味辛，寒，无毒。主心腹痛，痈肿，溃脓，止痛。决刺结，疗丈夫虚损，阴痿，精自出，
补
针，一名棘刺。生雍州川谷。
李云此是酸枣树针，今人用天门冬苗代之，非真也。
〔谨案〕白棘，茎白如粉KT 子，
叶与
之，亦为难得也。
味苦，平，无毒。主金疮、内漏，明目。冬至后百廿日采之。实，主明目，心腹痿痹，
除热，利小便。生道旁。四
月采。一名菥 ，一名马朐，一名刺原。又有枣针，疗腰痛、喉痹不通。
此一条又相违越，恐李所言多是，然复道其花一名菥 ，此恐别是一物，不关枣刺也。
今俗人皆用天门冬苗，吾亦
不许。门冬苗乃是好作饮，益人，正不可当棘刺耳。
〔谨案〕棘有
类非一。后条用花，斯不足怪。
以江南无棘，李云用枣针。天门冬苗一名颠棘，南人取以代棘针，陶亦不许，今用棘刺，当
取白者为胜。花即棘花，定
无别物。然刺有两种，有钩、有直，补益用直者，疗肿宜取钩者。又云枣针宜在枣部。南人
昧于枣、棘之别，所以同在
棘条中也。
味辛、苦，平，无毒。主心腹恶气鬼疰。出西戎，似松脂，黄黑色为块，新者亦柔韧。
（新
味辛、苦，微寒，一云温，平，无毒。主心腹邪气，风湿积聚，耳聋，明目，去目赤肤
翳。出婆律国，形似白松脂，
作杉木气，明净者善；久经风日，或如雀屎者不佳。云合粳米炭、相思子贮之，则不耗。膏
主耳聋。
树形似杉木，言婆律膏是树根下清脂，龙脑是树根中干脂。子似豆蔻。皮有甲错，香似
龙脑，味辛，尤下恶气，消
食，散胀满，香人口，旧云出婆律国，药以国为名也。亦言即杉脂也。江南有杉木，未经试
造，或方土无脂，尤甘蕉比
闻花而无实耳。（新附）
[White Spine (Baiji)]
Taste: Acrid. Nature: Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Heart and abdominal pain, carbuncles and swellings with suppuration, analgesia. Actions: Resolves nodular obstructions in meridians, treats deficiency exhaustion in men, impotence, spontaneous seminal emission. Also known as Ji Ci (Spine/Thorn). Habitat: River valleys in Yongzhou.
Li Yun states that this is the needle of the Sour Jujube tree; nowadays people substitute it with the seedling of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Tianmendong), which is not genuine.
[Commentary]: Baiji has stems white like powder... [text missing/corrupted]... its leaves are similar to... [text missing]... this is also a rare item.
[Dragon Brain Incense and Ointment Incense]
Taste: Bitter. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Metal wounds (Jinchuang), internal leakage (internal bleeding or fistulas), improves vision. Harvest time: 120 days after Winter Solstice. Fruit indications: Improves vision, treats flaccidity and obstruction in heart and abdomen, clears heat, promotes urination. Habitat: By roadsides. Harvest time: April. Aliases: Xi Ming, Ma Ju, Ci Yuan. There is also Zao Zhen (Jujube Thorn), which treats lower back pain and bi-syndrome of the throat with obstruction.
This entry contains contradictions; Li Yun's statements are likely more accurate, yet it mentions the flower is also called Xi Ming, suggesting this might be a different plant unrelated to Jujube thorns.
Currently, laypeople use Asparagus cochinchinensis seedlings, which I do not approve. Asparagus seedlings are good for making beverages and benefit the body, but they cannot serve as a substitute for Ji Ci (Spine/Thorn).
[Commentary]: There are various types of Ji (Thorny plants). The later mention of using flowers is not surprising.
Since there are no Ji plants in Jiangnan, Li Yun uses Jujube thorns. Asparagus seedlings are also named Dian Ji; Southerners use them to replace Ji Ci needles, a practice Tao Hongjing also disapproved of. Currently, when using Ji Ci, white ones are superior. The flower is indeed the flower of the Ji plant, definitely no other substance. However, thorns come in two types: hooked and straight. For tonification, straight thorns should be used; for treating swellings, hooked thorns should be selected. It is also stated that Jujube thorns should belong in the Jujube section. Southerners are ignorant of the distinction between Jujube and Ji, hence they are listed together in the Ji section.
[Dragon Brain Incense / Borneol]
Taste: Acrid, Bitter. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Evil qi and Gui Zhu (wandering pain or mental disorders caused by evil pathogens) in the heart and abdomen. Origin: Western Regions. Appearance: Resembles pine resin, yellow-black in color, occurring in blocks; fresh material is also pliable and tough.
[Bolu Gao / Camphor Oil/Ointment]
Taste: Acrid, Bitter. Nature: Slightly Cold (some say Warm), Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Evil qi in heart and abdomen, accumulation due to wind-dampness, deafness, improves vision, removes red eyes and corneal opacities. Origin: Bolu Country. Appearance: Resembles white pine resin, emits an odor like fir wood; transparent and clean quality is best; material exposed to wind and sun for long periods, or resembling bird droppings, is inferior. Storage: Said to be stored with Carbonized Rice (Jingmi Tan) and Mucuna pruriens seeds (Xiangsi Zi) to prevent loss. Indication of ointment: Deafness.
Tree shape resembles fir wood. It is said that Bolu Gao is the clear resin from under the tree roots, while Long Nao (Borneol) is the dry resin from within the tree roots. Fruits resemble cardamom. Bark is rough and scaly. Fragrance resembles Borneol. Taste: Acrid. Actions: Especially effective in descending adverse qi, promoting digestion, dissipating distension and fullness, pleasant fragrance in the mouth. Old records state it originates from Bolu Country, with drugs named after countries. Some say it is simply Fir resin. Fir trees exist in Jiangnan, but have not been tested for resin production; perhaps local areas lack resin. [Newly Added]