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There is much of it growing in the fields. Its roots grow in clusters. One stem bears dozens of branches, gathering and growing straight upwards. In the seventh month, it opens small yellow flowers. Its seeds are numerous, fine, and become hard when old. People often collect them to make brooms.

The flavor is bitter and sweet, and the nature is cold. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Zu Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing). It treats heat in the bladder, promotes urination, tonifies the middle jiao, benefits essence and qi, strengthens yin, and treats diseases of the scrotum and testicles. It dissipates hernia and abdominal masses, removes wind-heat from the head and eyes, and clears wind-heat from the skin. (It can be decocted for bathing.) Taken together with Yangqishi (Styritae Lapis), it primarily treats impotence in men. (Qu)

Various diseases involving yang qi must be thoroughly examined. [Discussion] The *Shennong Bencao Jing* first mentions treating heat in the bladder and promoting urination with Difuzi (Kochia Fruit), followed immediately by tonifying the middle and benefiting essence and qi. From this, its functions can be inferred. Since the bladder is the fu organ of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney, its yin fluid is pure and concentrated, thus it should achieve such effects to clear deficiency heat and allow yang qi to function properly. The seedlings and leaves of Difuzi have a slightly sweet and bitter flavor, and a cold nature. They primarily promote urination in various types of Lin syndrome (dysuria). Decoction for washing the eyes removes heat, dim vision, night blindness, and astringent pain. For urinary obstruction, use a large handful of Difuzi grass, decoct in water, and drink. This is because without yin, yang cannot transform. This herb benefits yin qi and unblocks the Small Intestine, which also aligns with Li Dongyuan's intention of using Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huang Bai (Phellodendri Cortex) to nourish kidney yin. A person suffered from Lin syndrome for over twenty days in autumn, and hundreds of prescriptions failed. Later, fresh juice extracted from Difuzi grass was taken orally, and urination immediately resumed. This humble herb has the power to revive life.

[Processing] To clear heat, use raw. If the goal is to raise yin and reach yang, it is suitable to soak it in fire wine (distilled liquor) for one day and night, steam it thoroughly over rice, dry it in the sun, to remove its cold nature.

This is the flower of Licao (Iris lactea var. chinensis). Its seed is Licishi (Iris Fructus). Materia medica texts use both the root and leaves of Licishi, but prescription books only discuss the flower in terms of indications and treatments, so it is detailed separately here. It grows in river valleys in Hedong, and is also found in modern Shaanxi provinces, as well as Dingzhou and Lizhou. It is particularly abundant near Bianjing. It grows in clusters on the ground. One plant has twenty to thirty stems, reaching three chi in height.

The leaves resemble Xiebai (Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus) but are longer and denser. Stems shoot up from among the leaves. In the third month, it opens purple or greenish-blue flowers. In the fifth month, it bears fruit in pods resembling hemp seeds, which are red and ridged. The roots are thin. The flower has a sweet and pungent flavor, and a neutral-warm nature. It treats chills and fever of the skin, heat in the stomach, treats hernia with testicular swelling (pian zhui), throat bi (obstruction), and kills parasites. Prescription books treat sand hernia (sand lin) and small intestine qi (hernia).

[Attached Formulas] For persistent hernia with testicular swelling: Stir-fry two liang of Malin Flower (Iris Flos) with Luobai Zi (Raphani Semen); stir-fry one qian five chen of Chuanlian Rou (Toosendan Fructus purified meat) with Juhe (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium); stir-fry one liang of Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) soaked in wine; take two qian of Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix). Do not expose to direct fire. Grind into powder. Take one to two qian each time, mixed with good wine, taken on an empty stomach. For throat bi with swelling and pain: Take two fen each of Malin Flower, bark, and roots. Add one sheng of water, boil down to six ge. Remove dregs. Hold in mouth and slowly swallow the juice until cured. For sand-stone hot lin: Tongshen San. Roast seven Malin Flowers (Iris Flos) and fourteen old brush heads (carbonized). Stir-fry one he of Susmi (Setaria Italica). Grind into powder. Take two qian each time, washed down with wine. Twice daily.

[Discussion] The flowers and fruits of Licao primarily act on the yin of the lower jiao. Judging by the purple and blue-green color of the flowers, we can infer its entry point, which corresponds to "yang within yin." Licishi, when taken, acts on the lower jiao...