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Pine Resin (Songzhi)

Bitter and sweet in taste, warm in nature. Non-toxic. It is cultivated and grown throughout the country, regardless of specific local soil conditions. The clear liquid exuded from large trees, specifically the distilled resin (an alias for pine resin), constitutes this substance. While excessive drilling to exploit it greedily may harm the tree, refining and ingesting it can prolong life; allowing it to flow naturally yields quick efficacy. Select transparent, chunky pieces, distinguishing between those exposed to sunlight and shade. Those facing south and illuminated by the sun and moon are classified as Yang resin, while those facing north and shielded from them are Yin resin. Yang resin tonifies Yang, and Yin resin tonifies Yin. The *Immortal's Classic* also states: "People who do not see the sun and moon often suffer from Yin deficiency, hence its use to specifically tonify Yin." Refinement follows a specific method; adhere to the procedure without error. Fill the cauldron with water and place the steamer basket adjacent to it. Line the bottom of the steamer with two layers of white cogon grass, then cover with approximately one cun of yellow sand. Spread the pine resin freely over the sand. Heat tightly using mulberry wood fire. Add water as needed when the liquid decreases, and remove only after the resin has fully flowed out. Scoop the resin with a new skimmer and plunge it into cold water (do not use any residue sinking to the bottom of the cauldron). Allow it to coagulate, then re-steam as before. After repeating this cycle three times, the color becomes white as jade. Grind and mix with other herbs (adding *Poria Cocos* [Fuling], *Biota Seed* [Baiziren], and *Chrysanthemum Flower* [Juhua] for compound preparation, or it can be taken alone). Form into pills and swallow with wine. It expels various wind pathogens and stabilizes the five Zang organs. It clears latent heat in the epigastrium and resolves thirst in the throat. It lightens the body, enhances spiritual clarity, prolongs life, and delays aging. Boiled into an ointment for topical application on sores and toxins to promote tissue regeneration; made into a powder to treat toothache and kill parasites. It primarily treats Qi deficiency and emaciation, and additionally dispels wind-bi syndrome.
Pine flowers, although they lighten the body and benefit Qi, may cause heat in the Upper Jiao.
The basal part of the pine root (Pu), harvested and dried, is ground into fine powder. Mixed with egg white (*Jiqing*) into bean-sized pills, it effectively stops summerheat dysentery with miraculous astringency. The white bark of pine roots mainly treats hunger during grain avoidance practices and tonifies deficiency and exhaustion.
Pine nodes have a warm and drying nature, removing dampness from the blood and relieving softness and pain in the legs due to bi syndrome.
Pine leaves ward off epidemic qi with spiritual efficacy. For joint-type wind diseases, they can be soaked in wine for consumption.
Pine Lichen (Songluo, also known as Nuluo; *The Book of Songs* states: "Ivy and lichen grow upon pines." Tao Hongjing notes: "Ivy is a parasite, best used from mulberry trees; lichen should be used from pine trees.") Bitter in taste, when decocted strongly it serves as an emetic. It induces vomiting of retained phlegm, interrupts warm malaria, promotes urination, and drives out head wind. It cleanses crusts on the crown of the head and removes goiters on the neck. It can stop spontaneous sweating and eliminate anger.