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Dig the root bark of the pomegranate tree growing towards the east, wash it, dry it in the sun, and pound it into a fine powder without mixing with other ingredients. Take it on an empty stomach (after fasting overnight), mixed with warm wine in the early morning; the effect is miraculous.

Kang, the son of Cai Dingfu, suffered bitterly from *Taenia solium* (pork tapeworm) for a long time. The physician instructed him to grind areca nut (*Arecae Semen*, 槟榔) into a fine powder and decoct the eastern-growing root bark of the pomegranate (*Punicae Granati Cortex*, 石榴皮) in water. He was to take the areca nut powder mixed with this decoction. Before taking the medicine, he should roast a large piece of fatty pork, place it in his mouth, chew it, swallow its saliva and grease, but not eat the meat itself. It is said that these worms only have their heads facing upward during the first three days of the lunar month, at which time they can be attacked by medicine; on other days, their heads face downward, and even if medicine is taken, it is useless. Because the worms smell the meat and desire to feed, they clear the intestinal tract and rush forward. When the patient feels as if ten thousand arrows are attacking the chest, this is the sign that the medicine is working. Then, drink the aforementioned medicine. Cai followed the doctor's instructions strictly. Within two *ke* (approx. 30 minutes), thunderous sounds were heard in his abdomen, and he hurried to the toilet. The expelled worms poured out like a flood. He ordered servants to use sticks to separate them, finding them connected in long chains, nearly several *zhang* (approx. 10-30 meters) long, still slightly wriggling. He lifted them and threw them into a stream. The chronic illness was instantly cured. This method is circulated widely to benefit future generations. (From *Zhi Zhi*)

A woman in a village shop used a bellows to blow fire, unaware that a centipede was hiding inside. When she blew the fire, the centipede was startled, jumped out, and crawled into her throat, descending unnoticed to the chest and epigastrium. The woman sought help, but no one knew what to do. Someone nearby suggested: obtain a piglet, cut its throat to collect blood, and have the woman drink it immediately. After a moment, pour a mouthful of raw oil into the woman's mouth, inducing nausea. The centipede, wrapped in the blood, will be vomited out. Subsequently, administer realgar (*Realgar*, 雄黄) finely ground and mixed with water. The disease was then cured.

If a slug or snail (*Limax*, 蜒蚰) enters the ear, instill donkey milk (*Asini Lac*, 驴乳) into the ear; it should dissolve into water. If various insects enter the ear, heat peach leaves (*Persicae Folium*, 桃叶) with fire, roll them up, and plug the ear; the insects will come out immediately. (From *Bencao*)

Liu Zongyuan wrote in "Essay Scolding the Corpse Worms": Humans possess three "Corpse Worms" (*Shi Chong*, 尸虫) residing in the abdomen. They watch for hidden mistakes and record them. On Gengshen days, while people are asleep, these worms ascend to heaven to slander humans before the Emperor to seek sacrifices. Consequently, people suffer from demotions, faults, diseases, plagues, and premature death. Medical classics also state that these worms communicate with spirits and often attract external pathogens causing harm. Their symptoms include silence and unknown discomfort throughout the body, abdominal pain and distension, protruding masses, pain radiating to the waist and spine, mental confusion, and numerous variable manifestations. These diseases are largely similar with minor differences. (From *Jifeng Fang*)

Xi Jinru, a civil official in Qizhou, invited his relative, Scholar Zhang Bin, to stay at the guesthouse. Zhang Bin was addicted to alcohol and always placed several *sheng* (approx. 5-10 liters) of wine at the corner of his bed every night. One night, he forgot to set it out. In the middle of the night, he became extremely thirsty, could not find the wine, and became angry, depressed, and restless. Soon, he vomited an object onto the floor. In the morning, he looked down and saw a liver-like yellow mass under the bed, resembling a honeycomb and slightly moving. He poured wine over it, producing a squeaking sound. He then realized the root cause of his lifelong alcoholism, quickly threw it into the fire to burn it, and subsequently stopped drinking. (From *Ding Zhi*)