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[Chengliu / Tamarix Twig]
Also known as Guanyin Liu (Guanyin Willow). The plant is small with weak branches. The bark is red, leaves are fine and thread-like, with tips slightly reddish. It remains evergreen through winter. It flowers three times a year, with flower color resembling that of Polygonum (Tartary Buckwheat).

The branches and leaves have a sweet and salty taste, are warm in nature, tend to float and ascend, and belong to Yang. They enter the Foot-Yangming Stomach Channel, Hand-Taiyin Lung Channel, and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Channel. Main indications include resolving痞块 (痞 - abdominal masses/fullness), dispersing Sha Zhen (Sha Rash) toxins, relieving alcohol toxicity, and promoting urination. For Sha Zhen heat-toxins that cannot be exfoliated, it serves as a divine medicine for development, ascending, and dispersion, applicable at both the beginning and end of the disease course. It can be combined with Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Zhuye (Bambusae Folium), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) to treat macules and rashes that fail to erupt or are not fully erupted. If the heat is severe and toxins are blazing, with prickles on the tongue, extreme thirst, delirium, and purple-black macules/rashes, add it to Sanhuang Shigao Tang (Three Yellows and Gypsum Decoction) for significant efficacy. To treat various Wind conditions, regardless of duration, use half a jin (approx. 500g) of Chixingmu Ye (Chengliu Leaf), half a jin of Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica), boil in five sheng (approx. 1L) of water until reduced to two sheng (approx. 400ml), clarify, then add Bai Mi (White Honey) five he (approx. 100ml) and Zhuli (Bamboo Sap) five he (approx. 100ml). Store in a new bottle, seal with oil paper, and steam in a double boiler for one fu period (approx. 2 hours). Take one small cup per dose, three times daily.

For abdominal痞ji (accumulations/masses), decoct Chengliu in water, expose overnight, and drink on an empty stomach at wugeng (approx. 3-5 AM). After several doses, the accumulation will naturally dissipate.

[Wuyi / Elaeagnus Seed]
It is the seed of Shan Yu (Mountain Elm). Those with a musky odor are superior.

The taste is bitter and pungent; the nature is warm and neutral. Main indications include wind-toxin affecting the skin and limbs, causing itching sensations like insects crawling. It kills parasites, relieves pain, treats cold qi accumulation causing heart and abdominal mass-pain, uterine wind-deficiency in women, and pediatric gan-ji (malnutrition syndrome) diarrhea and cold dysentery. It works well when combined with Hezi (Terminalia Chebulae Fructus) and Doukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus). Mixed with Zhu Danzhi (Porcine Bile), it applies to hot sores; mixed with honey, it treats damp tinea; mixed with Niu Nai (Cow Milk) or Ma Nai (Horse Milk), it treats all types of sores. Its merit lies in traversing the intestines and stomach to kill various parasites and digest food accumulations, making it an essential medicine for pediatric gan-ji diarrhea and cold dysentery. (Comment by Zhong Chun)

When there are parasites in the spleen and stomach, pain occurs upon eating, and the face is sallow without luster. Take two liang (approx. 60g) of Wuyi, mix with flour, stir-fry until yellow, grind into powder. Take two qianbi (approx. 6g) with rice liquid at any time. For gan-ji heat with parasites, emaciation, and frailty, long-term use promotes weight gain. Take one liang (approx. 30g) of Wuyi and one liang (approx. 30g) of Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), grind into powder. Mix with seven Zhu Danzhi (Porcine Biles) in a bowl, steam over rice once daily. After nine steaming cycles, add five fen (approx. 1.5g) of Moxiang (Musk), mix with steamed bread dough soaked in water, and form pills the size of mung beans. Take 5-7 to 10-20 pills per dose with rice liquid.

For Jie Yin (Knotting Yin) hematochezia, take one liang (approx. 30g) of Wuyi, crush, press out oil with paper, grind into powder. Form pills the size of wutong seeds using Xiong Zhu Danzhi (Male Pig Bile). Take nine pills per dose with Gancao Tang (Licorice Decoction), five times daily. Roots will be cut off in three days. For Spleen-Stomach qi leakage with chronic diarrhea, take five liang (approx. 150g) of Wuyi, crush into powder, form pills the size of wutong seeds with rice. Take thirty pills before lunch on an empty stomach with aged rice liquid.

For Abdominal Bie Zha (Tortoise-shaped Masses): In those who love alcohol, blood mixes with wine to form "Wine Bie"; in those with excessive qi, blood coagulates with qi to form "Qi Bie"; in consumptive chronic cold cases, failed blood mixes with phlegm to form "Blood Bie". Symptoms include shaking head and swaying tail, moving like insects, invading the throat upwards, eroding the anus downwards, attaching to flanks/back, or hiding in chest/abdomen. Large ones resemble tortoises, small ones resemble coins. The treatment method is solely to stir-fry and decoct Wuyi for oral administration, combined with warming-stomach, nourishing-blood, and regulating-q/blood herbs to eradicate it. Merely using Leiwan (Polyporus Umbellatus) or Xi Hui (Tin Ash) is of no benefit. (From *Zhizhi Fang*)

Excessive consumption causes fever and heart pain due to its pungency. (Comment by Meng Shen)

[Discussion]
Wuyi greens before other trees, initiating spring growth. It should enter the Liver to promote Liver function. Its pungent taste implies Metal governs Wood, obtaining the property of dispersion. Its warm nature aligns with Spring Yang Qi. Pungent-warm harmonizes with bitter flavors, enhancing dispersion. The world knows only its ability to disperse Wind and kill parasites, not knowing it promotes Yang from the Extreme Yin organ (Liver/Kidney), thus dispersing stagnant Qi and unblocking congealed Blood. The Spleen and Stomach are the source of post-natal Qi and Blood, governed by the Liver. Renzhai stated that treating parasites uniquely relies on this herb, which also regulates Qi and Blood, showing profound insight. Regarding its treatment of uterine wind-deficiency in women, is it not rooted in Qi and Blood deficiency? (The Kidneys store essence received from the Five Zang and Six Fu organs, but the Bao Gong (Uterus) executes its transformation, originating from the Jueyin Wind-Wood transformation. When Qi and Blood are deficient, the Bao Gong has nothing to store, and Wind-Wood lacks nourishment to execute its transformation.)

[Differentiation and Treatment]
Use larger specimens. (Smaller ones are Yu Jia Ren / Elm Seeds). Aged stock is superior. Stir-fry and remove shells; the odor is musky.