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Datura. The Sanskrit term means "various colors." It grows in northern regions. It has a single stem growing straight upward, about four to five chi high. The stem is green, and the leaves are dark green; the leaf shape resembles that of an eggplant. In August, it flowers with six petals, larger than those of *Ipomoea nil* (Morning Glory), clustered at the stem's node, with leaves paired and wrapping around externally. It opens in the morning and closes at night. The fruit is round with angular protrusions, containing small seeds inside. Collect the fruits in September. (Cited from Li Shizhen)

Flowers and Seeds:
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Toxicity: Toxic. Indications: Treats various wind pathogens and cold-dampness causing jiaoxi (foot disease/gout). (Method: Decoct for washing). Mainly treats fright epilepsy. Treats rectal prolapse. Also used as an anesthetic. Legend has it that if this flower is picked while laughing and brewed into wine, drinking it causes laughter; if picked while dancing and brewed into wine, drinking it causes dancing. I have tried it myself. One must drink until half-drunk, and then have someone else laugh or dance nearby to enhance the effect.

Powdered form:
Two qian and half. Used for anger-induced mania.

[Discussion] When human qi and blood are imbalanced, and illness arises from the Seven Emotions (joy, anger, worry, thought, sadness, fear, shock), this substance may help shift or harmonize this state. This is why Li Shizhen advocates its use for treating fright epilepsy.

Also known as Mangcao. All families refer to it as grass, but *Bencao* classifies it under the Wood section. What is used in the world today are the woody leaves, similar to *Pyrularia edulis* (Stone Nan), which do not flower or bear fruit. The branches are hard; when dry, they twist and distort. (Pronounced like "chao," meaning entangled and disturbed). Rubbing it produces an odor resembling Sichuan pepper. Collect the leaves in the fifth and seventh months, shade-dry, and use. (Cited from Su Song)

Taste: Acrid, Bitter, Warm. Toxicity: Toxic. Indications: Mainly treats head wind swelling and sores, mastitis, hernia and mass accumulation. Treats wind ulcers, hernia, swelling,坠痛 (drooping pain), and coagulated blood stasis. Treats scrofula, removes damp-wind.
Medical usage: Grind with garlic.
Accidental ingestion harms humans and can be fatal.

Flame Grass. Commonly called Huangsi Cao, which is *Cuscuta chinensis* (Dodder), a Yang herb. After entering summer, seedlings emerge, initially like fine threads, spreading across the ground but unable to stand independently. They extend by clinging to other plants. Their roots gradually sever from the ground, parasitizing in the air. They have no leaves but have flowers, white with a slight red tint, and possess a penetrating fragrance. The fruits are fine like chaff, with those on the stems being particularly good. Produced in the woods of Huaimeng, it is excellent for medicinal use. Dodder that twines around herbs does not last long. If it clings to pine, cypress, or other trees, it spreads widely, weaving like warp and weft. Its roots may completely detach from the ground; its texture is very light and floating. Its fruits sometimes attach to tree crevices; the following year, it spits out threads everywhere without downward traction.

Taste: Acrid (the acrid flavor is strong, yet different from the acrid, aromatic, drying, and hot nature of typical acrid flavors), Sweet, Neutral. Enters the Qi level of the Foot Three Yin meridians. Various Bencao texts mainly record its ability to reconnect severed injuries and tonify deficiency. Suitable for both men and women.
(Note: The original text here is garbled, implying associations with Yin-Yang, Zi-Wu, Prepared Rehmannia Root (*Shu Di Huang*), turbid urine, Poria (*Fu Ling*), deficiency damage, scanty blood and dryness, waist soreness, and pill dosage methods.)

[Discussion] *Cuscuta*, in late spring and early summer, has qi that floats and grows, with vines twisting and extending, no longer needing to rely on root systems. Its fruits set in late summer, further aligning with Metal and Water qi. *Shennong Benjing* states it reconnects severed injuries and boosts qi strength. The ability to reconnect severed injuries relies not merely on floating qi but on true qi. And true qi never separates from true yin. Lei Gong stated that it inherits balanced harmony to condense correct yang qi. (One must know that correct yang qi originally cannot separate from yin. This is the mechanism of yin-yang mutual interaction, implying that without yin, yang cannot be stimulated; this is the fundamental principle of biological generation. Summer is precisely when heaven and earth qi intersect. Collecting fruits aligns with the growing qi and feels the flourishing beauty. From yin, it feels it; aligning with transformation qi, it returns to descending and gathering. Does heavenly yang qi descend through qi intersection to earthly yin? The lower half of the human body is yin, governed by the Kidney. *Cuscuta* returns to the descending and gathering yin, thus benefiting kidney qi. (Those who casually claim it benefits kidney qi by obtaining abundant yang qi are dreaming.) Generally, the Kidney taste transforms yin to benefit qi. If kidney yin is insufficient, it can further assist yin flavors to transform yang and benefit essence. (Transforming yin and transforming yang both refer to this.) *Bielu* mentions strengthening yin, and Zhen Quan mentions adding marrow and essence. Moreover, its taste shifts from acrid to sweet, coming from heavenly yang. Thus, its main indications are mostly in the Kidney. Regarding its benefit to Liver wind deficiency and Spleen qi, because returning to yin implies transforming yang to gain benefit, and Taiyin Spleen qi also borrows this yin-within-yang yang to transmit, transform, and transport. The Foot Three Yin meridians all originate from the Spleen; what is there to doubt?
If the Kidney house has much fire, and one has strong yang without flaccidity, it is contraindicated. Those with dry stool constipation should also avoid it. (Cited from Zhong Chun). It does not originally boost ministerial fire, however, those with fire in the Kidney should also use it with caution.

[Processing] Wash extremely clean with rice water, sun-dry slightly, pick out barnyard grass seeds, grind five or six times. Soak in wine for one day and night. For those parts that do not fully break down after pounding, soak again and wet-grind into powder.