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This is the Placenta Humana (Zi He Che).
Sweet, salty, warm, non-toxic. Select those that are thick, small, and fresh in color; remove the blood vessels and rinse away the bloody water thoroughly. Add a handful of Zanthoxylum Fructus (Huajiao, 花椒), boil with hot water to remove the fishy smell, then mix with Honey (Fengmi, 蜂蜜). Simmer gently over low heat in an old tin vessel using running long-flowing water until it becomes mushy like porridge. Strain through fine silk cloth to remove the dregs; use this decoction instead of honey to bind pills for better efficacy.

[Invention] The Placenta Humana inherits the residual essence of the fertilized blood and conception fluid, deriving most of its Qi and Blood from the mother; thus, it can vigorously tonify Ying Blood (Nutritive Blood). It is used to treat conditions such as bone-steaming fever, emaciation, wheezing cough, and deficiency-fatigue diseases. This constitutes tonification by flavor. Since Zhu Danxi extensively praised its merits, Wu Qiu created the Da Zao Wan (Great Creation Pill), which, although highly regarded by the world, contains ingredients such as Rehmanniae Radix Recens (Sheng Dihuang, 生地黄), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai, 黄柏), Asparagi Rhizoma (Tian Dong, 天冬), Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Dong, 麦冬), and Testudinis et Carapacis et Plastrum (Guiban, 龟板)—a group of cloying and stomach-damaging herbs. Even with the addition of one ingredient, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), it merely aids the momentum of the Yin herbs. Ingestion often leads to damage of the Middle Jiao, vomiting, and diarrhea, showing little merit. Only the Hepche Wan (Placenta Pill) formula from *Yong Lei Qian Fang* uses one human placenta, Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 山药) two liang, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参) one liang, and Poria (Fuling, 茯苓) five qian, bound with wine paste into pills. In recent times, fresh placenta is used, steamed over water, pounded into pills, which is particularly effective and does not injure Stomach Qi even when taken by deficient individuals.

Salty, moistening, slightly cool, non-toxic. In the twelfth lunar month, take the Placenta Humana, place it in a lidded earthenware jar, and bury it deep in the soil. Take it out only when needed; do not keep it for long, or it will dry out. Alternatively, mix it with raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma powder (Sheng Gancao, 生甘草) in the jar and bury it in the soil. After three to five years, dig it up for medicinal use.

[Invention] The nature of the fetal membrane is originally hot, but through transformation by Earth Qi, it excels at grasping floating fire and returning it to its origin. It is effective for pediatric erysipelas and various heat-toxin eruptions, alternating chills and fever that do not cease, delirious speech, hair standing on end without cause, deficiency bloating, epidemic heat diseases, sore throat, and deficiency-fatigue sore throat. Drinking it brings immediate relief. For chronic regurgitation, drinking one cup may result in the expulsion of worms.

[Invention] The Umbilical Cord (Qidai, 脐带) is the life belt of a person. When powdered and mixed with a small amount of Cinnabar (Zhusha, 朱砂), taken with honey water, it resolves the infant's original fetal toxins. Its effect is no different from using bone ash to treat internal injuries.

Salty, greatly warm, slightly toxic.

[Invention] Although the Fetal Origin (Taiyuan, 胎元) has been expelled, the licentious fire of fetal respiration has not yet left, and the innate truth remains unbroken. Its nature is twice as potent as that of the Placenta Humana. Ancient formulas rarely use it; only the Jingang Wan (Vajra Pill) employs it. Although it is "using humans to supplement humans," if beasts eating each other are abhorrent, how much more so should humans eating humans evoke compassion?