Library

(Recorded in the Lower Category of *Shennong Bencao Jing*)

**[Names]** Li (*Mao Shi Zheng Yi*), Yuli, Chexia Li (*Mingyi Bielu*), Jueli (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Quemei (*Mao Shi Zheng Yi*), Changdi. Li Shizhen stated: "Yu" is written as "Yù" in *Shan Hai Jing*, meaning fragrant and rich. Both flowers and fruits are fragrant, hence the name. Lu Ji wrote it as "Ju" in *Mao Shi Zheng Yi*, which is incorrect. *Er Ya* states that Changdi is this plant. Some mistakenly identify it as...

**[Collection and Explanation]** *Mingyi Bielu* states: Yuli grows in high mountains, river valleys, and on hillsides. The roots are harvested in May and June.
Tao Hongjing stated: It grows everywhere in the wild. When ripe, the fruit is red and edible.
Su Baosheng stated: The tree is five or six chi tall; leaves, flowers, and trunk resemble those of the large plum (Prunus salicina); only the fruit is small like a cherry, sweet and sour with fragrance, having a slight astringent taste.
Shang Yuxi stated: According to Guo Pu: Di trees grow in mountains, fruits like cherries, edible. *Shi Jing · Xiao Ya* says: "The flowers of Changdi, the calyxes are bright." Lu Ji's annotation states: Bai Di tree, like plum but smaller, white flowers, now planted in official gardens, also named "Ju" Li. There is also Chi Di tree, similar to Bai Di, leaves like Celtis sinensis but rounder, fruits red like Yuli but smaller, ripening in May, abundant in Guanxi, Tianshui, and Longxi. Kou Zongshi stated: Yuli fruits resemble Imperial plums, red when ripe and edible, slightly astringent, can be preserved in honey, very common in Shaanxi.
Su Song stated: Now, people in Bianjing and Luoyang plant a variety in gardens with long branches, extremely dense flowers and many leaves, also called Yuli, but unsuitable for medicinal use.

**[Kernel/Ren]**
**[Processing]** Lei Xiao stated: Soak first in hot water, remove skin and tips, soak in raw honey overnight, drain and dry in shade, then grind into paste for use.
**[Flavor and Nature]** Sour, neutral, non-toxic.
Zhen Quan stated: Bitter, pungent. Zhang Yuansu stated: Pungent, bitter, Yang within Yin, a drug for the Qi aspect of the Spleen Meridian.
**[Indications]** Abdominal edema, swelling of face, eyes, and limbs, promoting urination through the urinary pathways (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Qi stagnation in the intestines, obstruction of Guan Ge syndrome (Zhen Quan). Relieving acute pain of the Five Viscera and Bladder, dispersing cold pus in the waist and hips, resolving retained food and descending Qi (Chen Cangqi).
Breaking up mass-forming Qi, draining water from the four limbs.
Taking forty-nine pills with wine can purge stagnant Qi (Meng Shen). Breaking blood stasis and moistening dryness (Zhang Yuansu).
Specifically treating Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine, dryness and obstruction (Li Gao). Ground and mixed with Borneol to treat red eyes (Kou Zongshi).
**[Elucidation]** Li Shizhen stated: Yuli Ren is sweet and bitter, moistening, with a descending nature, thus capable of descending Qi and promoting diuresis. According to records: In *History of Song · Biography of Qian Yi*: A nursing mother fell ill due to fright. After recovery, her eyes remained open and she could not sleep. Qian Yi said: Boil Yuli wine and let her drink until drunk, then she will recover. The reason is that the eye system connects internally to the Liver and Gallbladder; fear causes Qi stagnation, and Gallbladder Qi rises transversely instead of descending. Yuli removes stagnation, enters the Gallbladder via wine, and once stagnation is removed, Gallbladder Qi descends, allowing the eyes to close and sleep. This is likely the subtle application of grasping the key essence. Su Song stated: *Bixiao Fang*: Treats Pi accumulation. Take Chexia Li Ren, soften with hot water, remove skin and tips, mix the kernel with dry flour, pound into cakes. If too dry, add a little water, form dough cakes, size of patient's palm. Make two cakes, lightly roast until yellow, do not cook thoroughly. Eat one cake on an empty stomach; there should be a brisk bowel movement. If no movement, eat another cake, or drink hot rice soup, stopping when diarrhea occurs. If diarrhea persists, stop it with vinegar-rice. Post-diarrhea, the body will be deficient. If disease remains, after one or two days, take another dose according to strength, until disease is exhausted. Avoid cheese, beef, horse meat, etc. Repeatedly tested and effective, but must adjust dosage based on disease severity; can be used for children.
**[Attached Prescriptions]** Three old prescriptions, two new ones.
Pediatric Excess Heat: Grind cooked Yuli Ren into apricot-kernel-like paste, take two he per day (Yao Hezhong *Zhibao Fang*).
Pediatric Constipation: Infants with unblocked stool and urine, accompanied by fright-heat and phlegm-solidity, desiring loose stools. Rhubarb (soaked in wine, stir-fried), Yuli Ren (skin removed, ground) each one qian, Talcum powder one liang, pounded and mixed into pills the size of millet seeds. Two-year-old infants take three pills, adjust according to patient, taken with plain boiled water (Qian Yi *Xiao'er Yaozheng Zhijue*).
Swelling, fullness, shortness of breath unable to lie down: Use one dahe of Yuli Ren. Grind to powder, mix with flour to make cakes. Once eaten, bowel movement opens, Qi泄 resolves, and illness cures (Shi *Chanru*).
Podagra with edema, abdominal fullness, unblocked stool and urine, shortness of breath and panting: Yuli Ren twelve fen (pounded, water-extracted juice), Coicis Semen...
Sudden heart pain with stabbing sensation: Chew thirty-seven Yuli Ren, swallow with fresh drawn water or warm water. Pain stops shortly after, then sip thin salt water (Yao Hezhong *Zhibao Fang*).
Skin bleeding/sweat: Yuli Ren (skin removed, ground) one qian, mix with juice of Goose Pear and take (*Shengji Zonglu*).

**[Root]**
**[Flavor and Nature]** Sour, cool, non-toxic.
**[Indications]** Gum swelling, dental caries, strengthening teeth (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Removing Ascaris lumbricoides (*Mingyi Bielu*).
Treating wind-worm toothache, decoct strongly for gargling. Treating pediatric fever, decoct for bathing (Chen Cangqi).
Dispersing stagnant Qi, breaking accumulations (Zhen Quan).