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Poppy Shell (Yingsu Qiao): It is the shell enclosing the fruit of the poppy flower. The fruit it bears is shaped like a jar, containing seeds resembling millet inside, which can be used to make porridge and are very fragrant and delicious (more so when stir-fried). Hence, its outer skin is named Poppy Shell, abbreviated as Rice Shell in pharmacies. Its taste is slightly sour, and its nature is neutral. When tender, white latex exudes from the skin, which can be processed into opium. Because it still retains residual properties of opium, its therapeutic actions include astringing the Lung, binding the Intestines to stop diarrhea, consolidating the Kidney, and treating chronic cough, chronic dysentery, spermatorrhea, rectal prolapse, uterine bleeding, and leukorrhea in women. It is contraindicated for initial onset of cough or dysentery, and for cough accompanied by exterior syndrome.

Poppy Shell is indeed effective for chronic cough and chronic dysentery. For instance, in cases of consumptive cough, if one uses only herbs such as Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao), Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang), Lycii Fructus (Gouqi), and Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) to nourish Yin and tonify the Lung, but the cough persists, adding 2-3 qian of Poppy Shell will immediately alleviate the cough. Alternatively, slightly assisting with draining herbs like Arctii Fructus (Niubang) and Belamcandae Rhizoma (Shegan) is particularly safe. Regarding chronic dysentery, there may be ulceration in the intestines. If using Panacis Japonici Rhizoma et Radix (Sanqi) and Bruceae Fructus (Yadanzi) to resolve the ulceration fails to stop the dysentery, one should combine several qian of Poppy Shell with Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), taken continuously for several doses, to achieve a complete cure.

Bamboo Shavings (Zhuru): Its taste is bland, and its nature is slightly cool. It excels at resolving Qi stagnation in the Stomach and descending rebellious Qi from the Stomach (Stomach Qi naturally descends, which is favorable). Thus, it treats vomiting and stops bleeding (including hematemesis and epistaxis, all due to the effect of descending Stomach Qi). In *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), for women with deficiency during lactation presenting with restlessness and vomiting/rebellious Qi, there is Zhupi Dawan (Bamboo Peel Large Pill), where Zhupi refers to Bamboo Shavings. Since it is the peel of bamboo, and is cool and descending, it can also clear the Lung and resolve phlegm, unblock the San Jiao water passages, and connect downward to the Bladder, making it a key herb for promoting urination. Its efficacy is similar to that of Bamboo Leaf (Zhuye) but stronger. It also excels at clearing heat in the Intestines and relieving tenesmus and abdominal pain following dysentery. Due to its coolness and unblocking properties, it reduces swelling and relieves pain caused by traumatic blood stasis and swelling, dissolving blood stasis. Boiling it with vinegar and gargling can stop gingival bleeding. One must use the green outer skin of young bamboo; the inner layer has reduced efficacy.

[Attached Case] My clan's aunt, around forty years old, suddenly suffered from rupture and bleeding at the Yinbai acupoint on her big toe. The blood was dark purple and abundant. Surgeons diagnosed it as Ding poison (carbuncle/toxic swelling), and repeated medication was ineffective. At that time, I had just begun studying medicine. Palpating her pulse, which was surging, slippery, and forceful, I determined it was due to reckless bleeding from Blood Heat. I prescribed 1.5 liang of Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Dihuang) and 6 qian of crushed Bamboo Shavings (Sui Zhuru), decocted in water. After one dose, the bleeding stopped. After taking several more doses, her pulse became peaceful. Although Raw Rehmannia Root has strong cooling-blood effects to stop bleeding, there is a risk of blood stasis in the collaterals after hemostasis leading to other diseases. Assisting with Bamboo Shavings to unblock and resolve stasis, combined with its own ability to cool blood and stop bleeding, proved beneficial without drawbacks.

The daughter of my friend Liu XX contracted Warm Disease (Wen Bing) and invited me to examine her. Her symptoms included heat in both the exterior and interior, fullness and stuffiness in the stomach area, frequent desire to vomit, a white tongue coating with slight yellow tint, and a surging, slippery pulse that was not firm upon heavy pressure. Upon asking about her bowel movement, she had passed stool once the previous day, which was slightly dry. A physician intended to prescribe Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulate the Stomach and Direct Downward Decoction), but the prescription had not yet been filled. I said, "It is too early to use Chengqi Tang for this condition." I then prescribed another formula: 1 liang of Gypsum Fibrosum (Sheng Shigao), 6 qian of crushed Bamboo Shavings (Sui Zhuru), and 4 qian of Green Forsythia Fruit (Qing Lianqiao). After decocting and drinking this, she sweated slightly all over her body. The fullness and stuffiness decreased immediately, and the desire to vomit ceased. Her previously scanty urine returned to normal, and her illness was instantly cured.