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Jujube (Da Zao)
The sweet flavor can moderate the middle jiao. The warm nature can nourish blood. It tonifies the spleen and benefits the stomach. Moistening the central earth (spleen and stomach) can augment qi and harmonize Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive levels). It stops thirst, generates body fluids, harmonizes various herbs, strengthens the spirit, and assists the pulse. Red jujube's efficacy is inferior to black jujube. Its power to enter the Ying level surpasses that of dark plum. (Jujube: Jujube is the fruit of the spleen, with many varieties. Generally, those with thick flesh, rich in fat, sweet in taste, and small pits are considered superior. Sweet in taste and warm in nature, it enters the spleen and stomach meridians, tonifies yin-blood, generates body fluids, harmonizes Ying and Wei, strengthens the spirit, augments qi, and is indeed a fine medicine for the central earth. However, it is not suitable for those with damp-heat, as it easily aids damp-heat and may induce parasitic infestations. ○ Red jujube has the same nature and flavor but inferior potency. It is merely sufficient for moistening and nourishing when entering the Ying to harmonize blood.)

Euryale Seed (Qian Shi)
It supports the spleen and stops diarrhea. Treating water-dampness follows the principle of similar energies seeking each other. It secures the kidney and benefits essence. Its nature and flavor are sweet, neutral, and non-toxic. (Euryale seed grows in water yet can treat water-dampness. All materia medica texts state it is sweet, neutral, and astringent. However, tasting it reveals no astringency, only sweetness and blandness. This is also the principle of eliminating pathogenic water while consolidating true water. Sweet flavor enters the spleen; water nature enters the kidney. Supporting earth to benefit water flow is its fundamental function. To claim it can astringe essence and secure qi is likely inaccurate. Can one herb possess both purgative and astringent effects? Perhaps this herb acts tonically when combined with herbs like Dioscorea opposita (Shan Yao), diuretically when combined with Coix seed (Yi Yi Ren), or astringently when combined with Rubus chingii (Jin Ying Zi). Its use depends on the combination.)

Dark Plum (Wu Mei)
Sour flavor first enters the liver. Lung collaterals and spleen meridians are also involved. Black color can move into the blood; chronic intestinal bleeding (red stool) and cough with phlegm can be treated. Due to its warm and astringent properties, deficiency-type dysentery can be cured. Sweating can be consolidated. Relying on this sour-astringent substance, wind-phlegm can be resolved, and trismus (lockjaw) can be opened. Ascaris colic is difficult to calm; getting sour causes them to subside. Malignant ulcers protruding can be eliminated by crushing and applying externally. White-frosted plum is good at resolving phlegm. Plum-pit qi (globus hystericus) should seek swallowing while holding in the mouth. (Dark plum is made by smoking green plums over fire when they are half-yellow. Sour and warm in nature, it specifically enters the liver blood level; spleen, lung, and large intestine are secondary involvements. Its main function is astringency and stopping leakage. Therefore, it can be used for chronic cough, chronic diarrhea, deficiency sweating, and loss of blood. It calms roundworms because parasites subside upon encountering sourness. ○ White-frosted plum is green plum soaked in salt water, sun-dried during the day and soaked at night. After ten days, a white frost appears, forming the product. Sour and salty in taste, neutral in nature, it enters the liver and reaches the stomach, excelling at resolving stubborn phlegm, treating stroke throat obstruction, and trismus. Due to its sour and salty nature, salt can moisten downward, and sour can induce vomiting and drainage. Opening the jaw occurs because teeth receive plum juice flowing upward. However, it easily damages the kidney, so excessive consumption harms the teeth.)