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(Five Fruits) Tonify Qi and Blood in the Spleen and Stomach
Jujube (Ziziphi Jujubae Fructus) (Specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians). Its taste is sweet, and its nature is warm. Its color is red, and its flesh is moist. It is an essential herb for tonifying the Spleen and Stomach. The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: "For insufficiency within, use sweet flavors to tonify." For deficiency of form, use warm properties to aid Qi. Jujube's sweetness can tonify the Middle Jiao, and its warmth can boost Qi. Once the Spleen and Stomach are tonified, the Twelve Meridians will naturally flow freely, and the Nine Orifices will become unobstructed. (The Nine Orifices refer to the mouth, nose, ears, eyes, and the anterior and posterior orifices.) The four limbs will also harmonize. When Righteous Qi is sufficient, the Spirit naturally rests. Therefore, for any evil qi in the heart and abdomen causing a hanging and urgent sensation below the heart, taking jujube will regulate it; receiving tonification strengthens physical power and clears the intestines and stomach. For bodily insufficiency and diseases presenting with intestinal rumbling, using jujube brings peace. Sweetness can detoxify, so among various herbs, adding sweet herbs facilitates synergy. Furthermore, when used as a guide alongside herbs that disperse wind-cold in tonifying formulas, it aids the ascending and dispersing Qi of the Spleen. (Zhang Zhongjing treated Ben Tun [Rushing Pig] syndrome by using jujube to nourish Earth to calm Kidney Water; he treated hypochondriac pain due to Fluid Retention using Shi Zao Tang [Ten Jujubes Decoction] to benefit Earth to overcome Water.) This differs from Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), which has a dry nature and lacks moisture, specifically tonifying Spleen Qi; and it differs from Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), which is neutral and non-drying, specifically benefiting Spleen Yin. However, excessive consumption damages teeth. (Teeth belong to the Kidney; excessive dry Earth overcomes Water.) Moreover, it is strictly contraindicated for excess patterns and fullness in the Middle Jiao. (Sweetness causes middle fullness; the reduction of Yi Tang [Maltose] and jujube in Da Jian Zhong Tang [Major Construct the Middle Decoction] follows the same principle as the use of Gan Cao [Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma].) Those produced in the North that are plump and moist are superior; Jinhua Southern Jujubes are also excellent. Jujube reduces the toxicity of Wu Tou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Radix Preparata). It is contraindicated to consume it together with green onions and fish.

(Exotic Fruits) Enter the Spleen to assist Qi, enter the Liver to benefit Blood and nourish Ying
Lychee (Litchi Chinensis Fructus) (Specifically enters the Liver and Spleen meridians). Its taste is sweet and sour, and its nature is warm. Thus, it can enter the Spleen to assist Qi. (Sweet flavor enters the Spleen.) It enters the Liver to benefit Blood and nourish Ying. (Sour flavor enters the Liver.)
However, it is suitable for conditions of Blood deficiency and declining Fire. If the disease is not due to deficiency, or if taken by those who inherently have excessive Fire, it may instead aggravate Fire and cause heat, leading to epistaxis and toothache. (Li Shizhen said: Lychee's qi and flavor are purely Yang, and its nature fears heat. Eating too many fresh lychees causes swollen gums, mouth pain, or epistaxis. Those with dental diseases and Fire-heat patterns should avoid it. *Kaibao Bencao* states its nature is neutral, while Su Song claimed eating more does no harm; both are erroneous statements. According to *Wulei Xianggan Zhi*, eating too many lychees causes drunkenness; drinking water infused with lychee shells resolves it. This illustrates the principle of using the original substance to resolve indigestion caused by that substance.) The pit of the lychee is sweet in taste and warm in nature, specifically entering the Liver and Kidneys. It dissipates stagnation and dispels cold. Double-nucleated pits resemble testicles and are particularly effective in treating hernia and testicular swelling, based on the principle of resonance through similarity. (To treat hernia resembling a descending bag, stir-fry lychee until black, mix with equal parts of stir-fried Huixiang [Foeniculi Fructus] and Qingpi [Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium], and take with wine.) For chickenpox lesions that fail to erupt, drink decoction made from lychee shells, likely utilizing the shell's warm, tonifying, and internal-expelling properties. However, lychee is generally drying in nature; usage must be weighed against symptoms. It is not like Long Yan Rou (Longan Aril), whose nature is mild and warm and provides extensive nourishment! Lychees produced in Fujian are superior.