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[Hehuan Pi (Albiziae Cortex)]
Also known as Yehe. It harmonizes the Heart and Spleen.
Sweet and neutral in nature. It calms the Five Zang organs, harmonizes the Heart spirit (Shen), and brings joy and freedom from worry. (The Heart is the monarch official; Earth [Spleen] is the mother of all things. When these two organs are harmonized, the Five Zang organs naturally become secure, and the divine intelligence flows smoothly. The *Yangsheng Lun* states: "Hehuan eliminates anger," which refers precisely to this.) It invigorates blood and alleviates pain, brightens the eyes, reduces swelling, knits bones and tendons, and promotes muscle growth. (Zhu Danxi said: "Its efficacy in tonifying Yin is very rapid; when used with white beeswax in plasters, it produces miraculous effects. Yet why is it rarely used in external surgery?") Applied topically for spider bites. (Mixed with raw sesame oil.) It expels parasites. It can be decocted, powdered, or made into a plaster for external application, all being effective. It works best when taken with wine.

[Wuyi (Toona Seed)]
Disperses wind-dampness; purges, resolves stagnation, and expels parasites.
Pungent to disperse fullness; bitter to kill parasites; warm to dry dampness and transform food stagnation. (All parasites arise from dampness; Qi stagnation and food retention arise from cold.) It dispels wind-dampness from the Five Zang organs, skin, and limbs. It treats cold accumulations in the heart and abdomen, and masses such as zheng and jia. (*Zhizhi Fang* states: "In those who love alcohol, blood mixes with wine to form 'wine jia'; in those with excessive Qi, blood mixes with Qi to form 'Qi jia'; in those with consumptive disease, failed blood mixed with phlegm forms 'blood jia,' moving like insects. It may invade upward into the throat, erode downward into the anus, attach to the flanks and back, or hide in the chest and abdomen. Only by using roasted Wuyi combined with herbs that warm the stomach, regulate Qi, and benefit blood can it be killed.") It treats hemorrhoids, tinea, pediatric convulsions, malnutrition (gan syndrome), and cold dysentery. (Effective when combined with Cheqie and Doukou.) Treats parasitic pain in the stomach. (Stir-fried with flour until yellow, powdered, and taken with rice water.) Those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency should not use it indiscriminately even if they have accumulation. It resembles elm pods; aged material with a musky odor is superior. (For toothache caused by toothworms, placing Wuyi kernels in the decayed holes and gaps is very effective.)

[Wumu Genpi (Ebony Root Bark)]
Purges heat toxins.
Bitter and cool in nature. Its action is sinking and descending. It promotes urination and unblocks the intestines. Its efficacy surpasses that of Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix). It treats ding sores and boils. It antidotes arsenic poisoning. (For anyone suffering from swelling/toxins or arsenic poisoning, regardless of whether root bark, flowers, or leaves are used, crushing them to extract juice and drinking large amounts will cure the condition through profuse diarrhea.) Treats phlegm-wheezing caused by salt accumulation. (Remove the coarse outer bark, crush to extract juice, mix with sifted wheat flour, make into cakes, pan-fry until cooked, and give three or four to children in the morning. Stop when salt-phlegm is vomited up. If it does not work, induce vomiting with hot tea.) Its purgative action is extremely strong. Contraindicated for those with slight deficiency. Applying oil treats all sores, ulcers, and scabies. (For insect-infested sores, make clothes from old silk, apply oil to them, wear the clothes; the next day, insects will emerge onto the oil. Burning them produces a crackling sound.)