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Machi Xian (Portulaca Oleracea)

Also known as Jiutou Shizi Cao (Nine-Headed Lion Grass).
Its actions are to clear heat and dissipate blood stasis.
It is sour and cold in nature. It dissipates blood stasis, resolves toxicity, expels wind, and kills parasites. It treats various types of Lin syndrome (dysuria), Gan disease (pediatric malnutrition with abdominal distension), and dysentery (The *Haishang Fang* records: crush the herb to extract juice, mix with egg white, and take orally to treat red and white dysentery); it treats blood masses and malignant sores (for chronic malignant sores, apply topically two or three times until healed; burn to ash, decoct into ointment, and apply to alopecia and wet tinea); it treats pediatric erysipelas (crush to extract juice for oral administration, and apply the dregs topically); it promotes intestinal lubrication and facilitates childbirth. The leaves resemble those of a pig's tooth, coming in large and small varieties; the smaller variety is used medicinally. Its nature is extremely difficult to dry; use only the leaves, removing the stems (also contraindicated to be consumed with fish and turtle).

Tian Gua Di (Melon Seed Stalk / Peduncle of Cucumis melo)

Its actions are to diffuse, promote vomiting, and induce emesis. It is often combined with Dan Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean) and Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki Bean) as an emetic formula.
It is bitter and cold in nature. It is an emetic for the Yangming channel (Stomach), capable of expelling wind-heat, phlegm, and saliva, as well as overnight retained food in the upper jiao (by vomiting, pathogenic factors in the upper jiao are expelled, as stated in the classics: "For pathogens located high, facilitate their upward expulsion." For pathogens in the upper region, use the method of surging/emesis; for liver qi stagnation, use the method of smoothing and unblocking. Using the bitterness of Tian Gua Di and Dan Dou Chi to vent pathogens, and the sourness of Chi Xiao Dou to surge them out, thereby removing有形 (tangible/pathological) substances from the upper jiao allows the Wood element to flow freely, enabling the interaction of Heaven and Earth Qi and the smooth passage of all things. For patients who require emesis but have weak stomach qi, Shen Lu (Ginseng Root Tip) can be substituted. Zhu Danxi stated: "There is an inherent meaning of dispersion within the method of emesis." Zhang Zihe said: "Various sweating methods exist in ancient formulas, but few people know that emesis can also induce sweating. Thus I once said: Emesis combines the function of sweating." Wang Ang notes: Sweating, emesis, purgation, and harmonizing are the four therapeutic methods. Zhongjing's Gualisan (Melon Peduncle Decoction) and Zhichi Tang (Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction) are both emetics. Zhang Zihe frequently used emesis in treating diseases. Danxi treated Xu Baiyun who suffered from severe vomiting for over twenty days, and also used emesis to treat urinary retention, even using Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) and Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) to guide the emetic process; these established methods are recorded. Nowadays, people only know of sweating, purgation, and harmonizing, completely abandoning emesis. When pathogens are in the upper jiao and emesis is indicated, failing to perform surging/venting leads to pathological accumulation and complex syndromes. Many cases of mild illness becoming severe, or severe illness leading to death, occur due to this! Contemporary physicians abandon ancient methods, wasting lives, which is truly heartbreaking.) It treats wind-dizziness headache, ao nao (restlessness and irritability) with insomnia, epilepsy, throat obstruction, dampness in the head and eyes, edema, and jaundice (either decocted with Chi Xiao Dou or insufflated into the nose to draw out yellow fluid); it treats various diseases caused by damp-heat. It is strictly contraindicated for individuals without excess pathogens in the upper body (as it damages stomach qi and consumes vital energy; as the saying goes: "Severe emesis depletes Yang, severe purgation depletes Yin." Whenever inducing emesis, one must choose clear weather, before noon (Si and Wu hours), and instruct the patient to fast overnight prior to taking the medicine, except in acute emergencies. The *Leibian* records: A woman suffered from incessant asthma/wheezing. A Daoist priest instructed her to take seven pieces of Tian Gua Di, grind them into powder, mix with juice, and ingest. She immediately vomited sticky phlegm like glue. After three doses, her illness was cleared away like sweeping dust.).