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Haipiaoxiao (Sepiae Endoconcha), salty in flavor, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats leukorrhea with red and white discharge in women, amenorrhea (closure of menstrual blood flow during menstruation), and erosion with swelling and pain in the genital area. It also treats alternating chills and fever in women, abdominal masses (zheng syndrome), convulsive wind entering the abdomen, peri-umbilical abdominal pain, removes eye swelling and floating nebula, dries pus from sores, and is most effective in treating asthma. It is also an item that should be kept ready in the medicine cabinet.

Someone asked: Haipiaoxiao is the bone of the cuttlefish; other materia medica texts claim that taking it enables one to have children. Why does Master not mention this? I replied: When a man's kidney essence is deficient, his semen becomes dry; when a woman's liver is injured, her blood becomes depleted. Neither of these are signs conducive to conception. Although the cuttlefish bone enters the Liver and Kidney meridians, it cannot greatly tonify their essence and blood. Merely relying on this substance, even if one eats full meals all year round, how could one conceive? ([Commentary] Overturning previous cases, this holds profound truth, not mere argumentation.)

Ziheche (Placenta Humanum), sweet in flavor, strongly warm in qi, non-toxic. It enters the Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Those delivered first are superior, though one need not strictly adhere to this. After baking dry, it can be used; do not wash away the fascia, as washing it off is detrimental because it leaks the primordial qi. It treats various deficiencies and hundred damages, tuberculosis and corpse-transmission diseases, five labors and seven injuries, bone-steaming tidal fever, hoarseness due to throat cough, emaciation with withered hair, hematemesis and epistaxis with bright red blood; it can subdue all these conditions, benefiting both men and women. In the world, some bury it underground until it turns into water over time, named Hecheshui (River Car Water), which has no efficacy. Claims that it dispels madness and epidemics are empty words.

Someone asked: Ziheche is the placenta. Since the fetus has already separated from the womb, the primordial qi within the placenta should be exhausted, making the placenta useless. Why do ancient Bencao texts all praise its tonifying properties, and why did Shennong rank it as a Superior grade herb? I replied: At the beginning of human birth, the placenta forms first, then the person. When the placenta ruptures, the person is born first, followed by the expulsion of the placenta. Thus, the placenta is the Mother Qi of the Pre-heaven and the Father Qi of the Post-heaven. Therefore, although the child has separated from the placenta, the Qi of Yin and Yang has not dissipated and still remains within the placenta. Humans obtain this placenta to generate their bodies, and naturally, they can obtain this placenta to generate Qi and Blood. Some say: While the placenta is in the abdomen, the primordial qi is not diluted; once it falls to the ground, the primordial qi is entirely lost. In short, the placenta is the parent of Pre-heaven and Post-heaven; how can it generate rootless Qi and Blood? Nevertheless, the placenta is formed from the Qi of Yin and Yang, so the placenta is the root of Yin and Yang. Just as the roots of flowers and trees regain life by receiving Earth Qi, why should the human body be different? When the placenta enters the Spleen and Stomach, it naturally generates vigorous Qi. Moreover, when supplemented with herbs that tonify Qi, Blood, and Essence, the Qi gains a root and becomes stronger again, the Blood gains a root and flows more abundantly, and the Essence gains a root and becomes fuller again. The Da Zao Wan (Great Creation Pill) formulated by the ancients had not yet grasped the mysteries of Heaven and Earth; its efficacy upon consumption was merely ordinary. Thus, people doubted that Ziheche was an extraordinary substance and discarded it without use, which is a pity. I received the secret transmission of Qiankun Huayu Dan (Universe Nurturing Pill) from Master Qi Tai Shi. It uses Shudi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Renshen (Ginseng Radix), and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) as Sovereign drugs; Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), and Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix) as Minister drugs; Fuling (Poria), Rongshu (Cynomorii Herba), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Bei Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Qianshi (Euryales Semen), Baiziren (Platycladi Semen), Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Jushengzi (Sesami Fructus Niger), and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) as Assistant drugs; Shashen (Glehniae Radix), Ganju (Chrysanthemi Flos), Fupenzi (Rubiae Fructus), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Lianzixin (Nelumbinis Plumula), and Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) as Guide drugs. It treats patients with lower coldness lacking fire and failure of the Primordial Yang to rise, whose efficacy is incomparable to Da Zao Wan. Although I do not record all dosages, wise individuals can understand the clear distinction of Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Guide roles through contemplation and insight. ([Commentary] Ziheche is truly the root of generating humans, so using it can continue the root of life; this is indeed not empty talk. Qiankun Huayu Dan is ten times more miraculous than Da Zao Wan.)

Some suspect that since Ziheche is the Mother of Pre-heaven and Father of Post-heaven, the umbilical cord born with it should also be considered a pill of Universe Nurturing. I replied: Although the efficacy of the umbilical cord is inferior to that of Ziheche, its tonifying power is vastly superior to that of herbs and plants. The umbilical cord serves as the connection point and is truly the root of life and destiny. Although the infant has landed on the ground and separated from the fetal origin, the Ancestral Qi of Pre-heaven has not yet perished within the cord. For those with weak Qi, it can be connected to strengthen heavily; for those with shortness of breath, it can be connected to prolong life; for those with ceased Qi, it can be connected to revive them. When Post-heaven aging occurs, obtaining Pre-heaven to recreate oneself—this is what is meant. However, if the preparation and consumption methods are not correct, efficacy will ultimately not be achieved.

I received a miraculous prescription and transmitted it to the world, named Zao Hua Dan (Creation Pill). Use twenty umbilical cords, bake dry with gentle fire, grind into powder, and add powders of Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Huangqi (Astragali Membranacei Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Shashen (Glehniae Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Shudi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Shayuanjili (Astragali Complanati Semen), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), Yinyanghuo (Epimedii Herba), Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), Chao Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen Fried), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Sharen (Amomi Fructus), Fushen (Poria with Hostwood), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex), and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix). Mix with honey and knead into pills, swallowing daily. The formula is thus, and the dosages can be adjusted accordingly. If prepared and taken according to the prescription, one will surely return to childhood. ([Commentary] The efficacy of the umbilical cord is the same as that of the placenta, and Zao Hua Dan is equal to Qiankun Huayu Dan.)

Some say: Ziheche is the human placenta. Eating the placenta to seek benefit is no different from eating humans to satisfy hunger. I fear offending Heaven; how could there be any longevity? I replied: This is knowing one aspect but ignorant of another. Heaven and Earth have no discarded items, nor discarded functions. Although the placenta is the root of human life, once a person falls into the placenta, the placenta is discarded and becomes useless. Shennong took the useless thing and designated it as a tool for extending life. Later sages embodied Shennong's intent and created methods to continue human life. Turning the useless into the useful is a great merit of assisting creation; how could there be offense to Heaven?

Some suspect that Ziheche is a strongly heating substance, and consuming it easily triggers fire. People with Yin deficiency and moving fire probably should not consume it. I replied: Ziheche is strongly warm, not strongly hot. Yin deficiency with moving fire is precisely suitable for consumption. Fire movement arises from Water decline; Water decline means Essence scarcity. Ziheche is the mother of generating humans, and thus the mother of generating Essence. Essence is generated by warmth, not by cold. Strong cold does not generate Essence, but strong warmth leads to Essence generation. Moreover, Ziheche is the Mother Qi of generating Essence. Their compatibility is like mercury meeting gold. If one doubts it due to being strongly hot, failing to treat people with Yin deficiency and moving fire would be confusing. ([Commentary] The Mother Qi of generating Essence in Ziheche is also the Mother Qi of generating Fire. Fire is born within Essence; why doubt?)

Some suspect that Ziheche is the Mother Qi of generating Essence only because it houses the fetus. The child has already been born; how can a broken pot cook food? I replied: Ziheche is the mother of generating humans. Although the child is born, the Mother Qi has not perished. A mother giving birth to a child is the ultimate truth of Yin and Yang. Moreover, Ziheche has a naturally warm and hot nature. There is no warm and hot substance that, when consumed, does not generate Essence. Furthermore, it is the Mother Qi of Pre-heaven.