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Gouqi (Lycii Fructus): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Hexi and Ganzhou.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it treats internal heat with thirst (Neire Xiao Ke), and long-term use strengthens the sinews and bones, enabling tolerance to cold and heat.

[Invention] Gouqi has a sweet taste and red color; its warm nature is undeniable. The root has a slightly bitter taste and must be slightly cold in nature. This confusion arises because the *Shennong Bencao Jing* discusses the root and fruit together without distinction, leading later authors to claim either that the fruit is slightly cold and the root greatly cold, or that the fruit is greatly warm and the root bitter-cold. This stems from being misled by one perspective; there is no inherent logic for such a stark dichotomy of cold and heat. Nature produces diverse entities, often abundant in one aspect and deficient in another. For instance, the flesh of Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) astringes essence while the seed causes seminal emission; the head of Angelica sinensis (Danggui) stops bleeding while the tail invigorates blood and breaks stasis; the peel of Citrus reticulata (Chenpi) clears phlegm while the membrane gathers phlegm—such examples are numerous. Even when the Yan Emperor tasted herbs, he detailed only their qi, flavor, shape, and color. How could an item with a sweet taste, red color, and nourishing, plump texture possess a cold nature? The indications in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding treating internal heat with thirst, strengthening sinews and bones, and tolerating cold and heat refer specifically to the fruit. Its moist texture and rich flavor vigorously tonify the essence and blood of the Liver, Kidney, Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), and Du Mai (Conception Vessel). When essence and blood are replenished, water becomes abundant and bones become strong. Consequently, conditions arising from Kidney deficiency with hyperactive fire, such as internal heat with thirst, blurred vision due to Blood deficiency, and pain in the lower back and knees, are all cured, eliminating vulnerability to cold and heat. This aligns with the principle: "For those lacking sufficient essence, tonify with substantial flavors." An ancient proverb states, "Traveling a thousand miles from home, do not eat Gouqi," emphasizing the rapidity of its essence and qi tonification. However, it should be used with caution in cases of Yang Qi deficiency, Yin deficiency with seminal slipperiness, sexual exhaustion, and consumption fever with dry cough; this is because it benefits essence and blood, and abundant essence naturally increases libido, which is logical.

Digupi (Lycii Cortex): Sweet and bland in flavor, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. The best quality comes from Quanzhou.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records that it treats pathogenic factors within the five zang organs, generalized bi syndrome with wind-dampness, and long-term use strengthens sinews and bones, lightening the body and preventing aging.

[Invention] Digupi is the root of Gouqi and acts on the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) qi level. It is suitable for deficiency-heat in the Lower Jiao involving the Liver and Kidney, bone-steaming fever, and spontaneous sweating. When excessive heat lurks internally, it should be purged with sweet-cold substances. People generally know that Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Lianzi (Coptidis Rhizoma) treat Upper Jiao fire, and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) treat Lower Jiao fire, calling this tonifying Yin and descending fire. They do not realize that Digupi’s sweet-cold nature provides a balanced tonification, possessing the subtle efficacy of benefiting essence and qi while retreating pathogenic fire. Li Shizhen once used Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba) to assist Digupi in reducing fever, achieving remarkable results repeatedly. Furthermore, it treats Gucaofeng (bone槽风, a type of osteomyelitis or chronic ulcer), owing to its entry into the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and its thin flavor allowing easy penetration. The *Shennong Bencao Jing*’s indications for treating pathogenic factors in the five viscera, generalized bi with wind-dampness, lightening the body, and preventing aging rely on its sweet-bland property to transform heat and its bitter-cold property to disperse dampness. When dampness disperses, bi obstruction unblocks; when heat transforms, the five viscera are pacified. Its qi is clear, its flavor is thin, and its substance is light; it is truly an immortal herb for cultivation and ingestion.
Note: The *Xu Xian Zhuan* records that Zhu Ruzi saw two spotted dogs by a stream, chased them into a Gouqi thicket, dug up roots shaped like the two dogs, cooked and ate them, and suddenly felt his body become light. This confirms the *Shennong Bencao Jing*’s statement about "lightening the body and preventing aging." Thus, the nourishing benefits of Gouqi are not limited to the fruit, but the root’s function is primarily to reduce heat. The leaves and shoots have a slightly bitter taste and can also descend fire and clear the head and eyes.