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*Bencao* records: A needle case is indicated for unbearable itching in the intestines of women after childbirth. Place the case under the mattress where the patient sleeps, without letting the patient know.

Zhang Dejun said: Recently, He Nian, a resident of Yuhang, was about to take up an official post. While steaming *Jiangzhen Muxi Xiang* (Aquilaria and Agallocha Wood with Osmanthus Fragrance), he leaned his face over the steamer lid when it was opened. His face was immediately swollen and closed due to the heat vapor, causing his mouth and eyes to shut. Several physicians failed to treat him. The last physician said, "This condition has no precedent in ancient texts; let me treat it based on my own understanding." He then took cloth long used for cooking in a temple, burned it to ash while retaining its medicinal properties (*Cunxing*), and applied it topically. The swelling subsided immediately upon application, and he recovered within half a month. This is likely because the cooking cloth absorbed much steam vapor, which was paradoxically used to expel the toxicity from the steam, similar to using salt water to extract salty flavors. The wisdom of physicians is indeed delightful. (From *Baiyi Fang*)

In ancient times, there was a patient whose diet remained normal. Upon onset, he appeared manic, with a greenish-yellow complexion, abdominal distension in the lower abdomen, and a shape resembling pregnancy. Physicians found his pulse and symptoms atypical and difficult to understand, making the treatment plan unclear. Suddenly, an old man from the mountains said, "I heard that in the sixth year of the Kaihuang era (Sui Dynasty), someone in Baqiao suffered from this illness. It was likely caused by eating celery while drinking river water on the eighth day of the third lunar month." An informed person stated, "This is a 'Jiaolong Disease' (Flood Dragon Disease)." Because dragons swim above celery, one might accidentally ingest it and become ill. They prescribed *Hanshi Tang* (Cold Food Syrup/Maltose), five *he* per dose. After several doses, the patient vomited an object. Although small, it resembled a Jiaolong with two heads. The patient was cured following this method. (From *Mingyi Lu*)

He Jieyuan was from Chenliu. One day, while dining at the residence of Zhao Xiawu, after drinking several cups of wine, he suddenly saw what looked like a small snake at the bottom of his cup. He swallowed it without feeling any foreign body, but began to doubt and worry repeatedly. Over time, he felt heart pain, thinking the snake would grow and consume his internal organs. The following year, attending the same gathering at Zhao's residence, he picked up his cup again and saw the "snake." Putting down the cup to examine it closely, he discovered a bow hanging on the beam of Zhao's house; it was the shadow of the bow's tip reflected in the cup. Thus, his doubt was resolved, and his psychosomatic heart ailment disappeared. This was clearly a disease caused by excessive suspicion. (Ibid.)

Arrow shafts and arrowheads are indicated for abdominal itching in women after childbirth. Place them under the mat where the patient sleeps, without informing the woman. (*Bencao*)

During the Yonghui era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Cui Shuang required three *dou* of raw fish per meal to feel satisfied. Later, when hunger struck before he finished eating, he could not endure the hunger and vomited an object resembling a toad. From that point on, he was unable to eat anything. (From *Xuanshi Zhi*)