Library

(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Bie Lu*)

**[Names]** Su Song stated: Its leaves resemble a pipa (a Chinese lute), hence the name.

**[Collection and Explanation]** Su Song stated: Loquat (*Eriobotryae Fructus*), previously unrecorded regarding its place of origin, is now found in Xiangyang, Han River, Wu, Shu, Fujian, Lingnan, southern Jiangxi, and northern Hunan. The tree grows over one zhang high, with thick branches and long leaves, large as donkey ears, covered with yellow hairs on the back; the shade is dense and graceful, pleasing to the eye, remaining evergreen throughout the four seasons. It blooms with white flowers in deep winter, and bears fruit in the third and fourth lunar months. When raw, it is as large as a pellet; when ripe, its color resembles a yellow apricot, slightly hairy, with very thin skin and flesh, and a pit as large as a thatch chestnut, yellowish-brown. Leaves are harvested in the fourth lunar month and dried in the sun for use.

Li Shizhen stated: According to Guo Yigong's *Guang Zhi*: Loquat is easy to cultivate; its leaves slightly resemble those of the chestnut, flowering in winter and bearing fruit in spring. The fruits grow in clusters and are hairy, ripening in April; large ones are like chicken eggs, small ones like longans. White-fleshed varieties are superior, while yellow-fleshed ones are inferior. Varieties without pits are called "Jiaozi" and originate from Guangzhou. Furthermore, Yang Wanli's poem states: "Large leaves stand up like long ears, one branch can fill a plate. Lychees share their pits, but kumquats lack sourness." This describes the plant quite accurately. Annotators of *Wen Xuan* mistakenly identified loquat as Luju (Loquat). See the entry for Kumquat (*Fortunellae Fructus*).

**[Fruit Properties and Flavor]** Sweet, sour, neutral, non-toxic.

Xu Zhicai stated: Cold. Chen Cangqi stated: Warm. Excessive consumption induces phlegm-heat and damages the Spleen. Consuming it with roasted meat or hot wheat-based foods causes people to suffer from heat-toxin jaundice.

**[Fruit Indications]** Stops thirst and directs Qi downward, benefits Lung Qi, stops vomiting and rebellious Qi, treats Upper Jiao Heat, and moistens the Five Zang Organs (cited from Meng Shen).

**[Leaves]**

**[Processing]** Tao Hongjing stated: Whenever using Loquat leaves, they must be roasted over fire and wiped with cloth to remove the hairs. Otherwise, the hairs will penetrate the Lungs, causing persistent cough. Alternatively, use millet stalks to make a brush to sweep off the hairs.

Chen Cangqi stated: Upon harvesting, weigh one tael of wet leaves; three dry leaves weighing one tael indicate sufficient medicinal Qi and are suitable for use. Wipe off the hairs with coarse cloth, wash once with Licorice Decoction (*Gancao Tang*), then wipe dry with cotton. For every one tael of leaves, apply two qian and half of su (animal fat/butter), roast, and then use.

Li Shizhen stated: To treat Stomach diseases, smear with Ginger Juice (*Shengjiang Zhi*) before roasting; to treat Lung diseases, smear with Honey Water (*Mi Shui*) before roasting; this is excellent.

**[Leaf Properties and Flavor]** Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.

Li Dangzhi stated: Sweet, slightly pungent. Tao Hongjing stated: Boiling into juice and drinking makes it slightly cold.

**[Leaf Indications]** Sudden asthma not stopping, directs Qi downward, boil juice and take orally (*Bie Lu*). Tao Hongjing stated: If time does not permit boiling, simply chew and swallow the juice, which also cures. Treats persistent vomiting and hiccups, and dry mouth in women postpartum (cited from Meng Shen). Boil juice and drink to treat thirst disorders, treat cough due to Lung Heat, and treat Lung Wind sores and sores on the chest and face.

**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen stated: Loquat Leaf (*Pipalaye*), with thin Qi and strong flavor, belongs to Yin within Yang. In treating Lung and Stomach diseases, its primary utility lies in its ability to direct Qi downward. When Qi descends, Fire descends and Phlegm flows smoothly; thus, rebellious Qi ceases to rebel, vomiting ceases, thirst ceases, and coughing ceases.

Su Song stated: It is highly effective in treating severe cough due to Lung Heat. A woman suffered from chronic cough due to Lung Heat, her body feeling like being roasted by fire, muscles emaciated, approaching consumptive disease. Using equal parts of Loquat Leaf (*Pipalaye*), Wood Tongue Root (*Mutong*), Winter Flower Bud (*Kuandonghua*), Aster Root (*Ziwan*), Apricot Seed (*Xingren*), and Mulberry Root Bark (*Sangbaipi*), with half the amount of Rhubarb (*Dahuang*). After processing as usual, grind into powder, form pills the size of cherries using honey. Contone one pill after meals and before sleep. She was cured before finishing the dosage.

**[Attached Prescriptions]** Seven new prescriptions.

**Warm disease with hiccups caused by excessive water intake:** Loquat Leaf (hairs removed, roasted until fragrant) and Imperata Rhizome (*Maogen*) each 0.5 jin. Four sheng of water, decoct to two sheng, drink slowly.

**Rebellious stomach with vomiting and hiccups:** Loquat Leaf (hairs removed, roasted) and Clove (*Dingxiang*) each 1 liang, Ginseng (*Renshen*) 2 liang. Grind into powder, take 3 qian per dose, decoct with one cup of water and three slices of Ginger.

**Persistent epistaxis:** Loquat Leaf (hairs removed), roast and grind into powder. Take 1-2 qian with tea, twice daily. (Same source)

**Alcoholic rhinophyma (red nose):** Loquat Leaf and Gardenia Seed (*Zhizi Ren*) in equal parts. Grind into powder. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with warm wine. Three times daily. (*Ben Shi Fang*)

**Facial wind sores:** Prescription same as above.

**Hemorrhoids with swelling and pain:** Loquat Leaf (roasted with honey) and Dark Plum Flesh (*Wumei Rou*) (roasted). Grind into powder. First wash the area with Dark Plum Decoction, then apply externally. (*Ji Yao*)

**Ulcerated smallpox:** Loquat Leaf, decoct in water and wash the affected area. (*Zhai Xuan*)

**[Flowers]**

**[Indications]** Head wind, clear nasal discharge. Equal parts of Magnolia Flower (*Xinyi*), grind into powder, take 2 qian with wine, twice daily (Li Shizhen).

**[Inner Bark of Trunk]**

**[Indications]** Chew raw and swallow the juice to stop vomiting, rebellious Qi, and inability to eat; decoct in water, cool, and drink; especially good (Sun Simiao).