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(From *Tang Bencao*)
[Correction] Transferred from the Herbal Section to this section.
[Names] Fennel, also known as Ba Jiao Zhu (Eight-cornered Pearl).
Su Song stated: People in the north call it Hui Xiang (Fennel), due to phonetic similarity.
Sun Simiao stated: When boiling foul meat, adding a small amount of Fennel eliminates the odor; adding Fennel powder to foul sauce also makes it fragrant, hence the name Hui Xiang.
Li Shizhen stated: Common people often keep it in their lapels to chew. It is likely that the name "Hui" derives from this practice.
[Collection and Explanation] Su Song stated: It grows in Jiaozhou, Guangzhou, and surrounding commanderies. The variety imported by foreign ships is mostly used for medicine; some claim it is more potent than locally grown ones.
Leaves emerge in March, resembling old Coriander (*Coriandrum sativum*), very sparse and fine, growing in clumps. By May, stems thicken to three or four chi high. Flowers appear in July, umbellate, yellow. Fruits resemble wheat but are smaller and green. Northerners call it Tu Hui Xiang (Native Fennel). Fruits are harvested in August and September and dried in the shade. It is now widely cultivated in gardens near cities. People in Sichuan often boil and eat its stems and leaves.
Zong Lin stated: The description resembling old Coriander is incorrect; Coriander leaves resemble those of *Cnidium monnieri*. Although Fennel has leaf-like names, its foliage is scattered like silk threads, distinct from other herbs. Li Shizhen stated: Fennel has perennial roots; seedlings emerge in deep winter forming clumps, with thick stems and filamentous leaves. Flowers bloom in May and June, resembling *Cnidium* flowers but yellow. Seeds are wheat-sized, light with fine ridges, commonly called Da Hui Xiang (Large Fennel); the best quality comes from Ningxia. Smaller varieties from other regions are called Xiao Hui Xiang (Small Fennel). Imported varieties have fruits the size of cypress seeds, splitting into eight segments, each containing one seed the size of a bean, yellow-brown with kernels, sweeter in taste, commonly called Bo Hui Xiang (Ship Fennel) or Ba Jiao Hui Xiang (Star Anise). A similar variety exists in the dong regions of Guangxi, differing in shape and color from Chinese Fennel but sharing the same aroma. Northerners chew it as an accompaniment to wine.
[Fragrance and Flavor] Pungent, neutral, non-toxic.
Sun Simiao stated: Bitter, pungent, slightly cold, astringent.
Li Quan stated: Bitter, pungent. Best when paired with wine. Use after stir-frying until yellow.
Li Gao stated: Yang nature, floating. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin, Foot-Shaoyin, and Foot-Taiyang meridians.
[Indications] Treats various hernias, cholera, and snake bites (*Tang Bencao*). Cold qi in the bladder and stomach, and intestinal qi; regulates the middle jiao, relieves pain, stops vomiting (Ma Zhi). Treats wet and dry beriberi, kidney labor-induced hernias and genital pain, opens the stomach and promotes appetite (Chen Cangqi). Supplements deficiency of the Gate of Vitality (Ming Men) (Li Gao). Warms the Dantian (Wu Shou).
[Elucidation] Meng Shen stated: People value Fennel, claiming it aids yang function, but I have not found the correct method.
Li Gao stated: Fennel is originally a herb for treating the bladder. Since it corresponds to Bing Fire (Small Intestine) first, it is called the Small Intestine herb, capable of moistening Bing dryness. Since it corresponds to Wu Earth (Stomach) first, it moves from Bing to Ren, involving both Hand and Foot Shaoyin meridians, opening channels between upper and lower, thus allowing Ren water and Bing fire to interact.
Li Shizhen stated: Xiao Hui Xiang (Small Fennel) is neutral in nature, regulates qi, opens the stomach, repels flies and odors in summer, and is suitable as a food seasoning. Da Hui Xiang (Large Fennel/Star Anise) is hot in nature; excessive consumption damages eyes and causes sores, so it should not be overused in cooking. Ancient formula Qu Ling Wan: Use 2 liang of Fennel and 4 liang of ginger with peel, marinate in a clay vessel for one day and night, stir-fry slowly, add 1 liang of salt, grind to powder, and make pills with honey paste the size of wutong seeds. Take 30-50 pills on an empty stomach with salted wine. This formula originally treated spleen and stomach weakness. Salt guides Fennel into the Kidney meridian to expel pathogenic qi. If the Kidney is not affected by pathogens, disease does not arise. It is also effective for intestinal hernias.
[Attached Formulas] 3 old formulas, 18 new formulas.
To open the stomach and promote eating: 2 liang of Fennel, 4 liang of ginger, pounded together evenly, placed in a clean container, covered with wet paper overnight. Then stir-fried in a silver or ceramic vessel over mild heat until yellow and scorched, ground to powder, made into pills with wine paste the size of wutong seeds. Take 10-25 pills with warm wine. (*Experience Behind Formulas*).
For malarial fever with heat radiating to back and neck: Pound Fennel seeds to extract juice and drink. (Sun Simiao's Formula).
For constipation and urinary retention, abdominal distension and shortness of breath: 7 Star Anises, 0.5 liang of Hemp Seed. Grind to powder. Grind 37 roots of raw scallion white, decoct in water, mix with Wuling San powder, take once daily. (*Puji Fang*).
For frequent urination: Fennel, any amount, washed clean, add a little salt, stir-fry and grind to powder. Dip roasted glutinous rice cakes in it and eat.
For typhoid collapse of yang and urinary retention: Apply Fennel powder mixed with fresh ginger juice to the abdomen. Externally, take Fennel powder combined with Yiyuan San. (*Zhaxuan Fang*).
For kidney diabetes with excessive drinking and urine resembling grease: Equal parts of stir-fried Fennel and stir-fried Chinaberry seeds, ground to powder. Take 2 qian before meals with wine. (*Baoming Ji*).
For cold qi from kidney evil and weakness: 6 liang of Large Fennel divided into three parts; 1 raw Aconite root (peeled) divided into three parts. First time: Stir-fry 1 part Aconite and 1 part Fennel until yellow, remove fire toxicity overnight, discard Aconite, grind Fennel to powder. Take 1 qian on an empty stomach with salted wine. Second time: Stir-fry 1 part of each until preserved nature remains, remove fire toxicity, discard half the Aconite, keep half, mix with Fennel powder, take as before. Third time: Stir-fry 1 part of each until preserved nature remains, remove fire toxicity, grind all to powder, take as before. (*Zhu Shi Ji Yan Fang*).
For kidney deficiency lower back pain: Stir-fry and grind Fennel. Slice pork kidneys, insert powder inside, wrap in wet paper and bake. Eat on an empty stomach with salted wine. (Dai Yuanli's *Yaojue*). Lower back pain like stabbing (*Jianbian Fang*): Stir-fry and grind Star Anise, take 2 qian before meals with salted water. Externally, stir-fry 1-2 sheng of glutinous rice, put in a bag, and bind to the painful area. *Huoxin Tong* Sixian San: 3 qian each of Star Anise and Eucommia bark (stir-fried and ground), 1 qian of Aucklandia root, decoct in 1 zhong of water and 0.5 zhong of wine.
For heavy, stabbing, distending waist: Stir-fry and grind Star Anise to powder, take 2 qian with wine before meals. (*Zhizhi Fang*).
For hernia entering the kidney: Make two bags of stir-fried Fennel, apply alternately with heat. (*Jianbian Fang*).
For descending intestinal qi (*Zhizhi*): 3 qian each of Star Anise and Small Fennel, a little Frankincense, decoct in water to induce sweating. Sun Shi's *Jixiao Fang*: Treats unbearable intestinal hernia pain. Equal parts of Large Fennel and stir-fried black Litchi seed, ground to powder. Take 1 qian with warm wine. *Binhu Jijian Fang*: 1 liang of Large Fennel, 5 qian of Sichuan pepper. Stir-fry and grind. Take 1 qian with wine.
For bladder hernia pain (*Benshi Fang*): 1 liang each of Ship Fennel and Almond, 5 qian of baked scallion white, ground to powder. Take 2 qian with wine, chewing a walnut. *Jiyao*: Treats hernia pain in bladder and small intestine. Equal parts of salt-stir-fried Fennel and salt-stir-fried silkworm frass. Ground to powder, made into pill-sized balls with refined honey. Take one pill, chew with warm wine.
For unilateral hernia descent: 1 liang of Large Fennel powder, 1 liang of Small Fennel powder. Place in one pig bladder with urine, tie securely, boil in wine until soft in a jar. Pound the bladder and contents into pills the size of wutong seeds. Take 50 pills with plain water. This is an immortal formula. (Deng Cai's *Zaxing*).
For stabbing pain under ribs: 1 liang of Small Fennel (stir-fried), 5 qian of Aurantium fruit (bran-stir-fried). Ground to powder. Take 2 qian with salted wine, miraculous effect. (*Xiuzhen Fang*).
To eliminate bad breath: Fennel, whether boiled in soup or eaten raw, is effective. (Zan Yin's *Shiyi Xinjing*).
For chronic ulcerated snake bite: Pound Small Fennel to powder and apply. (*Qianjin Fang*).
Stems and Leaves
[Fragrance and Flavor] Same as the seeds.
[Indications] Boiled and eaten, treats sudden nausea and abdominal discomfort (Zhen Quan). Treats intestinal qi, sudden kidney qi rushing to the hypochondrium causing stabbing pain like a knife, and inability to breathe. Extract juice from fresh plant (1 he), mix with hot wine (1 he), and drink. (Meng Shen).
[Elucidation] Su Song stated: *Fan Wang Fang*: Treats malignant carbuncles where pain and spasm extend to the scrotum and thighs, pulling into the lower abdomen unbearably, fatal within one night. Decoct 1 sheng of juice from Fennel seedlings and leaves, take 3-4 times daily. Apply the dregs to the swelling. Use roots in winter. This is a foreign divine formula, used since the Yongjia era, producing miraculous results of bringing the dead back to life.