai Zhu (Stir-fried Atractylodis Rhizoma, 4 liang, finely powdered)
Zhi Hao Ma Qian Zi (Processed Strychni Semen, 1 liang, finely powdered)

Mix the two powders thoroughly. Form pills using water, each weighing 1 fen (when fully dried). Take 5 pills after meals, twice daily. Efficacy will typically be observed within ten days.