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Commonly known as "Ghost Mantou".

The fruit is sweet, neutral, and astringent; the leaf is sour and neutral; non-toxic.

Invention: Mulián (Wood Lotus) is the fruit of *Ficus pumila* (Creeping Fig). Its nature withstands wind and frost, remaining evergreen in severe winter; thus, it can treat all types of wind-related tinea and malignant sores. It is an essential herb for promoting diuresis, treating blood disorders, and facilitating lactation. Ancient prescriptions use two pieces of Mulián decocted with the front trotters of a pig to make a soup. Drinking the juice thoroughly allows milk flow to commence within one day. Childless women who consume it can also produce milk. Its leaves primarily treat back sores; take the leaves, crush and squeeze out the juice, mix with honey, and drink several liters. Apply the residue topically; recovery follows after bowel movements. Decocted in water, it treats pain caused by "thief-wind" (wind-stroke or rheumatic pain); fumigate and wash while hot, three times daily, until pain ceases. Crush and squeeze the juice of the vine to treat vitiligo. For scrofula, malignant sores, and tinea, it reduces swelling and dissipates toxicity. It treats intestinal hemorrhoids, heart pain, and genital swelling/pain. However, it should not be used by people in southern regions prone to miasma.

Zige (Purple Kudzu) is sweet, cold, and bitter; non-toxic. It grows in mountain valleys; the vine resembles grapevine, growing over ten feet long, with purple roots. It is now found everywhere.

Invention: Zige harmonizes blood and detoxifies, treating carbuncles and malignant sores. Take the root bark, crush into powder, mix with vinegar, and apply externally. In the *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold), Zige is used as the chief ingredient because it can dissipate stagnant qi caused by cold and heat.

Also named Le Cao (Strangling Grass), also named Gele Man (Kudzu Vine), commonly known as Ge Ren Teng (Cutting Person Vine).

Sweet and bitter, cold; non-toxic.

Invention: This vine grows along roadsides, possessing many thorns that cut and strangle people, hence the name Gele Man. It specifically treats the five types of strangury (dysuria), promotes urination, and dissipates blood stasis. It is taken as crushed juice. The *Qianjin Fang* uses it specifically for gao lin (fatty strangury), administered mixed with vinegar.

This is Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle).

Sweet, warm; non-toxic.

Invention: Jinyinhua is aromatic and sweet, entering the Spleen and Lung meridians. It primarily treats dysentery with pus and blood, serving as an essential internal medicine for carbuncles and swellings. It detoxifies and expels pus, containing tonifying properties within its draining action, making it a sacred remedy for post-ulceration of carbuncles and gangrene. Modern practitioners only know its ability to reduce swelling, neglecting its capacity to benefit wind-deficiency conditions. It should not be used in cases of qi deficiency with thin pus, poor appetite, or loose stools. For inverted or depressed smallpox lesions that fail to rise, decoct the root in flowing water for bathing; efficacy is indicated when the lesions become bright and robust. This is a variation of the Shuiyang Tang (Water Poplar Decoction).