Library

**Man Jing Zi (Vitex Fruit):** Pungent, neutral. Drains heat and resolves toxicity. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its efficacy is primarily to promote urination and brighten the eyes. Crushed and taken orally, it treats jaundice and abdominal distension. Taken with honey, it treats *zheng jia* accumulations (masses). For pediatric bloody dysentery. Applied externally with vinegar as a powder for tinea capitis (bald sores). Applied externally with salt as a powder for mastitis and spider bites/poisoning. The root detoxifies alcohol and is applied externally for massive scrotal edema ("like a bucket"), which is miraculous. The leaves benefit the five Zang organs, promote digestion, direct Qi downward, and treat coughs. If flying filaments enter the eye, crush the leaves, drip two or three drops of juice, and the filaments will exit naturally. Also known as Zhuge Cai.

**Yu (Taro):** Bitter, cold, slightly toxic. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to unblock lactation, kill parasites, and counteract snake venom. For urinary retention, crushing the leaves and applying them to the umbilicus is effective.

**Chao Cai (Vetch/Grass Flower):** Pungent, neutral. Enters the Hand-Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Hand-Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to benefit the five Zang organs, brighten the eyes and ears, dispel wind-heat, and stop hot malaria. It is Chao Cai, commonly known as Hua Cao. Its seeds invigorate blood and brighten the eyes. Pharmacies often pass off these seeds as false Shanyuan Jili (Astragali Complanati Semen), but their nature is significantly different.

**Dong Gua (Winter Melon - inferred from context):** Sweet, cold, slippery. Enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to treat polydipsia (*xiao ke*), hot bi syndrome, and hot carbuncles. It promotes water metabolism and resolves hundred toxins.

**Tu Cai (Bald Vegetable):** Bitter, cold. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to treat postpartum wind constipation; crush the juice, mix with half a cup of water, decoct, and take warm on an empty stomach. For head wind with white dandruff/scales, pound the root and apply mixed with sheep bile to permanently remove it. It is Tu Cai.

**Shan Kui Cai:** Sweet and bitter, cool, slippery, slightly toxic. Enters the Hand-Foot-Taiyin Meridians. Its efficacy is specifically to treat epidemic high fever; crush and take juice, and apply externally for beast bites/wounds. Eating it moves Qi; those with cold constitution who eat it will definitely suffer diarrhea. Seeds soaked in vinegar and rubbed on the face remove acne comedones, making skin moist and lustrous. Also known as Shan Kui Cai, also known as [Missing Character] Cai.

**Huang Hua Cai (Daylily):** Sweet, slightly bitter, cold. Enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to unblock stagnation and promote intestinal lubrication. Also known as Huang Hua Cai.

[Unnamed Herb]: Pungent, slightly cold, slightly toxic. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to dissipate heat-toxicity, treat carbuncles, sores, hemorrhoids, and rectal prolapse, stop dysentery, resolve arsenic poisoning, and apply to malignant sores and tinea capitis. Crush and take juice, drink mixed with aged mustard brine; this is miraculous for lung abscess (*fei yong*). Overconsumption causes asthma.

[Unnamed Herb]: Sweet, cold, slippery. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Hand-Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian. Its efficacy is specifically to remove sudden heat and promote water pathways.

[Unnamed Herb]: Pungent, smooth, slightly toxic. Enters the Hand-Foot-Yangming Meridians. Its efficacy is specifically to broaden the stomach and unblock the intestines. Boiled with fish, it directs Qi downward and harmonizes the middle Jiao.