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Qinpi (Cortex Fraxini)
Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Sinking and yin in quality. Non-toxic. Produced in Junzhou, Shaanxi, and the valleys of Lujiang. The tree resembles Dalbergia (rosewood), and its root is similar to that of Sophora (Chinese pagoda tree).
The leaves resemble the head of a spoon and are slightly glossy; the bark has many white spots and is not rough. (Meaning not rough.) Commonly called "White Wood" or "Stone Sandalwood Tree," "Bitter Tree," all named after their appearance. Harvest the bark at the end of autumn and dry it in the shade for use. When soaked in water, the water turns emerald green; when used to write on paper, the paper surface appears slightly bluish-green. This is the true test of authenticity; seekers must not be mistaken. It acts with Euphorbia lathyris (Daji) and is incompatible with Evodia (Wuzhuyu), bitter bottle gourd (Kuhu), and Phlogophora (Fang Kui). (Bottle gourd, Fang Kui.) It specializes in ophthalmology, removing long-standing heat from the liver. Decoct the juice, clarify it, and apply to the eyes at any time. For conditions where a white membrane obscures vision causing blindness, it works rapidly; for redness, swelling, pain, and continuous tearing, it achieves remarkable results. It benefits men with seminal depletion and stops leukorrhea in women. For children with fever and convulsions due to wind-phlegm, it can also be decocted as a bath. It expels wind-cold-damp bi syndrome and relieves tenesmus in hot dysentery. The Classics state: "Use bitter flavors to consolidate," hence the use of bitter formulas containing Pulsatilla chinensis (Baitouweng), Phellodendron amurense (Huangbai), and Qinpi. Long-term consumption darkens hair and lightens the body. Cortex Eucommiae (Duzhong pi) is mostly produced in Jiangnan; decocted or powdered, it can be washed and applied to snake bites.

Haitongpi (Cortex Pittospori)
Bitter in taste, neutral in nature. Non-toxic. Originates from Leizhou (in Guangdong) and coastal commanderies. It resembles Trewia (pittosporum) bark but is tough and yellowish-white. It can be harvested at any time and decocted into liquid. It primarily treats cholera and chronic dysentery with blood and pus, removes malnutrition (gan-ji), scabies, tinea, and dental worms. Soaked in wine, it excellently treats wind-stroke and厥逆 (jue-ni, reversal cold); soaked in water for washing, it effectively treats red-eye disease. It is strong enough to make ropes and remains intact in water. (Meaning it does not rot when immersed.)

Shanzhizi (Fructus Gardeniae)
Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Strong flavor and light qi, ascending qi and descending flavor, representing yang within yin. Non-toxic. Also known as Yue Tao. Harvest after frost. Those cultivated in gardens are large and long (called Fushi Zhizi). They are only suitable for dyeing, regardless of having five or six ridges. Those produced in mountains and valleys are round, small, and thin. They are suitable for medicinal use, especially those with seven or nine ridges. Breaking the stem is necessary; grinding before frying is required. (For stopping bleeding, fry until black; for clearing heat, drying is sufficient.) Retaining the peel clears heat from the muscle surface; removing the peel clears heat from the heart and chest. (One theory says: removing the peel drains heart fire, retaining the peel drains lung fire.) Its meridian entry is solely the Hand-Taiyin Lung organ. Because it is light and floating like the lung, and red like fire, it treats the highest parts of the body and drains fire from the lungs. Originally, it cannot induce vomiting. Zhang Zhongjing used it as an emetic because when pathogenic factors are in the upper jiao and reject intake, inducing vomiting of food helps expel the pathogens. The Classics say: "For pathogens in high positions, promote their expulsion via vomiting." This is what is meant. Actually, it does not directly promote urination. Liu Wansu (or experts) used it to promote urination, but this is actually clearing the lungs. When lung qi is clear and transforms properly, urine is excreted through qi transformation. The Classics say: "The Bladder is the mansion of fluids; it excretes them through qi transformation." This refers to this mechanism. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* also states it treats heat in the large and small intestines and stomach. This is because Xin metal combines with Geng metal, Bing fire, and can drain Wu earth, acting first on the Central Region (Spleen/Stomach). Adding fresh ginger and tangerine peel treats persistent vomiting and hiccups; adding Magnolia officinalis (Houpo) and Immature Bitter Orange (Zhishi) removes abdominal fullness and vexation. Adding Artemisia capillaris (Yinchen) treats damp-heat jaundice; adding Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gancao) treats shortness of breath and deficiency-type fullness. To relieve internal vexation and dryness, add Fermented Soybean (Xiangchi) to achieve success. Vexation relates to qi; dryness (meaning restlessness and insomnia) relates to blood. Qi governs the lung, and blood governs the kidney. Thus, Zhizi treats lung-related vexation, and Xiangchi treats kidney-related dryness. If added with fresh ginger juice, it particularly treats chronic heart and abdominal pain. It drives away guest-heat in the upper jiao and resolves the five types of jaundice. It removes red eye obstructions, stops cholera with muscle spasms, and eliminates pathogens in the five zang organs affecting erythema, leprosy-like sores, and rhinophyma. Zhu Danxi further stated: it resolves heat stagnation and moves condensed qi. Its nature curves downward, greatly reducing fire by excreting it through urine, a fact unknown to most people.