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Also known as Heche (Placenta). Its color varies, appearing red, green, or purple. The purple variety is of the best quality. When soaked in wine, if the fetus is positioned head-down, it is a male fetus. The first-born male placenta weighs more than fifteen taels.

The flavor is sweet and salty, and the nature is warm. It treats all kinds of deficiency syndromes and extreme fatigue in both men and women. (Since its physical form is derived from the Qi of Kan and Li of men and women, it has the effect of returning to the origin and restoring the primordial state when taken by those with dual deficiency of Yin and Yang.) It can be used to treat epilepsy, loss of will, and mental confusion. It calms the mind, nourishes blood, tonifies Qi, and supplements essence. For those suffering from chronic deficiency consumption leading to emaciation and thinning of the viscera, it is suitable to use the fundamental substance of the human body to supplement the blood and Qi of the human body. When administered to women, it further promotes conception. For women who are infertile, frequently give birth to daughters, or suffer from difficult labor or spontaneous abortion, taking this medicine yields swift and effective results. Using Cinnamomi Ramulus (Cassiae Leaf) and Linderae Cortex (Wuweiyao Leaf), both sun-dried with wine, subjected to nine steaming and nine drying cycles, mixed and formed into pills, greatly tonifies and benefits, named Bushen Wan (Kidney Tonifying Pill). (From Zhu Danxi) Dazao Wan (Great Creation Pill). (From Wu Qiu) Use the placenta of a first-born male fetus, wash clean with rice water, steam ripe with light wine, pound, dry, and grind into powder. Testudo Plastrum et Carapax (Tortoise Shell) soaked in child's urine for three days, roasted with suet until yellow, two taels; Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) and Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong) one tael and a half each; Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi) one tael and two qian; Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) two taels and a half; add Amomi Fructus (Sharen) six qian; Poria (Fuling) two taels. Place in a silk bag, put into a pottery jar, boil seven times in wine, remove Fuling and Sharen and discard. Pound Dihuang into a paste for later use. Asparagi Radix (Tiandong) and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) one tael and two qian each. In summer, add Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi) seven qian. Avoid iron vessels throughout the process. Grind the medicinal materials into fine powder, mix with Dihuang paste and wine, use rice paste to form pills the size of small beans. Take eighty to ninety pills per dose, on an empty stomach with salt water. For women, remove Testudo Plastrum et Carapax, add Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) two taels, cook with milk to form pills. If for male spermatorrhea or female metrorrhagia, add Ostreae Concha (Muli) powder one tael, remove Renshen (Ginseng). (Doctors of the world often use Yang-tonifying drugs for supplementation, which often causes harm. Because pathogenic fire only stirs desire but cannot generate life. Testudo Plastrum et Carapax and Phellodendri Cortex serve as assistants to Heche, along with Eucommiae Cortex and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, all entering the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Adding Chenpi (Citrus Peel) to ancient formulas creates Bushen Wan. Rehmanniae Radix cools blood and nourishes Yin; guided by Poria, Amomi Fructus, and Phellodendri Cortex, it enters the Shaoyin meridian. Bai Feixia called this formula "Tian Yi Sheng Shui Wan" (Heaven One Generates Water Pill). Tiandong and Maidong protect the Lung, preventing Fire from flaring up, allowing Lung Qi to descend to generate Water. However, their nature is descending without ascending; aided by Renshen's stirring of Yuan Qi, they have both ascending and descending actions. Thus, combined with Dihuang, they form Guben Wan (Root-Firming Pill). Additionally, Renshen, Maidong, and Wuweizi form Shengmai San (Generate Pulse Powder), all treating the Lung. This formula's combination generally uses Metal (Lung) and Water (Kidney) as the source of generation and transformation, adding Heche to achieve the Great Creation function.)

Butian Dazao Wan (Sky-Replenishing Great Creation Pill). Specifically tonifies Yuan Qi, extends life and lineage, strengthens Yang Light, warms Kan Water, descends Li Fire, achieving the harmony of Heaven and Earth. For those suffering from five-palm heat due to excessive sexual activity, this pill is miraculously effective. People after the age of forty should often take this pill to replenish True Yuan and reach old age. One piece of Ziheche (Human Placenta), preferably from a first-born male fetus. If unavailable, that from a robust woman is also good. First, gently spread the fresh Heche using fresh rice water, washing five times with changed rice water, without disturbing the fascia, just cleaning it. Remove any grass debris gently. Place in a bamboo vessel and soak in running water for one quarter-hour to absorb vital energy. Retrieve and place in a small clay pot inside a wooden steamer. Steam slowly over gentle fire for six shichen (twelve hours) until extremely soft like paste. Remove. Pour the natural juice into the medicinal powder first, mix slightly. Then place the Heche in a stone mortar, pound with a wooden pestle one thousand times until pasty. Mix thoroughly with the previous juice and powder, then pound another thousand times. Form pills collectively by hand. This method preserves the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth, rarely known in the world. Using fire baking or wine boiling to remove fascia is a major error. Adding Testudo Plastrum et Carapax is even more erroneous. (This statement must have insight. Not using it is safer.) External ingredients: Nong Chuan Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex, coarse skin removed, wine-fried) one tael; Chuan Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex, coarse skin removed, roasted with suet until fibers break) one tael and five qian; Chuan Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, rhizome removed, wine-soaked) one tael and five qian; Danggui Shen (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, wine-washed) one tael; Huai Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, wine-steamed nine times) two taels; Tiandong (Asparagi Radix, skin and heart removed) one tael and a half; Huai Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix, wine-soaked) one tael and a half; Gouqi (Lycii Fructus) one tael; Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) one tael and five qian. These four items are separately boiled in wine until soft, pounded into paste. Chenpi (Citrus Reticulata Pericarpium, white pith removed) seven qian and a half; Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, fried) one tael; Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) seven qian; Xiaohuixiang (Foeniculi Fructus, fried) seven qian; Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, charred) two qian; Cebeiye (Platycladi Cacumen, tender branches fried between paper until dry) two taels. For bone heat, add Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex) and Digupi (Bark of Groundcherry Root), both heart-removed, and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, wine-fried), one tael each. For blood deficiency, double the dosage of Danggui and Dihuang. For Qi deficiency, add Renshen (Ginseng) and Huangqi (Astragali Radix, honey-fried), one tael each. For women, remove Huangbai, add Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), and Tiaoqin (Scutellariae Radix), all wine-fried, one tael each. Refine the above medicines, weigh the clean powder, avoid iron vessels. Mix with the previously steamed and pounded Heche and its juice to form pills. If the Heche is large, increase the powder amount accordingly, no need for honey. Pills the size of wutong seeds. Take one hundred pills per dose, on an empty stomach with rice soup. If ill, take twice a day. (This method is more effective than ancient formulas. Especially suitable for those with weak constitution or excessive/early depletion.) Zhongzi Sanyi Gao (Seed-Planting Three-Benefits Paste). Treats depletion of True Yuan, middle-aged infertility, and female blood-deficiency sterility. Prepare one batch for both husband and wife to take together; pregnancy occurs upon completion. (Not suitable for women with regular menstruation, strong Qi and Blood, and no disease.) Roucongrong (Cistanche Deserticola, washed in wine to remove floating scales), Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix, sliced with bamboo knife, steamed nine times and dried nine times over black soybeans), Huai Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix, sliced and mixed with wine, steamed nine times and dried nine times), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Shayuanjili (Astragali Complanati Semen, authentic ones fried until fragrant), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen, soaked in wine overnight, pounded into cakes, dried, and fried), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex, skin removed, salted and wine-fried until fibers break), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) four taels each. Baiziren (Biota Seed), Fuling (Poria, mixed with human milk and dried), Buguzhi (Psoraleae Fructus, salt-water fried), Chuan Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, steamed together with Heshouwu) two taels each. Take the clean powder of the above medicines. Use one fresh Ziheche (Human Placenta), preferably first-born. Wash clean with white wine, boil in a sealed bottle until soft, pound and mix with the previous powder. Add Guijiao (Colla Testudinis) and Lujiaojiao (Colla Cornu Cervi) eight taels each, dissolve in wine, mix evenly with the previous medicine. If too dry, add honey to form pills the size of wutong seeds. Take three qian per dose, with good wine. For Qi deficiency, add Renshen two taels. Avoid scallions, garlic, radishes, fried and roasted foods. Preparation time should be in lunar months 2, 3, 9, or 10, in a quiet room with careful refinement.

The Pericardium Meridian belongs to the Heart and connects to the Bao (Uterus/Womb), thus using this ingredient to tonify Heart Blood is indeed pertinent. The Bao is where men store Essence and women store Blood, and it is also governed by the True Qi of Mingmen (Gate of Life). Once the Mingmen is formed in human life, the Heart is generated. Since the Heart and Mingmen share one Qi, it can be known that it also tonifies Heart Qi.

[Discussion] The Classics state: Mingmen is where men store Essence and women connect to the Bao. This refers to this Bao. Its origin starts below the Heart, passing through beside the seventh vertebra. Its connection curves downward, connecting to the meridians of the two Kidneys. (The meridians of the two Kidneys connect to below the Heart, linking via the Bao, hence the Classics say: The Luo vessels of the Bao connect to the Kidneys. Also: The Bao Mai belongs to the Heart and connects to the Bao.) Descending through the Weilu point, attaching to the right side of the rectum, passing between the two yin openings, running parallel anteriorly with the lower opening of the Bladder for urination, this is the pathway for the discharge of Essence and Qi. For women, the Zihu (Child Chamber) and Baomen (Womb Gate) also start from the right side of the rectum, adjacent outside the Bao to the lower opening of the Bladder. This is the site of conception. The Maijing (Classic of Pulse Diagnosis) considers the Right Kidney as Mingmen, whose Fu organ is the Baomen and Zihu. Jiebin said: Zihu and Baomen are general terms for both men and women. Men use it to store Essence, women to store Blood. During sexual intercourse, male semen exits from here, and female receives essence entering from here. Thus, conception forms within. Once the fetal Yuan is sufficient, it also exits from here. The Original Yang in the Kidney is Mingmen, originally opposite the navel, while the Baogong (Womb) and Zihu are located anterior to the rectum and posterior to the bladder. This is indeed what the Classics mean by "Below the Ministerial Fire, Water Qi supports it." (Water is the ancestor of the Three Realms, Essence is the root of Yuan Qi.) A spark of primal spirit in the human body gathers below the navel, breathing independently. Exhaling connects to the Heavenly Root, inhaling connects to the Earthly Root. This is the True Qi of Mingmen. With the True Qi of Mingmen present, it naturally descends and coils below, let alone the initial agreement and transformation. Furthermore, according to "Heaven One Generates Water," paired with Ding's Yin Fire to generate internally, it becomes Mingmen, then generates the Heart. Thus, the Heart and Mingmen are one Qi. Since the Classics state the Bao Mai belongs to the Heart, how can it be external to Mingmen? Therefore, although women conceive in the Baogong, they actually receive Qi from Mingmen. During pregnancy, the infant's umbilical cord attaches to the Bao, and the Bao attaches to the mother's spine. (Actually the Mingmen of the Du Meridian) feeding the infant with Qi, breathing fetal breath, turning the Ren and Du meridians, this is where True Yuan Qi concentrates. Its color is intermixed red and black; red belongs to Fire and is Yang, black belongs to Water and is Yin. When the infant leaves the maternal womb, Qi exhausts into form. Hence it is called the shell of the Pre-Heaven, governing the cultivation of Post-Heaven physical viscera. And Zhu Danxi said that for Qi deficiency, add Qi-tonifying herbs; for Blood deficiency, add Blood-nourishing herbs. This is truly skilled use of Heche.

Miao Shi said: This is a medicine for tonifying dual deficiency of Yin and Yang. If there is Yin deficiency with Essence exhaustion, Water failing to control Fire, manifesting as cough, hemoptysis, bone-steaming tidal fever, and night sweats, this belongs to Excess Yang and Deficient Yin. The treatment method should be to strengthen Water to control it, not to tonify both Yin and Yang simultaneously, which would consume the nearly exhausted Yin. Toothache due to Stomach Fire should also avoid it.

[Processing] The best method is like the processing of Butian Dazao Wan. (Only requiring it to be extremely soft like paste) But one must obtain Heche at the time when all other medicines are available to combine. If one wishes to prepare it in advance for later use, steam it according to the previous method until cooked, it does not need to be extremely soft. Then place it in a copper vessel, steam over hot water until dry. This method avoids wine boiling and fire baking, allowing for storage, which is also excellent.