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(From *Bencao Shiyi* / Supplement to Materia Medica)
[Flavor and Qi] Records are missing.
[Indications] Applied externally to metal-induced wounds (Jinchuang), it stops bleeding and promotes tissue regeneration (Chen Zangqi). For infants suffering from incessant nocturnal crying due to pathogenic heat disturbing the Heart, take two or three lamp wick flowers, mix them with a decoction of Jiedixin (Rhizoma Centellae Asiaticae / Ligusticum jeholense stem), apply to the nipple for the infant to suckle (Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Li Shizhen stated: In the past, Lu Jia said that the popping of a lamp wick flower signifies joy in all matters. The *Yiwen Zhi* section of the *Book of Han* contains techniques for divination using lamp wick flowers; thus, the lamp wick flower is indeed a spiritual object. Qian Yi used it to treat nocturnal crying, likely drawing upon this symbolic meaning. A grandson of the Fushun Prince, a member of our dynasty's imperial clan, had an obsession with the scent of lamp wick flowers; whenever he smelled it, he would cry and demand it incessantly. Upon diagnosis, Li Shizhen said: "This is a Pi disorder" (a specific type of compulsion or psychological abnormality). He administered pills containing herbs for expelling parasites and treating Pi disorders, and the patient was cured after one course of treatment.

(From the main text of *Bencao Gangmu*)
[Collection and Explanation] Li Shizhen stated: Candles include beeswax candles, insect wax candles, oil candles, and beef tallow candles. Only the ashes of beeswax and oil candles can be used as medicine.
[Flavor and Qi] Records are missing.
[Indications] For treating Dingzhong (carbuncles/furuncles), mix equal parts of Huma (Sesamum indicum seed) and Zhensha (Hematite powder) into a powder, blend with vinegar, and apply externally. For treating Jiulou (scrofula/chronic suppurative lymphadenitis), mix equal parts of air-dried Machixian (Portulaca oleracea) into a powder. Clean the affected area with rice water, blend with lard from the twelfth lunar month, and apply externally. Apply three times daily (Li Shizhen).

Li Shizhen stated: Earth is the master of the Five Elements and the substance of the Kun trigram. It possesses five colors but regards yellow as the primary color; it possesses five flavors but regards sweet as the primary flavor. Therefore, the *Yu Gong* chapter distinguishes the soil colors of the Nine Provinces, and the *Rites of Zhou* distinguishes the properties of twelve types of soil. Its virtue is extremely soft yet firm, extremely quiet yet constant. It encompasses the generation of all things by the Five Elements without claiming credit for its ability. The virtue of Kun is truly supreme. In the human body, it corresponds to the Spleen and Stomach. Therefore, various earth substances used in medicine are valued for their ability to assist Wuji (the Earthly Stems representing Spleen and Stomach). Currently, sixty-one earth-related substances are collected and classified under the Earth Section (the old edition had thirty-nine substances scattered in the Jade and Stone Section).
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica): Two species (Annotated by Tao Hongjing of Liang)
*Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians): Three species (Tao Hongjing of Liang)
*Tang Bencao* (Tang Materia Medica): Three species (Su Gong of Tang)
*Bencao Shiyi* (Supplement to Materia Medica): Twenty-eight species (Chen Zangqi of Tang)
*Sisheng Bencao* (Materia Medica of Four Tones): One species (Xiao Bing of Tang)
*Kaibao Bencao* (Kaibao Materia Medica): One species (Ma Zhi of Song)
*Zhenglei Bencao* (Classified Materia Medica): One species (Tang Shenwei of Song)
*Yanyi Buyi* (Supplement to Elucidations): One species (Zhu Zhenheng of Yuan)
*Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica): Twenty-one species (Li Shizhen of Ming)
[Annotations] Li Dangzhi's *Yaolu* (Wei Dynasty); Wu Pu's *Wu Pu Bencao* (Wu Kingdom); Lei Xiao's *Paojiu* (Song Dynasty); Xu Zhicai's *Yaofeng* (Southern Qi Dynasty); Zhen Quan's *Yaoxing* (Tang Dynasty); Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* (Tang Dynasty); Yang Sunzhi's *Shanfan* (Tang Dynasty); Li Xun's *Haiyao Bencao* (Tang Dynasty); Han Baosheng's *Chongzhu* (Shu Kingdom); Zhang Yuxi's *Buzhu* (Song Dynasty); Su Song's *Tujing Bencao* (Song Dynasty); *Rihua Zi Bencao* (Great Ming); Kou Zongshi's *Yanyi* (Song Dynasty); Zhang Yuansu's *Zhenzhunang* (Jin Dynasty); Wang Haogu's *Tangye Bencao* (Yuan Dynasty); Wang Ji's *Huibian* (Ming Dynasty); Li Gao's *Yixue Faxiang* (Yuan Dynasty); Chen Jiamo's *Mengquan*.