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Zelan (Ecliptae Herba), with a bitter and sweet taste (the claim that it is pungent is erroneous), slightly warm in nature, and non-toxic. It enters the Liver and Spleen meridians. It regulates postpartum conditions, eliminates edema of the body, face, and four limbs, breaks up old blood stasis, removes masses (Zheng Jia), promotes the circulation of blood stasis, treats traumatic injuries, disperses headache and eye pain caused by Head Wind, expels pus from carbuncles and sores, promotes flesh regeneration, and unblocks orifices. This is an excellent herb for gynecology, yet it serves primarily as an adjuvant drug. The *Bencao* claims it can treat a hundred diseases; this was not verified before being taken as a standard.

One may ask: Zelan is often used for women but rarely for men; is there a reason? Diseases in men and women are fundamentally no different, so why should herbal properties be distinguished? It is merely that women are prone to emotional attachment; when their wishes are unfulfilled, resentment and sorrow in the boudoir cannot resolve their stagnation. Stagnant Qi leads to amenorrhea or painful menstruation, giving rise to myriad strange ailments. Zelan has a mild flavor and is adept at resolving stagnation, making it particularly suitable for women, hence its reputation as a miraculous gynecological herb. It is not that it is unsuitable for men, but rather that it is especially apt for women.

One may ask: Zelan resolves stagnation, yet people today do not know this; did predecessors never use it? I reply: Predecessors frequently used Zelan for resolving stagnation. Modern people fail to recognize it due to imprecise identification. People confuse Zelan with Ze Cao (a generic aquatic herb). Few realize that Zelan is a distinct herbal medicine, not one of the fragrant Orchids (Lan Hui). It grows in the Chu region, has no flowers, leaves resembling those of orchids, and roots similar to orchid roots. While true Orchids grow in mountains, Zelan grows in marshes and wetlands; thus, it is named "Ze Lan" (Marsh Orchid) rather than simply "Lan."

Bixie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), with a bitter and sweet taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. Commonly known as Tu Fuling. It enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It is effective in treating Bi syndrome (Arthralgia), dispelling wind-cold-dampness Bi patterns, alleviating cold pain in the lower back, stopping pulling pain in bones and tendons, reducing urination and brightening vision, expelling long-standing accumulation in joints, and eliminating Yamei Chuang (chancre) toxins. This substance eliminates toxins and pathogenic factors without damaging Yuan Qi (Primary Qi). However, its action is very slow; it is suitable for chronic conditions but not for acute syndromes. Recently, people have used it to treat toxicity resulting from calomel (mercurous chloride), precisely because of its slow resolution without damaging Yuan Qi. Nevertheless, cases showing no effect over years occur because it is used alone in decoction without adding herbs that tonify Qi and Blood. If combined with Qi- and Blood-tonifying herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fuling (Poria), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Digupi (Lycii Cortex), and Shashen (Glehniae Radix), and using several taels of Bixie, first decocting the Bixie to brew the other medicines, within ten doses, the calomel toxin will be completely eliminated, and the chancre toxin dispersed.

One may ask: Bixie is not Tu Fuling; they are different substances. Bixie grows in Sichuan and Shu, whereas Tu Fuling is found everywhere; they should not be conflated. I reply: Bixie is indeed Tu Fuling. It is not merely one substance with two names; it is also called Baqia, Lengfan Kuai, and Qiliang. It is one substance with five names. Those grown in Sichuan and Shu are called Bixie; those grown elsewhere are known by local common names, which number more than five. Generally, the produce from Sichuan is considered superior. One tael from other regions is equivalent to only half a tael from Sichuan; therefore, ancients preferred Bixie from Sichuan. However, varieties from other regions can still resolve chancre toxins. In essence, although production areas differ, their inherent properties remain the same.