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Bowstring (Gongnu Xian) treats difficult labor and retained placenta. (Recorded by famous physicians ○ Note: In older editions, bowstring was attached to the Grass category, likely because ancient bows were made of hemp. In recent times, silk or tendon-like materials are used to make them firm and tight. The "Nei Ze" records: "When a boy is born, a bow made of mulberry wood and arrows made of tumbleweed are shot in the four directions"; shooting is a man's duty. Moreover, "string" implies swiftness and speed, so wearing it during pregnancy favors having a male child, and wearing it at parturition facilitates delivery. This kind of resonance may indeed be plausible.) [Nature] Slightly cold, neutral. [Efficacy] Facilitates childbirth. [Indications] [Liao] [Bie Lu says] Treats women who just feel pregnant: take one strip of bowstring, place it in a bag, strike the left arm, and it will surely result in a male fetus. Also, at the time of labor, take one strip and bind it around the waist to facilitate easy delivery. For treating foreign bodies stuck in the ear that cannot be removed, break apart three cun of bowstring, coat one end with glue, insert it into the ear where the object is located, leave it for a while, and now the adhering object will come out.

Ranunculus (Maogen) and Gelsemium (Gougen). Zhu Tao says: Gougen might be Maogen. Su says: Maogen is Ranunculus with hairs. Baiyi Fang says: Among vegetables there is Shuigen, leaves round and smooth, toxic, grows by water; crabs often eat it. Su says: Another note says it resembles Shuigen but has no hair. Its Maogen resembles Longrui but is toxic. ○ Yinming Gougen. Zhu Tao says: There is an item named Yinming, red in color, attaching to trees, hanging its fruits, growing in the sea, toxic. It is also said that Haijiang grows in the sea, red in color, shape like Longrui, also highly toxic; this should be it. Currently, there is no one who can accurately identify it. ○ Toxic mushrooms, Earth slurry (Dijiang). Zhu Tao says: Mountains have many toxic mushrooms; earth slurry detoxifies them. Those growing on soil are mushrooms; those growing on wood are (wood ear). People in Jiangdong call them Xun. "Erya" mentions "Kuijun". Note says: It is Di xunzi. Some say it is called Diji, also Zhangtou. Mushrooms glowing at night are toxic; those not fully cooked when boiled are toxic; those that cast no shadow when illuminated after boiling are toxic; those with poisonous insects or birds passing underneath are toxic; those wanting to rot but without insect bites are toxic; those non-toxic in winter and spring but toxic in autumn and summer are due to snakes passing over. ○ Cao Yuyuliang. Zhu Gong says: Southerners also call a vine in flat marshes resembling Baxia as Yuliang. Legend has it that Yu collected this plant as food; roots like a cup, connected, half in the soil, skin like Fuling, flesh red, taste astringent. People take it to replace grain, preventing hunger, regulating the stomach to stop diarrhea, promoting movement and sleeplessness. It is said that formerly when Yu convened feudal lords, he discarded grain on the ground which transformed into this grass, hence named Yuliang. Now it mostly grows by the sea and in valleys. ○ Shusuo Cao, Cyperus (Shacao). Zhu Tao says: There is separately Shusuo Cao, treating the body differently. This one is famous but useless. Tiao has Suocao, bitter and cold in nature, mainly treats warm malaria, chills and fever, Suan Si, promotes Qi circulation. Grows in Huai and Nan mountains and valleys, which is this herb. ○ Lianjiang, Du Ruo. Zhu Tao says: Ruo resembles Lian. According to Lianjiang, it is hot, mainly treats coldness in the stomach, vomiting water and inability to eat. Resembles ginger, grows in Lingnan, people in Jiannan often eat it. ○ Caoshican, Chongshican. Zhu Tao says: Nowadays commonly used root is black. According to Caoshican, it grows on stones in high mountains, roots like chopsticks, hairy, nodes like silkworms, leaves resemble Polypodiaceae. Mountain people soak it in wine to dispel wind and break blood stasis, mainly treats stream toxicity, eaten after boiling. "Ben Jing" lists it under the Insect category. Additionally, there are insects eating silkworms already emerged, "Shiyi". ○ Qigucao, Fir (Shanmu). Zhu Tao says: Leaves fine, mostly growing among rocks. According to Qigucao, it is as large as a mouse footprint, grows in shady places between steps, odor pungent and strong, mainly treats lacquer dermatitis, ground and applied externally, heat changes easily, also treats stream toxicity sores. Su says: This is Shuyangquan. Yangquan is a large herb, not small, merely sharing the same name. ○ Jimu, Cardamom (Doukou). Zhu Tao says: Jimu is small and cold. According to Jimu, it comes from Lingnan, looks like a muntjac's eye, eating it induces cold phlegm, other than this has no efficacy. ○ Lidou, Python (Ranshe). Zhu Tao says: Snake gallbladder like Lidou, grows in Jiangnan, vines like kudzu, seeds like soap bean pods, pattern like civet head, hence named Lidou. "Erya" mentions Luxizi, people roast and eat it, also named Hushé, other than this has no efficacy. ○ Various toxic herbs. Melons with two stems or two noses harm people. Guhu with true bitterness is toxic. Rainwater dripping onto vegetables is toxic. Jin with yellow flowers harms people. Celery with red leaves harms people. Zugu eaten with honey causes dysentery. Raw green onions must not be eaten with white dog meat, causing bleeding from nine orifices. Eating Rongkui and bird meat makes the face lose color. Eating Kui triggers reactions from rabid dog bites. Eating Allium tuberosum and green fish causes worms in the abdomen. Scallions must not be eaten with beef, leading to masses and chronic diseases. Pregnant women eating dried ginger causes fetal tissue to dissolve. Eating raw green onions with eggs changes coughs. Eating raw Polygonum acetosella pickles depletes Qi, causes weakness, and impotence. Eating melons frosted in September causes blood issues to erupt in winter. Do not eat aged pickles in March. Summer fevers trigger malignant sores. When cattle tread on pumpkin seedlings, they become bitter.