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Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus): It has a sour taste and a slightly warm nature. It is highly effective in consolidating Yuan Qi (Original Qi), invigorating the spirit, and securing against slipping and loss (preventing the pathological discharge of essence, fluids, etc.). Because it absorbs the most intense Wood Qi (the energetic quality associated with the Liver system), within its astringent properties lies a characteristic of free flow and smoothness. Therefore, it can also unblock the nine orifices, promote the circulation of blood vessels, treat spontaneous sweating due to Liver deficiency, hypochondriac pain and lower back pain due to Liver deficiency, and the stirring up of internal wind due to Liver deficiency. It consolidates righteous Qi without retaining pathogenic factors, which differs from other astringent herbs; thus, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states that it expels cold-damp bi syndrome. Its pit acts contrary to the flesh; when used, one must ensure the pits are completely removed. I recently read in medical journals an article stating that the pit has an astringent taste and nature, primarily astringent, and taking it often causes difficulty in urination. Breaking open the pit and tasting it, indeed, there was an astringent flavor, so this claim may be credible.

Shanzhuyu absorbs the most intense Wood Qi. Within its sour astringency, it possesses great opening power, precisely because the nature of Wood favors free flow and expansion. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records it as treating cold-damp bi syndrome; various pharmacopoeias mostly state it can unblock the nine orifices. This indicates that its nature not only tonifies the Liver but also promotes the free flow of Qi and Blood. If one merely views it as an astringent agent, then one underestimates Shanzhuyu.

[Attached Cases] A patient over forty years old suffered from external contraction with phlegm and wheezing, which I cured. However, his pulse was floating but weak, disappearing upon heavy pressure. I said, "The pulse lacks a root; you should take strong tonic prescriptions to prevent unexpected changes." The family stated that the patient had never tolerated tonic medicines before; taking them would induce manic behavior, so they dared not use strong tonics.

I said, "Since you fear tonics so much, keeping them on hand for emergency use is acceptable." The family followed my advice. Half a day later, the patient suddenly developed severe wheezing and dyspnea, appearing as if he lacked breath to sustain life. He sweated profusely all over his body, his four limbs became cold, and his body arched backward, facing imminent danger. I urgently prescribed four taels of pure Shanzhuyu, boiled rapidly for one boil, and administered it immediately. Both sweating and wheezing subsided slightly. After adding water and boiling again for several boils, he drank it, and the condition improved further. Adding water once more to thoroughly decoct the original dregs, he drank it, whereupon sweating stopped, wheezing stabilized, and the coldness in his four limbs returned to normal warmth.

Li XX from a neighboring village, in his twenties, had a history of damage from smoking and sexual excess. He accidentally contracted wind-cold, which was cured by a physician using several doses of exterior-releasing drugs. Two days later, he suddenly broke out in cold sweat all over his body, experienced extreme palpitations, and claimed his breath was about to cease. He urgently sought my treatment. His pulse was floating, weak, and rootless on both sides. I said, "Although this condition appears critical, it is easy to treat. Obtaining several taels of Shanzhuyu will ensure safety." I urgently obtained four taels of pure Shanzhuyu and five qian of Renshen (Ginseng). First, I decocted two taels of Shanzhuyu for several boils and administered it urgently. His heart settled, sweating stopped, and his breath resumed. Then, I cut the Renshen into small pieces and delivered it down using the thick decoction made from the remaining Shanzhuyu. The illness vanished as if lost.

A man aged forty-eight suffered from profuse sweating for several days without cessation, wetting his bedding and mattress, approaching a critical state. He consulted me for a prescription. I instructed him to use two taels of pure Shanzhuyu, decocted in water and drunk. The sweating stopped immediately. The next morning, he invited me to examine him. His pulse was deep, slow, fine, and weak, with the deep and fine quality being particularly pronounced in the right position. Although there was no longer profuse sweating, his whole body remained damp. I suspected sinking of the Great Qi in the chest. Upon inquiry, he indeed felt that Qi did not rise in the chest, resembling the pressure of a heavy stone. I suddenly realized that the previous profuse sweating was actually caused by the sinking of Great Qi, leading to the lack of control over Defensive Qi, which leaked outward. Thus, I prescribed one tael of Shenghuang (Raw Astragalus), three qian each of Shanzhuyu and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), and after one dose, his chest felt open and clear, and sweating ceased entirely. He took several more doses to consolidate the recovery.

The wife of Tian XX, a friend from Fengtian, was over fifty years old and had a chronic history of heart pain. Multiple treatments with Qi-regulating and Blood-invigorating drugs failed to cure the root cause. One day, the pain recurred severely; after taking several doses of medicine, the condition did not alleviate. Seeing the medical case of Zhang XX treating heart pain recorded after the Jiji Tang (Both Fulfilled Decoction), Tian XX gained insight and used that formula, adding several qian each of Moyao (Myrrh) and Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung). After continuous administration for several doses, he was fully cured. For two years since then, there was no recurrence. From this, we can see that Shanzhuyu indeed absorbs the most intense Wood Qi; therefore, although its taste is sour and astringent, its nature remains smooth and flowing. For any pain caused by Liver Qi failing to flow smoothly due to deficiency, taking it can yield effective results.

The nature of Shanzhuyu is also good at treating internal blood vessels, such as cases of hemoptysis or hematemesis resulting from the rupture of lung collaterals that do not heal for a long time (see the attached case in Buchuo Buguan Tang [Decoction for Tonifying Collaterals and Vessels] for reference).

The nature of Shanzhuyu is also good at extinguishing internal wind. The sister-in-law of my clan family suffered from incessant sweating all over her body and twitching of the four limbs more than ten days postpartum. This was due to excessive sweating causing the stirring of internal wind. I urgently prescribed two taels each of pure Shanzhuyu and Shengshanyao (Raw Dioscorea), instructing her to decoct and drink the soup. She recovered after two doses.

In cases where sweating occurs due to incomplete resolution of external pathogens, Shanzhuyu can also be heavily used to astringe it. The son of Zhang XX from our county, aged eighteen or nineteen, suffered from incessant sweating, palpitations, a surging and rapid but empty pulse, and constipation for several days after taking too many exterior-releasing drugs for typhoid fever. I prescribed a formula using one tael each of pure Shanzhuyu, Shengshanyao, and Sheng Shigao (Raw Gypsum); six qian each of Zhi Mu, Sheng Longgu (Raw Dragon Bone), and Sheng Muli (Raw Oyster Shell); and two qian of Gancao (Licorice). After two doses of decoction and ingestion, he was fully cured.

My student Wan XX once treated a vigorous adult male who frequently suffered from abdominal pain following episodes of anger. Other physicians used drugs for promoting Qi flow, invigorating Blood, digesting food stagnation, and dispelling cold, but none were effective. Palpating his pulse, the left Guan position was weak and faint, indicating that prolonged anger had injured the Liver, and Liver deficiency led to an inability to disperse and drain. Thus, I prescribed two taels of pure Shanzhuyu, assisted by several qian each of Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Danshen (Salvia Miltiorrhiza), and Baiziren (Biota Seed). After continuous administration for several doses, the abdominal pain was cured. Since then, whenever encountering such conditions, administering this formula has always been effective.

The pit of Cornus officinalis should originally not be used in medicine because it can cause difficulty in urination. However, Shanzhuyu sold in pharmacies in remote areas often contains half pits and half flesh, or even more pits than flesh. Even when prescriptions specify removing the pits completely, this is often ignored, causing significant harm to patients. This book extensively uses heavy doses of Shanzhuyu to treat critical conditions. Whenever I use Shanzhuyu, I must personally inspect it or instruct the patient's family to inspect it, ensuring the pits are completely removed and the dosage is sufficient, so as not to cause errors. Furthermore, the function of Shanzhuyu excels in rescuing collapse, and the reason it can secure against collapse is its extremely sour taste. However, occasionally, some samples have only a slight sour taste; such Shanzhuyu is truly unusable. When used to treat critical conditions, one must taste it to ensure it is extremely sour before using it, in order to achieve miraculous effects immediately.