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Huai Shi (Sophorae Fructus) is only mentioned as the fruit, but now it should be divided into two parts. The fruit originally comes from the pod; if the pod skin is pounded to make a decoction paste, it should be called "Jia" (Sophorae Cortex). The seeds within the pod, which are bean-sized, hard, and purple in color, are the "Shi" (Sophorae Fructus). Current herbal texts do not distinguish between the "Jia" and the seeds within the pod, likely because their uses differ, although both have the function of guiding out wind-heat.

Dyers also use it today. At harvest time, they break off the unopened flower buds, boil them once, and remove them from the pot. There will be precipitated thick yellow dregs, which are filtered through percolation to form cakes, making the dyeing more vivid. It is very effective for treating intestinal wind-heat with bloody diarrhea, but must not be overdosed.

For Gou Qi, one should use the stem bark; for Di Gu, one should use the root bark; for Gou Qi Zi, one should use its red fruit. This is one substance with three uses. Its stem bark is cold, the root bark is greatly cold, and the seed is slightly cold; these are three distinct levels. This is precisely the "Qi" referred to in Mencius's saying "Nature is like dogwood and willow." Later people vainly attempted to distinguish them further, calling it "Gou Ji," which is merely forcing new names. All Gou Qi plants have thorns; even when large enough to form a trellis, they still have thorns. However, young plants have many thorns, while mature ones have fewer, similar to Suan Zao (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) and Ji (thorny bushes); their fruits are essentially the same. Nowadays, people mostly use its seeds directly as a kidney-tonifying medicine, which shows they have not investigated the original meaning of the classics. One should measure and use it according to the patient's deficiency/excess and cold/heat conditions.

The classic states: "Also known as Yi Zhi." Today it is used specifically as a fruit, and there is no record of its medicinal use. *Bu Zhu* does not mention it. *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* included it in the Middle Category of the Wood Section, but it was not included in the Fruit Section. Currently, apart from being a fruit, there is no other Long Yan (Longan). If it were Yi Zhi Zi (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), it would specifically regulate various qi mechanisms, whereas the current fruit cannot do this. Furthermore, since there is already an entry for "Yi Zhi," which is far from matching, we know that the Long Yan in the Wood Section is indeed the variety currently used as a fruit. According to current annotations: "Sweet flavor enters the Spleen and can enhance intelligence." This explanation is quite appropriate.

It is also produced in Yiyang County and Shangzhou in the Western Capital region, but it is thin and pale in color, unlike that from Zizhou, which is rich, purple, and oily. It tastes bitter; without ginger processing, it will irritate the throat and tongue. It is used in Ping Wei San, where it best regulates the middle jiao. To this day, this herb is widely popular; it can warm the stomach and spleen qi and dispel cold qi, making it essential for the world.