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Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus (Nüzhenzi), with a bitter and sweet taste, neutral nature, and non-toxic properties, enters the Kidney Meridian. It can darken gray hair, strengthen tendons and bones, stabilize the five Zang organs, tonify middle Qi, eliminate hundred diseases, and nourish the spirit. Long-term consumption can nourish blood, dispel wind, strengthen the body, and promote longevity. Although widely used in recent times, its efficacy is quite weak; it is suitable for inclusion in pills to tonify deficiency but not convenient for decoctions to provide nourishment. When used together with Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berry), Nan Zhu (Nandina Fruit), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), He Shou Wu (Polygonum Multiflorum Root), Han Lian Cao (Eclipta Herba), Wu Zhi Ma (Sesame Seed), Shan Yao (Dioscorea Rhizome), Sang Shen (Mulberry Fruit), Qie Hua (Eggplant Flower), Du Zhong (Eucommia Bark), and Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), it truly becomes a miraculous elixir for turning white hair black. However, it shows effects when made into pills and should not be expected to produce rapid results.

One might ask: Since Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus excels at darkening hair and offers various benefits, it naturally ought to be included in decoctions to achieve its effects, why is it considered unsuitable? This is because Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus has a slow-acting efficacy. When added to decoctions, it actually makes little difference to the severity of the condition; its absence does not cause harm, and its presence does not bring significant benefit. If one insists on using it in decoctions, a dosage of at least one liang is required, but excessive amounts are incompatible with the Stomach. Generally, small doses maintain a neutral nature, while large doses cause the qi to become floating.

Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus is not Ilex Chinensis Fructus (Dongqingzi). Ilex Chinensis Fructus is larger, whereas Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus is smaller; Ilex Chinensis Fructus is elongated, whereas Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus is round. If Ilex Chinensis Fructus is used, its nature is even more cold-cooling, rendering it particularly ineffective. One should not harvest Ilex Chinensis Fructus from gardens for medicinal use simply because ancient Materia Medica texts state they are the same species.

Some may doubt that Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus is an immortality drug, yet I consider it insignificant, so why do I praise it as a miraculous elixir for whitening hair? The answer is: My previous statement regarding its efficacy referred to incorporating it into pills alongside other Yin-tonifying herbs to turn hair black. My later statement regarding its insignificance meant that relying solely on it in decoctions makes rapid effects difficult to achieve. Ligustrum Lucidum Fructus yields results when used slowly but has few effects when used rapidly. Therefore, urgent application cannot win immediate success, whereas slow application can extend life permanently, depending entirely on proper usage by the practitioner.

Magnolia Officinalis Bark (Houpo), with a sweet and pungent taste, strongly warm nature, belonging to Yang within Yin, capable of ascending and descending, and non-toxic, enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. It treats wind-stroke with chills and fever, manages cholera with muscle cramps, stops vomiting and acid regurgitation, halts diarrhea and dysuria, resolves phlegm, and directs Qi downward. It serves as an assistant herb and cannot serve as a sovereign or minister herb. It is generally a substance that attacks without tonifying, causing damage without benefit. However, when skillfully utilized, it yields many benefits and should not be discarded. It is generally suitable for combination with other herbs: combined with Da Huang (Rhubarb Root) and Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange), it purges excess fullness; combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), Cang Zhu (Atractylodes Lancea Rhizome), and Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), it drains dampness-induced fullness; combined with Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), it eliminates headache caused by Cold Damage; combined with Bing Lang (Areca Seed) and Zhi Shi, it removes foul matter from dysentery. Combined with bitter herbs, it purges; combined with warm herbs, it tonifies; combined with harmonizing herbs, it relieves pain; combined with attacking herbs, it eliminates stagnation. Its effect depends on the user's skill. If mistakenly regarded as a tonic and used by deficient individuals, it may deplete Yuan Qi.

One might ask: Magnolia Officinalis Bark achieves many results; can it do so without tonification? Suspecting Magnolia Officinalis Bark to be a tonic is indeed incorrect. However, Magnolia Officinalis Bark is essentially an attacking herb that reveals tonifying effects through its action, which is its uniqueness. Regarding its nature, it is truly not a tonic.

Someone asks: Can Magnolia Officinalis Bark ascend clear Qi and descend turbid Qi? The answer is: Magnolia Officinalis Bark can ascend and descend, but it does not inherently ascend clear Qi and descend turbid Qi. When used among Qi-tonifying herbs, clear Qi can ascend. When used among Blood-nourishing herbs, turbid Qi can descend. Ascension and descent rely entirely on herbs affecting Qi and Blood; what does this have to do with Magnolia Officinalis Bark?

One might ask: Magnolia Officinalis Bark assists Da Huang in breaking down hardness; did Master Zhang Zhongjing include it in Chengqi Tang (Harmonizing the Qi Decoction) for any special meaning? The answer is: In Chengqi Tang, Da Huang is used because pathogenic factors are knotted in the Large Intestine. Given the swift sweeping action of Da Huang, what need is there for Magnolia Officinalis Bark? Da Huang moves without staying, whereas Magnolia Officinalis Bark descends while containing ascending properties. Retaining Da Huang prevents it from descending too abruptly, allowing digestion and expulsion to succeed jointly, ensuring roots are completely eradicated with nothing left behind. This is the rationale for including Magnolia Officinalis Bark in Da Chengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) to assist Da Huang.

One might ask: Magnolia Officinalis Bark is included in Pingwei San (Stomach-Pacifying Powder) to pacify Stomach Qi, suggesting it is a Stomach-benefiting substance rather than a damaging herb. However, Pingwei San is not a Stomach-benefiting substance. Its name implies bringing the imbalanced Stomach back to balance, meaning it drains excess Stomach Qi rather than tonifying deficient Stomach Qi. Since there is no Stomach Qi to tonify, what benefit is there? Pingwei San uses Magnolia Officinalis Bark to drain Stomach excess without tonifying Stomach deficiency. How can people mistakenly regard it as a Stomach-benefiting substance?