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Ramie Root (Zhu Gen)
Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Non-toxic. Grown and cultivated in low-lying areas of villages; the perennial roots sprout naturally in spring. The leaves are used to feed pond fish; the leaf surface is green, while the back is white. The bark can be peeled off to repair summer cloth (summer linen), harvested three times a year. The root is light, hollow, and yellowish-white; it can be harvested at any time for medicinal use. Crushed and applied externally to treat erysipelas (Chi You Dan Du) in children, as well as various carbuncles, sores, back abscesses (Fa Bei), and breast swelling/pain. Decocted and taken internally to treat restless fetus (Tai Dong Bu An) in women, and fever with irritability before and after childbirth. Used nasally to stop uterine bleeding (Tai Lou Xia Xue), and for snakebite from arrow-headed venomous snakes. For epidemic diseases presenting with extreme thirst and狂呼 (wild shouting), this herb is indispensable to dispel the condition; for dryness-heat caused by excessive intake of mineral drugs (Jin Shi), drinking ramie root juice provides immediate relief. Ramie bark stored for later use is suitable for postpartum women. Made into a pillow for sleeping, it stops blood loss and dizziness; placed on the umbilicus, it removes abdominal pain. Soaking ramie root to extract juice and drinking it greatly resolves Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). For poisoning from silkworm bites, one dose drives out the toxin. Therefore, when planted near silkworm rooms, silkworms cease to produce eggs.

Alpine Dock Root (Yang Ti Gen)
Sweet in taste, cold in nature. Belongs to Water. Non-toxic. Leaves resemble lettuce (Wo Ju); mostly grows by roadsides. The root is rubbed with vinegar. It has a strong affinity for the Blood level. It primarily treats pediatric alopecia, tinea capitis, and scabies-like eruptions by clearing heat; it treats female genital erosion and oozing ulcers, killing parasites. It removes hemorrhoids and carbuncles, and clears wind-tinea (Feng Xuan). If collected in large quantities, it can be boiled into a paste with honey, mixed with powder of Saposhnikovia Root (Fang Feng), and formed into pills. Taken with wine containing Trichosanthes Fruit (Gua Lou) and Licorice Root (Gan Cao), it treats the aforementioned conditions even more effectively. (Take twice daily, 30 pills each time.) When eaten as a vegetable, it expels intestinal parasites in children suffering from malnutrition due to parasites (Gan Chong); (excessive consumption causes loose stools/diarrhea). The fruit is bitter and astringent, neutral in nature, and can stop dysentery with mixed red and white discharge.

Kadsura Flower / Daphne Genkwa (Yuan Hua)
Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature. Slightly toxic. Abundant in river valleys, found both near and far. Stems are purple, flowers white, growing one to two chi long. Flowers densely cover old stems, resembling purple tips forming spikes; tender buds should be harvested before leaves emerge and dried in the sun. When flowers fall and leaves grow, they are unsuitable for use. Boil with vinegar for several boils, then soak in water overnight. Sun-dry again for storage to avoid toxicity. It is incompatible with Licorice Root (Gan Cao) and renders Cassia Seed (Jue Ming Zi) ineffective. It dissipates edema and floating swelling of the skin, eliminates phlegm-fluid retention in the chest and diaphragm with profuse salivation. It stops cough with rebellious Qi ascending, and soothes sore throat with shortness of breath. It expels hernias, masses (Jia), carbuncles, and gu-poison or ghost-malaria. It causes deficiency and damage; long-term use is inadvisable. Juice soaked silk thread tied around hemorrhoids causes them to fall off easily. The root is even more toxic, known as Shu Sang. Crushed, it can poison fish; powdered, it can be applied externally to treat scabies.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Yuan Hua's primary function is to drain dampness and promote urination. Fluid metabolism is governed by the Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney meridians, involving the regions of the five zang organs, six fu organs, and twelve meridians. Upward to the head and eyes, centrally to the limbs, downward to the waist and knees. Outward to the skin and hair, centrally to the muscles, inward to the sinews and bones. Pulse diagnosis distinguishes between Cun, Guan, and Chi positions; palpation differentiates between Floating, Middle, and Deep depths. One must ascertain which meridian and zang-fu organ is affected before using this herb. Misapplication would cause significant harm.