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(Song Dynasty *Kaibao Bencao*)

[Names] Poguozhi (from *Kaibao Bencao*), Poguzhi (from *Yaoxing Lun*).
Li Shizhen said: "Poguzhi" describes its efficacy. Hu people call it Poguzhi, while the common folk erroneously refer to it as Poguozhi. "Hu Jiuzi" is named because its seeds resemble those of Chinese chives, but it is not the chive seed from Hu regions.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Song said: Poguzhi grows in various prefectures of Lingnan and in Persia.
Su Song further stated: It is now abundant in the mountains outside the岭 (Ling) region, and also found in Hezhou, Sichuan, but none are as good as those imported by foreign merchant ships. The stem is three or four chi high, leaves are small like mint, flowers are slightly purple, fruits resemble hemp seeds, round, flat, black, harvested in September.
Daming said: Xu Biao's *Nanzhou Ji* states this is Hu Jiuzi. Those from southern fan regions are reddish; those from Guangnan are greenish, and for medicinal use, they should be slightly stir-fried.

[Processing] Kou Zongshi said: This herb has a dry and toxic nature. It must be soaked in wine overnight, drained, then soaked in running water from the east for three days and nights, steamed from Si hour to Shen hour, dried in the sun, and then used. Another method: Stir-fry with salt, then dry in the sun.

[Flavor and Properties] Acrid, greatly warm, non-toxic. Quan said: Bitter, acrid.
Kou Zongshi said: Adverse to Gancao (Licorice Root).
Li Shizhen said: Contraindicated with Youcai (Rapeseed greens) and various blood products. It works well when combined with Hetao (Walnut Kernel) and Huma (Sesame Seed).

[Indications] Wulao Qishang (Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries), wind-deficiency cold syndromes, bone marrow damage and degeneration, cold kidney with seminal emission, and women's blood-qi disorders leading to miscarriage (from *Kaibao Bencao*). Men's lower back pain, cold knees and scrotum, expelling various cold-bi stubbornness, stopping frequent urination, benefiting abdominal cold (from Zhen Quan). Enhancing sexual function, clarifying eyes and ears (from Daming). Treating Kidney diarrhea, opening Mingmen (Gate of Life), warming Dantian (Elixir Field), consolidating spirit (from Li Shizhen).

[Elucidation] Su Song said: Nowadays, many people take Poguozhi together with Hetao. This method originated from Chancellor Zheng of the Tang Dynasty. He narrated: When I served as the Military Governor of Nanhai, I was seventy-five years old. The land of Yue is low and damp, causing internal and external injuries, with multiple diseases arising simultaneously, and Yang Qi being exhausted. Taking Rushi (Mineral drugs) tonics yielded no results. In the 7th year of Yuanhe, Li Mohe, a ship owner from Holing country, knowing my condition, passed on this prescription and medicine. Initially, I doubted and did not take it. Mohe kowtowed and insisted, so I took it. After seven or eight days, I felt it was effective. Since then, I have taken it regularly, and its efficacy is miraculous. In February of the 10th year, upon resigning and returning to the capital, I recorded the formula to spread it. Usage: Take ten liang of Poguozhi (cleaned, peeled, washed, dried, pounded, and sifted into fine powder), twenty liang of Hetao ren (soaked in hot water, peeled, finely ground into paste). Mix with the previous powder, blend with good honey until resembling maltose, store in porcelain. In the morning, mix one spoonful of medicine with two he of warm wine, take it, and immediately eat rice to settle it. For those who do not drink alcohol, mix with warm boiled water. Long-term use extends life, benefits Qi, brightens the mind and eyes, and strengthens bones and sinews. Only Youcai and sheep blood are forbidden; there are no other contraindications. This substance originally came from foreign lands via sea routes, not native to China. The foreigners call it Poguzhi, which became phonetically corrupted into Poguozhi. Wang Shaoyan's *Xu Chuanxin Fang* records this matter in detail, so it is transcribed here.
Li Shizhen said: This prescription can also be made into pills, taken with warm wine. According to Bai Feixia's *Fangwai Qifang*: Poguozhi belongs to Fire, consolidates and calms the Spirit, allowing the Fire of the Pericardium to connect with the Fire of Mingmen. Thus, Original Yang is solidified, bone marrow is filled, and astringency treats leakage. Hetao belongs to Wood, moistens dryness and nourishes Blood. Blood belongs to Yin and dislikes dryness, so oil is used to moisten it. Assisting Poguozhi, it creates the wonderful interaction of Wood generating Fire. Hence the saying: Without Hetao, Poguozhi is like a jellyfish without shrimp. Furthermore, Poguozhi is adverse to Gancao, yet it is added in Qing'e Wan from *Ruizhutang Fang*. Why? Does Gancao harmonize all herbs, turning adversity into harmony? Additionally, Scholar Xu Shumi's *Benshi Fang* records: Sun Simiao said tonifying the Spleen is better than tonifying the Kidney; I say tonifying the Kidney is better than tonifying the Spleen. If Kidney Qi is weak, Yang Qi becomes deficient and cannot steam and warm the Spleen and Stomach. Cold Spleen-Stomach Qi causes chest and diaphragm fullness, loss of appetite, slow digestion, abdominal distension, vomiting of phlegm-saliva, or borborygmus and diarrhea. It is like food in a pot without fire; even all day it will not cook, let alone digest. *Jisheng Fang*'s Ershen Wan treats Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold diarrhea using Poguozhi to tonify the Kidney and Rouddoukou (Nutmeg) to tonify the Spleen. Although both herbs tonify, they lack the power to pivot. Often, Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) is added to regulate Qi, enabling this pivoting action, akin to emptying granaries. Once empty, they can receive new contents. Repeatedly effective, this must be known.

[Attached Prescriptions] Two old prescriptions, fourteen new ones.
Poguozhi Wan: Treats deficiency and collapse of the Lower Origin, heavy hands and feet, night sweats, caused by excessive sexual activity. This herb strengthens bones and sinews, benefits Original Qi. Poguozhi four liang (stir-fried until fragrant), Tusizi four liang (steamed with wine), Hetao rou one liang (peeled), Xurong (Frankincense), Moyao (Myrrh), Chenxiang (Agarwood) each ground to two qian half. Blend with refined honey to make pills the size of mulberry seeds. Take 20-30 pills per dose, fasting, with salt water or warm wine. From Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, take once daily. This was obtained by Grand Commandant Zhang Shou in Guangzhou during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang from a southern foreigner. A poem reads: Three years spent at the frontier, only then do people believe in the drug's power. Seizing the spring light into hand, young beauties, do not laugh at white whiskers. (From *Heji Ju Fang*)
Male and Female Deficiency Labor: For men and women with Wulao Qishang, chronic cold of the Lower Origin, all wind diseases, limb pain, preserving youth, strengthening Qi, darkening hair and beard. Poguozhi one jin, soaked in wine overnight, dried, then stir-fried with one sheng of black sesame until the sound of sesame ceases, winnowed, keeping only Poguozhi powder. Make pills with vinegar-boiled wheat paste, size of mulberry seeds. Take 20-30 pills per dose, fasting, with warm wine or salt water. (From *Jingyan Houfang*)
Kidney Deficiency Lower Back Pain: *Jingyan Houfang*: Use one liang of Poguozhi, stir-fried to powder, taken with warm wine, three qian. Miraculous. Or add one qian of Muxiang.
*Heji Ju Fang* Qing'e Wan: Treats Kidney Qi deficiency, invasion of wind-cold, or blood-qi clashing causing severe lower back pain like breaking, difficulty bending and stretching, or injury from labor damaging the Kidney, dampness injuring the waist, trauma/falls, wind-cold invasion, or Qi stagnation, all causing lower back pain or a sensation of heaviness in the waist. Use one jin of Poguozhi (wine-soaked and stir-fried), one jin of Duzhong (peeled, ginger juice-soaked and stir-fried), twenty Hetao rou (peeled). Grind to powder, mix with one liang of garlic paste, make pills size of mulberry seeds. Take twenty pills per dose, fasting, with warm wine. Women take with light vinegar soup. Regular use strengthens bones and sinews, invigorates blood and vessels, darkens hair/beard, and improves complexion.
Pregnancy Lower Back Pain: Tongqi San: Use two liang of Poguozhi, stir-fried to powder. First chew half a Hetao rou, take two qian mixed with warm wine, fasting. This medicine is miraculous. (From *Furen Liangfang*)
Calming Heart and Tonifying Kidney: Yangxue Fanjing Wan: Poguozhi (stir-fried) two liang, Baifuling (Poria) one liang (powder), Moyao five qian. Soak in unadulterated wine to a height of one finger, boil, mix with powder, make pills size of mulberry seeds. Take thirty pills per dose, with plain water. Someone in the past took this and remained vigorous in old age. Because Gupozhi tonifies the Kidney, Fuling tonifies the Heart, and Moyao nourishes Blood; once these three are strengthened, the body naturally remains safe. (From *Zhushi Jiyian Fang*)
Essence and Qi Insecurity: Equal parts Poguozhi and Qingyan (Green Salt) stir-fried together to powder. Take two qian per dose, with rice water. (From *Sanyin Fang*) Frequent urination due to Kidney Qi deficiency-cold. Poguozhi ten liang (wine-steamed), Huixiang (Fennel) ten liang (salt-stir-fried), grind to powder, make pills with wine paste, size of mulberry seeds. Take one hundred pills per dose, with salt wine. Or sprinkle powder on pig kidneys and bake/eat. (From *Puji Fang*) Pediatric enuresis, due to cold Bladder. Night belongs to Yin, hence involuntary urination. Poguozhi stir-fried to powder, take five fen nightly with hot water. (From *Yingtong Baiwen*) Penis does not flaccid, continuous seminal slip, stinging pain like needles, brittle when pinched, named Kidney Leakage. Use one liang each of Poguozhi and Jiu Zi (Chinese Chive Seed), grind to powder. Take three qian per dose, decoct in two zhan of water to six fen, take three times daily, stop when cured. (Xia Zi Yi *Qifang*)
Spleen-Kidney Deficiency Diarrhea: Ershen Wan: Use half a jin of Poguozhi (stir-fried), four liang of Rouddoukou (raw), grind to powder, blend with thick jujube meat paste, make pills size of mulberry seeds. Take 50-70 pills per dose, fasting, with rice water. *Benshi Fang*: Add two liang of Muxiang, named Sanshen Wan.
Watery Diarrhea and Chronic Dysentery: One liang of Poguozhi (stir-fried), four liang of Susuqiao (Poppy Shell, roasted), grind to powder, make pills size of quail eggs with refined honey. Take one pill per dose, decoct with ginger and jujube in water. (From *Baiyi Xuanfang*) Long-standing toothache due to Kidney deficiency. Two liang of Poguzhi, half liang of Qingyan, stir-fry and grind, apply externally. (From *Yuyao Yuan Fang*) Wind-worm toothache, radiating to the head. Half liang of Poguzhi (stir-fried), two qian half of Xurong. Grind to powder, apply externally. Or make pills and insert into cavity. Self-use is effective. (From *Chuanxin Shi Yong Fang*) Trauma-induced lower back pain, blood stasis coagulation. Equal parts Poguzhi (stir-fried), Huixiang (stir-fried), Lagui (Cinnamon Twig), grind to powder. Take two qian per dose with hot wine. Poguzhi treats lower back pain and moves blood. (From *Zhizhi Fang*)