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This is wild Atractylodes macrocephala produced in Qian County. The best grade comes from Heshan behind the county government, which is now hard to obtain and expensive (eight taels of silver for one tael). Its shape resembles a crane's neck and head, with wings and feet complete; the skin is fine and yellowish, and when cut open, it contains cinnabar spots. The next best grade comes from Beixiang, with blackish-yellow skin. Mao Yiyun stated: Those produced in Huizhou are cultivated Atractylodes, commonly known as "Manure Atractylodes." They are grown large through manure irrigation, are plump but lack the crane-like neck. Wild ones are called "Nature-born Atractylodes," small in size, with very long crane-like necks and cinnabar spots inside. Those with rhizome hairs are especially good because they absorb rich earth qi. Yu Zhu is also wild, produced in Qian County. Those growing on the dragon vein soil of the county seat have internal spots truly resembling cinnabar, bright red like splashed blood. It possesses the clear fragrance of the crane neck, flesh, and rhizome. Others produced elsewhere may be pure white without spots or have yellow spots, but none compare to the premium quality from the dragon vein. Harvested in winter, its form and flavor are complete. There is a Jiangxi variety, very small and similar to wild Atractylodes, with short crane-like necks, firm texture, and bitter taste, making it unusable. *Wanli Hangzhou Prefecture Gazetteer* records: White Atractylodes from Qian County is best, called Yu Zhu. *Qingyi Lu* records: Qianshan produces excellent Atractylodes, named Lion Atractylodes due to its knotted, ugly, beast-like shape. *Xi Wu Li Yu* records: Xianzhang Peak in Tianmu Mountain, Xiaofeng, produces Wu Zhu, named Chicken Leg Atractylodes, best for medicinal use. *Baicao Jing* states: White Atractylodes has a single straight stem, not exceeding one chi high, with long pointed leaves and needle-like veins, flowers like small thistle. Winter-harvested is called Winter Atractylodes. Its juice returns to the root, moistening without dryness, but prone to oiliness and ineffective for stopping diarrhea. Spring or summer harvested, stored long-term becomes dry and non-moisturizing, with shriveled flesh. Atractylodes must be dried in shade, never sun-dried, or it will rot. Wild Atractylodes is small, with thin, hard rhizomes and fine skin. Soft, thick rhizomes indicate cultivated varieties. There is also Elephant Atractylodes, selected from Tai Atractylodes resembling wild types, but showing concentric rings when cut. Tai Atractylodes is cultivated without manure, so it is not plump and does not cause bloating. If wild Atractylodes is scarce, this is a stable substitute. Wild Atractylodes, named Dog Head Atractylodes, is also good, found in Xuancheng and Shexian, Anhui. Another type is cultivated from wild seeds with manure irrigation; though large, the skin is tight and fine, produced in Zhangcun, slightly better than Huizhou cultivated types. Current discussions on wild Atractylodes claim black soil indicates authenticity, but soil colors vary by region. Small size is claimed to be authentic, but old mountain stock ages into larger sizes. Cinnabar spots are claimed to be authentic, but Yu Zhu may lack them. Locals state that only those from mountains behind the county, and areas from Huangtang to Liaodong Bridge along west-flowing water for forty li, possess cinnabar spots. However, wild Atractylodes tastes sweet and smells extremely fragrant, distinctively different. Generally, white color is preferred, and moisture is ideal. Ye Tianshi's *Bencao* notes: Soaked, scraped, steamed over rice pots until dark like dates, stir-fried with yellow earth, it harmonizes the middle jiao and tonifies the spleen. *Benjing Fengyuan* states: Yun Zhu is plump but causes qi stagnation; Tai Zhu is thin and weak; Ningguo Dog Head Atractylodes has reddish skin and is slightly larger, but all are cultivated, resulting in turbid qi, unlike the clear qi of Qian wild Atractylodes without stagnation risks. For wind-bi, phlegm-dampness, diuretic, and blood-breaking formulas, use raw. Only Qian-produced should be used raw. Zhang Guanzhai noted: A wild type exists in deep mountains, resembling Yu Zhu with cinnabar spots, fragrant but not sweet. Careful examination of taste and observation of the plant reveals it is naturally occurring Cang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea). Due to lack of harvesting, it grows large, mimicking Yu Zhu. Fire-baked Atractylodes tastes bitter; sun-dried tastes sweet. Tai Zhu and other cultivated types are mutations of Yu Zhu cultivation; while less potent, they are effective. Currently, Yu Zhu is rare; markets pass off Xiansuo wild Atractylodes as Yu Zhu, with equal efficacy. In May of Xinhai year, a guest from Qingtian brought Nature-born Atractylodes, uniform in size, weighing about one tael each, raw and unprocessed. Dried, they would weigh about three qian. These resemble cranes perfectly, with wings, feet, and left-facing long necks, no lumpy forms. They grow on stone cliffs in Qingtian border mountains, yielding 20-30 jin annually. In Hangzhou's northwest mountains near Liu Xia, Xiaohe Shan, Nanjian Peak, and Wengjia Shan, wild Atractylodes grows with sweet fragrance. Eating one or two raw stops hunger all day, generates saliva, quenches thirst, awakens the spleen, and acts swiftly. Cut open, it lacks cinnabar spots, has fine white flesh like snow, called Jade Atractylodes or Snow Atractylodes. Hard to obtain, its efficacy equals Yu Zhu, doubling that of other wild types. It sweetly tonifies the spleen, warms the middle, boosts qi and blood, induces sweat if absent, stops sweating if present, opens the stomach, aids digestion, removes fatigue, clears muscular heat, resolves masses, harmonizes the middle to stop vomiting, calms pain, secures the fetus, dries dampness, promotes urination, generates fluids, stops diarrhea, transforms stomach phlegm-water, regulates epigastric fullness, benefits lumbar-umbilical blood stasis, and removes whole-body damp-bi. For sudden collapse of upper jiao yang qi without lower jiao yin escape, when Ginseng is too strong, heavy doses of wild Atractylodes can revive the dying. Soak in rice wash, stir-fry with old wall earth or honey water, or mix with human milk. Stir-fry until yellow, not burnt. Making paste is superior. Taboos same as Bai Zhu.

Dai Shen Gao (Ginseng Substitute Paste): Yang Chunya's verified formula: Ten jin of Yu Zhu, soaked in white rice wash for three days and nights, washed to remove floating skin, steamed and sun-dried ten times until oily to touch. Sliced and boiled into paste, cooked once until it doesn't melt on paper. Ten jin of Poria cocos, pounded, water-washed, sediment retained, steamed and sun-dried ten times.

For weakness and emaciation, indigestion: Soak Yu Zhu in wine, nine steam-nine sun processes, one jin. One jin of Dodder seed, wine-boiled until threads appear, sun-dried. Pound together into powder.

Si Zhi Xian Shu San (Four-Processed Immortal Atractylodes Powder): Treats incessant night sweats. Yu Zhu four liang, processed four ways: one liang stir-fried with yellow wine decoction, one liang with oyster shell powder, one liang with bran soup, one liang with Dendrobium soup. Take only the Atractylodes powder, three qian per dose, taken with millet soup.

Various Dysentery: Chuanxin Formula: One liang Yu Zhu, one liang old ginger, five qian Angelica sinensis, two bowls of water. Decoct, leave exposed overnight, then take. Self-heals.

Bao Tai Wan (Fetus-Securing Pills): Liangfang Jiyao: Two liang Poria, one liang Scutellaria baicalensis, one liang Yu Zhu stir-fried with earth, one liang Carthamus tinctorius, three qian Myrrh, one liang Cyperus rotundus processed, one liang Corydalis yanhusuo vinegar-processed, one liang Motherwort (root removed). Pound into powder, honey pills sized like paulownia seeds. Take seven pills morning and evening with plain water. Do not alter dosage. Avoid anger, labor, cold/raw foods. Take at first sign of abdominal pain or sore waist during pregnancy, starting from the third month until term. Ensures safe delivery. (Note: Carthamus and Corydalis promote blood movement and slippery fetus; dosages are too heavy. Use two qian each to match the formula's hierarchy. Users should adjust carefully.)

Tertian Malaria: Gujin Liangfang: Nine-processed Yu Zhu one jin, Exocarpium citri reticulatum eight liang. Boil into paste, finish with four liang maltose.

Another Formula: Specifically treats malaria occurring every four days, or persisting for one to three years, recurring endlessly. Use one liang Yu Zhu, old [ginger]...