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[Odor and Flavor]
Acrid, warm, non-toxic. Enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. (After harvesting, it must be wrapped in a paste made of glutinous rice flour, and roasted in ash fire until cooked before use.)

[Indications]
Retained food and phlegm-fluids. Cold accumulation causing chest and abdominal distension and pain. Cholera with vomiting and regurgitation. Its nature is metal and can ascend; it can warm the middle jiao to tonify Spleen Qi. It is also said to descend Qi because when the Spleen is tonified, its transportation and transformation function improves, allowing Qi to descend naturally.

[Odor and Flavor]
Acrid, warm, astringent, non-toxic. Yang in nature, floating. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

[Indications]
Stagnation of Qi in the Spleen and Stomach that does not disperse. Deficiency consumption with cold diarrhea. Heart and abdominal pain. Descends Qi and promotes digestion. Its nature belongs to Earth, thus it can awaken the Spleen and regulate the Stomach, guiding other herbs to return to the Dantian. When used with Bai Kou Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) as an assistant drug, it enters the Lung Meridian; when used with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Yi Zhi Ren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus) as assistant drugs, it enters the Spleen Meridian; when used with Fu Ling (Poria) as an assistant drug, it enters the Kidney Meridian; when used with Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysitum Rubrum) and Bai Shi Zhi (Halloysitum Album) as assistant drugs, it enters the Large and Small Intestine meridians; when used with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) as assistant drugs, it calms the fetus. Furthermore, its harmonious Qi achieves balance according to the meridian it enters.

[Odor and Flavor]
Acrid, warm, slightly toxic. Yin within Yang. Half-floating, half-sinking. Enters the Blood aspect of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and the Qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian.

[Indications]
Warms the middle jiao and descends rebellious Qi. Stops heart pain and various cold cramping pains. Promotes expectoration and warms the Stomach. Unblocks joints. Opens depression and resolves stagnation. Whenever turbid Yin fails to descend, and Jueyin Qi rebels upward, causing obstruction in the throat and diaphragm, leading to gaping mouth and staring eyes upon eating, or cold obstruction blocking the diaphragm where Qi cannot descend, if this condition persists, it may suddenly lead to cold invading the interior, abdominal distension and fullness, and diarrhea. It is appropriate to use the acrid-hot nature of Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus) to drain the rebellious Qi. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Wu Zhu Yu Tang (Evodia Decoction) and Dang Gui Si Ni Tang (Angelica Sinensis Decoction for Cooling Extremities) to treat Jueyin diseases and warm the Spleen and Stomach, which are indicated formulas. However, its nature descends Qi most rapidly; those with weak intestines will suffer worsening symptoms after taking it. Additionally, rising Qi hitting the diaphragm, excessive consumption may affect the eyes. It can also cause hair loss; these points must be known.

[Odor and Flavor]
Dried, slightly warm, non-toxic. (Soak in wine overnight, brush off sand and soil and superficial shell, split open the center, remove a layer of white membrane resembling bamboo fibers or grass, then steam in a steamer from Wushi (11 am-1 pm) to Youshi (5 pm-7 pm), and finally roast with butter until properly prepared, then it can be used in pills.) For those with insufficient Mingmen Fire (Ministerial Fire), it can be used to tonify. It is a medicine entering the Blood aspect of the Kidney Meridian.

[Indications]
Five consumptions and seven injuries. Tonifies the Middle Jiao. Eliminates cold-heat pain in the urethra. Strengthens Yin and benefits Essence. Treats leukorrhea and genital pain in women. Although it possesses the properties of Earth, Water, and Fire, and can vigorously tonify Essence and Blood, sudden and excessive use will instead cause slippery diarrhea.