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Treats conditions of emaciation and weakness, shortness of breath, nocturnal emission or seminal leakage, blurred vision, and the syndrome of extreme essence depletion. (Beyond the Five Exhaustions, there are also the Six Extremes, referring to Extreme Qi, Extreme Sinews, Extreme Bones, and Extreme Flesh. Essence generates Qi, and Qi generates Spirit. When essence is extremely depleted, it cannot generate Qi, hence emaciation, weakness, and shortness of breath; when Qi is weak, it cannot illuminate the eyes, leading to unclear vision. If essence and qi are not secured, Kidney Water fails to control Heart Fire, resulting in emission and leakage, further depleting the essence.)

Deer Antler (10 jin), Tortoise Plastron (5 jin), Lycium Fruit (1 jin), Ginseng Root (1 jin). First, saw the Deer Antler and Tortoise Plastron into sections, scrape clean, soak in water, and decoct using mulberry wood fire.

The tortoise is the leader among shell-bearing creatures (Medicinal animals with shells), possessing the most complete Yin Qi. (Shell-bearing creatures belong to the Yin category.) The deer antler sheds at the Summer Solstice, inheriting pure Yang nature. (When Yin begins to grow, Yang recedes.) Moreover, within less than two months, it can grow to ten or twenty jin. No bone grows faster than this. (In the human body, bones are the hardest to grow.) Therefore, it can vigorously tonify Blood. Both substances use Qi and Blood to tonify human Qi and Blood, which is what is meant by "tonifying with similar things." Ginseng Root greatly tonifies Yuan Qi. Lycium Fruit nourishes Yin and assists Yang. This is a formula that tonifies both Qi and Blood, facilitating the intersection of Yin and Yang. When Qi is sufficient, Essence is secured and does not leak; when Blood is sufficient, vision and hearing become clear. Long-term consumption can extend longevity, let alone merely curing diseases. (Li Zhen said: Turtles and deer are both spiritual and long-lived. The turtle's head often hides towards its abdomen, connecting with the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel); thus, its plastron is used to tonify the Heart, Kidneys, and Blood, to nourish Yin. The turtle's head often turns back towards its tail, connecting with the Du Mai (Governing Vessel); thus, its antler [note: text implies turtle shell/antler analogy or specific part usage] is used to tonify Mingmen, Essence, and Qi, to nourish Yang.)

Tonifies the waist and knees, strengthens sinews and bones, reinforces Kidney Yin, darkens beard and hair, is inexpensive yet highly effective.

Ilex Fructus (i.e., Ligustrum Lucidum Fruit). Harvested on the Winter Solstice, quantity不拘 (unrestricted), dried in shade, steamed overnight after mixing with honey and wine, rubbed to remove skin with a coarse bag, sun-dried and powdered, then mixed with the previous medicines.

Ligustrum Lucidum Fruit is sweet and neutral, representing the essence of the Shaoyin (Kidney) channel. It does not wither in deep winter, has a green-black color, benefits the Liver and tonifies the Kidneys. (Li Shizhen said: Ligustrum Lucidum is a superior miraculous medicine, rarely seen in ancient formulas for treating nocturnal emission and weakness; it is best for tonifying the Spleen and moistening the Kidneys.)

Euryale Seed, Lotus Seed Embryo (remove heart), Jujube Paste, Walnut Kernel (remove skin), Prepared Rehmannia Root. Equal parts. Use six pig kidneys, mix with Star Anise, steam until very soft, and combine with the above powders to make pills.

Ginseng Root, Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata