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Purgative, descends Qi, dissipates fullness.
Bitter flavor can descend to purge excess fullness. Acrid and warm nature can dissipate dampness-induced fullness. (The types of distension and fullness differ; purging and tonifying must be appropriate: for Qi deficiency, tonify Qi; for Blood deficiency, tonify Blood; for food stagnation, digest and guide out; for phlegm obstruction, move and transform phlegm; with heat, clear heat; with excessive dampness, promote diuresis; with cold constraint, dissipate cold; with anger constraint, move Qi; with retained blood, resolve stasis; do not exclusively use acrid-moving drugs.) Enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen and Foot-Yangming Stomach meridians. (Spleen, Stomach.) Calms and regulates the middle Jiao. (Combined with Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) to form Pingwei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), to moderate the excess of damp-earth Qi, thereby achieving harmony.) Transforms phlegm, digests food. Moves stagnant water. Breaks old blood stasis. Dissipates wind-cold. Kills internal parasites. Treats regurgitation and vomiting, wheezing and coughing, diarrhea and dysentery, cold pain and cholera, all cases of external cold invading the stomach, and conditions where dampness invades the spleen. However, it is only applicable when Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is not yet deficient and pathogenic factors are abundant. If the Spleen and Stomach are deficient, do not consume it under any circumstances. Although no harm may be seen immediately, the pure and harmonious Qi will be secretly damaged and consumed. Pregnant women taking it severely damages the fetal origin. This is the bark of the Zhen tree (Ostrya). The flesh should be thick, purple, and moist; those with an acrid taste are superior. Scrape off the rough bark, slice, stir-fry with Ginger Juice (Jiangzhi). Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) acts as a guiding herb. Adverse interaction with Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) and Xiaoshi (Natrii Nitras). Avoid beans. (Consumption disturbs Qi movement.)

Another name is Zaojiao (Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus). Promotes diffusion, opens orifices, searches out wind pathogens.
Acrid, salty, and warm, slightly toxic. Enters the Lung and Large Intestine meridians, also enters the Liver meridian. Its nature is extremely sharp and penetrating, searching out wind and draining heat. Blown into the nose or guided in use, it unblocks the upper and lower orifice gates, inducing vomiting of phlegm and saliva. Nasal insufflation immediately induces sneezing. Treats stroke with locked jaw, chest bi syndrome, and throat bi syndrome. (In cases of stroke with unconsciousness and inability to open the mouth for medication, urgently pull the hair, pinch the Renzhong point (GV26), blow Zaojiao powder or Banxia powder into the nose. If sneezing occurs, survival is likely; if no sneeze, Lung Qi is exhausted, indicating death. Alternatively, use Xixian San (Thin Saliva Powder) to induce vomiting: 1 liang of Zaojiao powder, 5 qian of Baifan (Alumen), take 1 qian each time, mix with warm water and administer, or add a small amount of Lülü (Veratri Radix) and Shexiang (Moschus), probe the throat with a goose feather to induce slight vomiting of thin saliva, then treat with other medicines. Elderly with Qi deficiency should avoid this.) Taking it removes dampness and dirt. (Most effective at removing grease, scraping the intestines and stomach.) Diffuses congestion, guides out stagnation. (Take the middle section, soak in decoction, and ingest to treat elderly constipation due to wind.) Transforms phlegm, breaks hardness. Kills parasites, expels fetus. Treats wind-dampness and wind-leprosy. Phlegm-wheezing, swelling, and fullness. Hard masses and scrotal knots. (The Jueyin Liver meridian connects with the genitalia; cold invading the Liver meridian forms scrotal knots.) Applied externally, it dissipates swelling and detoxifies. Decocted into paste and applied, it wards off epidemic qi and dampness. It has miraculous effects in emergencies. Do not give lightly to those with any deficiency. Pregnant women should avoid it.
One type is small like pig teeth, one is long and dry, one is plump, thick, and fatty is superior. Remove skin, seeds, and strings. Or honey-fry, or su-fry (fry with rendered animal fat). Extract juice and burn to ash. Baishi (Platycladi Semen) acts as the envoy herb. Adverse interaction with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix). Feared by Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix). (Its nature can dissolve iron; trees that do not produce pods, if a hole is drilled and iron inserted and sealed, will produce pods; therefore, this wood cannot be used for firewood.) Seeds, remove skin, soak in water until soft, boil with sugar and eat. Treats dry constipation of the Large Intestine.
(Wang Ji said: Its nature becomes slippery when wet; Li Shizhen said: This is also the meaning of "acridity moistens," not merely becoming slippery due to wetness.) Treats Luoli (scrofula) and malignant sores. (Sudden headache, blow Zaojiao powder into nose to induce sneezing; bowel obstruction, blow Zaojiao powder.)