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The variety produced in Jinzhou and Liangzhou of Hanzhong is the best. Those from Yizhou, Guangzhou, and Zhejiang are secondary. In the fifth and sixth months, the tree bark is incised to extract the juice, which is then dried; this is called *Ganqi* (Dried Lacquer). Its appearance resembles a honeycomb, but its nature is urgent and prone to drying; it is difficult to dry in hot weather, yet if there is no wind and the environment is humid and shady, it becomes dry easily even in severe cold.

It tastes pungent, bitter, and salty, with a warm temperature, and is toxic. Its aroma and flavor are both strong. It circulates through the intestines and stomach, enters the Liver channel to move blood, has a descending action, and belongs to Yang within Yin. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* indicates it treats severe injuries (*Jueshang*), reconnects bones and tendons, fills the marrow and brain, and calms the five Zang organs. (Zhu Danxi stated that its nature is urgent and it possesses tonifying properties; when used appropriately, after stagnation is removed, its tonifying effect acts internally.) It treats conditions of "five slacknesses and six urgencies," Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness. Various materia medica texts state it eliminates blood stasis and nodular accumulations (scraping away deep-seated, long-standing accumulations and breaking up凝 coagulated blood over time). It treats lower back pain, female hernia and masses (*Shenjia*), menstrual obstruction, promotes urination via the Small Intestine, and kills three types of parasites. Medical formularies use it for deficiency consumption with infectious transmission (*Chuan Shi*), regurgitation with retained blood, heart pain and epigastric pain, distension with fixed Bi syndrome, spasms, and night sweats. (Miao Zhongchun noted) Whenever blood stasis encounters it, it transforms into water. Generally speaking, trauma-related syndromes are primarily discussed in terms of blood. Blood is substantial; when disease affects the substance, it manifests as nodules or severe injuries. Only this herb can swiftly enter the blood level to dissipate it; thus, severe injuries will harmonize, bones and tendons will reconnect, and marrow and brain will be replenished. Wind-Cold-Dampness Bi syndromes often result from blood stasis, which leads to flaccidity, slackness, and urgency. As for lower back pain, hernias, and masses, are they not all treated by the meridian-circulating action of this herb? (Miao Zhongchun) Combined with *Taoren* (Peach Seed), *Danggui* (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), *Honghua* (Carthami Flos), *Sumu* (Pterocarpus Santalinus Lignum), *Danpi* (Moutan Cortex), *Lingzhi* (Pulsatillae Radix), *Yanhusuo* (Corydalis Rhizoma), and *Niuxi* (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), it treats abdominal pain due to blood stasis, or postpartum cold invasion where lochia remains unexcreted, forming painful nodules; add *Ganjiang* (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and *Zelan* (Lycopus Herba). Combined with *Liangen* (Meliae Radix), *Heshi* (Pyrethri Flos), *Binglang* (Arecae Semen), *Xihui* (Cinnabar), *Yiyigen* (Coicis Radix), *Wumei* (Mume Fructus), and *Longdancao* (Gentianae Radix), it kills various intestinal parasites. Combined with *Niuxi*, *Danpi*, *Xuduan* (Dipsaci Radix), *Chishao* (Paeoniae Radix Rubra), *Taoren*, *Honghua*, *Ruxiang* (Olibanum), *Moyao* (Myrrha), *Yanhusuo*, and *Biejia* (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), it treats amenorrhea in women due to blood stasis with umbilical and abdominal pain; if accompanied by aversion to cold without fever or thirst, add *Guizhi* (Cinnamomi Ramulus). Combined with *Banzhilian* (Scutellariae Barbatae Herba), *Shengdi* (Rehmanniae Radix), *Huma* (Sesami Fructus), *Jingjie* (Schizonepetae Spica), *Shouwu* (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), *Tiantong* (Asparagi Radix), and *Kushen* (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), it treats *Ziyunfeng* (Purple Cloud Wind). Added to *Dahuang Zhechong Wan* (Rhubarb and Ground Beetle Pill), it treats extreme emaciation due to five labors, abdominal fullness, and inability to eat. Pulverized and taken with rice water, dosage ranges from one *zi* (a small measure) to one *qian*. For women with obstructed menstruation, hardness below the navel like a cup, intermittent fever, dysentery, and emaciation, this is termed *Xuejia* (Blood Mass). (If it is a flesh mass, it is incurable.) The *Qianjin Fang* uses one *jin* of *Ganqi* burned to ash and powdered, mixed with juice extracted from twenty *jin* of fresh *Shengdi*, decocted until pills the size of wu zi (Chinese quince seeds) can be formed. Take three pills per dose, on an empty stomach with wine.

[Discussion]
Lacquer tastes very pungent and belongs to Metal. However, the moist part is hard to dry in heat but dries easily in humidity, seemingly utilizing both Water and Fire, embodying the principle where Water serves Fire and Fire serves Water to complete Qi transformation. Zhu Danxi's assertion that it belongs to Metal but encompasses Water and Fire is indeed correct. Its treatment of blood stasis and breaking of hard accumulations occurs because hard accumulations belong to Yin, which is essentially related to blood. Blood originates from Water and is formed by Fire, relying on Metal as the mother of Water and the wife of Fire. When Water and Fire combine under Metal, Water serves Fire, and the vitality of blood resides here; Fire serves Water, and the transformation mechanism of blood also resides here. This herb is used for moving blood, specifically to facilitate the smooth flow of its transformation mechanism. Being a Metal substance containing Water and Fire, with Fire as its husband and Water as its function, the reason liquid transforms into blood lies here. Therefore, it is hard to dry in heat because the transformation energies of Fire and Metal prevail. If Metal and Water meet, the transformation mechanism ceases, making it easy to dry. (When lacquer meets crab, it turns to water, demonstrating the cessation of its transformation mechanism, as crabs fully possess the Qi of Metal and Water.) Ultimately, this herb possesses the complete transformation mechanism; ability to transform implies ability to generate. Thus, it moves blood stasis, breaks hard accumulations, and thereby acts as a tonic. Otherwise, how would it differ from other blood-breaking herbs, and why does the *Bencao Jing* claim it treats severe injuries and reconnects bones and tendons? Regarding the necessity of stir-frying before use: since it inherits the combined Qi of Fire and Metal to reach Water, it cannot be non-toxic. (Fire and Metal clashing inevitably produces toxicity.) Stir-frying is used to remove toxicity.

Miao stated that blood stasis turns to water upon encountering *Ganqi*, indicating its dissolving power. For amenorrhea not caused by blood stasis blocking masses, it must not be administered lightly.

[Processing]
Must be crushed and stir-fried before medicinal use; otherwise, it damages the intestines and stomach. Dried wet lacquer is preferable. Some methods involve burning to retain its nature.