Library

Use after stir-frying, or calcine until the medicinal property is retained (Cunxing). When used with Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), it is contraindicated with chicken eggs and should avoid contact with oils.

Pungent in flavor, neutral in nature, slightly toxic. It stops coughing, resolves blood stasis, unblocks meridians, and kills parasites. It dissolves long-standing hard accumulations and breaks up chronic coagulated blood stasis.

It grows in the valleys of Hanzhong. It is harvested at the Summer Solstice and dried. It is also found in Liangzhou, Guangzhou, Xiastu, Xiangzhou, and Shizhou. In recent times, people have planted it extensively; transplanting before the Spring Equinox ensures high survival rates. Its trunk resembles that of a persimmon tree, and its leaves resemble those of a Chinese toon tree; specimens from Jinzhou are considered superior. The bark is cut open with an axe, and the exuded sap is caught in bamboo tubes to form lacquer.

Those that are extremely black are of good quality. Applying it to dry bamboo and allowing it to dry quickly in the shade is preferred. Nowadays, people often adulterate it with tung oil, which must be noted.

For amenorrhea and hernia pain surrounding the umbilicus in women: Take 1 liang of Ganqi (Dried Lacquer), stir-fry until smoke ceases, and grind into powder. Mix with 1 liang of Niuxi powder (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix Powder), decoct with Dihuang juice (Rehmanniae Radix Juice) to form pills the size of beans. Administer with Shaoxing wine. (Verified Formula No. 1.)

Steam with wine, remove skin and seeds. Jinlingzi (Meliae Fructus) is the fruit of the Chinaberry tree.

Bitter in flavor, cold in nature, slightly toxic. It clears severe heat causing mania and restlessness, promotes urination, relieves abdominal hernia pain, and treats scabies, ulcers, and parasitic infections.

Bitter, slightly cold, slightly toxic. It kills roundworms and promotes bowel movement. It is used to wash febrile children and applied topically for general scabies and tinea. For wind-heat, wind-rash, malignant sores, and leprosy-like conditions, burn it to ash and apply externally.

It grows in the valleys of Jingshan and is now found everywhere, with specimens from Sichuan being superior. The tree can reach several zhang in height, with dense, elongated leaves resembling locust leaves. It flowers red-purple in March and April, and fruits are harvested in December.

Lian Shi Wan (Chinaberry Pill): Chuanlianzi (49 fruits, flesh extracted, divided into seven portions). Stir-fry each portion of chinaberry flesh with seven ingredients: Xiao Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Heichou (Pharbitidis Semen), Yanpan (Salis), Laifuzi (Raphani Fructus), Badou (Crotonis Fructus), and Banmao (Mylabris). Each ingredient weighs 2 qian 5 fen. Then add Qingmuxiang (Illicii Aromatis Pericarpium), Guangmuxiang (Costi Radix), and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), each weighing 2 qian 5 fen. Form pills with wine, size of beans. Take 30 pills with salt water. Treats swelling, numbness, pain, and rupture of the external genitalia, as well as Ben Tun (running piglet) and hernia qi. (General Formulas No. 1.)

Jin Ling Wan: Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Ruxiang (Olibanum), Moyao (Myrrha), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Xiao Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), Yuanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Lianzi (Meliae Fructus), Taishen (Codonopsis Radix).
Both decoction and pill forms are acceptable. Treats hernia-induced swelling and pain of the external genitalia, or concomitant lower abdominal pain, i.e., unilateral descent (Pian Zhui). (No. 2.)