Library

(Superior Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

[Names]
Li Shizhen states: Xu Shen in *Shuowen Jiezi* says: The original form of the character "Qi" (Chinese Lacquer) refers to tree sap that can be used for lacquering objects; its character resembles the shape of water drops falling.

[Collection and Explanation]
*Bencao Bie Lu* (Supplement to Materia Medica) states: Dried Chinese Lacquer is produced in the valleys of Hanzhong Commandery. It is harvested after the Summer Solstice and dried.
Tao Hongjing states: Currently, lacquer from Liangzhou is most abundant, and Yizhou also produces it. Lacquer from Guangzhou has an urgent and drying nature. Those naturally dried in lacquer barrels elsewhere, resembling honeycombs with distinct holes, are considered superior.
Su Baosheng states: The lacquer tree grows two or three zhang high, has white bark, leaves similar to Toona sinensis (Chun tree), flowers similar to Sophora japonica (Huai tree), and fruits similar to Prunus salicina (Plum). The heartwood is yellow. Sap is extracted by carving the bark in June and July. Lacquer from Jinzhou is the best. All lacquers have an urgent nature; when harvesting, Ren oil (from Vitis amurensis seeds) must be used to dissolve and break it down, so pure lacquer is hard to obtain. It can be processed layer by layer separately. Superior clear lacquer is black like ironstone; those that are yellow and tender like honeycombs are inferior. Su Song states: It is now produced in Shu, Hanzhong, Jinzhou, Xiastate, Xiangzhou, and Shexian. Bamboo tubes are nailed into the wood to collect the sap. Cui Bao's *Gujin Zhu* records: The sap turns into lacquer upon exposure to air.
When exposed to dampness, it dries easily even in cold months, which is the nature of the substance. If it stains human skin, treat it with oil. To test lacquer, only thin lacquer can be dipped up with an object; it should be fine and unbroken, and if broken, it gathers quickly. When applied to dry bamboo and dries quickly in the shade, it is excellent.
Transplanting is easy and profitable. Its trunk resembles the persimmon tree, and its leaves resemble the Toona sinensis. Some say: With a slight breeze, it shines like a mirror; hanging silk lines bend sharply like hooks. Shaking it turns it amber-colored, and striking it produces sound and it is large. Sap is taken in June to lacquer objects, appearing golden yellow, which is what the *Book of Tang* calls "Yellow Lacquer." For medicinal use, black lacquer should still be used. Lacquer from Southern Guangdong has the smell of maltose syrup and is viscous but weak.

Dried Chinese Lacquer (Gan Qi)

[Preparation]
Da Ming states: Dried Chinese Lacquer must be crushed and stir-fried before entering medicine. Otherwise, it damages the stomach and intestines. If using wet lacquer, boiling it until dry is better. There are also methods of burning it to retain its properties.

[Flavor and Properties]
Acrid, warm, non-toxic. Li Quan states: Acrid, salty. Zong Lin states: Bitter.
Li Dongyuan (Yuansu) states: Acrid, neutral, toxic. It descends; it is Yin within Yang.
Xu Zhicai states: Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) acts as its guide drug. It is opposed by eggs and avoids greasy foods.
Tao Hongjing states: Raw lacquer is highly toxic. People mix it with eggs to expel parasites, yet the lacquer still gnaws at the stomach and intestines. Exposure to lacquer fumes can cause death. External lacquer vapor can also cause swelling and sores on the body flesh; there are specific treatments for this.
Da Ming states: When lacquer toxicity erupts, drinking iron slurry, juice of Dalbergia odorifera (Hualu), Sweet Bean Soup, or eating crabs can counteract it.
Li Shizhen states: Nowadays, merchants often adulterate lacquer with Tung oil, causing increased toxicity. *Huainanzi* states: Crabs do not dry when they encounter lacquer. *Xianggan Zhi* states: Lacquer becomes water when meeting crabs. This is due to mutual restriction of natures. Anyone afraid of lacquer can chew Sichuan pepper and apply it to the mouth and nose to avoid it. For those suffering from raw lacquer dermatitis, bathing in Fir decoction, Perilla decoction, Phyllanthus urinaria decoction, or Crab decoction is effective.

[Indications]
Treats severe injuries, tonifies the middle, reconnects bones and tendons, fills marrow and brain, calms the five Zang organs, treats the Five Laxities and Six Urgencies syndromes, and Wind-Cold-Damp Bi syndrome. Raw Lacquer: Expels long worms. Long-term consumption lightens the body and delays aging (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Dried Chinese Lacquer: Treats cough, dissipates blood stasis, epigastric masses, and lower back pain; treats women's hernia and fibroids; promotes urination via the Small Intestine; expels roundworms (*Bencao Bie Lu*). Kills three types of parasites; primarily treats menstrual obstruction in women; breaks up long-standing congealed blood stasis (Li Dongyuan).

[Elucidation]
Tao Hongjing states: *Xian Fang* uses crabs to dissolve lacquer into water, which is refined and consumed for longevity. *Baopuzi* states: Pure, non-sticky lacquer, when consumed, connects one to the divine spirit and ensures longevity. Some throw large crabs into it, or mix with Cloud Mother Water or Jade Water, storing for one year, achieving the state of the Six Jia days or the Moving Kitchen technique.
Thus, after accumulated stagnation is removed, the tonifying effect manifests internally.
Li Shizhen states: Lacquer is toxic but kills parasites; its action is descending and promoting blood circulation. Although it treats many conditions, its efficacy lies only in these two aspects.

[Attached Prescriptions] Four old prescriptions, seven new ones.
Pediatric Parasitic Disease: Presents as critical stomach-cold symptoms resembling epilepsy. Dried Chinese Lacquer (crushed and burned until smoke ceases) and Bai Wuyi (Meliae Semen) in equal parts, ground into powder. Take one qian to one zi with rice drink (Du Ren Formula).
Nine Types of Heartache and Abdominal/Hypochondriac Accumulation/Stagnant Qi: Gan Qi from bamboo tubes, 1 liang, crushed, stir-fried until smoke ceases, ground into powder. Make pills the size of paulownia seeds using vinegar-boiled wheat paste. Take 5-9 pills with hot wine (*Jianyao Jizhong Fang*).
Male Hernia and Small Intestine Qi pulling pain: Both are suitable for Er Sheng Wan. Wet lacquer 1 liang, boiled for the duration of a meal, mixed with 1 liang of Dried Chinese Lacquer powder. Make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 3-4 pills with warm wine. Those allergic to lacquer should not take it (*Jingyan Fang*).
Treating women's menstrual stasis obstruction, cold hernia pain around the navel radiating through, nausea, and insomnia. Dang Gui 4 qian, Dried Chinese Lacquer 3 qian (stir-fried until smoke ceases), ground into powder. Make pills the size of paulownia seeds with refined honey. Take 15 pills with warm wine on an empty stomach (*Qianjin Fang*).
*Chanbao Fang*: Treats women's amenorrhea, hardness below the umbilicus like a cup, alternating fever and chills, dysentery, emaciation, considered incurable. Gan Qi 1 jin (burned and powdered), Sheng Di Huang 20 jin (juice extracted). Slowly boil in silver or earthenware vessels until pillable. Make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 3 pills initially, increasing to 3-5 pills, with wine or drink as desired, stopping when flow resumes.
(Another method): Fill a container, seal with salt mud, forge until red hot, cool, and grind into powder. Take 1-2 qian with hot wine. Applicable to all postpartum diseases (*Jingyan Fang*).
Pill size of paulownia seeds. Take 14 pills with warm wine, twice daily (*Qianjin Fang*).
Suction with a bamboo tube (*Shengji Zonglu*).
10 to 100 pills (*Zhizhi Fang*).

Lacquer Leaf (Qi Ye)

[Flavor and Properties] Missing.

[Indications] Treats the Five Corpse Labor diseases, kills parasites. Sun-dry, grind into powder, take one qian bi with wine daily (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Su Song states: *Hua Tuo Zhuan* records: Fan A of Pengcheng studied under Hua Tuo in his youth. Hua Tuo taught him the formula for Qiyè Qingzhan San, stating it expels three parasites, benefits the five Zang organs, lightens the body, boosts Qi, and prevents hair whitening. Fan A followed this advice and lived over 100 years (Note: Text mentions 500+ years earlier, corrected here based on context). Qiyè is found everywhere. Qingzhan grows in Fengpei, Pengcheng, and Zhao Ge. Also known as Dijie or Huangzhi. It regulates the five Zang organs and benefits essence and Qi. Originally derived from blind men in mountains seeing immortals consume it, telling Hua Tuo. Hua Tuo thought it excellent and told Fan A. Fan A kept it secret. Recently, people saw Fan A's longevity and strength and asked him. Due to drunken slip of tongue, he revealed it, and many found it effective. Later, no one recognized Qingzhan; some say it is the true leaf of Polygonatum sibiricum (Huangjing).
Li Shizhen states: According to *Baopuzi* by Ge Hong: Qiyè and Qingzhan are grasses of the marshes. Fan A consumed them and lived to 200 years, with sharp eyes and ears, still able to practice acupuncture. This is a recent factual record noted by good historians. Hong's statement is closer to reason; the previous claim of Fan A living 500 years was erroneous. Some say Qingzhan is Ophiopogon japonicus (Weirui).

Lacquer Seed (Qi Zi)

[Indications] Treats bloody stool (Li Shizhen).

Lacquer Flower (Qi Hua)

[Indications] Used in formulas for pediatric cranial fontanelle dehiscence, abdominal distension, and crossed legs inability to walk (Li Shizhen).