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(Recorded in *Tang Bencao*)
Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) belongs to the fire of the Mingmen Gate (Gate of Life), which is the Yang energy represented by the Ren Heavenly Stem.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, neutral in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats various cases of Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea), as well as snakebites.
[Verification] It is said: In deep winter, the perennial roots sprout again, growing in clumps resembling Artemisia (mugwort). The leaves are fine, dense, and neatly arranged, tender green like algae. Flowers bloom in the fifth and sixth lunar months; the flower heads are umbellate, resembling those of Cnidii Fructus (Snakeweed fruit) but yellow in color. The seeds resemble wheat grains, with fine ridges, light and floating texture, commonly known as small fennel. Although found everywhere, the variety from Ningxia is considered the best. The variety imported via foreign ships has larger fruits resembling Platycladi Semen (Arborvitae seed), splitting into eight segments, each containing one core resembling a bean, yellowish-brown. The odor turns fragrant, and the taste becomes sweet, commonly known as star anise. It is also found in the Dong regions of the Left and Right Rivers in Guangxi. Its shape is vastly different from that in the Central Plains, but the flavor and nature are identical. Northerners chew it with wine, and it is excellent for medicinal use. Processing method: dry it between layers of paper over heat, then grind into an extremely fine powder. For star anise, remove the stems and seeds, processing similarly.
My late father said: Sprouting in deep winter carries the meaning of "returning vitality" (renewal of Yang). The neat and dense leaf veins carry the meaning of muscle and cutaneous pores (Ji Cou). It enters the Heart and Spleen meridians, serving as a medicine for these organs. However, regarding winter storage...
[ ] It is said: At the Summer Solstice, the perennial roots sprout again, imitating the peeling away of pure Yang. By the Winter Solstice, when one Yang begins to arise, it is named [Bohe]. The *Shuowen Jiezi* states: "Ben" implies going away, returning to what was. Thus, it treats conditions where Yang declines and Yin peels away. "Return, oh return, fill my embrace."
(The vast ocean waters return; the noble sages bring joy, embraced by the people.)

(Recorded in *Tang Bencao*)
Benefits the throat; hence its alias Binghou Wei (Ice Throat Commander).
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, warm in nature, non-toxic.
[Indications] Treats Zefeng (pathogenic wind), induces sweating in Shanghan (cold damage), alleviates aversion to wind, resolves abdominal distension and fullness, treats Huoluan, aids digestion of retained food, directs Qi downward. Decocted and taken orally, it induces sweating.
[Verification] It is said: Bohe is mostly cultivated, though wild varieties exist. The stem and leaves have similar flavors and aromas. The roots survive the winter, sprouting in the second lunar month. Plants are divided and planted around the Qingming Festival. They have square stems and reddish nodes, with opposite green leaves. Initially round and long, the leaf tips gradually become sharp over time, resembling plants like Perilla (Ren Su), Shepherd's Purse (Ji Ning), etc. Harvested in summer and autumn, dried in the sun. Irrigate with manure-rich soil beforehand; harvest only after rain. Otherwise, the pungent and cool flavor will be lost. In Wu, Yue, Chuan, and Hu regions, it is used as tea substitute. Only the variety from Wu has thin stems and small leaves, with a stronger aroma than others, resembling Borneolum Syntheticum (Borneol), thus called Longnao Bohe (Camphor Mint); the Jiangxi variety has thick stems; the Shuhan variety is even thicker, but none match the quality of the Wu variety for medicinal use. Chen Shiliang's *Shixing Bencao* calls it Ba ; Yang Xiong's *Ganquan Fu* calls it Ba ; Lü Chen's *Zilin* calls it Ba ; Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* calls it Fanhe. Though names vary, one should follow *Tang Bencao* and use Bohe as the correct name. *Bencao Gangmu* states Bohe is a common name, failing to explain the meaning of the name. One type has round, coin-sized leaves, called Jinjian Bohe (Coin Mint); another has tiny leaves, frost-resistant, turning entirely purple in winter, growing on rocks in southern Jiangnan, called Shi Bohe (Rock Mint); another is Hu Bohe (Foreign Mint), identical in shape to Bohe but slightly sweeter, common in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, commonly called Xinluo Bohe (Silla Mint), often seen in monasteries in Bian and Luo today, identified as Jinjiang Cao (Coin Grass) in Tianbao single prescriptions. Mixed with Scallion White (Xie) as a relish, it is refreshing and tasty. Weak individuals consuming it long-term may trigger Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Those recovering from acute illness should avoid it, as it causes persistent deficiency sweating. Cats get drunk eating it; Lu Nongshi said, "Bohe is cat wine."
My late father said: Its nature is warm yet cool, embodying the transition from summer to autumn, representing a high, clear, and bright image. When Qi is abundant, it naturally addresses weakness, deficiency-cold, and insufficiency of Yin and Ying (nutritive) levels.
[ ] It is said: Trees form forests; herbs form thickets. "Bo" (thick/dense) implies rapid driving; "He" (load/carry) implies bearing and driving. The *Book of Songs* says "Carry drive, bo bo," implying the name reflects this function.
It is a unique and urgent prescription. With pungent flavor and warm nature, it utilizes the Metal element's pungency to expel pathogenic wind, induce sweating, open the Upper Jiao, and diffuse grain flavors. Consequently, retained food is digested, distension resolves, Huoluan stabilizes, and the exhaustion of Jing (essence) due to fatigue is replenished. It is a dispersing and mild formula. It unblocks obstruction, traverses joints, removes resentment/stagnation, repels Kidney Qi (misdirected), clears wind-phlegm, treats Yin-Yang toxicity, breaks blood stasis, stops dysentery, benefits the throat, teeth, mouth, eyes, and head, treats scrofula, urticaria, sores, and ulcers—all arising from wind—with very rapid effects. Further detailing the meanings of uniqueness, urgency, dispersion, and mildness, there is no application where it fails to produce good results.
(Fatigue leads to the depletion of Jing; still, it makes them continuous. *Tang Bencao* says "fatigue and weakness," omitting four characters. Jin annotations broke the sentence structure, reading 'fatigue and labor leads to expansion' as...)