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*Bai Cao Jing* records: The "Wood Snake" resembles a snake, has scales, and its internal texture is yellow, resembling chrysanthemum petals; it is also a rare creature.
It treats dog bites.

Bian Zhi records: The Wood Snake grows several feet long, originates from beyond the Great Wall. It is poured with boiling water to extract its juice, which is used for washing clothes and irrigating various flowers. Spraying it on house walls keeps the fragrance intact for years. Burning it can summon celestial deities; its fragrance spreads for hundreds of li, and the Khitan people cherished it greatly.
It treats strange diseases of unknown names; taking it leads to immediate recovery. Burning it repels plagues, foul odors, and evil influences.

Those from Huizhou are superior in purple color. *Jiu Sheng Ku Hai* records: Palm bark produces only twelve segments per year; in leap years, one extra segment appears. This specific segment is unique due to the boundary lines in its center.
Note: Zhan Shi in *Xiao Bian* states: The palm tree produces one leaf per month, totaling twelve per year. However, in leap years, during the intercalary month, this particular leaf grows only to more than half size and does not form a complete segment. If one has a palm garden, peeling them at the end of the twelfth lunar month verifies this; this indicates a lack of complete Qi (vital energy). Based on this, there are no complete segments in leap-year palm bark. *Shi Shi Qi Fang* records: In leap years, the palm grows half a leaf, adding half a node to the annual twelve nodes.
It treats blood disorders: Guo Dalin says: Calcine the palm bark until charred but retaining its properties, then powder it. Aged material is especially good; take 2-3 qian. It has been tested and proven effective. Wang Xunchu says: Calcine one segment until charred but retaining its properties, divide into two doses.

Nan Tian Zhu (Nandina domestica) is Yang Tong (Adina pilulifera). It is recommended to plant it in courtyards to ward off fire disasters. The section on Nan Zhu (Vaccinium bracteatum) in the Wood category of *Ben Cao Gang Mu* records its branch and leaf functions: Bitter, neutral, non-toxic; stops diarrhea, eliminates drowsiness, strengthens sinews and bones, benefits Qi. Long-term use promotes longevity, prevents hunger, reverses graying hair, and delays aging. It quotes the *Shang Yuan Bao Jing*, stating that consuming the King of Herbs connects one's Qi with spiritual powers, eating the essence of Qing Zhu ensures life is not lost. All refer to this plant. However, its common daily uses were not recorded. The attached formulas cited only included those from *Sheng Hui Fang* for treating wind disorders and accidentally swallowed copper coins. I have not covered these, so I supplement them all here. Wang Shengyu says: Wu Fan Cao (Black Rice Plant) is Nan Zhu. Mountain people sell it in markets during the Cold Food Festival for dyeing black rice. Nan Tian Zhu is Yang Tong, planted today for its winter red berries as an ornamental, and is not Nan Zhu. Ancient formulas using Wu Fan Cao and Tian Zhu refer to a different species found in mountains; they should not be confused with Nan Tian Zhu. This reasoning is sound and should be followed. It brightens eyes, darkens hair, clears muscle heat, purges Liver Fire, invigorates blood, and disperses stagnation. Dietary preferences and taboos record: Nan Zhu leaves are bitter and neutral. Cong Xin Yun says: Sour, sweet, astringent, and neutral.
The fruit, named Hong Pa Zi (Red Palm Fruit), treats octopus lice; mix with mercury, pound into a paste, and apply to remove them. It can also be infused in wine to dispel Wind-Bi (wind-dampness obstruction). Cong Xin Yun says: Nan Zhu seeds are sour, sweet, and neutral; they strengthen sinews and bones, benefit Qi, consolidate essence, and preserve youth. White seeds are named Yu Shan Hu (Jade Coral).
San Qi Fang for Infantile Tian Xiao (Severe Infantile Asthma): Use frost-exposed Nan Zhu seeds and Winter Plum Blossoms, each 3 qian, and one water dragonfly larva. Prepare them; decoct in water and take when needed. One dose cures it.
For chronic, ulcerated Chancre known as La Zhu Gan (Candle Chancre): Bu Yao Liang Fang: Calcine Hong Pa Zi to ash (1 qian), add Borneol from Plum Blossom (5 li), mix with sesame oil, and apply. It heals immediately. Penile discharge: *Ci Hang Huo Ren Shu*: Calcine Hong Pa Zi to ash (1 qian), add Borneol (5 li), mix with sesame oil, and apply.
Wen Tang Ji Yan for San Yin Malaria (Triple-Yin Malaria): Take aged Nan Tian Zhu fruits from the previous year, steam them thoroughly. Take one pill every morning with warm water.
Liu Xia Shang on Resolving Arsenic Poison: For anyone near death from arsenic ingestion, grind 4 liang of Nan Tian Zhu fruits in water and administer orally for immediate revival. Liu personally tested this formula at the Songjiang Prefecture office. If fresh fruits are unavailable, decoct 1-2 liang of dried fruits in water and drink; this is also effective.
Washing eyes with leaves removes Wind-Heat swelling, excessive eye discharge, tearing, red painful eyes, and pediatric Gan disease (malnutrition/parasitic infection). Decoct leaves and drink as tea.
Xian Fang Xing Qie Jian Mi for Dispelling Epidemics: When one feels slight headache and body soreness, indicating invasion by Cold Evil, urgently take this medicine to disperse the pathogen and prevent transmission into interior meridians or transformation into seasonal epidemics. This formula has been verified by many with extraordinary efficacy. Use 3 sour plums, 3 red dates, 30 stalks of Juncus effusus (Rush Pith), 30 leaves of Nan Tian Zhu, 3 segments of Coriander stem (substitute with 3 segments of Scallion white if Coriander is unavailable), 3 qian Licorice Root, 3 qian Ophiopogon Tuber, and 2 qian Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction). Add 2 zhong of water, decoct to 1 zhong. Take warm at any time; recovery occurs with slight sweating.
Lu Li (Scrofula) at initial stage: *Bai Cao Jing*: Nan Zhu leaves, Saposhnikovia Root, Prunella Vulgaris, and Honeysuckle Flower, each 4 liang, with 4 hu of aged wine. Steam over water until thoroughly cooked. Take three times a day. Roots are eliminated in half a month. Each time taking the medicated wine, swallow the following pills simultaneously. Pill Formula: Silkworm Chrysalis (Bombyx Batryticatus) 1 jin, stir-fried and powdered, mixed with rock sugar to form pills the size of tung tree seeds. Swallow 1 qian per dose.
Stems (placed in parrot cages today to cure avian wind disorders). Made into chopsticks, they treat Ge Shi (dysphagia/esophageal obstruction) and Ge Qi (chest fullness/qi stagnation).