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A prescription for treating deficiency and exhaustion (Xu Lao).

Wujiapi (Cortex Acanthopanacis), Gouqigen Baipi (Cortex Lycii Radicis) (each 1 dou).

The above two ingredients are chopped, boiled in 15 dan of water to obtain 7 dan of decoction. Take 4 dan of this decoction to soak 1 dou of yeast (Qu), and use the remaining 3 dan to mix with rice and add grain, following the usual brewing method. After fermentation is complete, press to extract the liquid for consumption. The dosage should be determined by personal preference. Observe dietary restrictions as prescribed for medicine, and pay extra attention to rest and recuperation.

This treats men's five labors (Wu Lao), seven injuries (Qi Shang), eight winds (Ba Feng), twelve bi syndromes, and internal injuries leading to six extremes (Liu Ji).
One is Qi Extreme: characterized by frequent cold bi pain, abdominal pain, panting, fright, and headache.
Two is Lung Extreme: characterized by cold bi lower back pain, hardness and accumulation below the heart, difficult urination, and numbness/insensitivity of hands and feet.
Three is Mai (Vessel/Pulse) Extreme: characterized by a bitter bluish complexion, rebellious will, mental confusion, loss of breath, resembling the state after weeping bitterly. Stiff tongue, dry throat, aversion to wind with chills and fever, inability to move, lack of appetite, dizziness, irritability, and delirious speech.
Four is Jin (Tendon) Extreme: characterized by spasms and contracture, hardness and distension of the lower abdomen, heart pain, cold knees, and pain in all joints of the four limbs.
Five is Gu (Bone) Extreme: characterized by cold reversal of limbs and joints, jaundice, Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), spontaneous occurrence of sores and ulcers, severe illness leading to edema resembling water disease.
Six is Rou (Flesh/Muscle) Extreme: characterized by Zhu disease (pestilence/transmitted disease) feeling like being struck, muteness, and in severe cases, death followed by revival, which physicians cannot cure. These are all caused by the six extremes and seven injuries, not solely by excessive sexual activity.

Accumulated worry and resentment, excessive thinking, anger, joy, sorrow, and grief, combined with wind-dampness and qi stagnation, lead to vomiting during coughing, food transformation issues after eating, difficulty in defecation and urination, frequent diarrhea and dysentery, hematuria, qi rebellion, vomiting and diarrhea, alternating chills and fever, restless sleep, red-yellow urine, frequent nightmares of eating with the dead or entering tombs/temples, causing the soul to fly away and spirit to scatter.

Jin Extreme injures the Liver; injuring the Liver causes the waist and back to pull each other, making flexion and extension difficult. Qi Extreme injures the Lungs; injuring the Lungs causes blood in urine and blurred vision. Sui (Marrow) Extreme causes impotence and inability to engage in intercourse. Gu Extreme injures the Kidneys; injuring the Kidneys causes shortness of breath, inability to stand for long periods, genital pain, aversion to cold, and in severe cases, retraction of the testes, sores/dampness/itching in the genital area, constant scratching with discharge. These are all Kidney diseases. Severe cases often suffer from wind-toxin, resulting in stubborn bi in the four limbs and edema of hands and feet, named Jiao Ruo (weak legs), also known as Hong Kong Jiao (Gouty Arthritis/Foot Weakness), which physicians consider incurable. This prescription primarily treats these conditions.

Tianmendong (Radix Asparagi), Sheng Dihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Recens) (sliced, each 3.5 dou, pounded and pressed to extract juice completely), Bai Mi (White Honey, 3 sheng, refined), Su (Clarified Butter/Ghee, 3 sheng, refined), Gouqigen (Root Cortex Lycii, sliced, 3 dou, washed clean, boiled in 15 dan of water to obtain 1.3 dan of clarified liquid), Zhanggu (Antelope Bone, one set, crushed, boiled in 1 dan of water to obtain 5 dou of clarified liquid).

Place the above six ingredients in a large copper vessel. First, decoct Tianmendong and Dihuang over low heat. When reduced by half, combine with the others, and decoct to obtain 2 dan. Add the previously mentioned powdered herbs, and decoct to obtain 1 dan. Transfer to the copper vessel and double-boil until thick enough to stick to the palm. Form into pills the size of Chinese quince seeds (Wuzi). Take 20 pills on an empty stomach in the morning with wine, twice daily, gradually increasing to 50 pills.

Cautionary adjustments/additions: Fuling (Poria), Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Weirui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), Wujiapi (Cortex Acanthopanacis), Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Shuyu (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Baiziren (Biota Semen), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex), Fupenzi (Rubiae Fructus), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Duohuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Dadou Huangjuan (Sojae Semen Praeparatum), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Rongshurong (Cistanches Herba), Xuduan (Dipsaci Radix), Gouji (Cibotii Rhizoma), Humaizi (Sesami Fructus), Bixie (Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Fushen (Poria cum Pinodia), Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), Shinan (Rhododendri Mollis Folium) (each 2 liang), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin, 10 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 6 liang), Shujiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), Yiyiren (Coicis Semen) (each 1 sheng), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus, 100 pieces, cooked into paste), Lu Jiaojiao (Deer Antler Gelatin, 5 liang), Manjingzi (Viticis Fructus) (3 liang).

Process the above 38 ingredients and sieve into powder. Add to the decoction. Adding 3 sheng each of Niusui (Ox Marrow) and Lusui (Deer Marrow) is especially good. If urination is obstructed/astringent, remove Baiziren, add Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) 2 liang, and Gan Dihuang (Dried Rehmannia Root) 6 liang. If impotence and spermatorrhea occur, remove Weirui, add Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) 2 liang. For Tou Feng (Head Wind/Headache), remove Baiziren, add Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) each 2 liang. If urination is free but Yin Qi is weak, remove Xixin and Fangfeng, add Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 2 liang. If there is cold in the abdomen, remove Fangfeng, add Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) 2 liang. If there are no other ailments, prepare according to the main formula.

For this type of decoction, harvest herbs in late September, compound and take them starting from Lidong (Start of Winter) until early May. If compounded on Lari (12th month waxing day), stop taking them from Summer Solstice until late July. If stored through summer without spoiling, bury the container deep (6 chi) in sand in a shady north-facing location, covering it with more sand, so it remains undamaged through summer.

Women who have previously suffered from heat syndromes may take this; women with cold syndromes should not take it.