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[Compendium of Materia Medica]
[Ji Jie (Collected Explanations)] Li Shizhen said: The plum tree grows in Taihe Mountain, Junzhou. It is traditionally said that Zhenwu Emperor broke a plum branch and inserted it into the ground, swearing: "If my Dao practice succeeds, this tree will bloom and bear fruit." Later, it indeed happened as he said. Now the tree still exists north of the Wulong Palace; its trunk resembles an elm, its fruit resembles a plum, and its pit resembles an apricot. Taoists pick them every year and preserve them in honey for tribute. This is actually an elm tree.

Fruit
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Sweet, sour, neutral, non-toxic.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Generates body fluids and relieves thirst, clears the spirit and directs qi downward, resolves alcohol intoxication (Li Shizhen).

(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing [Classic of the Divine Farmer], Lower Grade)
[Jiao Zheng (Textual Correction)] In the Wood section, there was previously "Shi Yi" (Supplementary Additions) regarding Tao Jue (Peach Stump), now merged here.
[Shi Ming (Explanation of Names)] Li Shizhen said: Peach trees flower early, are easy to plant, and produce abundant fruits, hence the character 'Tao' consists of 'Mu' (wood) and 'Zhao' (myriad/ten billion). 'Zhao' refers to ten billion, indicating abundance. Some say 'Zhao' is phonetic.
[Ji Jie (Collected Explanations)] Mingyi Bie Lu (Record of Famous Physicians) states: Peach trees grow in valleys of Mount Tai.
Tao Hongjing said: They are found everywhere today. For medicinal use, kernels from grafted trees should be selected as superior; wild mountain peach kernels are unsuitable.
Su Song said: Those from east of Bian River and Shaanxi are particularly large and beautiful. Generally, fine fruits are grafted by gardeners onto other trees, losing their original nature. For medicine, naturally grown kernels are best. Market sellers often mix in kernels from grafted trees, which are inferior.
Kou Zongshi said: There is a type of peach in mountains that matches the description in Yue Ling ("Peaches begin to bloom"); it has many flowers but few fruits, inedible, suitable only for kernel extraction. Bianjing has You Tao (Oil Peach), smaller than others, shiny like oiled skin, not beneficial to spleen and stomach. Taiyuan has Jin Tao (Golden Peach), deep yellow. Luoyang has Kunlun Tao, flesh deep red-purple. There is also Bing Zi Tao (Cake Peach), shaped like incense cakes. All taste sweet.
Li Shizhen said: Peach varieties are numerous, easy to cultivate, and fruit early. For five-year-old trees, scraping the bark releases sap, extending fruiting years. Flowers vary in color (red, purple, white, double-petaled, bi-color). Fruits include Hong Tao (Red), Fei Tao (Crimson), Bi Tao (Green), Xiang Tao (Light Yellow), Bai Tao (White), Wu Tao (Black), Jin Tao (Gold), Yin Tao (Silver), Yan Zhi Tao (Rouge), named by color. Shapes include Mian Tao (Cotton), You Tao (Oil), Yu Tao (Imperial), Fang Tao (Square), Bian Tao (Flat), Pian He Tao (Asymmetric Pit), named by shape. Timing includes May Early Peach, October Winter Peach, Autumn Peach, Frost Peach, named by season. All are edible. Only wild Mao Tao (Hairy Peach), described in Er Ya as "Mao Tao", is small, hairy, with sticky pits and bad taste. However, its kernel is plump and oily, suitable for medicine, meaning inner abundance compensates for outer deficiency. Dong Tao (Winter Peach), also called Xi Wang Mu Tao (Queen Mother of the West Peach) or Xian Ren Tao (Immortal Peach), i.e., Kunlun Tao, resembles Trichosanthes fruit, slightly red inside and out, ripens after frost. Fang Tao is slightly square. Bian Tao comes from Southern Fan, flat flesh, astringent, pit box-shaped, kernel sweet. Fan people value it, calling it Bo Dan Tree, very tall. Pian He Tao comes from Persia, thin and pointed, asymmetric head, half-moon shape, kernel resembles Silla pine nut, edible, hot nature. Yang Weizhen and Song Lian recorded Yuan Dynasty Imperial Pan Tao (Flat Peach) with pits bowl-sized, considered miraculous. Note: Wang Ninian's Shi Yi Ji records Changshan presented giant-kernel peaches to Emperor Ming of Han, flowering after frost, ripening in summer heat. Xuan Zhong Ji records peaches from Jishi Mountain as large as dou/he vessels. Youyang Zazu records peaches from Jiuyi Mountain with pits holding one sheng of rice; Shu Houzhu had peach pits holding five sheng of water, tasting like wine after time. These are extremely large peaches. Ancients called peach a fairy fruit, likely referring to these. Raw peach slices boiled and dried make fruit preserves. Peach vinegar method: Put ripe peaches in a jar, cover for seven days, strain skins/pits, seal for fourteen days until vinegar forms, fragrant and edible. Zhong Shu Shu says: Grafting persimmon on peach yields Jin Tao; plum on peach yields Li Tao; plum on peach yields crispness. Peach tree pests stop if irrigated with boiled pig head juice. These are subtle properties of things.

Fruit
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Pungent, sour, sweet, hot, slightly toxic. Overconsumion causes heat.
Meng Shen said: Can trigger Dan Shi toxicity; raw consumption is more harmful.
Sun Simiao said: Huang Di Shu states: Eating full on peaches then bathing in water causes Lin disease and chills/fever.
Li Shizhen said: Overeating raw peaches causes bloating and carbuncles/furuncles, harmful without benefit. Peaches are ranked lowest among Five Fruits for this reason.
Li Rui said: Peaches eaten with turtle cause heart pain. Those taking Atractylodes should avoid peaches.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Eaten as preserves, benefits complexion (Ma Zhi). Fruit of the Lung, suitable for lung disease patients (Sun Simiao).
Dong Tao, eating it resolves labor-heat (Li Shizhen. From Er Ya Zhu).

Kernel/Ren
[Xiu Zhi (Processing)] Mingyi Bie Lu states: Harvest in July, take kernels and dry in shade.
Chen Cangqi said: Must remove skin. Boil with Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) and Wudou (Black Soybean) in an iron pot for two fu periods (approx. 4 hours). Remove, split open; when heart is golden-yellow, use. Li Shizhen said: For moving blood, use raw with skin and tip. For moistening dryness and activating blood, soak in decoction, remove skin/tip, stir-fry until yellow. Or stir-fry with wheat bran, or burn to retain nature, according to formula. Double-kernel peaches are toxic, do not eat; see under Apricot Kernel.
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Bitter, sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
Sun Simiao said: Bitter, sweet, pungent, neutral. Meng Shen said: Warm.
Tao Hongjing said: Peach kernel made into cheese is cold. Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiang Fu) is its guide drug.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Blood stasis and amenorrhea, masses and evil qi, kills small parasites (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing).
Relieves cough and rebellious qi, dissipates hardness below heart, stops sudden traumatic bleeding, regulates menstruation, stops epigastric/abdominal pain (Mingyi Bie Lu).
Treats blood knotting, constipation due to blood dryness, moistens intestines, breaks accumulated blood (Li Gao). Kills three types of parasites.
Also, chew one nightly mixed with honey applied to hands/face is good (Meng Shen). Treats blood stagnation, wind-bi, bone-steaming fever, liver malaria with chills/fever, Gui Zhu pain, postpartum blood disorders (Li Shizhen).
[Fa Ming (Invention/Discussion)] Li Gao said: Peach kernel is bitter rather than sweet, thin qi, strong flavor, sinking and descending, yang within yin, a blood-level drug for Hand-Foot Jueyin meridians. Bitter drains stagnant blood, sweet generates new blood, thus used for breaking coagulated blood. Its four functions: 1. Treats heat entering blood chamber; 2. Drains abdominal stagnant blood; 3. Removes skin blood-heat and dryness/itching; 4. Moves condensed blood in skin.
Cheng Wuji said: Liver is source of blood; blood accumulation makes Liver Qi dry. Liver suffers from urgency, treat with sweet to relax. Peach kernel's sweetness relaxes Liver and disperses blood. Thus Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Didang Tang to treat Taiyang disease day 8-9 with internal blood accumulation, fever like madness, lower abdomen fullness/pain, free urination. Also for cases where sweating was missed, heat toxin penetrates deeply, vomiting blood, blood-stagnant chest syndrome, irritability/delirium. Used with Odonata (Machong), Leech (Shuizhi), and Rhubarb (Dahuang).
[Fu Fang (Attached Prescriptions)] Old 19, New 11.
Longevity and removing wind, making skin lustrous: Use 5 he of peeled peach kernels, grind with glutinous rice slurry, squeeze juice completely, wash face warmly. Excellent. (Qianjin Yifang).
Hemiplegia and masses: Use 2700 peeled peach kernels (remove tip/double), soak in 1 dou 3 sheng good wine for 21 days. Take out, dry, grind fine, make pills size of wu zi. Take 20 pills swallowed with original wine. (Waitai Miyao).
Wind-labor toxic swelling/spasm/pain, radiating to lower abdomen/lower back: Use 1 sheng peeled peach kernels, roast until black smoke appears, grind hot like paste, mix with 3 sheng wine, drink, keep warm to sweat. Cure within 3 doses. (Shiyi Xinjing).
Malaria chills/fever: 100 peeled peach kernels, grind in mortar to paste, avoid raw water, add 3 qian Huangdan (Lead Monoxide), make wu zi pills. Take 3 pills on onset day, swallow with warm wine facing North. Prepare at noon on 5th day of 5th lunar month. Avoid chicken, dog, women. (See Tang Shenwei's Bencao).
Bone-steaming fever: 120 peach kernels, keep tips, remove skin/double kernels, make pills. Swallow at dawn well-water. Drink alcohol to drunkenness, then drink water freely. Dose every other day. No meat for 100 days. (Waitai Miyao).
Upper jiao asthma/wheezing: See Apricot Kernel.
Upper jiao cough, chest fullness/asthma: 3 liang peeled peach kernels, grind in 1 da sheng water for juice, cook with 2 he glutinous rice as porridge. (Xinjing).
Sudden cough: 3 sheng peeled kernels, pound, seal in vessel, steam, dry, store in silk bag, steep in 2 dou wine for 7 days. Drink 4-5 he daily.
Shi Zhu/Ghost Zhu (Wasting-and-Transmission Disease), one of Five Corpses, accompanied by evil spirits. Symptoms change, 36 to 99 types. Causes chills/dripping, silence, unknown pain, aversion everywhere. Years accumulate to death, spreads to others after death: Immediately grind 50 peach kernels to mud, boil in water to get 4 sheng, drink to induce vomiting. If not fully vomited, repeat in 3-4 days. (Zhouhou Beiji Fang).
Transmitted corpse ghost qi, cough/mass/qi stagnation, blood/qi blockage, wasting: 1 liang peeled/grind peach kernels, boil in 1.5 sheng water for juice, add rice for porridge, eat on empty stomach. (Xinjing).
Ghost Zhu heart pain: 1 he rotten peach kernels, decoct soup, drink. (Beiji Fang).
Sudden heart pain: 7 peeled/grind peach kernels, drink with 1 he water. (Zhouhou Beiji Fang).
Nightmares/Sleep Paralysis: 3-7 roasted/peeled peach kernels, drink with urine. (Qianjin Fang).
Lower body parasites: Patient gums colorless, tongue white, sleepy/confused, no pain/itch sensation, or dysentery, caused by lower body worms eating anus: 15 peach kernels, 2 sheng Ku Jiu (Vinegar), 1 he salt, boil to 6 he, drink. (Zhouhou Beiji Fang).
Metrorrhagia/Metrorrhagia continuous: Burn peach pits to retain nature, grind fine, take 1 cun bi with wine, 3 times daily. (Qianjin Fang).
Difficult labor, days passing: Split 1 peach kernel, write 'Ke' on one half, 'Chu' on other, swallow together to deliver. (Shanfan Fang).
Postpartum hundred diseases: Qianjin Fang Tao Ren Jian: Treats postpartum ailments/qi. Take 1200 peeled/grind/double-free peach kernels, roast/grind fine, grind with 1.5 dou clear wine like oatmeal, put in narrow-necked porcelain bottle, seal with dough, boil in water for 1 fu period. Take 1 spoon, mix with warm wine, twice daily. (Tujing Bencao).
Postpartum fever like fire, skin like millet grains: Grind peach kernel to mud, apply with cured pork fat, change daily. (Qianjin Fang).
Postpartum blood closure: 20 peeled peach kernels, 1 piece lotus root, decoct in water, drink. Good. (Tang Yao Jingyan Fang).
Postpartum vulvar swelling: Burn/grind peach kernel, apply.
Female vulvar itching: Pound peach kernel, wrap in cotton, insert. (Zhouhou Beiji Fang).
Male vulvar swelling/itch: Roast/grind peach kernel to powder, take 1 cun bi with wine, twice daily. Also apply paste. (Waitai Miyao):
Pediatric testicular swelling: Same prescription above.
Pediatric ulcerative sores, initial swelling/pus like burns: Grind peach kernel, apply. (Milu).
Pediatric ear infection: Roast/grind peach kernel, wrap in cotton, insert daily. (Qianjin Fang).
Wind-parasitic toothache: Prick peach kernel, burn on lamp until smoke, blow out, place on painful tooth and bite. Cure in 5-6 times. (Weisheng Jiabao Fang).
Dry/cracked painful lips: Pound peach kernel, mix with pork fat, apply. (Haishang).
Constipation/tenesmus: 3 liang peeled peach kernels, 2 liang Evodia (Wuzhuyu), 1 liang salt, stir-fry together, remove salt/Evodia, chew 5-7 kernels each time. (Zonglu).
Acute consumption cough/fever: 3 liang peeled/grind peach kernels, 1 pig liver, 5 sheng boy's urine. Boil dry, pound in wooden mortar, mix with steamed cake dough, make wu zi pills. Take 30 pills with warm water. (Shenghui Fang).
Cold consumption/appetite loss/black/thin: 500 peach kernels, 3 liang Evodia, fry in iron pan over low heat for one meal time. Peel one kernel; when slightly yellow, increase heat until slight smoke, collect hot in new bottle, seal thick paper. Chew 20 peeled kernels on empty stomach with warm wine daily. Severe cases cure with 500 kernels. (Shenghui Fang).
Prevent miasma/plague: 1 jin peach kernels, 4 liang Evodia, 4 liang green salt, stir-fry, seal in new bottle for 7 days. Remove Evodia/salt, peel/grind kernels, chew 10-20 each. Especially suitable for mountain dwellers. (Yu Jushi Xuanqi Fang)

Peach Hair
Hair from hairy peach fruit. Scrape and use.
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Pungent, neutral, slightly toxic.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Breaks blood closure, expels blood masses, chills/fever accumulations, infertility, leukorrhea disorders (Mingyi Bie Lu).
Treats metrorrhagia, breaks mass qi (Ma Zhi). Treats evil ghost/evil qi (Meng Shen).

Peach Xiao (Dried Peach on Tree)
[Shi Ming (Explanation of Names)] Tao Nu (Peach Slave, Mingyi Bie Lu), Xiao Jing (Same), Shen Tao (Divine Peach).
Mingyi Bie Lu states: These are peaches hanging on tree through winter, harvested in Jan; those solid inside are good.
Li Shizhen said: Named because dried peaches hang like owl heads on wood.
Nu (Slave) means unable to mature fruit. Baojia Fang calls it Shen Tao, meaning repelling evil. Double-petal peach fruits staying on tree are called Gui Du Lou (Ghost Skull).
Lei Xiao's Paozhi Lun has processing methods, but rarely used in prescriptions.
Chen Cangqi said: Gui Du Lou, harvest Nov, steam with wine from Si to Wei hours, dry, cut with copper knife, roast meat for use.
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Kills hundred ghost essences (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). Kills spirits/five poisons/unluck, treats sudden evil abdominal pain (Mingyi Bie Lu. Su Song says: Hu Qia treats sudden evil poison/gu/zhu with Tao Xiao Tang. Treats lung qi lower back pain, breaks blood, treats heart pain, grind in wine warm drink (Ma Zhi).
Main for hematemesis unresponsive to other drugs: Burn to retain nature, grind powder, mix with rice water, effective (Wang Ying).
Treats pediatric spontaneous sweating, pregnant women bleeding, breaks Fuliang qi knots, stops malignant malaria. Smoke burns hemorrhoids. Burn black, mix oil, apply to pediatric scalp impetigo/soft boils (Li Shizhen).
[Fu Fang (Attached Prescriptions)] Old 3, New 5.
Fuliang qi knot, stuck below heart: 3 liang Tao Nu powder, warm wine on empty stomach, take 2 qian. (Shenghui Fang).
Ghost Malaria chills/fever: 2-7 self-dried peaches from tree, powder, drop water make wu zi pills, Cinnabar coating. Take 1 pill morning facing East with well-water before food. (Shengji Zonglu).
Five Types Malaria: Baojia Tongshen Wan: Use 14 Shen Tao (Tao Nu), 7 Baidu (Croton), 1 liang Black Bean. Grind uniform, cold water make wu zi pills, Cinnabar coat. On onset day at 5am chant Medicine King Bodhisattva 7 times, swallow 1 pill with well-water, immediate cure. Not exceeding twice, wonderful. (Wang Yinjun Yangsheng Zhu Lun)
Pregnancy bleeding continuous: Burn Tao Xiao to retain nature, grind, water dose to cure. (Ge Hong Formula)
Spontaneous sweating continuous: 1 dried peach from tree, 2 frosted plums, 7 scallion roots, 2 Jiedixin (Centella), 1 qian Chenpi (Tangerine Peel), 1 pinch Daomagen (Rice Root), 1 pinch Damaiya (Barley Sprout). 2 zhong water, decoct, drink. (Jingyan Fang)
White Bald Scalp Sores: 1 liang dried peach, 1 he black bean, powder, cured pork fat mix apply. (Shenghui Fang).
Pediatric Head Sores: Dry peach from tree burn/grind, add Nifen (Calomel), Sesame Oil mix apply. (Shenghui Fang).
Illness from Eating Peaches: 2 qian Tao Xiao ash, water dose to vomit, then cure. Lu Guanglu said someone ate undigested peach, got dried peach in forest, burned and drank, vomited immediately, cured. This is attacking similar with similar. (Zhang Wenzhong Beiji Fang)

Flower
[Xiu Zhi (Processing)] Mingyi Bie Lu states: Harvest 3rd day of 3rd lunar month, dry in shade.
Chen Cangqi said: Do not use double-petal flowers, causes nosebleeds/yellow eyes. Pick clean, store in silk bag, hang eaves to dry.
[Qi Wei (Flavor and Property)] Bitter, neutral, non-toxic.
[Zhu Zhi (Main Indications)] Kills Zhu evil ghosts, improves complexion (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing).
Beautifies face, removes water qi, breaks Stone Lin, promotes urination/bowel movements, expels three parasites (Mingyi Bie Lu).
Reduces swelling/fullness, descends evil qi (Su Gong). Treats heart/abdominal pain and bald sores (Meng Shen). Promotes discharge of old water/phlegm/stagnation, treats wind-madness. Powder, apply to scalp impetigo, hand/foot sores (Li Shizhen).
[Fa Ming (Invention/Discussion)] Tao Hongjing said: Zhouhou Beiji Fang says: Eating all flowers from three peach trees makes face ruddy/beautiful like peach blossom.
Su Song said: Taiqing Caomu Fang says: Wine-soaked peach flower drink removes hundred diseases, benefits complexion.
Li Shizhen said: Note: Ouyang Xun's Chuxue Ji records Northern Qi Cui family mixing peach flower + snow powder for children's face, claiming beauty. This derives from Bencao's "good complexion/beautify face" meaning, but Tao/Su cited ingestion method, misusing Bencao words. Peach flower moves/releases downward, strongly purges large intestine. Effective for excess qi patients with water/phlegm/swelling/stagnation, bowel/bladder obstruction. Harmless if used correctly. Long-term use consumes yin blood, damages yuan qi, cannot beautify. Note: Zhang Congzheng Rumen Shiqin records woman with chronic diarrhea years, treatments failed. Someone said: Phlegm-fluid stagnation. At flower fall, prick calyxes with thorns (don't touch hands). Mix flour into cakes, bake/eat, rice water down. Within 1-2 hours, diarrhea pours. 6-7 days, hundreds of stools, drowsy, calm only drinking cold water. This proves Peach Flower's strong purgative nature. Also Su E Duyang Bian records Fan Chunyou's daughter widowed/mad, locked room, broke window night, climbed tree ate almost all flowers. Next morning family took down, cured. I note: This is anger injuring Liver, phlegm mixed with bad blood causing madness. Accidentally benefited from Peach Flower's phlegm-draining/blood-dispersing power, similar to Zhang Zhongjing using Chengqi Tang for heat-madness, Taoren Chengqi Tang for blood-madness. Why did Chen Cangqi say peach flowers cause Lin disease?
[Fu Fang (Attached Prescriptions)] Old 3, New 13.