甘、涩、微酸，性温。入足少阴经血分。固精秘气，止血生津。治虚痢，收虚汗，敛虚
火，平虚嗽，定虚喘，疗怔
忡。得人参、熟地，治精从便出。配芡实、莲子，治阴虚作泻。
霜熟时采用，不及时反令人泻。去毛刺用。不当涩而涩之，令人减食。（隧道不能通畅
也。）
忌面及牛马肉。
辛、苦、甘、酸。入足太阴经气分。开幽门，下结气，导大肠之结，利周身之水。得酒
煮饮
醉，治目不闭。（此因悸病也。目系内连肝胆，胆受惊气而然。）
去壳研用。去惊风，酒炒。大便不实者禁用。
邪气结于胃府，用下药而不下，此幽门未开也。惟郁李开之，邪气自流而下。再者，惊
恐后
寒热如疟，治疟之剂不效，此惊气结于胆下，胆因气积，横而不垂。惟郁李去胆下之惊气，
以散其结，则寒热自除。是郁李之用，不仅如麻仁之为润剂也。
甘、苦、凉。入足少阴经。养阴气，平阴火。一切烦热骨蒸，虚汗便血，目泪虚风，因
火而致者，得此治之，自无
不效。其能黑须发，善行水，乃补肾补脾之力也。配补脾暖胃药，不
洗去衣皮，酒拌蒸，晒干用。淡盐水拌炒亦可。脾胃虚寒，肾阳不足，津液不足，内无
虚热，四者禁用。
叶
微苦。除风散血，消肿定痛。
捣汁，含浸舌肿胀出。
[Shagbark Haws Fruit / Rosa laevigata Fruit] (Jinyingzi)
Sweet, astringent, slightly sour; warm in nature. Enters the blood aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) Meridian. It consolidates essence and secures qi, stops bleeding, and generates fluids. It treats deficiency-type dysentery, arrests spontaneous sweating due to deficiency, contains deficient fire, calms deficiency cough, stabilizes deficiency asthma, and treats palpitations (Zhenchong). When combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudi), it treats seminal emission via stool. When paired with Euryale Seed (Qianshi) and Lotus Seed (Lianzi), it treats diarrhea caused by yin deficiency. Harvest when ripe after frost; if harvested late, it may cause diarrhea. Remove hairs and spines before use. If used as an astringent when inappropriate, it reduces appetite (by obstructing the smooth flow of internal pathways).
Avoid wheat products and meat from cattle, horses, or mules.
[Dwarf Cherry Pit / Prunus humilis Seed] (Yuliren)
Pungent, bitter, sweet, sour. Enters the qi aspect of the Foot-Taiyin (Spleen) Meridian. It opens the pylorus, descends stagnant qi, guides out constipation in the Large Intestine, and promotes the circulation of water throughout the body. Boiled in wine and drunk to intoxication, it treats inability to close the eyes (This is due to palpitation disorders. The eye system connects internally to the Liver and Gallbladder; the Gallbladder is affected by fright qi). Remove the shell and grind for use. To dispel wind due to fright, stir-fry with wine. Contraindicated in cases of loose stools.
When pathogenic factors are knotted in the Stomach Fu organ and purgatives fail to produce evacuation, it is because the pylorus has not opened. Only Dwarf Cherry Pit can open it, allowing pathogenic factors to flow down naturally. Furthermore, after suffering fright, chills and fever resembling malaria occur, and antimalarial agents are ineffective. This is because fright qi is knotted below the Gallbladder, causing the Gallbladder to accumulate qi, becoming horizontal rather than hanging down. Only Dwarf Cherry Pit can remove the fright qi below the Gallbladder to dissipate the knot, thereby eliminating chills and fever. Thus, the use of Dwarf Cherry Pit is not merely like Hemp Seed (Huo Ma Ren) acting as a moistening agent.
[Glossy Privet Fruit / Ligustrum lucidum Fruit] (Nvzhenzi)
Sweet, bitter; cool in nature. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) Meridian. Nourishes yin qi and calms yin fire. For all types of vexing heat, bone-steaming tidal fever, spontaneous sweating, blood in stool, excessive tearing, and deficiency wind caused by fire, treatment with this herb is invariably effective. Its ability to darken beard and hair and promote water metabolism stems from its power to tonify the Kidney and Spleen. When combined with herbs that tonify the Spleen and warm the Stomach, do not wash off the skin; steam with wine, then sun-dry for use. Stir-frying with light salt water is also acceptable. Contraindicated in four conditions: Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, Kidney Yang insufficiency, fluid deficiency, and absence of internal deficiency heat.
The leaves are slightly bitter. They dispel wind and disperse blood, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain. Crush and extract juice; hold in the mouth or soak to treat tongue swelling and protrusion.