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[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic. It treats cold-dampness wind-bi (Wind-Bi syndrome caused by cold-damp pathogens), jaundice, and tonifies the Middle Jiao. *Bielu* states: It treats gu poison (parasitic diseases or toxic accumulation); long-term consumption benefits essence and qi, making the body light and agile.

(Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma is named "Ru Lu" in the *Classic of Poetry*, "Di Xue" in *Bielu*, also known as "Ran Fei Cao", "Guo Shan Long", "Xi Tian Wang Cao", and "Feng Che Cao". It originally grew in the valleys of Qiao Mountain and Shanyin Valley. Although present in eastern regions, it was scarce there compared to the abundance in western regions, hence the character includes the component for "West". Sprouts emerge in the twelfth lunar month, creeping for several chi. The stem is square, hollow with fibrous strands inside, and has fine prickles outside. It has nodes every few inches, with five leaves per node. Flowers bloom in the seventh and eighth months, bearing fruit resembling small peppercorns containing fine black seeds. Its root is reddish. In *Zhou Li*, the official "Shushi" was responsible for removing gu poison, using "Jia Cao" (auspicious herbs) to attack it; "Jia Cao" refers to Xianghe and Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma.)

Main Discussion: Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma emerges in late winter; its root is red and seeds are black, with a bitter and cold flavor, inheriting the Qi transformation of Shaoyin Water and Fire. The square stem and five leaves, along with external prickles, inherit the Qi transformation of Yangming Metal and Earth. To treat cold-dampness wind-bi, it inherits Shaoyin Fire Qi to disperse cold, Yangming Dryness Qi to remove dampness, and Yangming Metal Qi to subdue wind. By obtaining the water transformation of Shaoyin, it clears jaundice. As *Zhou Li* states it removes gu poison, it tonifies the Middle Jiao; when the Middle Earth harmonizes, gu poison naturally dissipates. *Suwen* treats qi exhaustion and liver injury, blood depletion, and amenorrhea; thus, long-term consumption benefits essence and qi, making the body light.

In *Suwen: Fuzhong Lun*, Qibo said: The disease named "Xue Ku" (Blood Depletion) arises from significant blood loss in youth, or from sexual activity while intoxicated, leading to qi exhaustion and liver injury, causing menstrual flow to diminish and cease. The Yellow Emperor asked: What method should be used for treatment? Qibo replied: Use four parts Sepiae Endothelium (Wuzeigu) and one part Ru Lu. Combine these two substances, pill them with quail eggs, sized like small beans. Take five pills after meals, washed down with Haliotidis Concha juice (Baoyu Zhi), to benefit the intestines and nourish the injured liver. Here, "Ru Lu" should be written as "Ru Lu", which is Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma. *Shennong Bencao Jing* lists "Ru Lu" in the Lower Grade. Li Shizhen, citing the *Suwen* formula of Wuzeigu and Ru Lu in his annotation, stated: The "Ru Lu" in *Suwen* should be "Ru Lu"; they share the same pronunciation but differ in character. I argue that the "Ru Lu" in the Wuzeigu formula refers to Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma, not the "Ru Lu" listed in the Lower Grade of *Bencao Jing*. To prevent future doubt and indecision, I hereby clarify this point.