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Tu Beimu (Fritillaria cirrhosa var. delavayii bulb), also known as Da Beimu (Large Fritillary Bulb). *Baicao Jing* (Mirror of Hundred Herbs) records: Tu Beimu is large like a coin, with a single unsplit scale, distinctly different from the Sichuan-produced variety. It is produced in various places; those from Anshan, Lu'an, Anhui; Zhangzhu, Yixing, Jiangnan; Sunzibu, Ningguo Prefecture; and in Zhejiang, only those from Zhangcun, Yinxian, Ningbo, and Xiangshan are available. For medicinal use, select those that are white, large, and have fine, dry skin.

*Baicao Jing* records: Bitter in taste, neutral in nature, slightly cold, non-toxic. It can dissipate carbuncle toxins, resolve pus and promote circulation, relieve generalized sore toxins, dispel wind-dampness, and benefit phlegm.

For treating malignant sores and closing wound openings: Mao Kunlai's notes record: Extremely bitter in taste, it specializes in eliminating carbuncle, ulcer, toxic phlegm, and chancre toxins; without this herb, they cannot be removed.

For early-stage mastitis: Equal parts of Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) and Tu Beimu are ground into fine powder. Take 3 qian per dose, administered with warm aged wine. Keep warm to induce sweating, which will dissipate the swelling. For severe cases, take another dose. For robust individuals, take 5 qian per dose. Yang Chunya's verified formula: Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix), Ruxiang (Frankincense, oil removed), Moyao (Myrrh), Baizhi, Guiwei (Angelicae Sinensis Radix tail), Tu Beimu, Chishao (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma), each 1 qian; Gancao Jie (Licorice Joint), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), each 8 fen; Shanzhijia (Manis Squama) 3 slices; Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina) 1.5 qian; Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos) 2.5 qian; Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) 1.2 qian. Decoct with good wine and take orally. Another prescription: Baizhi Shao (Baizhi tip), Tu Beimu, Tianhuafen, each 3 qian; Ruxiang (oil removed) 1.5 qian. Stir-fry together and grind into powder. Apply externally mixed with wine slurry, and take 3 qian internally mixed with wine slurry.

For mastitis: *Waike Quansheng* (Complete Works of External Medicine) records: Ziheche Cao (Placenta Herb), Zhebei (Fritillaria Thunbergii Bulb), each 3 qian. Mix well with brown sugar, combine with good wine, drink until drunk, cover with blankets to induce sweating. Zhao Gongzai states: Zhebei is Ningbo's Tu Beimu.

For treating breast cancer (Ru Yan): Ye Shi's verified formula: Yanghe Tang (Warm Yang Decoction) plus 5 qian of Tu Beimu, decocted and taken orally; it can dissipate within several days. Yao Xizhou's Ji Shi Jing Yan Fang (Universal Experience Formula): For breast cancer that has already ulcerated, use Da Beimu (Large Fritillary Bulb), Hetaoren (Juglandis Semen), Yinhua, Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), each 3 qian. Decoct with water and wine and take orally.

Regardless of whether it has ulcerated or not, it is treatable. Rui'an Sheng's verified formula: Tu Beimu 8 liang, Niujiao (Asini Corii Colla) 4 liang. Crushed Muli (Ostrea Concha) powder, stir-fried until bead-like, remove the powder residue to make a fine powder. Form pills the size of mung beans using water. Every morning and evening, swallow 3 qian of pills with a decoction made from 3 qian of Zi Bei Tian Kui Gen (Viola Yedoensis Radix) OR 1.5 qian each of Haizao (Sargassum Herba) and Kunbu (Eckloniae Stipe). Another plaster: Melt 1 liang of Niujiao, add 5 qian of Tu Beimu powder, spread on oiled paper, and apply topically. Ji Yun Lv Chao: Zi Bei Tian Kui 1.5 liang, Tu Beimu, Kunbu, Haizao, each 1 liang; Xi Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis) 3 fen, Haipiaoxiao (Sepiae Endochroma) 5 qian, Chen Dan Xing (Arisaema Cum Bile) 3 qian, Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) 1 liang. Grind all into fine powder. Make pills with wine, size of mung beans. Take 60-70 pills daily, delivered with good wine. Qianjin Bu Yi Fang: Treats men, women, and children suffering from scrofula for internal resolution; grind Tu Beimu into powder, mix with aged rice vinegar, apply externally, and it will dissipate in a few days. Xian Gu Yu Huan San: For non-ulcerated phlegm nodules. Use Sheng Nan Xing (Arisaematis Cum Bile Rhizoma raw), Sheng Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma raw), Tu Beimu, equal parts. Grind into powder, mix evenly with vinegar and honey, and apply.

At the initial stage: Grind Tu Beimu finely, mix with aged rice vinegar, and apply externally; it will gradually dissipate in a few days. Another formula: Tu Beimu, Dalizi (Arctii Fructus), Quan Chong (Whole Scorpion washed), each 5 qian; Zi Bei Tian Kui Gen, Kunbu washed, Haizao washed, each 1 liang; Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium viride), Chan Tui (Cicadae Periostracum), each 3 qian; Jia Pian (Manis Squama) stir-fried 4 qian; Wugong (Centipeda) wine-fried 7 pieces; Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 2 liang. Grind into powder, make honey pills, take 3 qian with Amomum Villosum soup, add Renshen (Ginseng Radix) for deficiency. Zhong Fu Tang paste for phlegm nodules and scrofula: Use Sheng Nan Xing, Sheng Ban Xia, Sheng Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), each 1 liang; Da Beimu, Kunbu, Haizao, Haifushi (Pumex), Tonglv Mingfan (Chalcanthite Alum), each 5 qian. Mix with juice from Shanglu Root (Phytolaccae Radix), green onion juice, ginger juice, and honey for external application. Additionally, Da Beimu is used in plasters for phlegm nodules and scrofula.

Phlegm nodule formula: Renshen, Gancao, each 6 fen; Chuanxiong, Jiegeng, Chenpi, Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Wumei (Mume Fructus), each 8 fen; Danggui, Baizhi, Fangfeng, Fuling (Poria), each 1 qian; Banxia 5 fen; Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) 3 slices; Hei Zao (Jujubae Fructus) 2 pieces. Decoct with 2 zhong of water and take orally. If there is fluid at the affected site that does not dry, add Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) 1 qian, Tu Beimu 1 qian.

Eliminating scrofula: Fu Xin's formula: Shanzhijia stir-fried with sand, Niujiao chopped, Maikao (Triticale Chaff) stir-fried, each 2 liang; Tu Beimu, Lianqiao, each 1 liang. Grind all into powder. Adults take 3 qian, children take 2 qian.

Treating tinea versicolor: *Ji Yan*: Tu Beimu 1 liang, Nan Pengsha (Borax) 1 liang, Bingpian (Borneolum Syntheticum) 1 fen. Grind all into powder and apply; it heals immediately. (*Jiabao Fang*: Use only 5 qian of Borax, apply frequently during summer months when sweating occurs for effectiveness.)

Treating scrofula (Shu Chuang): Collected Guan Shaosheng's formula: One large crucian carp, one unique seed from a pod of Gleditsia sinensis per year, Chuanbei (Fritillaria Cirrhosa Bulb) 3 qian, Tu Beimu 2 qian. Place the Gleditsia seed and fritillary bulbs inside the fish belly, wrap tightly with yellow mud, bake dry over charcoal fire on yin-yang tiles to preserve properties, grind into fine powder. Take 3 qian per dose after meals, mixed with yellow wine. Avoid meat for 100 days.

Hand back carbuncle: *Cihui Bian*: Sheng Gancao (Raw Licorice), Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice), each 5 qian; Zaoci (Gleditsiae Spina) 2.5 qian; Tu Chao Tu Beimu (Earth-fried Tu Beimu) 5.5 qian; Banxia 1.5 qian; Jia Pian 2.5 qian, stir-fried black; Zhimu 2.5 qian. Add green onion and ginger, decoct with half water and half wine for two doses; it heals immediately.

Cuts from knives/axes, injuries from clippers/spears/arrows: *Ji Yan* records: Apply Tu Beimu powder externally to stop bleeding and close wounds.

Venomous snake bites: Zhu Shi's effective formula: Immediately drink one bowl of sesame oil to prevent toxin from attacking the heart. Then, take 4-5 qian of Tu Beimu, ground into powder, flushed down with hot wine. Drink until drunk, lie quietly for a while. Where the medicinal power reaches, the wine turns to water and sprays out from the wound. After the water drains, apply the residual Tu Beimu dregs from the bowl to the wound. Those near death will survive.

Initial stage of swollen toxins: *Baicao Jing* records: This formula was passed down by an extraordinary person, effective instantly. Severe cases require no more than three doses, mild cases one or two. At the onset, it disperses; if formed, it naturally ulcerates and heals easily. Zhi Jia Pian (Stir-fried Manis Squama) pounded 6 qian, Quan Danggui 5 qian, Huafen 8 qian, Baizhi 5 qian, Guangpi 3 qian, Tu Beimu powder 2 qian, Yinhua 1 liang, Zaoci 3 qian, Chishao 6 qian, Fangfeng 5 qian, Gancao Jie 6 qian, Zhi Ruxiang (separately ground) 1 qian, Zhi Moyao (separately ground) 1 qian, Sumu (Sappan Wood) 2 qian, Chuan Niuxi (Cyathulae Radix) 1 qian, Chuan Duan (Dipsaci Radix) 5 qian. Decoct with half water and half wine, strain. Mix Moyao and Ruxiang powders into the liquid to induce sweating. Avoid contact with chickens, dogs, mourners, monks, and nuns; take medicine in a quiet room. Zhao Gongzai says: This formula specializes in attacking and dispersing; the medicinal power is too strong, suitable only for robust individuals, do not use for the weak.

Note: There are sweet and bitter varieties of Beimu; differences between Sichuan and Xiangshan origins. *Baicao Jing* records: Those from Sichuan are called Chuanbei; those from Xiangshan are named Xiangbei; exceptionally large ones are called Tu Beimu. Sichuan-produced ones are sweet in taste, occasionally slightly bitter, never purely bitter and unsweet like other origins. Medicinally, it can tonify qi and benefit phlegm without being cold, suitable for deficient persons. Xiangbei is purely bitter and cold, capable of resolving hard phlegm, indicating its draining nature. Tu Beimu specializes in resolving pus and relieving carbuncle toxins; it is drying rather than moistening. Since Xiangbei is small and Tu Beimu is uniquely large, it differs from Sichuan productions. *Bencao Gangmu* did not clearly specify its functions, perhaps because this variety did not exist then. *Yong Wu Shi Wei* records: Among Chuanbei, one from Badong is exceptionally large, called Purple Grass Beimu by foreigners, not a genuine local product. Those from Shaanxi are called Xibei, also known as Da Beimu. Zhang Shiwang states: Sichuan-produced Beimu is sweet and best; Shaanxi-produced is thin in flavor and second best; Xiangshan-produced is slightly bitter and third best; a large and bitter type can only detoxify and must have its heart removed. Currently, Sichuan also produces a variety as large as a coin, which locals grind into powder for sizing silk, unaware of its medicinal use. Thus, Tu Beimu is also produced in Sichuan, not just Zhejiang. I recall in the spring of Gengzi year, a friend returned from Sichuan and gifted me Beimu, large as a coin, with fine white skin bearing yellow spots, sweet in taste. He said this comes from Long'an, the first grade among Chuanbei, rare indeed. If true, then sweet Beimu from Sichuan also comes in large sizes, not just Jinchuan seeds being sweet. I attach this for future verification.