Library

[Radix Euphorbiae Fissilae]
The flavor is pungent and the nature is neutral, with great toxicity. It is indicated for cough with rebellious qi (coughing with upward rushing of qi), breaking up accumulations and masses, treating diseases caused by dietary irregularities and mixed cold-heat conditions, as well as fluid retention (water qi). It treats malignant sores, scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis), ulceration from carbuncles, expels evil spirits and gu poison, and can kill flying birds and running beasts.

(Radix Euphorbiae Fissilae was originally produced in the valleys of Qinting, Longxi, and places such as Fenggao and Taishan. Currently, it is also found in various prefectures of Shaanxi and Shizhou, Liaoning. The leaves resemble those of Phytolaccae Radix (Phytolacca acinosa), and the stems and leaves have hairs. The root bark is yellow, and the flesh is white. Those that are solid and heavy are considered superior, while those that are light and floating are inferior. Tao Hongjing stated: It is also produced in Dangchang, but grows only in a few acres there. Because viper snakes eat its roots, it is rare. The currently used material comes from Hanzhong and Jianping.)

Radix Euphorbiae Fissilae has great toxicity and inherits the Qi of Fire. Its flavor is pungent and neutral; the stems and leaves have hairs, and it sinks in water, indicating it inherits the Qi of Metal. Because it inherits the Qi of Metal, it primarily treats lung diseases characterized by cough and rebellious qi. The nature of Metal is to attack and promote drainage, thus it breaks up accumulations. By breaking up accumulations, it can also treat diseases of stagnation causing cold or heat resulting from dietary obstruction. "Water qi" refers to cold-dampness. When water qi is damp and moist, it leads to malignant sores, scrofula, ulcerative carbuncles, and diseases like ghost essence and gu poison. Radix Euphorbiae Fissilae inherits the Qi of Fire and warms the cold of the zang organs, thereby treating all these conditions. It is also said that its toxicity can kill birds and beasts. This herb is named "Wild Wolf," likely for this reason. Li Shizhen said: Judging by its name, one can know it is toxic.

[Radix Sanguisorbae Officinalis]
The flavor is bitter and the nature is cold, with toxicity. It is indicated for pathogenic heat qi, pruritus (itching) due to scabies, malignant ulcers, sores, and hemorrhoids, and expels white worms (intestinal parasites).

(In the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, Wild Wolf Tooth is named Yazi; in the *Bielu*, it is named Yelangchi; in the *Wu Pu Bencao*, it is named Canine Tooth, also known as Baoya. It was originally produced in the valleys of Huainan and Yuanju. Currently, it is found everywhere in the prefectures of Jiangdong. The root is black and resembles the teeth of beasts, hence the various names.)

The wild wolf is spiritual and intelligent. The root of this herb resembles the teeth of beasts, yet it is specifically named after the wild wolf, presumably to imply the meaning of spiritual connection between upper and lower parts. The cold-water Qi ascends, thereby dispersing pathogenic heat qi on the exterior, as well as scabies, itching, and malignant ulcers on the skin. The bitter-cold Qi descends and drains, thereby eliminating sores and hemorrhoids in the lower jiao, as well as white worms inside the body. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: If the Shaoyin pulse is slippery and rapid, sores will arise in the yin region; if the yin region is eroded and ulcerated, wash it with a decoction of Radix Sanguisorbae Officinalis. This herb has a bitter-cold flavor and a purely Yin nature, thus it can treat the hot-fire ulcerations of the Shaoyang channel.