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This is Guijianyu (Euonymus alatus).

Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Grows among mountain rocks; the plant is small and grows in clumps. The leaves resemble those of wild tea. In the third and fourth months, it produces small yellow-green flowers. The fruit resembles that of Ilex cornuta (Dongqingzi). The branches have winged spines resembling arrows, appearing as if there are three feathers, hence the name.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) indicates its use for treating metrorrhagia and hypomenorrhea in women, abdominal fullness with sweating, and expelling evil qi while killing ghost poison, gu poison, and zhuzhu (chronic wasting diseases caused by evil spirits or parasites).

Innovation: Guijianyu specifically disperses evil blood; therefore, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* records its treatment for metrorrhagia and hypomenorrhea. The *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) treats sudden evil abdominal pain, removes white worms, and消 (eliminates) skin wind-toxin swelling. This corresponds to the treatments of "abdominal fullness with sweating, expelling evil qi, and killing ghost poison, gu poison, and zhuzhu." Currently, people treat bi-syndrome caused by thief-wind and li-jie (joint pain and deformity), postpartum blood syncope, and blood stasis accumulating in the chest, or clustering in the hypochondrium and lower abdomen. They administer Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) with doubled Danggui (Angelica sinensis), added with Guijianyu, Honghua (Carthamus tinctorius), and Xuanhusuo (Corydalis yanhusuo), decocted and taken orally. This is because its nature specializes in breaking blood stasis. Its potency is sufficient to induce abortion; thus, it is contraindicated during pregnancy.

This is Niujinshu (Elaeagnus oldhamii), commonly known as Niao Ye.

Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.

Innovation: Generally, all kidney-nourishing herbs can damage the spleen. Only this herb stops diarrhea and eliminates drowsiness, due to its qi and spirit interacting uniquely. Zangqi stated that long-term consumption lightens the body and prevents hunger, whitens hair, and prevents aging, which is a verification of strengthening essence and boosting qi. It is used in prescriptions from the *Qianjin Fang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances): boiling the juice on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month to make Qingjing Fan (Green Essence Rice).

Acrid, warm, non-toxic.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* indicates its use for treating heart and abdominal hernia pain, boosting qi to treat [condition implied: likely related to weakness or developmental delay], children unable to walk at age three, and ulcers with genital erosion.

Innovation: Wujia (Acanthopanax senticosus) is the essence of the Five Chariot Stars. It is a crucial herb for treating wind-dampness bi-syndrome and flaccidity syndrome, strengthening sinews and bones, and assisting yang qi. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats heart and abdominal hernia pain, boosts qi to treat [condition implied], and helps children walk at age three, indicating its ability to warm and tonify the lower origin, strengthen sinews and bones, and dispel dampness. The *Mingyi Bielu* treats male impotence with scrotal dampness, dribbling urine after voiding, female vaginal itching, lumbar and spinal pain, and foot bi-syndrome with wind-weakness. The *Daming Bencao* treats joint stiffness and spasms. Su Gong advocated that various conditions of limb stiffness and spasms must be prepared as wine; this allows the medicinal power to circulate easily, making it unsuitable for decoctions.