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(Bie Lu, Middle Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats impotence (Yang痿), edema (Shui Zhong); benefits Qi (Qi), fills muscles (Chong Ji), and brightens the eyes (Ming Mu). Long-term consumption prevents hunger, delays aging, and lightens the body.
[Clinical Notes] Says: It grows in Mount Shaoshi and is also found elsewhere. There are male and female varieties. The male plant has spotted bark, leaves without forks, flowers in March forming catkins like willow catkins, then withers without fruiting; the female plant has unspotted bark, forked leaves, flowers in April forming catkins resembling half-ripe bayberries, green in summer, turning deep red in June-July when ripe. Wash with water to remove seeds, candied with honey as a fruit; young leaves and flower spikes can be eaten as vegetables. This refers to the bark of Broussonetia papyrifera. For processing, soak in water for three days, stir and rotate, discard floating materials. Drain, sun-dry, moisten with wine for one shi (approx. 2 hours), steam from Si hour to Hai hour (approx. 12 hours), bake dry for use.
[Clinical Notes] Says: Among "evil woods," there is one called Chu, also called Gu or Gou. Leaves without lobes are Gou; leaves with lobes are Chu. Bark that is white is Gu; bark with spots is Chu. Xiang Gan Zhi records: Juice of Chu can be used to encapsulate cinnabar. The saying "Chu gum acts as lacquer for metal and stone" refers to this. People in Jiangnan weave its bark into cloth and pound it into paper; Chu specializes in its bark and juice. Thus, Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi), Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), Yin, and Yang all suit it. Why? Yang guards the exterior and maintains solidity; Yin nourishes essence and responds promptly (Qi Ji). Yin and Yang are the substance and function of Ying and Wei inside and outside. Therefore, treating impotence and edema utilizes the function of prompt response. Preventing hunger, delaying aging, and lightening the body are auspicious signs of Wei Qi solidification. Brightening the eyes involves Wei Qi exiting through the eyes, coordinating with Ying Qi ascending to note the root of essence. In reality, it encompasses the whole body; leaves bias towards Wei Qi, thus specifically managing body heat. If ingestion does not generate flesh but rather thickens muscles and fills interstices (Cou Li), it also falls under the domain of Wei Qi.

(Bie Lu, Middle Grade)
[Flavor and Nature] Extremely bitter, extremely cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats headache due to epidemic febrile diseases (Shi Qi Tou Tong), high fever (Da Re), and mouth ulcers (Kou Chuang).
[Clinical Notes] Says: It originates from eastern border roads and Jiangdong prefectures; now also found in Jingnan, Meizhou, Shu, and Haozhou. In spring, it produces cyan-purple stems, two to three chi tall, with opposite leaves, three to four cun long, cyan on the upper surface and pale on the lower. Flowers resemble Polygonum, colored red-purple, similar to Genkwa Flos (Yuan Hua). Fruits are cyan-green, size of pepper grains, turning red at Frost Descent. Stems and leaves are harvested in March-April and dried in shade.
[Clinical Notes] Says: The East generates Wind, which communicates internally with the Liver (Gan); the Liver governs Wood, and its color is cyan; thus, it can promote the function of strong Wind and Wood, hence named Da Qing (Isatis Leaf). With an extremely bitter flavor and extremely cold nature, although it addresses Yang heat as the branch and Heat as the root, it is not comparable to Yin stagnation sinking downward; its force moves from outside to inside, yet still disperses from inside to outside. Reading Zhang Zhongjing's Da Qing Long Tang (Major Blue Dragon Decoction) methods: one addresses the transformation of Branch Yang and Root Wind; the other releases Branch Yang and Root Cold about to sink. Understanding these reveals the principle.