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To calm the five Zang organs and benefit the Heart and Spleen. Wisdom is sufficient, spirit is abundant. Its function is to close at night. The taste is sweet and neutral, eliminating anger. Regulating Ying (nutritive Qi) and stopping pain. It strongly emphasizes harmony and neutrality. (
Hehuan (Albiziae Cortex/Flos), also known as Wushu (Black Tree), or Yehe (Night-Closing). Its trunk shape is like that of Citrus trifoliata (Wuchangju), leaves resemble those of Gleditsia sinensis (Zaojia), and they close at night. The bark or flowers can be used according to convenience.
The bark acts on the skin surface, while the flower nourishes Blood. With a sweet and neutral nature, it enters the Spleen and Stomach channels, promotes muscle growth, connects bones and tendons, tonifies without causing stagnation, benefits the spirit and wisdom, and eliminates anger.
However, it ultimately lacks significant therapeutic efficacy. Regarding insomnia, there are various causes for each case; one should not abuse its use merely because of its name "Night-Closing".)

Qinpi (Fraxini Cortex)
Taste bitter, qi cold, color green, nature astringent. It primarily treats dysentery associated with Shaoyang channel heat, expels water and acts on the skin surface; clears Yang pathogens of damp-heat in the Jueyin channel, dispels wind and brightens the eyes.
(Qinpi turns green when soaked in water, does not smear when writing on paper, and repels water; thus, it enters the Liver and Gallbladder channels. Due to its cold nature, it specifically clears damp-heat from the Liver and Gallbladder. The diseases it treats are mostly caused by Liver and Gallbladder damp-heat. As for its ability to benefit Essence, this is because Essence naturally recovers once the pathogenic heat is eliminated.)

Xihe Liu (Salix Tomentella / Willow Twig)
Nature warm, taste sweet and salty. It penetrates and erupts sand-rash (scarlatiniform eruptions), possessing the power to vent the exterior and loosen the muscle layer. Its detoxification function returns to the Spleen and Stomach; bathing removes wind-induced itching, and it has effects of resolving alcohol toxicity and promoting urination.
(Xihe Liu: When rain is imminent, this willow appears to have a muggy vapor corresponding to it. Taste sweet and salty, slightly warm, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels, moving through muscles, and unblocking limbs and joints. Thus, it can erupt rashes and remove wind-itch. These effects depend on the user's interpretation of its properties.)

Yubai Pi (Ulmus Radicis Cortex)
The bark enters the Lung channel; its nature is sticky and slippery, guiding stagnation and unblocking the intestines. Elm makes people sleep (misinterpretation), taste sweet and neutral, harmonizes the Spleen and reduces water retention.
(Yubai Pi is extremely sticky and slippery, so its adhesive use surpasses actual glue or lacquer. Its nature is sweet, neutral, and non-toxic, entering the Spleen and Stomach channels, benefiting the large and small intestines, facilitating childbirth by guiding stagnation, all relying on its slippery and draining action. However, since it is a downward-draining substance, one should not consume it based on Ji Kang's statement "Elm makes people sleep." His intent was merely to suggest that the human mind should be as stable and cohesive as this sticky substance. Just as Hehuan eliminates anger and Xuancao forgets sorrow, does consuming these substances truly eliminate anger and forget sorrow? Examining the nature of Yubai Pi, it is sweet, neutral, and non-toxic, and is certainly not an attacking or purgative herb. Therefore, ancients had methods of consuming elm soup or elm flour to satisfy hunger or practice grain avoidance. However, due to its strong slippery and descending nature, it may potentially deplete body fluids.)