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**Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (Nü Zhen Shi)**
Grows in the valleys of Wuling, and is now found everywhere. The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* states: "Mount Tai has many Zhen trees." This refers to this tree. Its leaves resemble those of *Ilex cornuta* (Gou Gu) and *Ilex chinensis* (Dong Qing), are extremely lush, and do not wither in winter; the flowers are small and greenish-white; the fruit matures in September and resembles a cow plum. Collect the fruit at the Start of Winter, dry it in the sun. The bark can be soaked in wine; some say it is the same as the modern Dong Qing tree. However, the wood of Dong Qing is white with grain resembling elephant teeth, and Daoists use it to make bamboo slips; its fruit can also be soaked in wine to dispel wind and nourish blood; its leaves, when burned to ash and made into an ointment for topical application, are highly effective in treating chilblains and can also remove scars and blemishes. Furthermore, Li Yong stated: "The Dong Qing on Mount Wutai has leaves resembling those of the Toona tree, and fruits like the Chinese cherry, slightly sour and hot in nature." This differs slightly from Nü Zhen Shi and is likely a different species. Additionally, there is a type of Nü Zhen in Lingnan with extremely abundant deep red flowers, which is quite different from this one and is not known as a medicinal herb. *Ilex cornuta* (Gou Gu Mu) grows mostly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang; its trunk is white like bone, hence its name. People in the south use it to turn excellent vessels. The *Book of Songs · Xiao Ya* states: "On the southern mountain are Gou trees." Lu Ji explained: "A mountain tree resembling the *Eucommia ulmoides* (Lu), also called Gou Gu, with white grain suitable for making boxes or boards, is this one." The bark can also be soaked in wine to tonify the waist and knees; burning its branches and leaves to ash and leaching the juice can treat vitiligo, or it can be decocted for external application.

**Ramulus Taxilli (Sang Ji Sheng)**
Originates from the branches of mulberry trees in the valleys of Hongnong, and is now found everywhere. It is said to be food for crows; the seeds fall between branch nodes and germinate by absorbing qi. The leaves resemble orange leaves but are thicker and softer; the stems resemble locust branches but are fatter and more brittle; flowers appear in March and April, yellowish-white; fruits form in June and July, yellow and the size of small beans. Collect the stems and leaves on the third day of the third lunar month, and dry them in the shade. Parasites grow on oak (*Quercus*), zelkova (*Zelkova*), willow (*Salix*), poplar (*Populus*), maple (*Acer*), etc., but only those growing on mulberry trees are suitable for use. However, they are difficult to distinguish. Physicians dare not use them unless harvested personally. Some say that if you break the stem and observe it, if the color is deep yellow and the fruit contains thick, sticky juice, it is genuine. According to the *Erya*: "Yi Mu" (parasitic plant), "Wan Tong". Guo Pu stated: "Ji Sheng, also named Niao." The *Book of Songs* says: "Niao and Nu Luo attach themselves." Lu Ji's commentary explains: "Leaves resemble Dang Lu, fruits resemble raspberries, dark red-black and sweet." In the middle category of materia medica, there is Song Luo (Usnea), which is Nu Luo. What the *Book of Songs* refers to as "Niao and Nu Luo attaching to pines" is this. Old records state it grows on pines in the valleys of Xiong'er Mountain, collected in May, dried in the shade. Ancient prescriptions used it in emetic medicines for clearing the diaphragm. Currently, physicians rarely use it and no longer harvest it. It is merely recorded here for reference.