〔害〕性寒而下行，凡脾胃虚寒作泄，法并禁用。白痢久而胃弱，胎产虚寒，泄泻血崩，
脾
虚作泄等症，亦在禁例。
〔利〕味苦寒，入肝、大肠二经。止血痢肠风，除带下五漏，善主下焦血症，兼去湿热。
〔修治〕二八月采，似柳根，外黑里红，取上截切片炒黑用。
（见胆部）
（见脾部）
（见心部）
（见肝部）
（见肾部）
（见肝部）
（见心部）
（见肾部）
（见心部）
〔害〕善下逐，性猛利，能坠胎，孕妇忌。胎前产后，一切虚人患小水不利者禁用。水
肿蛊
胀脾虚者，并忌之。小肠无火热者，忌服。
〔利〕味苦寒，入小肠膀胱二经。利水破血，出刺坠胎，八正散用为利小便之主药。若
心经
虽热，而小肠虚者忌用。恐心热未除，而小肠复病矣。当求其属以衰之。
〔修治〕七月采，凡使只用蕊壳，不用茎叶，若一时同使，即空心令人气噎，小便不禁
也。
用时以竹沥浸一伏时，漉晒。
（见膀胱部）
（见肝部）
（见脾部）
（见肝部）
（见肾部）
（见心部）
（见肾部）
（见肺部）
（见肝部）
（见肝部）
（见肝部）
（见肝部）
（见心部）
（见心部）
（见脾部）
（见肺部）
（见肝部）
（见心部）
（见脾部）
（见脾部）
〔害〕动风痰，助肾火，肺家有痰热，命门火炽，阴虚吐衄等症，皆不宜施。多食动风
生痰
，伤肺，脱人眉，令人恶心吐水吐食物，同酒食，多令人咯血。
〔利〕味甘热而润，入肺、肝、肾三经。温肺补肾，而通命门，峻补下焦。润肠胃，悦
肌肤
，兼胡粉而白发变黑，佐补骨而治痿强阴。又云∶能解虚弱幼儿痰喘，服人参胡桃汤，喘即
定，连皮服，盖皮有敛汗之功也。
但用一味，空腹时连皮食之，最能固精。
〔修治〕秋冬熟时采之，沤烂皮肉，取核为果。
[Harm] The nature is cold and the action directs downward. For all cases of diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach, it is strictly contraindicated. Conditions such as chronic white dysentery leading to weak stomach Qi, deficiency-cold during pregnancy and postpartum, diarrhea, metrorrhagia (bleeding from the uterus), and diarrhea due to Spleen deficiency are also included in the contraindications.
[Benefits] The taste is bitter and the nature is cold. It enters the Liver and Large Intestine meridians. It stops bleeding in dysentery and intestinal wind (a condition characterized by bleeding from the rectum, often due to wind-heat or damp-heat), eliminates leukorrhea and five types of leakage syndromes (referring to various chronic discharge conditions), excels in treating blood disorders of the Lower Jiao, and simultaneously clears damp-heat.
[Processing] Harvested in the second and eighth lunar months. It resembles willow roots, with a black exterior and red interior. Take the upper section, slice it, stir-fry until black, and use.
(See Gallbladder Section)
(See Spleen Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Kidney Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Kidney Section)
(See Heart Section)
[Harm] It has a strong downward-draining action for water retention. Its nature is fierce and potent, capable of causing abortion; thus, it is contraindicated for pregnant women. For all deficient patients suffering from difficult urination before pregnancy, after delivery, or during the postpartum period, it is contraindicated. It is also contraindicated for edema and gu distension (abdominal distension resembling a drum, often due to liver, spleen, and kidney dysfunction) when attributed to Spleen deficiency. It is contraindicated for those whose Small Intestine lacks heat-fire pathogens.
[Benefits] The taste is bitter and the nature is cold. It enters the Small Intestine and Bladder meridians. It promotes urination, breaks blood stasis, expels foreign bodies or thorns, and can cause abortion. In Bazheng San (Eight-Herb Corrective Powder), it is used as the principal herb for promoting urination. If there is heat in the Heart Meridian but deficiency in the Small Intestine, it is contraindicated. One must fear that while Heart heat is not cleared, the Small Intestine may become diseased. One should seek its associated organ to attenuate the pathogenic factor.
[Processing] Harvested in the seventh lunar month. When used, only the husk/shell of the pistil is employed, not the stems or leaves. If stems and leaves are used together, it causes qi stagnation (feeling of blockage in the throat/chest) and urinary incontinence in empty-stomached individuals.
When using, soak in Bamboo Sap (Zhuli) for one shichen (two hours), then drain and sun-dry.
(See Bladder Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Spleen Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Kidney Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Kidney Section)
(See Lung Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Spleen Section)
(See Lung Section)
(See Liver Section)
(See Heart Section)
(See Spleen Section)
(See Spleen Section)
[Harm] It agitates Wind-Phlegm and aids Kidney Fire. It is unsuitable for conditions such as Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs, blazing Fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life), and hematemesis or epistaxis due to Yin deficiency. Excessive consumption agitates Wind and generates Phlegm, damages the Lungs, causes eyebrows to fall out, induces nausea, vomiting of clear fluid or food. Consuming it with alcohol and food often leads to hemoptysis.
[Benefits] The taste is sweet, the nature is hot, and it is moistening. It enters the Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians. It warms the Lungs and tonifies the Kidneys, unblocks the Mingmen, and strongly tonifies the Lower Jiao. It moistens the intestines and bowels, beautifies the skin and muscles. Combined with Hufen (Lead Carbonate), it can turn white hair black. Assisting Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus), it treats Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndrome) and strengthens the Yin. It is also said: it can resolve phlegm-wheezing in weak infants. After administering Ren Shen Hu Tao Tang (Ginseng and Walnut Decoction), wheezing subsides immediately. Taking it with the skin is recommended because the skin has the function of consolidating sweat.
Using it alone, eaten with the skin on an empty stomach, is most effective for consolidating Essence (Jing).
[Processing] Harvested in autumn and winter when the fruit is ripe. Soak until the flesh rots away, then extract the nut/kernel as the fruit.