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*Jinsha Jiang Zhi* records: This is *Ren Shen San Qi* (Ginseng Notoginseng), produced in Zhaotong Prefecture. Its flesh is dense and lustrous, surpassing that produced in Guangdong in quality. Its shape resembles a type of ginseng that is oily and fully mature. Wang Ziyuan, while serving as an official in Yunnan, once gave this to his father-in-law, Mr. Jiacun. I saw it with my own eyes; its color was redder than ginseng, and its size varied. The taste was slightly bitter and sweet, and the skin occasionally bore bamboo-node-like patterns. Liu Zhongxu, Vice Prefect, stated: Zhaotong produces a variety named Su Family San Qi, which looks exactly like ginseng, bright red and mature. Strong individuals who take it experience abdominal distension, whereas those over sixty do not suffer from this side effect. Its efficacy greatly tonifies blood but does not invigorate blood circulation. Locals suffering from weakness steam chicken with it for consumption. They take a large hen, decoct Su Family San Qi to make a soup, boil the chicken for a while, then crush the San Qi residue and stuff it into the chicken's abdomen, sewing it shut with thread. It is steamed over water until the chicken is tender. Removing the San Qi and eating the chicken can treat consumptive weakness and various deficiency syndromes. Based on this description: this is indeed Zhaotong Ginseng (*Zhao Shen*).

*Huanyou Biji* records: San Qi grows in the mountainous areas inhabited by ethnic minorities in Nandan and other prefectures in Guangxi. Each stem bears seven leaves, and beneath it grow three roots, hence the name "San Qi" (Three Roots). Locals enter the mountains to dig up the roots and dry them in the sun. The color is slightly yellow, and the shape resembles *Baiji* (White Coix Seed/Bulbus Belamcandae). Those that are long and jointed have a slightly sweet and bitter taste, resembling ginseng. Ginseng is number one for tonifying Qi, while San Qi is number one for tonifying Blood. Their tastes are similar, and their efficacies are equal, so people refer to them collectively as "Ren Shen San Qi." It is considered the most precious among medicinal materials. Chang Zhongcheng's notes state: regarding Ren Shen San Qi, those that are round and sweet-tasting like ginseng are genuine; those that are elongated belong to categories such as Zhao Shen or Shui San Qi, indicating a lack of clear distinction.

*Shiyao Bianwei* records: Ren Shen San Qi has a bluish-yellow outer skin and greenish-black inner flesh, known as "Copper Skin and Iron Bone." This variety is hard and heavy, with a taste sweet yet slightly bitter. It originates from the Youjiang Tusi region and is of the highest grade. Those as large as a fist can treat traumatic injuries, possessing the miraculous ability to revive the seemingly dead. Its price equals that of gold.

Academician Shen stated: Bamboo Node San Qi is synonymous with Zhao Shen and is the premier remedy for sobering up from alcohol intoxication. For someone intoxicated, chewing a small amount provides immediate relief. Additionally, among recent varieties of Ren Shen San Qi, there is one called "Buddha's Hand Shan Qi." It is elongated, resembling Buddha's hand with finger-like projections. It comes from Guangxi, sold by herbal merchants, and commands a higher price than round Shan Qi. (This name, *Qibi Shan Xi*, refers to what is called Copper Skin Iron Bone Ren Shen San Qi.) In the year Ren Xu, a guest arrived from Dajianlu carrying Tibetan San Qi, named "Buddha's Hand Ginseng." It resembled dried *Maidong* (Ophiopogon) in firmness, was small in size, and formed a three-pronged finger shape, delicate like a hand, hence the name. Wang Shengyu tasted it; it was light, slightly pungent, and cool, stating it could treat lung blood consumption. This also belongs to the category of Baiji San Qi. In the mountains of Taizhou and Wenzhou in Zhejiang, a variety of Bamboo Node San Qi grows. It is white like silkworm pupae, with each stalk having concave marks like mortars. It is said to be an excellent medicine for blood disorders. In the year Geng Shen, I saw Qiongzhou Shan Qi at Jin Qi's residence. It was round like a taro, with smooth skin, yellowish-white exterior, and golden-yellow flesh. The people of Qiongzhou prized it, naming it Wild Shan Qi. It surpassed those from Youjiang. Another variety came from Tianzhou Tusi, shaped like Buddha's hand, named Buddha's Hand San Qi. It is said to be wild and more effective medicinally.

*Baicao Jing* records: Ren Shen San Qi has a slightly sweet taste, resembling ginseng, and stimulates saliva production upon entry. Cut open, the interior is blackish-green, and the outer skin is fine and green. A variety from Guangxi's mountain caves resembles *Baiji*; the long ones look like old dried ginger, yellow and jointed, with a sweet taste like ginseng. Also known as Ren Shen San Qi or Bamboo Node San Qi. Furthermore, there is Dry Land San Qi, named Radish San Qi, which is white and bitter. There is Small San Qi, which is black, produced in Baoqing Prefecture, Hunan, also called Red San Qi. There is Intestine-shaped San Qi, similar to Water San Qi, with a thin, curved shape like sheep intestines. Another variety from Zhaotong, Yunnan, can pass off as ginseng, with identical color and taste, appearing oily and translucent, but lacking rhizome nodes ("ears"). However, its aftertaste is too sweet. Jin Yucheng stated: Besides common market San Qi, there are Water San Qi, Angelica Dahurica San Qi, and Bamboo Node San Qi, whose shapes and efficacies have not been properly verified.

The taste is sweet and bitter, similar to ginseng. It removes stasis and injury, stops vomiting and epistaxis, and tonifies without being harsh. When powder is mixed with bleeding, if the blood turns watery, it is considered good, as it greatly dissipates stasis.

Note: Ren Shen San Qi originates from the border regions of Youjiang Tusi. Its shape resembles *Qibi* (Water Chestnut), varying between pointed and round. The color is bluish-yellow, with skin, and the taste is sweet and bitter, extremely resembling ginseng, hence the name. Local traders selling it in China often priced it by the size of the tuber. The heaviest, weighing one tael per piece, were the most expensive, claimed to be hundred-year-old specimens, priced equally to Liaoshen (Korean Ginseng). Others were priced by weight (fen), costing only one or two cash per piece. Zhao Shen lacks skin, resembles fingers, and has no small, round varieties. Occasionally short and flat pieces exist, resembling *Baiji*. The record in *Jinsha Jiang Zhi* claiming it is identical to Ren Shen San Qi is likely inaccurate. Therefore, Liu's statement is attached for reference.

Treating Hematemesis: *Zhongfu Tang Fang*: Use one egg, cracked open, mixed with one qian of Ren Shen San Qi powder, a small cup of lotus root juice, and half a small cup of aged wine, steamed...

*Qibao San*: Transmitted formula by Qiu; for closing knife wounds, use high-quality Longgu (Dragon Bone), Xiangpi (Elephant Skin), Xuejie (Dragon's Blood), Renshen (Ginseng), Sanqi (Notoginseng), Rushiang (Frankincense), Moyao (Myrrh), and Jiangxiang (Aquilaria Wood) powdered...

Chen Shi Huisheng Ji records the Military Commander's Hemostatic Formula: Renshen (Ginseng), Sanqi (Notoginseng), Baicha (White Beeswax), Rushiang (Frankincense), Jiangxiang (Aquilaria Wood), Xuejie (Dragon's Blood), Wu Bei Zi (Galla Chinensis), and Muli (Oyster Shell) in equal parts, not...