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[Shennong Bencao Jing, Upper Grade]
[Taste and Property] Sweet and astringent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats damp-bi (joint pain and numbness caused by dampness obstruction), pain in the lower back, spine, and knees; tonifies the Middle Jiao (digestive system), eliminates sudden acute diseases, benefits essence and qi, strengthens willpower, and makes the ears clear and eyes bright. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents hunger, delays aging, and achieves a state akin to immortality.
[Analysis] It is stated: Qianshi (Euryale Seed) grows in Leichi and marshes, and is found everywhere, but those from Wulin (modern Hangzhou area) are superior. Locals are skilled at recording the timing of fruit development and harvest accordingly. If harvested on time, the shell is soft and the flesh glutinous; if harvested too early, the shell rots and the flesh has not coagulated; if harvested too late, the shell becomes hard and the flesh coarse and old. Sprouts appear in the third lunar month; stems grow underwater with leaves floating on the surface. Stems and leaves have many prickles. Stems over three meters long have hollow centers and silk-like fibers; the soft parts can be eaten after peeling. Leaves resemble lotus leaves but are larger, with wrinkles like folds and convolutions like boiling water; the upper surface is green and the underside purple. Flowers bloom in the fifth and sixth lunar months, are purplish-red, and face the sun. After flowering, buds form, covered externally by green spines resembling hedgehogs, shaped like chestnut burrs. Flowers emerge from the top of the bud, resembling a chicken's beak. Inside, mottled soft flesh wraps the seeds, clustered like pearls. Inside the shell are white grains resembling fish eyes. The root is triangular; when boiled, it tastes like taro. *Erya Yi* states: Chewing Qianshi finely generates "water from above" (referring to saliva or body fluids), thus benefiting humans. Just as horses eating short grass become fat and joyful, giving it to children prevents rapid growth, hence it preserves youth. Qian (Euryale) and Ling (Water Caltrop) are both aquatic plants but differ in nature. Qian flowers face the sun, while Ling flowers turn away from it. Their differing orientation towards yin and yang results in different effects on regulating yin and yang. *Pi Ya* states: Lotus flowers expand during the day and contract at night; Qian flowers close during the day and open at night, which is another difference in yin and yang. Processing methods include steaming until cooked, then sun-drying until cracked to extract the kernel, or pounding into powder for use. *Xia Riji* states: One dou of Qianshi soaked in decoction made from four liang of Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root) can be preserved for a long time without spoiling.
[Mystical Contemplation] It is said: Qian grows in water, yet its flowers and fruits face the sun, embodying the meaning of Water and Fire already interacting (Ji Ji). Among herbs and trees, growth relies entirely on earth and water; however, Qian additionally relies on the fire of the sun as a precursor and successor, also embodying the concept of Wood embryo within Fire. Furthermore, the leaf surface convulses like boiling water, stems and thorns resemble brambles, and the fruit skin/shell resembles armor, thus embodying the concept of Metal embryo within Water. It is truly an object that interchanges Wood, Metal, Fire, and Water to preserve physical form. Benefits such as enriching essence, strengthening will, and preventing hunger are the internal responses of preserving form; clarity of vision and hearing, lightness of body, and resistance to aging are the external correspondences; flying and becoming immortal represent the completion of the practice of preserving form. There is no case where the form is preserved while the central foundation is not built and refined. Conditions such as damp-bi causing pain in the waist, spine, and knees, as well as sudden acute diseases, are the therapeutic functions of this form-preserving substance. Ancestors discussed broadly: Qian is the small within the large, the essence within the coarse, the sweetness within the astringency, the soft beauty within thorns, the flow within stagnation, the qi-insight within mental barriers, and the strength within fatigue. However, between its fine and sweet qualities, the stored power is both firm and enduring. Therefore, those who consume it should value subtlety and longevity, not quantity or frequency.
(Dragon is obtained from fire, Metal is sought from water; this seeks the secret principle of the embryo. Things like Large, Medium, Coarse, Thorny, Stagnant, Mental Barrier, and Fatigue are usually discarded at a glance. If not for the ancestors' keen insight, one would almost miss them face-to-face.)