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In the ninth and tenth months, harvest the stems of *Dianthus superbus* (Qumai, 瞿麦), mix them with dried *Puerariae Lobatae Radix* (Gegen, 葛根) powder, dry them by baking, then stir-fry them over low heat in a silver or ceramic vessel until cooked, and grind into powder. After meals and before going to bed at night, take one or two qian (approx. 3-6g) mixed with boiling water. It is used to treat Lung dryness (Lung dryness), hot thirst, and constipation of the Large Intestine. Its root, along with herbs such as *Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae* (Beimu, 贝母), *Radix Anemarrhenae* (Zhimu, 知母), *Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae* (Qinjiao, 秦艽), and *Radix Scutellariae* (Huangqin, 黄芩), can all treat fever in horses.

A court official suffered from heavy sensation in the lower back; after sitting for a long time, he had to struggle for more than ten steps before he could walk. A military officer said to him, "I see you rub your teeth with medicine daily; are you perhaps using *Radix Sophorae Flavescentis* (Kushen, 苦参)?" The official replied, "Initially, it was for dental disease, and I have used Kushen for several years." The officer said, "This ailment arises because Kushen enters the teeth; its qi and flavor damage the Kidney, thus causing heaviness in the waist." Later, Shu Zhaoliang, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, also used Kushen to rub his teeth and developed waist ailments after many years. Thereafter, everyone stopped using it, and their waist ailments healed. These cases were not recorded in old medical formularies.

Another person suffered from widespread wind-heat fine rashes, with unbearable itching and pain, affecting the chest, neck, umbilicus, abdomen, and areas near the genitals. There was also excessive phlegm-saliva, and inability to sleep at night. Take one liang (approx. 30g) of *Radix Sophorae Flavescentis* (Kushen, 苦参) powder, two liang of *Fructus Gleditsiae Sinensis* (Saojiao, 皂角), and one sheng (approx. 200ml) of water. Rub and filter to extract the juice, then boil down to a paste in a silver or ceramic vessel. Mix with Kushen powder to make pills the size of *Koelreuteriae Fructus* (Wutongzi, 梧桐子). Take twenty to thirty pills with warm water after meals; the condition would be cured the next day.

There are currently two types: those growing in water have smooth leaves with rounded tips; those growing on land have hairy leaves with sharp tips. For medicinal use, only the aquatic type should be used. The terrestrial type is also called 'Tianjiu' (Heavenly Blistering). Taking a small amount of its leaves, rubbing them, and tying them to the arm will cause large blisters resembling burns overnight. Only the terrestrial type treats insufficiency of Yin, cold penis, and seminal emission. Other effects are as described in the classics.

*Bazheng San* (Eight Regulations Powder) uses *Dianthus superbus* (Qumai, 瞿麦), which people now consider an essential herb. If a patient has heat in the Heart Channel but deficiency in the Small Intestine, taking this herb will leave the Heart heat unresolved while causing new pathology in the Small Intestine. Presumably, the intention is based on the exterior-interior relationship between the Heart and Small Intestine, hence using this herb to enter the Small Intestine channel. According to the classics, Qumai does not treat Heart heat. If there is no significant heat in the Heart, one should treat only the Heart. If suppression is incomplete, one must seek related organs to attenuate the pathogenic factor. The rationale for using *Bazheng San* is as follows.