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(Moan Grass Category) Warms the Spleen, dries the Stomach, kills parasites, and eliminates accumulation.

Shi Jun Zi (Quisqualis Fructus) [Quisqualis indica L.] (Specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians). Its taste is sweet, and its nature is warm. Its efficacy is specifically to tonify the Spleen, kill parasites, and eliminate accumulation. For any patient suffering from five types of childhood malnutrition diseases (Wu Gan), turbid stool, diarrhea, dysentery, or intestinal worms, these conditions arise because the Spleen and Stomach are weak, leading to stagnation of milk and food, and obstruction by damp-heat. By taking this medicine with its sweet and warm flavor to assist the Spleen and Stomach, the accumulation will dissipate, the damp-heat will scatter, the water passages will become unobstructed, and all the aforementioned symptoms will be completely removed. Li Shizhen said: Generally, drugs that kill parasites are mostly bitter and acrid; only Quisqualis Fructus and Torreya Seed have unique effects in killing parasites. At the beginning of each lunar month, the heads of the worms face upward; at the middle of the month, they face inward; at the end of the month, they face downward. Taking a few pieces of this medicine on an empty stomach during the first ten days will cause the worms to die and be expelled. However, it must not be taken with hot tea, as this will induce diarrhea. It originates from Fujian and Sichuan. The fruit has five lobes and ridges, and the kernel inside resembles Torreya Seed. It can also be eaten after roasting. If stored for too long, it turns black with oil and becomes unusable.

(Fragrant Herb Category) Suitable for dispersing cold and stagnation in the Lung sector, warming the Spleen and Stomach.

Bai Dou Kou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) [Amomum kravanh Pierre ex Gagnep.] (Specifically enters the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach meridians, and concurrently enters the Large Intestine meridian). Originally belonging to the same category as Suo Sha Mi, its flavor and nature are identical, and its efficacy is indistinguishable. However, it possesses another refreshing and wondrous aroma that ascends into the Qi aspect of the Lung meridian, serving as a crucial herb for dispersing Qi stagnation in the Lung. Furthermore, its acrid, warm, and aromatic penetrating nature circulates through the Triple Burner, warms the Spleen and Stomach, and thereby eliminates distension caused by cold-dampness, malaria deficiency, vomiting and regurgitation, reverse flow of qi, abdominal pain, as well as cornea opacity (used only when white opacity is visible on the sclera), red eyes, and blood vessels in the eyes. This differs from Suo Sha Mi, which is acrid, warm, aromatic, penetrating, and bitter, whose efficacy focuses on harmonizing the Stomach, awakening the Spleen, and regulating the Middle Jiao, while merely touching upon the Lung and Kidney and other areas. Therefore, it is strictly contraindicated for those with fire in the Lung and Stomach, or those with thin Lung and Stomach Qi. Thus, when using herbs to treat diseases, one must carefully examine the flavor and nature, distinguish the morphology and texture, and use these as criteria for investigation. One must not ignore these details in the slightest, failing to make distinctions among them.

(Fragrant Herb Category) Warms the Spleen, warms the Stomach, promotes Qi movement, and relieves stagnation.

Suo Sha (Amomi Fructus) [Amomum villosum Lour.] (Specifically enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, and concurrently enters the Lung, Kidney, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians). It is acrid, warm, and astringent, so texts refer to it as a key herb for awakening the Spleen and regulating the Stomach. However, it also concurrently enters the Lung, Kidney, Large Intestine, Small Intestine, and Bladder meridians. Therefore, when used together with Sandalwood and Bai Dou Kou, it enters the Lung; when used together with Ginseng and Yizhi Ren, it enters the Spleen; when used together with Phellodendron Bark and Poria, it enters the Kidney; and when used together with Red Kaolin, it enters the Large and Small Intestines. Regarding its ability to awaken the Spleen, regulate the Stomach, promote Qi movement, and regulate the Middle Jiao, it is effective for abdominal pain and epigastric fullness. (Pain is distinguished by whether it prefers pressure or rejects pressure. If the pain prefers manual pressure, it mostly belongs to Cold-Deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach, and treatment requires this herb; otherwise, it is strictly prohibited. Fullness/Plenum sensation varies due to Cold, Heat, Summerheat, Dampness, Phlegm, Qi, Blood, or Food. One must also investigate based on accompanying symptoms and pulse, and cannot simply treat everything with Amomum Fructus.) When entering the Large Intestine, it is effective for bloody and purulent dysentery. When entering the Lung, it governs cough and rebellious Qi. (It is suitable for dysentery caused by Cold-Dampness, but should not be used for Heat-Dampness.) As for claims that it stops pain, calms the fetus, and eliminates floating heat in the throat and teeth, this is also based on the principle of harmonious and smooth Qi. (It is suitable only when the fetus carries Cold stagnation, and for floating heat due to Deficiency-Heat.) If one takes it for fetal unrest due to Excess-Heat, or for dryness and constriction of the throat and teeth due to Yin fluid depletion, would that be appropriate? Therefore, the concepts of Excess and Deficiency must not fail to be carefully distinguished and thoroughly examined. It originates from Lingnan and should be crushed before use.