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[Harm] Bian Que said: Long-term use causes blurred vision. For patients without dampness or fluid retention, but presenting with Yin deficiency, exhaustion of Kidney Qi, Yang decline leading to spontaneous seminal emission, insecure Kidney Qi, spermatorrhea, eye pain, and diarrhea due to deficiency-cold, it is strictly contraindicated according to the principles. This is because its light and penetrating nature promotes urination; prolonged use leads to excessive descending action, preventing clear Qi from ascending, and secretly depleting True Yin. How can one not suffer from eye diseases?

[Benefit] Sweet, salty, slightly cold in nature. It unblocks the water pathways of the Kidney and Bladder, effectively eliminating pathogenic factors in the uterus (or resolving blood stasis), and can stop seminal emission.

[Processing] Harvest the roots in August, regardless of quantity. Cut into fine shreds, soak in wine overnight, take out, dry in the sun, and use as needed.

(See Spleen Section)

[Harm] See the entry for Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) under the Tonifying Array in the Heart Section.

[Benefit] Sweet, bland, neutral in nature. It drains damp-heat from the Kidney, Small Intestine, and Bladder. Its efficacy is similar to Poria (Fuling) but slightly weaker, with a particular strength in promoting urination.

[Processing] Grows attached to the roots of large pines in deep valleys of great mountains. Harvest in the second and eighth lunar months. Dig up and dry in the shade. When used, remove the outer skin and the core, grind into fine powder. Stir in a basin of water; filter off the floating impurities, which are the red sinews of Poria. If mistakenly ingested, it causes black spots on the pupil and cornea, and may lead to blindness.

(See Spleen Section)

[Harm] Grows in saline lands. Scraped and refined; the substance settling at the bottom is called Pu Xiao (Mirabilite crude), that at the top is Mang Xiao (Mirabilite refined), and those with crystalline edges are Ma Ya Xiao (Horse-tooth Mirabilite). Placed in wind and sunlight to evaporate moisture until white and powdery, it becomes Feng Hua Xiao (Effloresced Mirabilite). If processed with licorice water, it becomes Yuan Ming Fen (Refined Mirabilite). Its function is such that nothing hard is not ground down, no accumulation is not dispersed, no heat is not cleared, and no stagnation is not pushed away. It moves forward without obstruction. It should not be used unless there is a firm, pressing-hard accumulation of pathogenic factors in the Lower Jiao, lest it erroneously damage the True Yin of the Lower Jiao. If the disease is not caused by deep-seated, solidified pathogenic heat leading to severe constipation and blockage, do not administer lightly. Regarding cases where blood is exhausted and body fluids dried up causing dry constipation of the Large Intestine, or Yin deficiency and essence depletion causing high fever, bone-steaming tidal fever rising like fire causing headache, blurred vision, thirst, deafness, sore throat, hematemesis, epistaxis, and extreme deficiency mimicking excess syndromes, these must be strictly avoided to prevent the error of "depleting the deficient."

[Benefit] Salty, acrid, slightly cold in nature. It clears Kidney Fire, treats priapism, and can purge excess heat from the San Jiao and intestines/stomach, inducing strong purgation. Its effect is similar to Da Huang (Rhubarb Root and Rhizome). It breaks blood stasis, attacks phlegm, softens hardness, aids digestion, and can unblock menstruation and induce abortion.

[Processing] Harvesting time is unrestricted. Greenish-white specimens are best; yellow ones harm the body, and red ones are fatal.

Yuan Ming Fen has a milder effect and lighter power; it brightens the eyes and clears dryness, pushing out the old to generate the new. Pu Xiao is also known as Pi Xiao. Pu Xiao settles at the bottom and is coarsest and most turbid; Mang Xiao rises to the top and is clearer in texture; Yuan Ming Fen, after further processing with licorice water, is the most refined.