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Treats cold and heat disorders, relieves thirst.

Tuyu (Earth Taro) is Huangdu (Dioscorea bulbifera), commonly known as Xiangyu (Fragrant Taro). Its flesh is white and skin yellow, shaped like a small taro. It is also called Tuluan (Earth Egg) and is different from Yeyu (Wild Taro). In *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica), Yeyu is appended under the entry for Jiayu (Domestic Taro), while Tuyu has its own separate entry, which indicates the distinction. However, the cited content relies only on one statement by Chen Cangqi. It is unknown that it has the function of thinning out smallpox lesions; when cooked and eaten by children, it greatly resolves smallpox toxin; burning its vines to ash and applying it topically to ulcerated smallpox sores can prevent scarring. *Qunfang Pu* (Spectacular Collection of Plants) records: Tuyu, its root consists of a single tuber that is yellow in color, hence the name Huangdu (Yellow Monocot).

*Wentang Jiyuan* (Collected Experiences from Wutang Hall) records: Also named Zhangxianzhang (Cactus), belonging to the same category as Yeyu. However, this variety has smaller leaves, slightly resembling Zhiyu (Arrowhead), with pointed leaf tips. This differs from the herbaceous plant whose shape resembles a shoe sole (Zhangxianzhang). To treat food stagnation that has already formed palpable masses (Pi Kuai), grind fresh Yeyutou (Wild Taro Tuber) into a paste, mix with glutinous rice flour, and cook into a plain porridge without oil or salt. Consume one teacupful every morning. It is harmless (*Jiyan*).

*Luofu Zhi* (Record of Mount Luofu) records: Grows in deep valleys, resembling sweet potatoes or taros. Mountain dwellers obtain it, cut it into four pieces, grind it into a gum-like paste in a mortar, and boil it in a pot until it forms a paste. Upon cooling, it solidifies into cake-like blocks. Cut again into four pieces, add water, and boil into paste again. After the paste is formed, repeat the process of boiling three times and cutting four times. Only then can it be eaten to satiety. One tuber can provide enough paste to fill the stomachs of dozens of people, hence it is called Guiyu (Ghost Taro). The taro has four anomalies: 1. When first sprouting, it does not rely on roots or seedlings; morning dew on the leaves falls to the ground and becomes seeds. 2. During harvesting and processing, women, chickens, and dogs must not see it; if seen, it turns into water. 3. When grinding or boiling, the spoon must rotate clockwise; counter-clockwise rotation causes it to turn into water. 4. The formation of one tuber proceeds from one to four, four to sixteen, and sixteen to sixty-four, corresponding to the numbers in the I Ching hexagrams. It is heard that Lushan and Hengyue each have their own Guiyu, with different harvesting and processing methods.

Yemaodou (Wild Soybean) grows in gardens and low-lying damp areas. It is creeping, with slender and weak branches. Leaves are slender and pointed, arranged oppositely in pairs along the stem. It blooms with pale purple small flowers after Qingming Festival. The fruit resembles soybeans and can be harvested after Lixia (Start of Summer). The young shoots resemble those of Jin Fenghua (Impatiens balsamina / Balsam) in both stems and leaves. Its pods resemble those of Jiaohao (Astragalus adsurgens), containing two seeds inside, round like small mung beans. Around Xiaoman (Grain Buds), they are black; when mature, they wither and fall off. Growing between field ridges, its stems, leaves, and pods are smaller than domestic varieties. It is also called Laodou (Labor Bean).

*Shen Shi Xiao Fang* (Effective Prescriptions by Mr. Shen) records: Nature is slightly cold. Calms Liver Fire. Treats Gan Ji (Childhood Malnutrition Syndrome) affecting the eyes. *Baicao Jing* (Mirror of Hundred Herbs) records: Treats Yellow and White Jaundice. Its nature promotes sweating, saving lives from suffering seas; treats Smallpox Toxin. Harvest in August and September from field ridges, using stems and roots together. Preserve the medicinal property and grind into powder. Using only the beans is even better. Mix with Sesame Oil for topical application. Effective regardless of whether the condition is recent or chronic, un-ulcerated or ulcerated.

Note: *Tongya* quotes Jiao Ruohou saying that small beans growing in wild fields are called "Li" (pronounced Lao). *Chenliu Qijiu Zhuan* states that the Red Eyebrows army gave "Li" beans to Huan Mu. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, when Zitong attacked Jiangdu, Xiahou Duan gathered "Li" beans to eat. Wang Shenzhi stated that these are wild beans. Pronounced with the Lu Dao cut, Laodou may be a corruption of the characters "Li" or "Huo". However, consulting *Gujin Zhu*: "Li" bean, also known as Zhi Dou, has leaves similar to Kudzu, but fruits over a chi long, which can be steamed and eaten; also known as Li Shu. In *Bencao Gangmu*, Luhuo (Deer Vetch) is also named Li Dou, or Ludou, which is the current Wild Mung Bean. *Erya · Shi Cao* notes: Li Luhuo, annotated as the current Ludou. The *Book of Tang · Biography of Xiahou Duan* mentions him picking Li beans to eat, suggesting it might not belong to the Yemaodou category. Currently, Yemaodou is also named Li Dou. Could it be that names are the same but substances differ? Recorded together for further investigation.

For early-stage Liver Gan Ji (Liver-related Childhood Malnutrition): *Baicao Jing* records: Use 7 qian of fresh Yemaodou or 5 qian of dried Yemaodou, plus one chicken liver. Boil together and consume. Decoction is also acceptable.