Library

(Binglang, Arecae Semen)
[Collected in the Middle Grade of *Bie Lu*]
[Correction] Transferred from the Wood Section to this section.
[Names] Binmen (from Li Dangzhi's *Yao Dui*), Renpin.
Shizhen said: "Bin" and "Lang" are both titles for honored guests. Ji Han stated in *Nanfang Caomu Zhuang*: "In Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, whenever encountering noble or distinguished guests, one must first present this fruit. If encountered by chance without preparation, it causes mutual resentment. Thus, the name 'Binglang' is derived from this." Lei Xiao in *Pao Zhi Lun* stated that pointed ones are "Bing" and round ones are "Lang," which seems like a forced explanation. Furthermore, Yan Shigu's annotation on *Shanglin Fu* says: "Renpin is Binglang."
Song said: "In Fujian, it is called Ganlanzi (Olive Seed)."
[Collection] *Bie Lu* states: "Binglang grows in the South Sea region."
Hongjing said: "There are three or four types: those from Jiaozhou are small and sweet; those south of Guangzhou are large and astringent; there is also a large type named Zhubinglang (Pig Binglang). All can be used as medicine. The small ones are named Juzi, commonly called Binglang Sun, and are edible."
Gong said: "It grows in Jiaozhou, Aizhou, and Kunlun."
Song said: "Now it grows in all prefectures outside the Lingnan region. The tree is as large as Stachyurus, reaching five or seven zhang in height, straight with no branches, bark resembling Qingtong (Paulownia), nodes resembling Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig). Leaves grow at the top of the tree, large as a shield head, resembling banana leaves. Its fruit forms in clusters emerging from among the leaves, surrounded by thorns like spines overlapping below. One cluster contains hundreds of fruits, egg-shaped, each with a shell. The fruit grows in spring and ripens in summer, filling the shell with white flesh. Su Gong said its flesh rots easily within a few days. Those transported north are first boiled with ash, then baked and smoked until dry, allowing long-term storage. Small and sweet ones are named Shanbinglang (Mountain Binglang); large, astringent, and large-seeded ones are named Zhubinglang; the smallest are named Juzi. Lei said pointed and long with purple stripes are 'Bing', while round and large are 'Lang'; Lang has stronger potency than Bing. Modern physicians do not distinguish finely, considering those shaped like a chicken heart, stable and solid inside, with brocade-like patterns when broken, as the best. People in Lingnan chew it as a fruit, saying the southern land is damp, and without eating this, one cannot dispel miasma and pestilence. Raw taste is bitter and astringent; chewing it with Fuliuteng (Areca Vine) and Wawuzi Hui (Tile House Ash) makes it soft, smooth, and sweet. Liu Xun in *Lingbiao Luyi* said: "True Binglang comes from ships; those grown in Jiaozhou and Guangzhou are all Dafuzi (Big Belly Seeds), locally called Binglang. Some say true Binglang is rare; merchants sell Dafu Binglang, similar to Binglang but slightly smaller in stem, leaf, and trunk, harvested with the skin."
Shizhen said: "Young Binglang trees resemble hard bamboo shoots, growing straight up. The trunk resembles Stachyurus or Coconut but has nodes, with no side branches; twigs grow from the center. At the tip are leaves like banana, splitting into veins, looking like feather fans sweeping the sky when wind blows. In March, a cluster swells among the leaves, splitting open to reveal spikes of hundreds of seeds, size of plums or peaches. Thorns grow heavily below to protect the fruit. It matures in May; peel off the skin, boil the flesh, and dry it. The skin consists of fibers, same as Dafupi (Big Belly Peel). According to Han dynasty Yu Yiqi's letter to Han Kangbo: 'Binglang, its seed is extraordinary, its tree unique. Large ones three chi circumference, nine zhang high. Leaves gather at the tree top, clusters under leaves. Flowers bloom in clusters, fruits form outside. Spikes resemble grain, fruits resemble millet. Bark thick like Paulownia, nodes straight like bamboo. Hollow inside, tough outside. Curved like a crouching rainbow, straight like a hanging rope. Base not large, tip not small. Top not tilting, bottom not slanting. Straight and tall, thousands alike. Walking in its forest is spacious and clear; sheltering in its shade is desolate. Truly worthy of long chanting and distant thought. But nature intolerant of frost, cannot be planted north. Must be planted far in Hainan, ten thousand li away. If not seen by elders, deep regret ensues.' Also, *Zhufazhen Luoshan Shu* says: 'Shanbinglang, also named Juzi, grows in Rinnan. Tree like palm but smaller, same shape as Binglang. Clusters of over ten trunks, each trunk over ten clusters, each cluster hundreds of seeds. Seeds over one cun long, harvested in May, taste near bitter-sweet. From this, Shanbinglang is Juzi, Zhubinglang is Dafuzi. Su Song considered sweet ones Shanbinglang and astringent ones Zhubinglang, seemingly unclear.'
Binglang Zi (Arecae Semen)
[Processing] Lei said: "Round and flat-headed are Lang, pointed with purple stripes are Bing. Bing has weak potency, Lang has strong potency. For use, white Binglang that is stable, solid, and has brocade patterns is excellent. Half-white half-black and hollow-hearted ones are not used medicinally. Scrape off the bottom with a knife, slice thinly. Do not expose to fire, fearing loss of potency. If cooked, better not to use."
Shizhen said: "Recent prescriptions also use fire-roasted Binglang. However, raw white Binglang must be sourced locally. Others undergo boiling and smoking, so how can they be raw? Additionally, raw Binglang must be chewed with Fuliuteng and Guben Hui (Oyster Shell Ash) as auxiliaries. Chewing together expels red water, becoming smooth and sweet, promoting Qi descent and digestion. These three substances are vastly different yet complement each other wonderfully. Hence the saying 'Binglang relies on Fuliuteng for life.' Guben Hui is Oyster Shell Ash; 'Ben' is an error for 'Bang'. Tile House Ash is also usable."
[Flavor and Toxicity] Bitter, pungent, warm, astringent, non-toxic. Zhenquan said: Sweet, very cold.
Mingshan said: Astringent.
Hongjing said: Jiaozhou is sweet, Guangzhou is astringent.
Lei said: White is sweet, red is bitter.
Yuansu said: Pungent and bitter, pure Yang. Non-toxic.
Song said: Excessive consumption causes fever.
[Indications] Digests food, drives out water retention, eliminates phlegm, kills three parasites, removes hidden corpses, treats Taenia saginata (Ascaris lumbricoides/Beef Tapeworm) (*Bie Lu*).
Treats abdominal distension; take raw powder orally to promote urination and defecation; apply externally to ulcers to generate flesh and relieve pain; burn to ash and apply to mouth ulcers (Su Song).
Promotes circulation in the five zang and six fu organs, breaks stagnation in the chest, reduces edema, treats heart pain and accumulations (Zhenquan).
Dispels all wind, descends all Qi, opens joints, benefits the nine orifices, tonifies five exhaustions and seven injuries, strengthens spleen and regulates middle jiao, relieves irritability, breaks masses (Mingshan).
Mainly treats Ben Tun (Hernia/Qi rushing upward) and bladder Qi disorders, five diaphragmatic Qi stagnations, wind-cold Qi, Hongjiao (Beriberi/Foot Qi), undigested food (Su Song).
[Elucidation] Yuansu said: "Binglang has heavy flavor and light aroma, sinking and descending, Yang within Yin. Bitter breaks stagnation, pungent disperses pathogens, draining Qi from the highest point of the chest, causing it to descend. Its nature is heavy like iron or stone, capable of driving other medicines to the lowest extremities. Thus, it is miraculous for treating all Qi disorders and tenesmus."
Shizhen said: "According to Luo Dajing's *Helin Yulu*: 'People in Lingnan use Binglang as tea to ward off miasma. It has four functions: First, it can intoxicate the sober; prolonged chewing reddens the cheeks like drinking wine, as Su Dongpo said, 'Red tide rises on cheeks drunk on Binglang.' Second, it can sober the intoxicated; chewing after drinking resolves Qi, reduces phlegm, and clears hangovers, as Zhu Xi said, 'Binglang gathers to dispel phlegm.' Third, it can satiate hunger. Fourth, it can induce hunger. Eating on an empty stomach fills the body with Qi like being full; eating after meals aids digestion smoothly. Its nature is unblocking without depleting Qi, its flavor upright with lingering sweetness. Having such virtue, it has such efficacy. Also, Wu Xing Zhang Jie's *Zhang Shuo* says: 'Lingnan customs involve eating many Binglang daily, up to ten. Miasma arises mostly from overeating and Qi stagnation. Binglang excels at descending Qi, digesting food, and removing phlegm. People cling to short-term benefits, ignoring long-term harm. Southern regions are hot, sweating year-round, people become yellow and thin. Eating it causes organ leakage. Once struck by miasma, one dares not use dispersing or purging methods. Is it solely climate? Binglang may also be a cause, perhaps unconsidered.' Also, Dongyang Lu He said: 'Fujian and Guangdong people often take Binglang, claiming it dispels miasma. Taking it with miasma is fine; taking it without miasma damages healthy Qi and invites disaster like opening the door to thieves. Southerners love this fruit, so I record various views to show its merits and faults.' Also, Zhu Xi's *Binglang Shi* says: 'Recalling my first trip south, face turned red upon tasting. Medicine bag knows its utility, how can it match tea bowl? Curing diseases yields special effects, cultivating truth records strange powers. If Three Corpses do not flee, seven non-entities rot within.' This aligns with its power to treat diseases and kill parasites."
[Prescriptions] Eleven old, fifteen new.
Phlegm-fluids causing harm: Binglang powder, 1 qian per dose with plain water (*Yuyuan Fang*).
Vomiting phlegm-water: One white Binglang (roasted hot), 2.5 qian Tangerine Peel (stir-fried). Powder. Decoct in 1 sheng water to 0.5 sheng, take warm (*Qianjin Fang*).
Acid regurgitation vomiting water: 4 liang Binglang, 1 liang Tangerine Peel. Powder. Take 1 fangcun bi per dose, mixed with raw honey water on an empty stomach (*Meishi Fang*).
Cold damage with fullness: Binglang powder taken with warm water (*Xuanming Fang*). Cold damage chest binding after sweating/purging: 2 liang Binglang, 2 cups wine, decoct to 1 cup, divide into two doses (Pang Anshi *Shanghan Lun*).
Ascariasis colic abdominal pain: Same formula as above.
Heart-Spleen pain: Chicken-heart Binglang, Gaoliangjiang (Galangal) each 1.5 qian, 100 grains aged rice. Decoct in water, take (*Zhizhi Fang*).
Bladder Qi disorders: Two Binglang, one raw one cooked. Powder. Decoct in wine, take (Dr. Qin Minghe's prescription from *Haiyao Bencao*).
Visceral Qi pain: Chicken-heart Binglang, grind half with urine and take. Or mix powder 1 qian with hot wine (*Doumen Fang*).
Heavy painful waist: Binglang powder, take 1 qian with wine (*Doumen Fang*).
Foot Qi swelling pain: Grind one Binglang in 1 sheng cow urine. Take warm on empty stomach (*Meishi Foot Qi Lun*).
Foot Qi rushing to heart, confusion, unconsciousness: Twelve parts white Binglang, powder. Divide into two doses. Take on empty stomach with 5 he of warm urine, twice daily. Or add ginger juice/warm wine (*Guangli Fang*).
Foot Qi bloating neither cold nor heat, or in elderly/weak: Binglang仁 powder. Mix with decoction of Binglang shell, tea, Perilla soup, or Soybean soup, take twice.
Dry Huoluan disease, abdominal distension/pain, no vomiting/diarrhea, severe distress: 5 qian Binglang powder, 0.5 cup boy's urine, 1 sheng water. Decoct and take (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Large Intestine damp constipation: Dampness in intestines/stomach, severe constipation. One large Binglang. Grind in Ophiopogon decoction, take warm. Or mix powder 2 qian with honey water.
Urinary/Fecal obstruction: Binglang powder. Mix with honey water 2 qian. Or decoct with boy's urine/scallion white, take (*Puji Fang*).
Dysuria pain: Face-roasted Binglang, Red Peony Root each 0.5 liang. Powder. Take 3 qian per dose with rush pith, decoct in water, take on empty stomach, twice daily (*Shibian Liangfang*).
Blood dysuria pain: One Binglang. Grind finely in Ophiopogon decoction to get 1 cup thick juice. Heat and take on empty stomach, twice daily.
Parasitic hemorrhoids with urgency: Binglang powder. Take 2 qian with plain water on empty stomach daily.
Taenia saginata infection: Fourteen Binglang, powder. First decoct Binglang peel in 2.5 sheng water to get 1 sheng. On empty stomach, take powder with 1 fangcun bi. Parasites expelled after one day.
Various parasites in viscera chronic: Roast 0.5 liang Binglang, powder. Take 1-2 qian per dose with scallion/honey decoction on empty stomach (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*).
Metal wound nausea: 4 liang white Binglang, 1 liang Tangerine Peel. Powder. Take 2 qian with raw honey water on empty stomach (*Shenghui Fang*).
Carbuncle starting from navel: Binglang powder, mix with vinegar, apply (*Benshi Fang*).
Infant head sores: Water-grind Binglang, sun-dry to powder, mix with raw oil, apply (*Shenghui Fang*).
Mouth corner sores: Burn Binglang, grind, mix with Qingfen (Calamina) powder, apply (*Shenghui Fang*).
Ear discharge: Blow Binglang powder into ear (Bao's Prescription).