\r荔枝核\pq102a.bmp\r
散滞祛寒。治肝经之疝疾。味甘性热。医胃腑之瘀疼。（荔枝核味甘温。色紫。肝
经血分药也。功专散滞祛寒。行血中之气。且其形类睾丸。故治一切疝疾之因于寒者。其所
以治心痛胃痛等证。亦寒凝血滞之意欤。）
\r枳 子\pq102.bmp\r
服食甘平解酒毒。渴烦涣散助津生。肺胃双收。醇醪尽败。（枳 子一名鸡距子。
其形屈曲。如鸡之距也。又名龙爪。小儿尝购食之。味甘。性平。入脾胃。生津液。解渴烦
。专解酒毒。倘屋外植此木。屋内酿酒。均致败坏。物性相制如此。）
治噤痢之湿蕴邪留。甘寒微涩。开胃气而清心降浊。真伪宜分。（石莲子即莲子之
老于房内。至冬堕入泥中。至春取出者。皮黑如石。味甘涩而寒。助脾胃。化湿热。以其得
水土之气。故能治久痢噤口等证。今药店中所售石莲子。味极苦。不知何物也。）
苦寒通于胃腑。吐膈上蓄聚之热痰。研散纳之鼻中。治头内蕴留之水湿。（瓜蒂即甜
瓜蒂。以色青味甜。可供果馔者为佳。待瓜熟后。取蒂连柄半寸许。曝干用之。味苦性寒。
入肺胃。功专消水化热。治黄瘅。杀虫毒。其极苦之性。能降能涌。所谓在上者因而越之。
在下者引而竭之之义。各因其病而利导。但其性甚紧。善引吐。为瞑眩之药。非上焦有风痰
实热水蓄等证。不可用之。）
Litchi Seed (Litchi He)
Disperses stagnation and dispels cold. Treats hernia diseases of the Liver channel. Sweet in taste, hot in nature. Treats stasis pain in the stomach fu organ. (Litchi seed is sweet and warm in nature, purple in color, a drug entering the blood level of the Liver channel. Its function specializes in dispersing stagnation and dispelling cold, moving qi within the blood. Moreover, its shape resembles the testicles; therefore, it treats all hernia diseases caused by cold. The reason it treats conditions such as heart pain and stomach pain is also based on the meaning of cold coagulation and blood stasis.)
Hovenia Dulcis (Zhi Zi)
Ingesting the sweet and neutral Hovenia dulcis resolves alcohol toxicity, dissipates thirst and irritability, and assists in the generation of body fluids. It benefits both the Lung and Stomach, causing strong wine to spoil. (Hovenia dulcis is also known as Ji Ju Zi. Its shape is curved, like the spur of a chicken. It is also called Long Zhua. Children often buy and eat it. It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, enters the Spleen and Stomach, generates body fluids, relieves thirst and irritability, and specializes in resolving alcohol toxicity. If this tree is planted outside the house and wine is brewed inside, the wine will spoil. Such is the mutual restriction of material properties.)
It treats dampness accumulation and pathogen retention in Jin Li (dysentery with inability to open mouth). Sweet, cold, and slightly astringent. Opens the Stomach qi, clears the Heart, and descends turbidity. Authenticity must be distinguished. (Shi Lian Zi refers to lotus seeds that matured indoors, fell into the mud in winter, and were retrieved in spring. The skin is black like stone, sweet and astringent in taste, and cold in nature. It aids the Spleen and Stomach and transforms damp-heat. Because it obtains the qi of water and earth, it can treat chronic dysentery and Jin Kou Li (inability to eat due to dysentery). The Shi Lian Zi sold in pharmacies today tastes extremely bitter; it is unknown what substance it is.)
Melon Pedicel (Gua Di)
Bitter and cold, it penetrates the Stomach fu organ, vomiting out accumulated phlegm-heat above the diaphragm. Ground into powder and insufflated into the nose, it treats water-dampness retained within the head. (Gua Di is the pedicel of the sweet melon. Those that are green in color and sweet in taste, suitable for fruit consumption, are preferred. After the melon ripens, take the pedicel with about half an inch of the handle, dry it in the sun, and use it. It is bitter in taste and cold in nature, enters the Lung and Stomach, and its function specializes in eliminating water and transforming heat, treating jaundice, and killing parasites/toxins. Its extremely bitter nature allows it to descend and induce vomiting, embodying the principle of "those above should be expelled upwards" and "those below should be drained downwards." Guide treatment according to the disease. However, its nature is very harsh and it induces vomiting effectively; it is a drug that causes Ming Xuan (severe reaction/disorientation). It should not be used unless there are excess patterns of wind-phlegm, real-heat, or water retention in the Upper Jiao.)