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Bulbus Broussonetiae (Chushi)

Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Non-toxic. Although available in nearby regions, the yield in Xingyang (Henan Province) is particularly abundant. It often grows in abandoned fields, hence also known as "Gu Shi" (Grain Fruit). The leaves resemble those of grapes with lobed margins, and the fruits are about the size of a marble, appearing fluffy. Initially greenish-blue, they gradually turn red upon ripening. Harvest in late autumn, soak in water to remove the skin and pulp; take the inner seeds, dry them in the sun, then soak them in wine for day and night. Steaming should proceed from Si hour (9-11 AM) to Hai hour (9-11 PM). After decocting and tasting as desired, form into pills. It can strengthen potency in cases of impotence and reduce edema. It nourishes the flesh, supports the waist and knees, tonifies Qi and strength, and supplements deficiency and fatigue. It brightens complexion, lightens the body, strengthens sinews and bones, and improves vision. The leaves treat childhood fever; consumption promotes tissue regeneration immediately. Decoction of the bark promotes urination and removes water retention. Paper soaked in it, burned to retain its character, and mixed with wine can stop bleeding, treat blood fainting, and manage metrorrhagia. Scissors-cut paper bearing official seals, when burned and swallowed, has miraculous effects for difficult labor in women.

Annotation by Mo: There are two types of Broussonetia, with different names. If the leaf has lobes, it is called Chu; if the leaf has no lobes, it is called Gou (pronounced gòu). Another view states that trees with spotted bark are Chu, while those with white bark are Gou. They mostly grow in long-abandoned grain fields. The fruit is sweet, hence the name Gu Shi. The Classic of Poetry says: "There stands a mulberry tree, beneath it grows the Gou." This refers to this plant. In Youzhou today, it is still called Gu Sang. In Jing, Yang, Jiao, and Guang regions, it is all called Gou. Every autumn moon, the bark is stripped. It is either woven into shoes or pounded to make paper. Its color is very lustrous, bringing boundless profit. In medical prescriptions, only the fruit is valued. Frequent consumption of the red fruit prevents aging and hunger, doubles physical strength, and enables running speed comparable to galloping horses. These records in classics and annotations are absolutely truthful. Why is it rarely used in tonic medicines? Alas! Alas!

Bamboo Leaf (Dan Zhuye)

Sweet and bland in taste, neutral and cold in nature. Slightly Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. There are many bamboo species, making it hard to specify which one is correct. Only by tasting the shoot can one identify the true one: those with a bland taste are correct. Dan Zhu (Bland Bamboo), Lei Zhu (Thunder Bamboo), and Shui Zhu (Water Bamboo) have a bland and sweet taste, ranking first for treating diseases. Jian Zhu and others have a purely bland taste and are also suitable for use; Ku Zhu (Bitter Bamboo) and Zi Zhu (Purple Bamboo) have bitter, pungent, and fishy tastes, and are unsuitable for medicinal use. Su Dongpo stated: "Dan Zhu" (Bland Bamboo) is defined in contrast to "Ku Zhu" (Bitter Bamboo); except for Ku Zhu, all others are Dan Zhu. Observing this confirms the point. [The herb] expels rebellious Qi causing cough and asthma, relieves panting, reduces deficiency heat, irritability, and insomnia. It specifically cools the Heart Meridian and especially dispels wind-induced spasms. (Note: There is a grass-like herb resembling iron wire, with stems like young millet and leaves over a foot long, also named Dan Zhuye. Commonly collected by folk, it promotes urination and treats throat bi syndromes with miraculous efficacy.) The root stops thirst, calms the mind, lightens the body, and tonifies Qi. The bark requires peeling off the green outer layer, using only the inner yellow part. It excels in treating stomach heat and hiccups, and is miraculous for dysphagia and belching. Baichuan Ru originally refers to old bamboo skin scraped from ships, found abundantly in leaking areas of large boats. Dried and boiled, it also stops various bleedings. Bamboo juice obtained by burning is similar to Zizhu Juice (Jingli). Cut bamboo horizontally into pieces over a chi long, split vertically into several blocks. Place between two bricks and roast over intense fire. Juice flows out from both ends; mix with a small amount of ginger juice before administration. (For each cup of bamboo juice, add two spoons of fresh ginger juice.) It resolves deficiency heat, regulates jaw lock in stroke. For infant convulsions and epilepsy (Tian Diao), it settles immediately upon entry; for postpartum faintness and dizziness in women, consciousness returns immediately after swallowing. Yan Yi states: "Before delivery, it does not harm the fetus; after delivery, it prevents deficiency." It stops palpitations and anxiety, and resolves phlegm. Phlegm in the limbs cannot be reached without this herb; phlegm in the subcutaneous tissues and intermuscular spaces can be expelled by it. However, common people mistakenly consider it extremely cold and hesitate to use it. Little do they know it is extracted by heating and assisted by ginger juice; how could it be cold? Bamboo meat resembles chunks of flesh, growing on branches of Ku Zhu. About the size of an egg; raw consumption is toxic. It pierces the throat causing swelling and blackens the fingernails. It must be boiled three times in ash lye before being eaten like ordinary vegetables. It kills three types of parasites and breaks old blood stasis. It has other efficacies unknown to most. Zhuru appears only in midsummer, resembling deer antlers and white in color. It forms when Ci Bamboo is moistened by rain, with droplets falling to the ground and sprouting. It is effective in treating bloody and non-bloody dysentery. The yellow powder inside the nodes is Tianzhu Huang (Bamboo Manna). (Folklore claims it comes from India, which is incorrect.) It forms from whirlwinds blowing dust and sand, occasionally found in old bamboo. Resembling loess soil, it is also called Zhu Gao (Bamboo Paste). It treats acute and chronic convulsions in children and sudden wind-stroke in obese individuals. It calms the heart, brightens the eyes, clears heat, and drives away evil pathogens. Bamboo shoots promote Qi movement to push out measles toxins, stop thirst, and promote urination. Tao Zhu Shoots are bitter and toxic. (These are shoots that fail to become bamboo, commonly called stubborn shoots.) Pounded into paste, they can expel maggots from livestock skin and meat when inserted into the anus. Must be boiled in ash lye to be edible; otherwise, they pierce the throat. Xianren Zhang has a salty taste; it dies immediately when the shoot matures into bamboo. Black as lacquer, harvested in early summer. It mainly grows in Ku Zhu and specifically treats hiccuping and vomiting. Adult reverse flow of food (fanwei) is caused by intestinal parasites entering the abdomen. Presenting as masses, it is cured by decoction.