Library

Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) is sour and neutral; its seed kernel is sweet and neutral, non-toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states: It mainly treats the accumulation of cold-heat pathogenic qi in the heart and abdomen, soreness and pain in the four limbs, and damp-bi obstruction. Long-term consumption can calm and nourish the five zang organs.

[Invention] Suanzaoren is sweet and moistening. When cooked/roasted, it astringes body fluids; thus, it treats conditions of gallbladder deficiency manifesting as insomnia, vexation, thirst, and spontaneous sweating due to deficiency. When raw, it guides away deficient heat; thus, it treats conditions of gallbladder heat manifesting as hypersomnia, mental confusion, and fatigue. It is the principal herb for the Foot Jueyin Liver and Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder channels, and also enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen channel. Note: The Suanzao tree itself is sour and has an astringent nature, but its kernel is sweet, moist, and warm in nature, capable of dispersing stagnation in the Liver and Gallbladder channels. Therefore, in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, for treating heart-abdominal cold-heat, pathological qi accumulation causing soreness/pain, blood-bi, etc., raw material is used to unblock and regulate the blood vessels of the Liver and Spleen. Generally, Liver deficiency leads to Yin injury, causing dual vexation in the heart and inability to store the Hun (Ethereal Soul), resulting in insomnia. For post-Shanghan (Cold Damage) deficiency vexation with excessive sweating, and night sweats in deficient individuals, it is roasted and used to primarily extract the function of astringing Liver and Spleen body fluids. In Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction), it is used to nourish Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), thereby eliminating Spleen heat. Used alone in porridge, it removes vexation and benefits Gallbladder Qi; when Gallbladder Qi is tranquil, the Hun and dreams become stable. Modern practitioners exclusively regard it as a medicine for the Heart, which is fundamentally ignorant of this principle.

Baiji (White Thorn) is pungent and cold, non-toxic.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It mainly treats heart-abdominal pain, carbuncles and swellings with pus discharge, relieves pain, and resolves piercing knots.

[Invention] Baiji are the thorns from the small jujube tree; thus, they can resolve piercing knots. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* records its treatment of carbuncles and swellings with pus discharge, which is not very different from Zaoci (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina). The *Bielu* (Additional Records by Famous Physicians) records its treatment of male deficiency exhaustion, impotence, and seminal emission, tonifying Kidney Qi and benefiting essence and marrow, and treating throat bi obstruction. It also treats stabbing pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium, hematuria, and hemorrhoidal fistulas, all taking advantage of its ability to penetrate and reach the Liver and Kidney channels.

Ruren (Prunus Persica Kernel / Prunus mume Seed) is sweet and warm, non-toxic. Remove the shell, soak in water, remove the skin and tips, boil in water, grind finely, wrap in paper, and press to remove oil before use.
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It mainly treats pathogenic heat and qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen, brightens the eyes, and treats red painful eyes, tearing, and swollen/ulcerated eyelids.

[Invention] Ruren is sweet, warm, and moistening. It can treat wind-heat pathogens in various channels and pathogenic heat with qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen; it is not limited to treating eye diseases. For itchy eyes due to wind, or formation of nebulae (corneal opacity), or redness/swelling/pain, equal parts of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Ruren (after removing skin and grinding into paste) are filled into dried jujubes (with pits removed) and boiled in water to drop into the eyes; this is very effective. However, do not use if the condition is due to deficiency rather than wind-heat.