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Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi, 枸杞子): Nourishes the Liver and Kidneys, and moistens.
Sweet, slightly warm. Nourishes the Liver and benefits the Kidneys. (Zhang Jingyue stated: Using it to assist Shudi [Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata] is excellent.) Generates essence and assists Yang. Tonifies deficiency and exhaustion. Strengthens sinews and bones. (The Liver governs sinews; the Kidneys govern bones.) Nourishes Ying (Nutritive) Qi, eliminates irritability. Dispels wind and brightens the eyes. (The Liver opens into the eyes; the Divine Light of Black Water belongs to the Kidneys.) Promotes free flow of the Large Intestine and Small Intestine. Treats dry throat and Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst). (A proverb says: "Traveling a thousand miles from home, do not eat Gouqi, for its red color belongs to Fire, tonifying essence and strengthening Yang." However, since its taste is sweet and nature is moistening, it remains a drug that supplements Water, thus it can moisten the Kidneys, benefit the Liver, brighten the eyes, and treat Xiao Ke.) Not used for those with loose stools. In the South, the tree is only a few feet high. In the North, they are all large trees. Those produced in Ganzhou, which are reddish-brown and have few seeds, are best. Moisten with wine and crush before use.

Cortex Lycii (Digupi, 地骨皮): Cools Blood, eliminates deficiency heat.
Sweet, bland, and cold. Descends latent fire in the Lungs. Eliminates deficiency heat in the Liver and Kidneys. Can cool Blood and treat internal irritability of the Five Viscera. (When Heat invades internally, treat with sweet-cold substances; e.g., Digupi one jin, Shengdi [Rehmanniae Radix] five jin, decocted with wine and taken, treats leukorrhea.) Treats hematemesis (vomiting blood) and hematuria (blood in urine). (Crush fresh juice and take.) Treats Xiao Ke and cough. (Clears the Lungs.) Externally treats skin heat and deficiency sweating. Upper part removes head wind-pain. (When the Liver has Heat, it generates Wind internally, which differs from external Wind pathogens; when Heat subsides, Wind naturally ceases.) Middle part calms chest and hypochondriac pain. (Clears Liver Fire.) Lower part promotes free flow of the Large and Small Intestines. Treats wind-pathogens wandering on the exterior without fixed location. Treats Chuan Shi (Transmitted Corpse Disease/Tuberculosis) with bone-steaming fever and sweating. (Li Dongyuan stated: Digupi drains Kidney Fire and can treat external heat. Earth is Yin, Bone is interior, Cortex is exterior. Zhu Eryun stated: People know it can retreat internal tidal fever, but actually do not know it can retreat external tidal fever. If the condition is residual pathogenic factors from Wind-Cold dispersal causing alternating tidal fever, this cannot be treated by Chai Hu or Ge Gen. Using Digupi, a drug that travels both exterior and interior, eliminates floating pathogens; taking it invariably leads to recovery. I hereby clarify this. Li Shizhen stated: Gouqi and Digupi are sweet, cold, and mildly tonic; when Essence and Qi are sufficient, pathogenic Fire recedes naturally. The world mostly uses bitter-cold drugs, using Huang Qin [Scutellariae Radix] and Lian Qiao [for clearing upper jiao], and Zhi Mu [for lower jiao], thereby damaging Yuan Qi. What a pity. I once used Qing Hao [Artemisiae Annuae Herba] assisting Digupi to reduce fever, achieving remarkable results.] Not used for those with Middle Cold. Soak in Licorice water overnight. Leaves (named Tianjing Cao, Heavenly Essence Grass), bitter-sweet and cool. Clears exogenous Heat in the Upper Jiao Heart and Lung. As tea, stops Xiao Ke. (For women with vulvar swelling or sores, decoct Digupi and wash frequently with the water; effective.)