Library

Lily Bulb: Sweet, neutral, non-toxic. The white-flowered variety tonifies the Spleen and Lung; the red-flowered variety is known as Shandan (Mountain Lily), used to dissipate blood stasis in medicinal applications.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats abdominal distension and heart pain caused by pathogenic factors, promotes urination and defecation, and tonifies the middle and replenishes Qi.

Invention (Pharmacological Elaboration): Lily bulb can tonify Earth (Spleen/Stomach) and clear Metal (Lung), stop coughing, and promote urination. Zhang Zhongjing used it concurrently with Rehmannia Root (*Sheng Dihuang*) for Baihe Bing (Lily Disease), taking advantage of its ability to eliminate blood stasis. The statement in the *Bencao Jing* regarding treating abdominal distension and heart pain due to pathogenic factors refers to dissipating accumulated pathogens, a point misunderstood by modern practitioners. Its ability to promote urination and defecation stems from its specific descending and purgative nature. Its claim to tonify the middle and replenish Qi arises because the Spleen and Stomach are pacified once pathogenic heat is removed. However, due to its specific descending and purgative nature, it is contraindicated for those with deficient-cold of the Middle Qi and loose stools or frequent urination. Red-flowered lilies invigorate blood and treat metrorrhagia in women. Its stamens applied externally treat carbuncles and malignant sores. According to *Wu Ji Wen*, lilies are transformed from earthworms, which is indeed plausible. I have personally seen lilies in various stages of transformation in soil crevices at Baoshan. Generally, wild lilies do originate from earthworm transformation. The lily's effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, dissipating accumulation, and resolving stasis are essentially the inherent nature of the earthworm.

Eggplant: Also known as Lusu. Sweet, cold, slightly toxic.

Invention: Eggplant is cold and slippery; excessive consumption causes abdominal pain and diarrhea. For women, it can damage the Uterus and trigger chronic diseases. Excessive consumption in autumn damages the eyes. Burnt ash from old, split eggplants treats nipple fissures. Eggplant roots treated with decoction soak effectively for frostbite-induced skin cracking. White eggplant roots are used in rheumatism formulas, taken as wine infusion; white eggplant calyxes dipped in sulfur powder treat vitiligo. Purple eggplant calyxes dipped in sulfur powder treat purpura, leveraging their ability to disperse wind-toxin and blood stasis. The *Dan Fang* records using burnt eggplant calyxes (preserving properties) taken with wine to treat early-stage brain carbuncles, causing them to resolve before ulceration. Another prescription uses seven pieces of bone from the eggplant calyx combined with one tael of raw Polygonum multiflorum (*He Shou Wu*), decocted and taken; three doses lead to recovery.

Bottle Gourd: Specifically the long-necked gourd. Bitter, cold, toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats severe edema with swelling of the face, eyes, and limbs, promotes water drainage, but induces vomiting.

Invention: Gourds come in sweet and bitter varieties. Although the sweet variety is said to be non-toxic, it is not beneficial. Bian Que stated that those suffering from lower limb edema should not consume it, as the condition will never resolve. The bitter variety particularly damages Stomach Qi and should not be tried lightly. All bitter-cold herbs can attack the Stomach, not just gourds. The *Bencao Jing* mentions treating severe edema and promoting water drainage via vomiting, which severely damages Middle Qi. Currently, it is used to treat jaundice and fluid retention with urinary and fecal obstruction. It may be steamed over rice after soaking in fiery wine, or processed with sugar frosting while preserving its properties. It can only be forcibly used to subdue pathogenic factors in acute excess syndromes. If mistakenly taken by patients with chronic illness and deficient Stomach Qi, it will inevitably cause incessant vomiting and diarrhea, often leading to death. Can one not be cautious? Its seeds, decocted into juice or soaked in wine, treat nasal congestion when dripped in small amounts. It is also used in medicines for eye conditions involving fleshy or bloody pterygium, utilizing its bitter-cold nature to descend fire. Ash from long-necked gourds, preserved by burning, is ground into powder and applied to axillary goiter/lumps until healed.