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(See Section on Heart)

Also known as Qilin Jie (Kylin Blood).
[Harm] It is effective in contracting wound margins but can induce pus discharge. Its action is rapid, so it should not be used in large doses. It is contraindicated in cases without blood stasis accumulation.
[Benefit] Sweet and salty, neutral in nature. Rapid in action and red in color, it enters the Blood aspect of the Heart and Liver meridians. It dissipates blood stasis, generates new blood, alleviates blood-related pain, treats metal wounds and fractures/dislocations, promotes healing of non-healing ulcers, relieves pain, and promotes tissue regeneration.
[Preparation] Originates from Southern Barbarian lands. Authentic material grinds through fingernails and exudes red juice when burned; the ash remains unchanged after prolonged heating. The best quality does not disintegrate when chewed and feels like wax.
Counterfeit material consists of jellyfish blood, which tastes extremely salty and has a fishy odor. It must be ground separately into powder and sifted. If pounded together with other herbs, it will turn to dust and fly away.

[Harm] It is ultimately a substance that depletes Qi. It should not be used in large amounts by women suffering from blood depletion with rebellious Qi rising.
[Benefit] Sweet and bitter, neutral in nature. Fragrant but not dispersing, purple in color entering the Liver meridian. It guides Qi within the Blood. It is highly effective for treating Liver diseases.

[Harm] Its taste and aroma are faint and harmless to the disease.
[Benefit] Used to treat Liver Qi stagnation. Although not recorded in older texts, it is widely used recently. This likely derives from the symbolism of wood preferring to spread out and butterflies being fond of movement.
[Preparation] Resembles soap pods, containing much white pith inside. When split open, the inner part resembles a butterfly. Each sheet contains one seed. Also known as Qian Zhang Zhi (Thousand-Paper Leaf). Zhao Xuemin from Qiantang included it in *Bencao Gangmu Shiyi* (Supplement to Compendium of Materia Medica).

[Harm] Pungent, neutral, and toxic. In *Suwen* (Basic Questions), raw Tie Luo (Fallen Iron) is used to treat conditions of excessive Yang Qi manifesting as mania, madness, and irritability, precisely taking advantage of its "Wood-Subduing" (Metal overcoming Wood) property. The *Bencao* mentions that ingesting iron harms the Lung; I suspect the character "Lung" here should actually be "Liver". It is incompatible with Cishi (Magnetite) and Zaojia (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit).
[Benefit] Pungent, neutral. Calms the Heart and pacifies the Liver, settles fright and treats mania, resolves abscesses, and detoxifies. Tie Xie (Iron Filings), Tie Jing (Iron Essence), Tie Xiu (Iron Rust), and Tie Hua (Iron Flowers) generally utilize the descending nature of Metal to subdue Wood and descend/toxify, without other profound meanings. Tie Sha (Iron Sand) reduces edema and jaundice, dissipates goiters/nodules. Due to its heavy nature, it has a sinking effect but can damage Qi; it is contraindicated in patients with Qi deficiency of the Liver and Kidneys.
[Preparation] Material beaten off an anvil is called Tie Luo (Fallen Iron), which is essentially iron filings. Material flying up like dust is called Tie Jing (Iron Essence). Rust growing on vessels is called Tie Hua (Iron Flower). Zhen Sha (Needle Sand) is the fine powder produced by needle-makers grinding needles. Only genuine steel sand is suitable for use; people often mix soft iron sand into it, flying it into powder, making it indistinguishable to laymen.