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Puhuang (Polygoni Orientalis Pollen), with a sweet taste and neutral nature, is non-toxic. It enters the Lung Meridian. It can stop epistaxis and other forms of hemorrhage due to reckless blood movement; it is also applicable for hemoptysis and hematemesis. It resolves blood stasis, stops metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, regulates irregular menstruation in women, eliminates postpartum abdominal pain (child pillow pain), and treats traumatic fractures and injuries. It can also serve as an adjuvant drug; it treats excess syndromes but cannot treat deficiency syndromes. If used by persons with deficiency, it will inevitably cause diarrhea, so one must be cautious. The *Bencao* states that it boosts qi and strength, prolongs life, and even leads to immortality; this is absolutely unfounded and should not be fully believed.

Someone asked: Puhuang is not an urgently needed medicine, yet you keep it for backup. What is its use? I replied: Puhuang is most effective in treating various blood disorders, especially hemoptysis. Hemoptysis is caused by Kidney Fire rushing upward while Lung Metal is dry. To treat the Kidney to stop hemoptysis without simultaneously treating the Lung, the bleeding cannot cease. Puhuang moistens the dryness of the Lung Meridian. When added to Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), one dose can achieve results swiftly, unlike other herbs such as Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) or Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), which although they can also stop hemoptysis, do not act with such rapidity. This is why I reserve it and dare not delete it.

Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), with a sweet and astringent taste and slightly warm nature, is non-toxic. Shennong did not omit it. Its efficacy is very slow, making it unsuitable for urgent rescue, hence it was omitted from records. However, steamed Heshouwu can darken beard and hair, but it abhors iron vessels above all else. Any herb that has come into contact with iron vessels absorbs their odor and loses all efficacy. The reason people take it for a long time without turning white hair black is precisely this; it is not that Heshouwu cannot darken hair. Recently, people have revered this substance as a treasure for longevity, but I disdain it and do not use it. Only raw Heshouwu used to treat malaria truly has rapid effects, and it performs miracles in treating masses (pi syndrome), though few are aware of this. Although steamed Heshouwu darkens hair, it is less effective than using it raw. After nine steamings, the flavor and aroma of Heshouwu are completely lost, and if exposed to iron, it becomes entirely ineffective. It is better to crush it with stones, dry it, grind it into powder, and mix it with Sangye (Mori Folium), Zhuyu (Corni Fructus), Shudihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Nuzhenzi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus), Wufanyu (Vaccinii Erythrocarpi Fructus), Heimaizi (Sesami Fructus Nigrum), and Baiguo (Ginkgonis Semen), pounding them together into pills. Without any contact with iron, it can indeed darken hair and prolong life to the point of aginglessness.

Someone asked: Steamed Heshouwu tastes sweet, while raw Heshouwu tastes astringent. Logically, processing it into a ripe form should darken hair, turning white to black easily, which is inevitable according to reason. Why do you insist on using it raw? I answered: Processing Heshouwu into black (ripe) is similar to processing Shengdihuang (Raw Rehmanniae Radix) into Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix); one might think the processed form is superior. However, Heshouwu differs from Shengdihuang. Shengdihuang is cold and bitter; processing makes it sweet and warm, thus processing is good. Heshouwu is naturally sweet and warm; raw usage benefits people inherently, so why process it? Moreover, the raw form is astringent. Since human essence is prone to leakage, an astringent taste is suitable to consolidate and benefit. How can we remove its astringency, thereby nullifying its tonifying effect? Therefore, I advise using it raw.

Some doubt: Heshouwu is the holy medicine for darkening hair. Without processing, how can it darken hair? You claim raw is better than cooked. Reading your argument, there is profound truth, but since I haven't seen you apply it to yourself, people may not believe you. I said: I discuss principles; why should I care whether my beard turns white or stays black? Besides, my beard has turned from white to black and back multiple times. This was due to my own lack of caution regarding alcohol and sexual desire, not because the medicine failed. Generally, taking hair-darkening medicines requires abstaining from desires and alcohol; otherwise, there is no effect.

Some suspect: Since Heshouwu can prolong life, yet Shennong did not mention it, and you disdain its slow action, is it an optional medicine? I said: Even so, how can Heshouwu be omitted? It depends on how people use it. Roughly speaking, using it to darken hair and prolong life has a slow effect; using it to expel pathogens and dispel malaria has a fast effect. Recently, people often violate the iron taboo when using it, so they fail to succeed.

Some suspect: Heshouwu is highly praised by moderns, yet you disdain its efficacy. Are you overcorrecting? Alas! Heshouwu truly has efficacy; long-term use darkens hair and beard, which is not empty talk. I only disdain its slow action, not its lack of efficacy. For boosting Qi, Huangqi (Astragali Radix) and Renshen (Ginseng Radix) are faster. For nourishing Blood, Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma) are quicker. For tonifying Essence, Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) and Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) show results more easily. This is why I prefer those and avoid Heshouwu. However, in pill formulations intended for slow treatment, Heshouwu is ideally suited for heavy use and should not be discarded.

Someone asked: Heshouwu is best when large. Recent failures are mostly due to using small pieces; surely none are as big as a bushel. I said: Ancient texts claiming the largest are miraculous are exaggerations, not based on personal verification. In fact, smaller Heshouwu is more potent than larger ones, a fact unknown to the world. Recently, scholars obtain a large Heshouwu, boast of its rarity, process it meticulously with nine steamings and nine sun-dryings, fearing deviation from ancients, yet swallow it all year without seeing black hair or temples. This proves large ones are inferior to small ones. Unfortunately, moderns are fooled by ancients, abandoning the wonders of Renshen and Shudihuang, seeking Heshouwu for longevity and whitening reversal, achieving nothing, yet refusing to repent their confusion.