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[Harm] Its nature is warm, dry, and predominantly tonifying; it condenses the Qi of True Yang and can assist in hyperactivity of the sinews and vessels. It is contraindicated for those with excessive fire in the Kidney, strong Yang without flaccidity, or dry and constipated stools.

[Efficacy] Sweet, acrid, and warm; enters the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen meridians. It repairs severe injuries, benefits Qi and strength, strengthens the penis, and solidifies sinews and bones. For dribbling urine, spontaneous emission of cold semen, and bitter taste in the mouth with thirst due to consumptive disease, decoct in water and drink as desired. For accumulation of cold blood, it is a superior herb for regulating Yuan Qi; taking it with wine is beneficial, using Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao) and Pine Branches (Songzhi) as guiding herbs.

[Preparation] Harvest the fruits in the ninth lunar month and sun-dry them. When used, wash away sand with warm water, soak in wine overnight, sun-dry, and crush. Repeat soaking and crushing until it forms a paste-like consistency, then bake-dry for use.

[Harm] This is a substance that nourishes Blood. Consuming it with Raphani Fructus (Lai Fu Zi/Radish) creates a mutual antagonism, causing premature whitening of hair and beard. It is contraindicated to be used together with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), Curculiginis Rhizoma (Xianmao), Zingiberis Rhizoma (Jiang), and Cinnamomi Cortex (Guizhi) and other drying-hot drugs. Contact with iron vessels damages the human body.

[Efficacy] Bitter, sweet, and astringent, slightly warm; enters the Liver and Kidney. It consolidates Essence and Qi, tonifies True Yin, strengthens sinews and benefits marrow, enhances sexual function, and is an excellent tonic. It nourishes Blood and dispels Wind, treating consumptive emaciation, flaccidity, scrofula, tonifies the Liver, and is a key herb for malaria patients. It tonifies the Liver and Kidney, harmonizes Qi and Blood, and astringes to transform deficiency Phlegm. Use Poria (Bai Yunling) as a guiding herb.

[Preparation] Dig up the roots in autumn and winter. Those as large as a fist are scraped with a bamboo knife, soaked in rice washing water overnight, sliced, steamed with black soybeans, and sun-dried. This process of nine steamings and nine dryings is required before use. Alternatively, it may be used raw.

[Harm] Its property secures Essence. If there is frequent erection and difficulty in ejaculation during intercourse, it should not be taken, as it may instead cause strangury and turbid urine.

[Efficacy] Sweet and warm; tonifies the Kidney and benefits the Liver, strengthens Yin and benefits Essence. Treats consumptive lower back pain, spermatorrhea, and leukorrhea.

[Preparation] Steam with wine or stir-fry with salt water. What is sold in markets today are all seeds of flowering plants; genuine seeds are extremely rare. Produced in Tongguan, they resemble kidneys and have a green color.

[Harm] Its nature is Yin-cold; it is contraindicated for those with Liver deficiency without heat. Turtle meat cools Blood and nourishes Yin, but its nature is Yin-cold and difficult to digest, making it strictly contraindicated for those with Spleen deficiency. It is incompatible with Alum (Fanshi) and contraindicated with Amaranth (Xiancai) and Chicken Egg (Jizi).

[Efficacy] Salty, cold, and neutral, belonging to Yin; green in color entering the Liver. It nourishes Yin, reduces fever, and dissipates nodules, treating diseases of the Jueyin Blood level. It treats consumptive emaciation with bone-steaming fever, alternating chills and fever, warm malaria, maternal conditions, dysmenorrhea and difficult labor, appendiceal abscess, sores and swellings, convulsions, epilepsy, and smallpox/rubella eruptions, weak Yuan Qi, and pathogenic factors sinking into the Middle Jiao. Tortoise shell benefits Yin and clears deficiency heat. The green color of turtle shell indicates treatment of Liver syndromes; the black color of tortoise shell indicates treatment of Kidney syndromes. Although both nourish Yin, there is a distinct difference. Tortoise plastron from naturally deceased animals is preferred, with larger ones being better. Turtle meat cools Blood and nourishes Yin, also treating malaria and dysentery; cooked with ginger and sugar as a soup, it is named "Turtle Sugar Soup". If Turtle Blood is used with a few spoons of Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), it does not overly disperse the exterior.

[Preparation] Green-colored shells with nine ribs, nine layers, and seven rain marks are considered superior. Scorch with vinegar or wine until yellow, or use raw. Scrape off the white part to remove the fishy odor, fearing it may cause stomach upset. For treating consumption, scorching with child's urine is also acceptable; making a paste is effective.