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Chrysanthemi Flos (Ganjuhua, 甘菊花), sweet and slightly bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to the category of yin containing yang, non-toxic. Enters the Stomach and Liver meridians. It can eliminate severe heat, stop headache and dizziness, resolve tearing and corneal opacity (翳膜), brighten the eyes with spirit, darken beard and temples effectively, also disperse dampness and remove jaundice, relieve irritability and dryness. However, its aroma is light and clear, its efficacy is very slow, requiring long-term administration to take effect; it cannot be expected to produce rapid results. Only for sudden eye pain does its use yield quick success; otherwise, effects are achieved only through gradual and prolonged application. Recently, people cultivate chrysanthemum but do not know how to use it in tonifying formulas. Occasionally used, it is merely taken as tea for the purpose of brightening the eyes. Yet, Chrysanthemi Flos not only brightens the eyes; its major utility lies in clearing stomach fire from the Yangming channel. Since internal heat in the Yangming requires yin-cold herbs to drain it, such as Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma). However, Shigao is too harsh and excessively cold, potentially damaging Stomach Qi. It is better to use Chrysanthemi Flos in amounts of one to two liang, combined with Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix) and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), which can level the fire in the Stomach without injuring Stomach Qi. (Comment: Chrysanthemi Flos clears stomach fire without damaging Stomach Qi, truly possessing miraculous efficacy.)

One asks: Chrysanthemi Flos is most effective for treating the eyes, seemingly a specific herb for the Liver meridian, yet you alone claim it can clear Yangming stomach fire. I do not understand what kind of fire disease in the Yangming it clears? For any stomach fire, Chrysanthemi Flos can clear it, and it is particularly suitable for Wei Bing (Flaccidity Syndrome, characterized by limb weakness). Wei Bing is attributed to the Yangming, yet treatments for Yangming often employ Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), where Shigao is too cold and may damage Stomach Qi. Moreover, Wei Bing is mostly due to deficiency-heat in the Yangming, whereas Baihu Tang drains excess fire, making it highly unsuitable. Instead, using Chrysanthemi Flos in amounts of one or two liang, decocted as tea, clears Yangming fire while supplementing Yangming Qi. Long-term consumption will naturally cure Wei Bing. The ability of Chrysanthemi Flos to clear Yangming fire diseases lies here. (Comment: Wei Bing is caused by deficiency-fire in the Yangming; Chrysanthemi Flos precisely treats Yangming deficiency-fire, hence its suitability.)

One asks: Does taking Chrysanthemi Flos extend life and increase longevity, allowing one to pass away like an immortal beyond a hundred years? Or is this mere talk by enthusiasts? Since you have met an extraordinary person who transmitted special arts, you must have heard something. Please do not keep it secret. I said: I have actually never heard of it. The person insisted, so I sighed and said: From now on, I dare not treat special arts as a means to extend life for one person. How could I dare not impart it fully and share it with the world? Chrysanthemum receives the purest qi of heaven and earth, blooms fragrant after other flowers, stands proud against frost, opens with dew, and its flowers last longest. Among plants, it wishes to wither last alongside pine and cypress. Is it not a substance of longevity? However, people do not know the method of ingestion, using it merely as tea, and fail to understand how to process it. This is discarding divine elixirs into the weeds, a pity. I will now record in detail the transmission from the extraordinary person below, hoping people follow the formula to ingest it. Becoming an immortal is not difficult. It is not merely about extending life. The formula is named Juying Xiandan (Chrysanthemum Immortal Elixir). Harvest three jin of yellow chrysanthemum from home gardens, sun-dry, add Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 liang, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 6 liang, Huangqi (Astragali Radix) 10 liang, dried Mulberry Fruit (Sangshen) 10 liang, Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata) 1 jin, Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix) 3 liang, Fuling (Poria) 6 liang, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 1 jin, Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix) 4 liang, Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix) 1 jin, Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus) 1 jin, Huajiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium) 3 liang, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 4 liang, Fushen (Poria cum Radix) 4 liang, Tussilaginis Semen (Cuscutae Semen) 8 liang, Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex) 8 liang. Grind each into fine powder, form pills with honey, take 5 qian daily with plain boiled water. After three months, complexion will naturally become lustrous, spirit robust, reversing aging. It can be taken long-term, without fear of excessive fire, and benefits essence replenishment. It is truly a formula for enjoying old age. Do not dismiss it as ineffective because I, Duo, transmit it lightly. Chrysanthemum essence was gathered by immortals; there are indeed records of those who became immortals after taking it. This is not enthusiast talk, but a true record of becoming immortal.

Some doubt that Chrysanthemi Flos has ordinary medicinal properties and may not extend life. The ancients who gathered and ingested it to become immortals were likely speaking falsely. Alas. Regarding becoming immortal by gathering chrysanthemum essence, I do not dare assert such people definitely existed in ancient times. However, Juying Xiandan was indeed taught to me by an extraordinary person. Observing the harmonious combination in the formula, it lacks contraindications of dryness and heat, offering many nourishing benefits. Even if taking it does not lead to immortality, it may certainly help achieve difficult-to-reach old age.

Some doubt that Chrysanthemi Flos treats eyes. People in Hangzhou mostly drink it as tea, yet eye diseases have not decreased. Thus, chrysanthemum is not an eye-brightening herb, and Juying Xiandan is an unreliable formula. Alas. Chrysanthemi Flos brightens the eyes of those with deficiency, not those with pathological conditions. If the eyes are diseased, chrysanthemum can be used, but must be combined with dispersing herbs; it cannot solely rely on it to dispel wind and clear fire. Diseases vary, and caution against illness differs among individuals. Chrysanthemi Flos benefits the eyes greatly. How can one doubt its eye-brightening property because some eye diseases result from external pathogens? This is too rigid. Juying Xiandan is purely a divine medicine generating qi and essence, not just for brightening eyes. How can one suspect chrysanthemum and consequently the immortal elixir because of eye diseases in Hangzhou city?

Some doubt whether true chrysanthemum benefits longevity while wild chrysanthemum depletes qi. I say: Yes. One asks: If so, why did you not record it? There are wild and cultivated varieties of chrysanthemum, both born from the essence of metal and water. However, cultivated chrysanthemum is sweet, with more tonification than draining; wild chrysanthemum is bitter, with more draining than tonification. To benefit essence and calm the liver, use cultivated chrysanthemum. To extinguish wind and control fire, use wild chrysanthemum. Because Bencao texts mention wild chrysanthemum depletes qi, people discard it, unaware of its subtleties. To quell the flames of the Yangming, one must not use cultivated chrysanthemum.