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(Ben Jing, Middle Category)

[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, warm, slightly toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats cold in the middle jiao (Middle Burner), directs rebellious Qi downward, alleviates pain, dispels dampness and blood bi (obstruction), expels wind pathogenic factors, opens the cou li (pores and interstices), treats cough with rebellious Qi, alternating chills and fever, and kills three types of parasites.

[Verification] It says: Available everywhere, especially abundant in Jiangzhe and Shu-Han regions, with those from Fujian being the best quality. The tree is about one zhang high, bark is greenish-blue, branches are soft and plump, leaves are long and wrinkled, resembling Toona leaves, broad and dense, purple-red in color. In March, red-purple flowers bloom at the tips; in July and August, fruits form, clustering densely without hard pits. When young, they are slightly yellow; when ripe, deep red. There are two varieties: large grains and small grains; the small ones are used for medicine. Processing method: remove leaves and stems. For every 10 liang of material, use 2 liang of salt,投 into 4 dou of flowing water from the east, wash it 100 times to naturally remove mucus, then dry in the sun for use in pills and powders. For every 10 liang, use one yi of vinegar, boil for thirty boils, then add the Evodia fruit, and stir-fry until dry. Polygonum persicaria seed is its guiding herb. It is incompatible with Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Nux Vomica (Xiaoke Shi), and Kaolin (Baie). It fears Fluorite (Zi Shiy ing).

[Elucidation] It says: Zhu implies fire gestating within wood; Yu implies Yi (Wood) gestating within Jia (Yang Wood); Wu refers to its place of origin. Therefore, it treats cold in the middle jiao; its action advances sharply, clearing and driving out bi obstruction, and recedes rapidly. It develops the upper jiao, disseminates the flavors of the five grains, steams the skin, fills the body, and moistens hair, like mist and dew irrigation. It is an excellent agent for tonifying the Qi of the Yang qi-generating aspect. Thus, descending Qi is resolved from above, rebellious Qi due to cough calms down, and parasites formed by bi obstruction are killed. Those with internal heat should avoid it; however, for those with external cold exposure and cold dietary intake, the effect is quite rapid. Combined with Coptis chinensis Rhizome (Huanglian), it treats Dan Yin syndrome, achieving mutual benefit.

(Ben Jing, Middle Category)

[Flavor and Properties] Salty, slightly warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats leukorrhea (red and white discharge) in women, amenorrhea due to blood stasis, genital erosion with swelling and pain, alternating chills and fever, zheng jia (masses), and infertility.

[Verification] It says: Found in coastal prefectures. Transformed from cold crows entering water in September; after the Xiaoman solar term, the shape becomes smaller. Shape resembles a leather bag, mouth located on the underside, eight legs clustered around the mouth, no scales but has tentacles, two tentacles are very long like belts. When encountering waves, it drops anchor using these tentacles or sticks them together as cables, hence called Lan Yu (Cable Fish). It can suck up prey until dead and peck at it, then roll it into water to eat, thus named Wuzei (Black Bird Thief), implying harm to birds. Hence, the blood and gall inside are black as ink, usable for writing, but traces vanish after a year, leaving only empty paper. People say the cuttlefish holds ink and knows propriety, calling it a minor official of Hairuo. The outer skin is black, inner flesh white. There is only one bone on the back, shaped like a Chupu die but slightly longer, pointed at both ends, pure white, light and brittle texture, layered with veins, resembling Akebia stem. Veins running longitudinally indicate authenticity; transverse veins indicate shark bone. Processing method: soak in brine, boil for one shichen (two hours), take out, dig a pit, burn red hot, place the Sepia shell inside, leave overnight, then take out; efficacy doubles. Incompatible with Bletilla striata Tuber (Baiji), Ampelopsis japonica Rhizome (Bailian), and Aconitum carmichaelii Lateral Root (Fuzi). Can desalinate salt, subdue Silver, and shrink Silver.

[Elucidation] It says: The unique back bone without joints is named Piaoxiao, merely similar in shape. The upper surface is hard and thin like armor, inner texture light and brittle, maintained by the Du vessel, opening and closing by the Ren vessel. Its mouth is on the abdomen, so its respiration relies on fetal breathing. Sucking waves and ink for self-defense represents storing essence and rising urgently, where Yang uses Yin, and Wei Qi transforms Ying Qi into Wei Qi. Treating red and white leukorrhea and menstrual blood involves Bi (expelling) through He (closing). Blood stasis, genital erosion, swelling, pain, alternating chills and fever, zheng jia, and infertility involve He (closing) through Bi (expelling). Other texts treat male epilepsy, malaria, hematemesis and epistaxis, internal heat, abscess pus, and chickenpox. Nei Jing treats Xue Ku (Blood Dryness), acquired in youth from massive blood loss or intercourse while drunk, leading to exhaustion of Middle Qi, injury to Liver Blood, scanty menstruation not arriving on time, chest and hypochondriac fullness, difficulty eating, smelling fishy odor before onset, clear fluid discharge, spitting blood first, cold limbs, dizziness, frequent bleeding from front and back, named Xue Ku. Combined with Rubia cordifolia Root (Luru), harmonized with Quail Egg, and drunk with Cuttlefish Ink Juice, to benefit intestines and nourish Liver Blood. All belong to changes and disasters of Ying and Ren vessels, hence suitable.

(Scanty menstruation means irregular menstruation in women, and irregular seminal emission in men.)