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(From *Bencao Shiyi* [Supplement to Materia Medica])

**[Names]** Baoyi (Placenta) (from *Meishi Fang*), Taiyi (Fetal Membrane) (from *Gangmu*), Hunyuanmu (Mother of Primordial Unity) (from *Mengquan*), Fojiasha (Buddha's Kasaya Robe) (from *Gangmu*), Xianrenyi (Immortal's Garment). Li Shizhen said: Renbao (Human Placenta), which wraps the human like clothing, is thus called Baoyi. Alchemists avoid mentioning it and have established various other names. The *Dan Shu* (Book of Alchemy) states: Before heaven and earth existed, it was the ancestor of Yin and Yang, the bellows of Qian and Kun, the outer casing of Lead and Mercury. When the embryo was about to manifest, once the number of nine nines was complete, I would ride upon it and carry it; hence it is called Heche (River Chariot). Its color can be red, green, or purple, with purple being the finest.

**[Preparation]** Wu Qiu stated: Zihuche (Purple River Chariot), in ancient prescriptions, did not distinguish between male and female. In recent times, males use male placentas and females use female placentas; another view holds that for male illnesses, female placentas are used, and for female illnesses, male placentas are used. Those from newborns are best; those from robust, healthy women are also acceptable. After obtaining it, rinse thoroughly with clear rice water, place in a bamboo container, wash away the membranes in running water, then rinse with Frankincense wine. Place in a bamboo basket, dry, and grind into powder. Some roast on tiles and grind, some boil in wine and mash, some steam in a steamer, mash, and dry; steaming is considered best. Dong Bing said: Nowadays, people all use wine-boiling, fire-roasting, and removing the membranes, which is a great error. Fire-roasting and water-boiling often result in offspring being infertile; only steaming, mashing, and mixing with medicine is most beneficial. The membranes contain the initial true Qi and should not be removed.

**[Flavor and Properties]** Sweet, salty, warm, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Treats Qi and Blood emaciation, maternal exhaustion, darkened facial skin, and abdominal diseases causing gradual wasting. Processed cleanly, mix with five flavors, prepare according to method, and consume, without letting the woman know (Zangqi notes: , pronounced 'jia', refers to a cake). Treats all deficiency and extreme fatigue in men and women, epilepsy, loss of will, and mental confusion; calms the mind, nourishes Blood, tonifies Qi, and replenishes Essence (Wu Qiu).

**[Elucidation]** Zhu Zhenheng said: When using Zihuche to treat consumptive fever, it should be assisted with medicines for bone-steaming fever. For Qi deficiency, add Qi-tonifying medicines; for Blood deficiency, add Blood-nourishing medicines. Sprinkle Ceiye (Platycladi Cacumen) and Wuyaoye (Linderae Folium) with wine, steam and sun-dry nine times, combine them into pills; this greatly tonifies and is named Bushen Wan (Kidney-Tonifying Pill). Li Shizhen said: Although Renbao is recorded in Chen’s Materia Medica, it was rarely used by ancients. Recently, due to Danxi Zhu’s statements regarding its efficacy, it has come into current use. Wu Qiu of Kuocang first created the formula Dazao Wan (Great Creation Pill), which is particularly popular among the world. The ingredients of this formula are mild and tonifying; even without Zihuche, it can be taken. His explanation is detailed under this formula. According to the *Book of Sui*: Women in the Kingdom of Liqiu must eat the placenta after childbirth. Zhang Shizheng’s *Juan You Lu* records: Among the Liao people of Bagui, if a boy is born, the placenta is decocted with five flavors and shared among relatives to eat. This follows the behavior of beasts eating their own placentas after birth, not human custom. Cui Xinggong’s *Xiaoer Fang* states: Placentas should be buried in auspicious directions corresponding to Tian De and Yue Kong stars. Bury deep and compact the soil to ensure the boy lives long. If eaten by pigs or dogs, the child becomes insane; if eaten by insects or ants, the child develops sores and ringworm; if eaten by birds or magpies, the child dies an evil death; if thrown into fire, the child develops rotting sores; there are prohibitions against placing them near altars, temples, sewage wells, stoves, streets, or alleys. This follows the principle that "when copper mountains collapse, bells in Luoyang respond," which is natural law. Now, however, we cook, roast, and process it, mixing it with medicine to take as pills. Although it is said to "use human to supplement human," taking its kind; does consuming human flesh not violate Cui’s prohibitions? Compared to the practices of Liqiu and the Liao people, the difference is minimal.

**[Attached Formulas]** One old formula, six new formulas. Heche Wan (River Chariot Pill): Treats female tuberculosis cough, deficiency, and bone-steaming fever. Use one Zihuche (from a male newborn) (wash clean in running water, boil until cooked, tear into pieces, dry, and grind), Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 2 liang, Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 1 liang, Bai Fu Ling (Poria) 0.5 liang. Grind into powder, make pills with wine paste the size of Sophora seeds, cure with She Xiang (Moschus) for seven days. Take 30-50 pills each time, warm with water, or down with salt water. (*Yong Lei Qian Fang*) Dazao Wan: Wu Qiu said: Zihuche is the placenta. While in the womb, the fetus is connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord, and the placenta is attached to the mother’s spine, receiving her protection. Father’s essence and mother’s blood combine to form it; it is where True Yuan gathers, hence called Heche. Though it takes form from postnatal existence, it actually obtains pre-natal Qi, transcending minerals, stones, grasses, and trees. I have always found it effective, especially when using female placentas. This traces back to the source, following its own kind. It is beneficial for those without children, those who have had many daughters, irregular menstruation, miscarriage, or difficult labor, ensuring conception. For critical cases near death, one or two doses can extend life by a day or two. Its power to tonify Yin is extremely potent, working perfectly every time. Long-term use brings clear hearing and sight, black hair and beard, longevity, and benefits akin to creation itself, hence named Dazao Wan. Use one Zihuche (male uses female fetus, female uses male fetus, from newborns, washed in rice water, dried on new tiles and ground, or steamed in light wine, mashed, dried, and ground to preserve potency and avoid fire toxicity), Bai Guiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) (aged, soaked in child’s urine for three days, roasted with suet until yellow) 2 liang (or soaked in child’s urine, cleaned on stone, steamed, dried, and ground for best results), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex) (peeled, soaked in salt wine, stir-fried) 1.5 liang, Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex) (peeled, roasted with suet) 1.5 liang, Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) (remove sprouts, soak in wine, dry) 1.2 qian, Fei Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Recens) 2.5 liang (add Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) 6 qian, Bai Fu Ling 2 liang, place in silk bag, put in clay pot, boil in wine seven times, remove Fu Ling and Sha Ren, pound Di Huang into paste for use), Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix) (remove heart), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) (remove heart), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) (remove rhizome) each 1.2 qian. In summer, add Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus) 7 qian. Do not touch iron vessels. Grind into powder, mix with Di Huang paste and wine, make pills the size of small beans with rice paste. Take 80-90 pills on an empty stomach with salt water; in winter, take with wine. For women, remove Guiban, add Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 2 liang, make pills with milk paste. For male spermatorrhea or female leukorrhea, add Mu Li Fen (Ostreae Concha) 1 liang. Worldly doctors use Yang-tonifying medicines for supplementation; this is not only useless but harmful. Evil fire can only stimulate desire, not generate life. Guiban and Huang Bo tonify Yang and Yin respectively, serving as assistants to Heche; added with Du Zhong to tonify Kidney and strengthen waist, and Niu Xi to benefit Essence and strengthen bones; these four herbs enter the Foot Shaoyin Meridian. Ancient formulas add Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), named Bushen Wan. Sheng Di Huang cools Blood and nourishes Yin; combined with Fu Ling and Sha Ren and Huang Bo, it enters Shaoyin. Bai Feixia calls these four herbs Tiansheng Yishui Wan (Heaven Generates One Water Pill). Tian and Mai Men Dong protect Lung Qi, preventing fire from flaring upward, allowing Lung Qi to descend and generate Water; however, their nature is descending only, without ascending. With Ren Shen to stir up Yuan Qi, they ascend and descend together, thus forming Guben Wan (Root-Solidifying Pill) with Di Huang. Furthermore, Mai Men Dong, Ren Shen, and Wu Wei Zi constitute Shengmai San (Generate Pulse Powder), all herbs of the Lung Meridian. The intent of this formula’s combination is largely based on Metal and Water organs as the source of generation, adding Heche to achieve Great Creation. A man weak with severe impotence took two doses of this, his appearance changed instantly, and he fathered four sons. A woman aged sixty, already frail, took this and lived to ninety, still vigorous. A man unable to speak after illness took this, his Qi strengthened and voice returned. A man suffering from paralysis, unable to stand for half a year, could walk far distances after taking this. (*Zhuzheng Bianyi*)

Stop when clear juice flows out, boil in wine until soft, mash into paste, mix with Bai Fushen (Poria cum Radix) powder, make pills the size of Sophora seeds. Take 100 pills with rice drink. Avoid iron vessels. (*Zhu Shi Ji Yan Fang*) For chronic epilepsy with loss of will, Qi deficiency, and Blood weakness: Clean Zihuche, boil until soft, and eat. (Liu Shi *Jingyan Fang*) For major and minor epilepsy: One fresh placenta, wash clean in running water, soak in water for 3 days in spring, 1 day in summer, 5 days in autumn, 7 days in winter, dry and grind into powder; Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Tian Ma (Gastrodiae Rhizoma), Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) each 0.5 liang, Bai Jiang Can (Bombyx Batryticatus) and Bai Fu Zi (Typhonii Rhizoma) each 1 liang, Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) 2 liang, Chuan Wu (Aconiti Radix Preparata) 1 piece, Quan Xie (Scorpio) 21 pieces. Grind into powder, make pills the size of Sophora seeds with paste, coat with Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris). Take 50 pills each time with good wine. (*Qiankun Mi Yun*) To resolve all Gu poison: Regardless of Grass Gu, Snake Gu, or Dung Beetle Gu, which causes stabbing pain in the throat nearly fatal. Take one placenta, wash and cut, dry in sun, grind into powder, mix with warm water and take one Qianbi dose. (*Meishi Fang*) For red eyes with nebula: Fresh infant placenta, dry in sun, roast, and grind finely. Apply daily to the eyes until healed. (*Qianjin Fang*)