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(Recorded in the Middle Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Names]** Li Shizhen said: The ancient character for Mei (Plum) was written as "Dai" (呆), depicting the shape of fruit hanging on a tree. Mei belongs to the apricot category, hence reversing the character for apricot ("Xing") creates "Dai". Calligraphers erroneously wrote it as "Gan Mu" (Sweet Wood). Later it became "Mei", with the phonetic component "Mei" (每). Some say: Mei means match, as it harmonizes various flavors. Thus the book says: "If you wish to make a harmonious soup, use only salt and plum." The character Mei also derives from "Mou" (某). Lu Dian in *Pi Ya* stated that Mei transforms into Xing when entering the North; Guo Pu's annotation in *Er Ya* using another tree for Mei are both errors. This is the Mei tree, called Mei by people in Jing, as seen in Lu Ji's *Caomu Shu*.

**[Collection & Explanation]** *Bielu* states: Plum fruits grow in the valleys of Hanzhong. Collect the fruits in the fifth lunar month and dry them over fire.

Su Song said: They are now found in Xianghan, Chuanshu, Jianghu, Huailing, and other regions.

Li Shizhen said: According to Lu Ji's *Shijing Shu*: Mei is a type of apricot. The tree and leaves are slightly similar to apricots, with leaves having long pointed tips, flowering before other trees. Its fruit is sour; dried in the sun it becomes "Pu" (dried fruit), used in soups or pickles, and can be held in the mouth to freshen breath. Red seeds yield hard wood, white seeds yield brittle wood. Fan Chengda's *Mei Pu* states: Jiangmei (River Plum) is wild, not grafted, with small fragrant flowers and small hard fruits. Xiaomei has round, loose, crisp flesh, juicy without residue, suitable only for raw eating, not for cooking. Lvemei (Green Calyx Plum) has green branches and calyces. Chongye Mei (Double-leaf Plum) has overlapping petals and leaves, bearing mostly twin fruits. Hongmei (Red Plum) has flower color like apricots. Xingmei (Apricot Plum) is pale red, flat and spotted, tasting exactly like apricots. Yuanyang Mei is the multi-leaf red plum, one stalk bearing two fruits. Another view says: Grafting Mei onto Chinaberry results in blackish flowers. Tanzi's *Huashu* says: Plums grafted onto Peaches with strong roots bear hairy fruits; Meis grafted onto Apricots with strong roots bear sweet fruits. Harvest Mei fruits when half-yellow, smoke them to make Wumei (Dark Plum); green ones are salted and sun-dried to make Baimei (White Plum). They can also be preserved in honey or sugar as fruit. Ripe ones are pressed for juice and sun-dried to make Mei Jiang (Plum Sauce). Only Wumei and Baimei are suitable for medicinal use. Mei Jiang can be mixed with water in summer to quench thirst.

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Sour, neutral, non-toxic.

Meng Shen said: Excessive consumption damages teeth and sinews, corrodes the spleen and stomach, causing phlegm-heat in the diaphragm. Those taking Huangjing (Polygonatum Rhizome) should avoid it. For toothache caused by eating plums, chewing walnut meat relieves it.

*Wulei Xianggan Zhi* states: Eating Mei with Shaofen (a type of starch/flour) makes it less sour and prevents dental sensitivity.

**[Elucidation]** Kou Zongshi said: Salivation upon eating Mei occurs because Water generates Wood. Loss of fluids damages the Kidney; the Kidney belongs to Water and manifests externally in the teeth.

Li Shizhen said: Mei flowers in winter and fruits in summer, receiving the complete Qi of Wood, hence its extreme sourness, which corresponds to "Curved and Straight produce Sour." The Liver is Yi-Wood, the Gallbladder is Jia-Wood. There are four orifices under the human tongue, two connecting to gallbladder fluid; thus eating Mei induces salivation due to resonance of similar types. Hence *Suwen* states: "Excessive sour taste causes Liver Qi to overflow." It also states: "Sour enters the sinews; those with sinew diseases should not eat much sour." Otherwise, many things are sour, why only Mei induce saliva?

**Wumei (Dark/Smoked Plum)**

**[Preparation]** Tao Hongjing said: Must remove the pit and lightly stir-fry.

Li Shizhen said: Method: Place green plums in a basket and smoke them black over the stove flue. If steamed after moistening with rice ash leachate, the flesh remains plump and worm-free.

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Sour, warm/neutral, astringent, non-toxic.

Wang Haogu said: Cold in nature. Avoid pork.

**[Indications]** Descends Qi, eliminates heat and fullness, calms the mind, stops limb pain, treats hemiplegia and numbness, removes dead tissue, eliminates dark moles, cauterizes bad flesh (*Benjing*). Removes Bi syndrome, benefits sinews and vessels, stops dysentery, alleviates excessive salivation and dry mouth (*Bielu*). Soaked in water, the juice treats cold-induced fever and irritability (Tao Hongjing). Quenches thirst, regulates the middle, resolves phlegm, treats malaria and miasma, stops vomiting and cholera-like disorder, removes cold-heat dysentery (Chen Cangqi). Treats deficiency fever with bone-steaming sensation, detoxifies alcohol, promotes sleep. Combined with Jiancha (Jian tea) and Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) as pills, effectively treats intermittent dysentery (Meng Shen). Astringes Lung Qi, secures intestines, stops chronic cough and diarrhea, reverses regurgitation and dysphagia, treats ascariasis colic with vomiting/diarrhea, reduces swelling, expels phlegm, kills parasites,解毒 fish poison, horse sweat poison, and sulfur poison (Li Shizhen).

**Baimei (White/Salted Plum)**

**[Names]** Yanmei (Salt Plum), Shuangmei (Frost Plum).

**[Preparation]** Take large green plums and soak in brine. Sun-dry by day, soak by night. Ready in ten days. Over time, frost forms on the surface.

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Sour, salty, neutral, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Harmonizes medicines for mole removal, cauterizes bad flesh (Tao Hongjing). For splinters embedded in flesh, chew and apply to extract them (Meng Shen). Treats knife and arrow wounds, stops bleeding, grind and apply (Meng Shen).

For mastitis and swelling/toxins, pound and apply (Wang Ying). Resolves phlegm (Su Song).

Treats wind-stroke with convulsions, throat obstruction with phlegm-syncope and stiff collapse, locked jaw: take plum meat to rub gums; once saliva flows, the jaw opens. Also treats dysentery with irritability/thirst, cholera vomiting/diarrhea, bloody stool and metrorrhagia; efficacy same as Wumei (Li Shizhen).

**[Elucidation]** Tao Hongjing said: Fresh Mei, Wumei, and Baimei have similar efficacies.

Wang Haogu said: Wumei is a blood-level medicine for the Spleen and Lung meridians. It can astringe Lung Qi and treat dry cough. The Lung desires astringency; urgently feed sour foods to astringe it.

Li Shizhen said: The diseases treated by Wumei and Baimei all utilize their sour-astringent property. Only Zhang Zhongjing's use in Wumei Wan for ascariasis colic and parasite formulas differs slightly, utilizing the principle that "parasites stop upon encountering sourness." *Yishuo* records: Duke Zeng Lu suffered bloody dysentery for over 100 days, untreatable by imperial physicians. Chen Yingyi used one piece of salt-plum meat, pounded, mixed with wax tea and vinegar; one dose brought relief. Grand Councilor Liang Zhuangsu also had bloody dysentery; Chen Yingyi used equal parts Wumei, Hutuanglei (Picrorhiza Rhizome), and Zaotuxi (Furnace Earth) powdered, taken with tea; also effective. Blood astringes with sour, stops with cold, becomes涩 (astringent/stagnant) with bitter. Regarding cauterizing bad sores/flesh, although it uses sour astringency, there is a subtle physical mechanism. This originates from *Benjing*. The method is recorded in *Liu Juanzi Guiyi Fang*: Burn Wumei meat to retain charred nature, powder, and apply to bad flesh; removed overnight. *Shenghui Fang* uses Wumei mixed with honey as a patch; its power is mild. Note: Yang Qi's *Jianbian Fang* states: I had a carbuncle on my arm, suppurating for 100 days, with a bean-sized protruding bad flesh remaining for a month, unresponsive to treatment. Reading this herb text, I tried the formula; half removed in one night, flat after another application. Knowing such miraculous formulas exist, I began collecting and printing them.

**[Attached Formulas]** 11 old, 22 new.

Various sores with bad flesh: See above.

Carbuncles, ulcers, swellings (suppurated or not): Powder burnt Baimei with salt, add slight amount of Qinfen (Calomel), mix with sesame oil, apply around the periphery. (Wang Shi *Yijian Fang*).

Throat obstruction and tonsillitis: Bingmei Wan: 20 green plums (pickled in 12 liang salt for 5 days, collect juice), add 3 liang Mingfan (Alum), 2 liang each of Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), 30 strips of Zhuyazaojiao (Gleditsia Sinensis Fruit). All powdered, mixed with juice and plums, stored in bottle. Use one pill at a time, hold in mouth to swallow saliva. Excellent for wind-stroke phlegm-syncope with locked jaw. *Zonglu*: Wrap raw alum powder in Baimei as a pill to hold/swallow or insert.

Thirst and irritability: 2 liang Wumei meat, lightly fried and powdered. Take 2 qian, decoct in 2 zhan water to 1 zhan, strain, add 200 Douchi (Fermented Soybeans), decoct to half zhan, take warm. (*Jiayao Jizhong Fang*).

Diarrhea/Dysentery with thirst: Decoct Wumei, drink daily instead of tea. (*Fushou Jingfang*).

Postpartum dysentery/thirst: 20 Wumei meats, 12 fen Mendumong (Ophiopogon Tuber), decoct 1 sheng water to 7 he, sip slowly. (*Bixiao Fang*).

Red Dysentery with abdominal pain (*Zhizhi*): Decoct aged Baimei with real tea and honey water (half/half). *Shenghui*: 4 liang each Wumei meat (fried) and Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), powdered, honey-pilled size of wutong seeds. Take 20 pills with rice drink, 3 times daily.

Bloody/Purulent Stool Dysentery: 1 liang Wumei, remove pit, burn and powder. Take 2 qian with rice drink, stops immediately. (*Shengji Zonglu*).

Chronic Dysentery not stopping, intestinal mucus discharged: *Zhouhou*: 20 Wumei meats, 1 zhan water, decoct to 6 fen, divide into 2 doses before meals. *Xiuzhen*: 7 each Wumei and Baimei meats, pounded, add slight Xurxiang (Frankincense) powder, pilled wutong seed size. Take 20-30 pills with tea/water, 3 times daily. Bloody stool, wine-dysentery, chronic dysentery: 3 liang Wumei, burn to retain char, powder, mix with vinegar-boiled rice paste, pilled wutong seed size. Take 20 pills with rice drink on empty stomach, 3 times daily. (*Jisheng Fang*).

Hematuria: Burn Wumei to retain char, powder, mix with vinegar paste, pilled wutong seed size. Take 40 pills with wine.

Metrorrhagia not stopping: 7 Wumei meats, burn to retain char, powder. Take with rice drink, 2 times daily.

Constipation with Qi rushing to death: 10 Wumei, soak in water, remove pits, pilled date size. Insert anally, passes quickly. (*Shiliao Bencao*).

Cholera vomiting/diarrhea: Decoct salted plum, sip slowly. (*Ruyi Fang*).

Ascaris rising to mouth/nose: Frequent drinking of Wumei decoction, holding in mouth brings peace. (*Shijian Bencao*).

Water retention with urgency: 3 each Wumei and Dazao (Jujube). 4 sheng water, boil to 2 sheng, mix with honey, hold and swallow. (*Shengji Zonglu*).

Plum-pit Qi in chest/diaphragm: Take half-green half-yellow plums, pickle each with 1 liang salt for 1 day/night, sun-dry. Repeat soaking/drying until water exhausted. Sandwich 2 plums between 3 copper coins, bind with hemp thread, seal in porcelain jar, bury underground for 100 days. Take one, hold in mouth to swallow juice, disappears upon reaching throat. One-year storage cures one person, two-years cures two; miraculous. (*Gongshi Jingyan Fang*).

Abdominal distension/pain, shortness of breath near death: 14 Wumei, 5 sheng water, boil once, add 14 large coins, boil to 2.5 sheng, take in one dose. (*Zhouhou*).

Chronic Malaria with weakness: 14 Wumei, 2 he Douchi, handful each Taolizhi (Peach Twig) and Liulizhi (Willow Twig), 3 cun Gancao (Licorice Root), piece of Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger). Decoct in 2 sheng child's urine to half, take warm to stop. (*Tujing Bencao*).

Chronic Cough: Wumei meat (lightly fried), Yingsuke (Poppy Shell) minus membrane, honey-fried, equal parts powdered. Take 2 qian with honey-water before sleep.

Phlegm-Syncope with headache like breaking: 30 Wumei meats, 3 cuo salt, 3 sheng wine, boil to 1 sheng, take in one dose, induce vomiting to cure. (*Zhouhou Fang*).

Cold Damage with headache, high fever, chest irritability/pain, unresolved after 4-5 days: 14 Wumei, 5 he salt, 1 sheng water, decoct to half sheng, take warm to induce vomiting. Avoid wind after vomiting. (*Meishi Fang*).

Fractures and metal wounds: Burn dried plum to retain char, apply, cured overnight. (*Qianjin Fang*).

Pain from horse sweat entering wound: Pound Wumei with pit, mix with first-run vinegar, apply. First puncture wound, drain purple blood, then apply and bind. (*Jingyan Fang*).

Dog bite poison: Wumei powder, take 2 qian with wine. (*Qianjin*).

Severe swelling/pain in fingertip: Wumei meat mixed with fish brain, pounded and applied is excellent. (Li Lou *Qifang*).

Cold damage sores growing in lower body: 3 liang Wumei meat, fried and powdered, honey-pilled wutong seed size. Decoct Shiliugenpi (Pomegranate Root Bark), take 30 pills before meals. (*Shenghui Fang*).

Infant head sores: Burn Wumei to powder, mix with raw oil, apply. (*Shengji Lu*).

Freshen breath/remove odor: Contain sun-dried plum dried fruit often. (*Maoshi Shu*).

Sulfur poison eruption causing back/chest pain and dim vision: 1 liang baked Wumei meat, 0.5 liang rock sugar, 1 large zhan jiangshui (fermented grain liquid), decoct to 7 fen, sip. (*Zonglu*)

**Kernel/Radicle**

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Sour, neutral, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Brightens eyes, benefits Qi, prevents hunger (Wu Pu). Eliminates irritability/heat (Zhen Quan).

Treats sudden swelling/pain of Dai Zhi (paronychia): Pound, soak in vinegar (Li Shizhen citing *Zhouhou Fang*).

**Flower**

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Slightly sour, astringent, non-toxic.

**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen said: White plum flowers were not used in ancient formulas. Recently there is Meihua Tang: Use half-open flowers, seal with melted wax, place in honey jar. After time, take 1-2 flowers with one spoon of honey, brew in boiling water.

There is also Mi Zi Meihua method: Use slight Bai Mei meat, soak in snow water to moisten flowers, dew overnight, preserve in honey for wine pairing. Also Meihua Zhou method: Add fallen flowers to cooked rice porridge and boil/eat. Thus Yang Chengzhai wrote "Honey-dotted plum flowers eaten with dew" and "Collecting fallen stamens to cook porridge," all to enhance elegance and clear the spirit.

**Leaves**

**[Flavor & Toxicity]** Sour, neutral, non-toxic.

**[Indications]** Intermittent dysentery and cholera, decoct thick juice and drink (Meng Shen).

Chen Cangqi said: Songyangzi stated: Rubbing Mei leaves with clean water to wash Jiaoge clothing prevents brittleness throughout summer. Verified.

Li Shizhen said: Mold spots on summer clothes are removed by washing with Mei leaf decoction, very effective.

**[Attached Formulas]** 1 old, 2 new.

Poison from water exposure, initial headache/aversion to cold, heart vexation/spasms, worse at dusk than dawn: Drink 3 sheng juice of pounded Mei leaves. Good. (*Zhouhou*).

Parasites in lower body: 1 hu Mei leaves and Peach leaves, pound and steam extremely hot, place in small vessel, sit over cloth-covered vapor; parasites die completely. (*Waitai Miyao*).

Menstruation not stopping: Roasted Mei leaves and Palm Frond Ash, equal parts powdered. Take 2 qian with wine. (*Shengji Zonglu*)

**Root**

**[Indications]** Wind-Bi (*Bielu*). (Those dug from earth kill).

For newborn infants, decoct root with Peach and Plum roots for bathing, prevents sores/heat issues (Cui Shi *Zuanyao*).

Decoct and drink, treats cholera, stops intermittent dysentery (Meng Shen).