Library

[Honeycomb Wax]
Sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats dysentery with pus and blood, tonifies the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), repairs severe injuries and fractures, treats metal weapon wounds (Jin Chuang), benefits Qi, prevents hunger, and delays aging. White honeycomb wax treats chronic diarrhea, tenesmus (feeling of incomplete defecation), passage of white pus in stool, tonifies severe injuries, and is beneficial for children. Long-term consumption makes the body light and agile, and prevents hunger. It grows in the valleys of Wudu. It is found between beehives, trees, and rocks. It is incompatible with Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua) and Qige. This is honeycomb wax, born within honey, hence named "Honeycomb Wax". Bees first use this as a base for honey; it can also be obtained when boiling down honey. Initially, it is extremely fragrant and soft. When people boil and refine it again, or add a little vinegar and wine, it turns yellowish-red, which is considered ideal for making candles. Currently, medical practitioners all apply white honeycomb wax; one simply shaves it off for immediate use. It can also be melted into water more than ten times and remain white. Folk prescriptions only use it to compound pills for treating lower-body ailments, whereas the *Immortal Classic* suggests... [Note: Text fragment implies correction regarding "honey" reference]. Honey is detailed under the entry for Rock Honey (Shimi).

[Beeswax Larvae / Bee Pupae]
Sweet in taste, neutral to slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats head wind disorders, eliminates gu poison, tonifies deficiency and emaciation, and treats damage to the Middle Jiao. Treats heart and abdominal pain, expulsion of five types of intestinal parasites from the mouth in adults and children, and yellowing of the face and eyes. Long-term consumption gives luster to the complexion, beautifies the appearance, and delays aging. It makes the body light and benefits Qi. Large yellow bee larvae primarily treat heart and abdominal distension, fullness, and pain; they mainly treat carbuncles and swellings, and sore throat. Also known as Feiling. Grows in the valleys of Wudu. Incompatible with Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao), and Ostreae Concha (Muli). The previous text directly refers to "bee larvae," implying those of the honeybee; take them before they develop heads and legs, stir-fry, and eat them. Alternatively, soak them in wine and apply to the face to make the skin fair and beautiful. Yellow bees refer to those on human roofs and certain other species.

[Oyster Shell]
Salty in taste, neutral to slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats Shanghan (Cold Damage), alternating chills and fever, the chill-inducing sensation of Wen Nue (Warm Malaria), fright and anger qi, relieves spasticity and flaccidity, treats Shu Lou (scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), leukorrhea in women, irregular hot flashes due to Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) deficiency, irritability and fullness, stops sweating, treats heart pain and Qi stagnation, stops thirst, removes old blood stasis, astringes the Large and Small Intestines, stops diarrhea and urinary incontinence, treats spermatorrhea, Bi syndrome of the throat (Hou Bi), cough, and epigastric/chest hypochondriac stuffiness with heat. Long-term consumption strengthens bones and joints, expels evil influences, and prolongs life. Also known as Ligai and Mu Ge. Grows in the pools and marshes of the East Sea; harvest time is not fixed. Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu) acts as its guiding herb (Shi); it works well with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi), Polygalae Radix (Yuanzhi), and Cnidii Fructus (Shechuangzi). It is incompatible with Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Evodiae Fructus (Wuzhuyu), and Magnoliae Flos (Xinyi). Legend states it is transformed from a hundred-year-old eagle; November is the best month for harvesting. Remove the meat, and it takes two hundred days to form. Currently, those from the East Sea, specifically Yongjia and Jin'an, are of good quality. Daoist formulas consider those facing left as male, hence named "Mu Li" (Male Oyster); those facing right are female, called Pin Li. They attach to rocks, always with the mouth upward. When held up with the abdomen facing south, if the mouth slants eastward, it is correct. Some say the pointed end indicates left-facing; it is unclear which is accurate. Generally, larger ones are preferred. They are also produced in Guangzhou and the South Sea, but mostly right-facing ones are not used. Alchemical prescriptions use mud to coat cauldrons, removing the shell edges and using only the powdery interior. Folk usage is similar; coastal people use it to coat salt-boiling cauldrons, making them resistant to fire and water without cracking or leaking.