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(Shennong Bencao Jing, Lower Grade)
Poisons attack diseases; one must not hesitate to use toxic substances, yet one must not employ them lightly.

[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, warm, toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats cold damage (Shanghan), the alternating chills and fever of warm malaria (Wen Nue), breaks up masses (Zheng Jia) and hard accumulations (Jian Ji), eliminates retained fluids (Liu Yin) and phlegm癖 (Tan Pi), treats abdominal distension (Da Fu), cleanses the five zang and six fu organs, and opens blockages (Bi Sai).

[Verification] Says: It originates from the valleys of Ba Commandery. Currently, it is found in Jiazhou, Meizhou, and Rongzhou. The tree is one or two zhang high. The leaves are like cherry leaves but thicker and larger; initially green, they gradually turn yellowish-red. They wither in late winter, sprout in mid-spring, fall completely in mid-summer when new leaves emerge simultaneously, then flower into spikes with a slightly yellow color. Fruits form in chambers in May and June, ripen in July and August, and drop naturally. One chamber has two valves, each containing one seed, or sometimes three. The seeds retain their shells, a feature rarely seen elsewhere. Processing: Remove the shell and crush. For every liang of the drug, boil with seven he of sesame oil and seven he of wine until dry, then grind into a paste. Yuanhua (Radix Genkwa) serves as its guiding herb (shi). It is incompatible with Dahuang (Rhubarb Rhizome), Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Lusun (Reed Shoots), Gusun (Water Bamboo Shoots), Lilu (Veratrum Rhizome), Jiang (Fermented Bean Curd), Chi (Black Soybeans), and Lengshui (Cold Water); fire enhances its efficacy; it is adverse to Gujianyu (Artemisia capillaris? Note: Text says 草, likely specific weed or typo for 鬼箭羽/Artemisiae Ramulus, but literal translation used here as generic grass/weed context implies incompatibility); it opposes Qiuniu (Pharbitidis Semen). If poisoned, antidote with cold water, Huanglian, or soybean juice.

[Interpretation] Says: "Ba" is the name of a snake. Xu Shen states: "The Ba snake swallows an elephant," agile, cunning, and greedy, capable of rotting and dissolving solid forms, representing the utmost toxicity in nature. This describes how Badou's cleansing of organs and opening of blockages resembles the nature of the Ba snake. Thus, it can counteract extreme yin condensation and hard accumulations. Ancestors have extensively discussed: "Dang" (cleansing) leaves nothing tender behind; "Lian" (refining) removes all flaws. Unless the patient's yang qi is exhausted and the body is like dead ash, using this drug may harm the innocent; caution is essential.

(Shennong Bencao Jing, Lower Grade)

[Flavor and Properties] Bitter, cold, slightly toxic.

[Indications] Primarily treats gu poison (Gu Du) and twelve types of water diseases, abdominal fullness with acute pain and accumulations, wind-stroke (Zhong Feng), skin pain, and vomiting/rebellious qi.

[Verification] Says: It originates from Changshan. It is also found near roadsides, mostly growing in plains and marshes. In February and March, red buds emerge, growing tall and dense. The stem is straight, hollow, and exudes white latex when broken. Leaves are narrow and long like willow leaves, with dense growth at the tips. In March and April, yellow-purple flowers bloom, resembling apricot and myrobalan flowers. Roots resemble Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) but are finer. A variety called Tu Dajing is classified in the lower grade. In the north, there is Mian Dajing, with bark tough as cotton and white in color; its properties are harsh, and weak individuals who take it by mistake may vomit blood. Processing: Do not use wild-grown plants; accidental ingestion causes uncontrollable qi leakage, which can be treated with decoction of Qicai (Shepherd's Purse). After harvesting, finely chop on a locust wood cutting board, mix with Haiyu (Arisaema cum Baccis) leaves, steam from Si hour to Shen hour, remove the Yu leaves, and sun-dry. It is incompatible with Gancao (Licorice Root); Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) can resolve its toxicity.

Ancestor said: Double branches form a "ji" (halberd), used as a door bolt. When our army faces the enemy, at throat locations or border regions, life and death depend on entry and exit; its utility is great. Essentially, gu poison enters only through it, twelve waters do not exit without it, wind pathogens desire entry, and rebellious vomiting desires exit; can these four pathways lack a pivotal gate? However, the pivot of the human body is governed by the Heart, just as the fate of troops lies with the general. The color and flavor of Dajing flowers and shoots entirely correspond to the Heart image. Indeed, it is a dispersing and unblocking agent for emergency prescriptions. Who among the upper, lower, exterior, and interior would not pass through its gate for entry and exit? Nowadays, people only know it for purging water, yet it can be expanded to treat smallpox and clarify fluid retention, as it belongs to the water category. A guest asked: The human body uses nine orifices as gates, and Yue Ren (Bian Que) established seven Chong points as thoroughfares. Dajing only drains downward; where are its borders and gates? I answer: Nine orifices are the body's gates; seven Chong are the thoroughfares of the six fu organs. Similarly, the five zang, twelve meridians, bone spaces, and couli (interstices) all have borders, thoroughfares, and gates. The Classics state: "Eighty-four thousand pores flow like large ravines"; this is not metaphor. Dajing is bitter and cold, executing the function of the Heart, corresponding to summer. If even one pore were not expansive in summer, the body would not be agile. Because all expand in summer, it achieves supreme utility. Dajing amplifies summer qi, serving as a gate and thoroughfare, providing a path for evil to exit, sweating out from outside and inside, or draining downward. Moreover, the exterior qi of the Heart is yang, and bitterness/cold receives the transformation of Taiyang Cold Water. Thus, it functions for the Heart, being a drug that disperses and opens the Taiyang channel. Since Taiyang governs opening, and opening places become thoroughfares and gates, there should be no doubt.

[Interpretation] Says: "Da" refers to its efficacy; "Ji" means a halberd (branch weapon). Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou) mentions Ji Men (Halberd Gate), noting that halberds serve as doors, managing opening and closing, and defending against insults. For treating vomiting/rebellious qi, it focuses on "opening"; for treating gu poison, twelve waters, abdominal fullness/pain/accumulation, and wind-stroke/skin pain, it focuses on "closing". Closing holds to open; opening holds to close. It is like drawing a halberd to drive away enemies, eliminating those who do not resist.