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Qiansui (Thousand-year Vine), grows in the river valleys of Mount Tai. It grows as a vine, spreading over trees; its leaves resemble those of grapes but are smaller. In the fourth month, its stems are harvested; the juice is white and sweet. Flowers bloom in the fifth month, fruits set in the seventh month, and seeds are collected in the eighth month; they are green-black with a slight reddish hue. In winter, only withered leaves remain. This is the "Gelü" (a type of vine) mentioned in the *Classic of Poetry* (*Shijing*). Su Gong claimed it was *Yingteng* (Infant Vine), which is highly erroneous. The explanations by Tao Hongjing and Chen Cangqi are the most accurate.

Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), grows in the river valleys of Wuyang and Mount Tai in Shujun. It is now also found in Jiang, Hu, Jing, and Kui prefectures, but the variety from Xuancheng is superior, followed by those from Shizhou and Qianzhou. The seedling grows to about one chi in height; leaves resemble those of Chrysanthemum indicum. Yellow flowers bloom in the fourth month, and fruits resembling celery seeds, also yellow, form in the sixth month. Roots are harvested in the second and eighth months. Huanglian grown in Jiangzuo has roots resembling linked pearls; its seedlings do not wither in winter, leaves resemble small pheasant-tail grass, and fine, pale-white-yellowish spikes bloom in the first month. The roots are suitable for harvesting in the sixth and seventh months when they become firm. In ancient prescriptions, Huanglian is considered the best remedy for dysentery. The *Jiuzhan Tang* (Nine-Bowl Decoction) recorded in the *Huqia Fang* treats dysentery regardless of whether it is cold or heat type, bloody or non-bloody, caused by food stagnation, recurrent, or chronic diarrhea. Take thirty pieces of Huanglian three cun long, weighing one tael and half; four pieces of Longgu (Dragon Bone) the size of chess pieces, weighing four qian; one large Fuzi (Aconite Lateral Root); one tael and half of Ganjiang (Dried Ginger); and one tael and half of Jiao (Glue). All ingredients should be cut into pieces. First, place five he of water in a copper vessel, remove from fire leaving a distance of three cun, boil, then add ingredients. Place the vessel on raw earth; when boiling stops, add another five he of water. Repeat this process of heating and cooling ("nine up, nine down") nine times. Add all herbs to the fire; whenever it boils, remove it to the earth. When boiling stops, repeat. After nine cycles, approximately one sheng of liquid remains. Take it all at once, and the dysentery will stop. Also, Xianglian Wan (Amomum and Coptis Pill) treats dysentery and is widely used in recent times. Equal parts of Xuanlian (Xuancheng Coptis) and Qingmuxiang (Aquilaria Wood) are ground together and sifted, then formed into pills the size of Chinese quince seeds using white honey. Take twenty to thirty pills on an empty stomach with warm water, twice daily; the effect is miraculous. For patients with chronic cold conditions, use roasted garlic to make the pills. This prescription originally comes from Li Jiang's *Bingbu Shouji Fang*; it is also effective for infants. Furthermore, many prescriptions for eye diseases use Huanglian. Among them, Yanggan Wan (Sheep Liver Pill) is particularly remarkable. Take one da liang of Huanglian powder and one whole liver from a white lamb fetus; remove the membrane. Grind them together in a mortar until extremely fine. Shape into pills the size of Chinese quince seeds. Swallow fourteen pills with warm Jiangshui (fermented grain wash) before each meal. Complete five courses of treatment for recovery. This pill treats various eye diseases, including nebulae and blindness. Avoid consuming pork and cold water. Liu Yuxi stated: There was a man named Cui Chengyuan who, due to official duties, spared a death-row prisoner. Years later, the prisoner died of illness. One day, Cui suffered from nuclear cataracts and lost his sight. Over a year later, while sighing in the middle of the night and sitting alone, he heard rustling sounds near the steps. He asked who it was. The voice replied, "I am the prisoner you once saved, here to repay your kindness." He then revealed this prescription and passed away. Cui prepared and took the medicine according to this method, and within a few months, his vision returned. Thus, he transmitted this prescription to the world. Additionally, the modern medical "Eye Washing Decoction" uses equal parts of Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Shaoyao (Peony Root), and Huanglian. Finely cut, decoct in snow water or sweet water to make a concentrated liquid. Wash the eyes while hot; if it cools, reheat and wash again. This is very beneficial for the eyes. It can be used for wind-toxicity, red eyes, and corneal opacities. The theory states that all eye diseases are caused by blood stasis; therefore, blood-activating herbs combined with Huanglian are used. Blood flows when heated, so washing while hot yields miraculous results for users.