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[Baiji / Cornus officinalis]

Also known as Jici (Thorn) and Jinzhen (Needle). The one growing alone and tall is called Zao (Jujube); the ones growing in clusters and low are called Ji (Elaeagnus). Baiji has thick, purple branches with a wrinkled, thin white membrane. Those from which this white membrane is peeled off first are truly named "Qu Bai" (Taking White), and its meaning lies here.

The flavor is Pungent (Acrid), and the nature is Cold. *Ben Jing* states it treats heart and abdominal pain, carbuncles and sores with pus discharge, relieves pain, and resolves stagnation in meridians. *Bie Lu* treats deficiency and emaciation in men, impotence, spontaneous seminal emission, tonifies Kidney Qi, and benefits essence and marrow. Jinzhen treats lower back pain and obstruction of the throat (Hou Bi).

Attached Formulas: For unbearable stabbing pain in the abdomen and hypochondrium due to Kidney deficiency and cold: Use one heaping measure of hooked thorns of Jinzhen, roasted; 2.5 qian of Areca Seed (Binglang); one cup of water, decocted to half a cup; add half a cup of good wine, boil for three to five times, and divide into two doses. For ding sores and malignant swellings, external use: Use three rotten inverted hooks of Jinzhen and seven cloves (Dingxiang), burn them together in a bottle until they retain their properties but are carbonized, mix with feces of a one-month-old infant, apply topically three times daily. Another internal formula: Three hundred curved-head thorns, two liang of Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), five sheng of water, decocted to one and a half sheng, taken in divided doses.

[Discussion] *Zhun Sheng* uses Deer Antler Pill (Lurong Wan) to treat hematuria, containing Jici, combined with Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) and Aconite Root (Fuzi). This indicates that the tonifying effect of this herb relies on other herbs as guides to achieve its efficacy. It combines moving qi and tonifying. Among various herbs, few possess such comprehensive virtues.

The tree grows over one zhang high. Leaves resemble elm. In the second lunar month, it opens white flowers resembling apricot blossoms. In the fourth month, fruits ripen, resembling sour jujubes, reddish in color. Harvest the fruits in the fifth lunar month. There is a plant similar to Que'er Su, but its seeds have eight ridges; these must be distinguished.

The flavor is Sour, and the nature is Neutral. The qi is slightly warm, belonging to Yin within Yang. It enters the Qi aspect of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It is also a blood herb of the Kidney. It primarily warms the Liver, assists the Water Organ (Kidney), strengthens Yin, benefits essence, tonifies Kidney Qi, aids sexual function, warms the waist and knees, unblocks the nine orifices, calms the Five Viscera, secures essence and qi, stops frequent urination, expels all wind pathogens, and drives out all stagnant qi. It treats tinnitus and deafness due to Kidney deficiency, cranial bone pain. Long-term use brightens the eyes. Medical texts treat stroke, consumptive disorders, vertigo, dryness injury cough, xiao-cao (wasting-thirst/diabetes), spontaneous sweating, fear, lower back and hypochondriac pain, spasmodic bi syndrome, fixed bi syndrome, flaccidity syndrome, beriberi, spermatorrhea, turbid strangury, diarrhea, constipation, hernia, and hemorrhoids. Human primal qi is robust because essence and qi are solid. Cornus can close and secure essence, thus strengthening primal qi. (From *Lei Ming*) Human essence and qi rely on warmth to become sufficient. Since the Liver and Kidney reside in the position of extreme Yin, without warm qi, isolated Yin cannot generate. This herb enters both meridians; its warm nature tonifies, and its sour nature astringes, thereby benefiting essence and strengthening Yin. All other treated conditions are effects of secured essence and strengthened primal qi. (From *Zhong Chun*) Zhang Zhongjing's Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) benefits Yang, using Cornus as the sovereign herb, distinct from Liu Wei Di Huang Wan where Rehmannia is the sovereign. For chronic diarrhea, if initial treatment with Ginseng, Atractylodes, Ginger, and Cinnamon fails, discard Ginger and Cinnamon and use Cornus and Euryale Seed (Qianshi) (often administered with Ginseng, Atractylodes, and Black Ginger). This takes advantage of its ability to astringe Liver and Kidney Yin to nourish the source of Spleen Yin transformation. For Heart Blood deficiency causing deficient fire to flare outward leading to incessant sweating, instead of using Astragalus to consolidate the exterior, use this herb as the sovereign to astringe internally, preventing leakage of True Yin so that True Yang becomes stable, thereby benefiting Heart Blood and calming deficient fire. Combined with Cuscuta, Cistanche, Morinda, Deer Antler, Achyranthes, Glue, Alisma, Goji, Rehmannia, Astragalus Hairy-rooted Milkvetch, and Ophiopogon, it adds essence, secures marrow, warms waist and knees, benefits Yang, and promotes fertility. Combined with Ginseng, Schisandra, Oyster Shell, and Alpinia Oxyphylla, it treats elderly urinary dribbling and enuresis. Combined with Ginseng, Prepared Rehmannia, Human Milk, Achyranthes, Astragalus Hairy-rooted Milkvetch, Ophiopogon, and Chrysanthemum, it treats cranial bone pain; when marrow is sufficient, brain pain is naturally eliminated. Combined with Acorus, Chrysanthemum, Rehmannia, Phellodendron, and Schisandra, it treats deafness due to Kidney deficiency. Combined with Eucommia, Achyranthes, Rehmannia, Glue, and Chinese Yam, it treats lower back pain due to Kidney deficiency.

Cao Huan Dan: Soak Cornus flesh in wine for one jin, soak Psoralea in wine and roast until dry for eight liang, Angelica Sinensis for four liang, and Musk for one qian. Grind into powder, make pills with refined honey the size of wu zi. Take 81 pills each time before bed, washed down with salt wine. *Ben Cao Gang Mu* states it benefits Yuan Yang, tonifies Yuan Qi, secures Yuan Jing, and strengthens Yuan Shen, serving as an longevity formula.

[Discussion] Cornus fruits set in the fourth lunar month and are harvested in the fifth, appearing red, utilizing the Qi of Great Fire. Its sour flavor and warm nature align with the function of Fire while preserving the form of the Liver. When Fire functions and Liver form is complete, Yin guards Yang, and Yang serves Yin; the mechanism resides in this substance. What is the form of the Liver? It is that Wind-Wood follows Cold-Water to execute the generative changes of the Earth. Without Spring Warmth, the transformation of Extreme Yin becomes stagnant. However, if the qi is warm and the flavor pungent, it does not constitute the vital qi emerging from the earth in spring, resembling hot, floating, and growing qi, causing Yin to follow Yang and leak. As *Lei Ming* states, if essence and qi are not secured, how can primal qi be strong? Only when the qi is warm and the flavor sour, with pure sourness and little pungency, does it conform to the proper command of Spring Warmth, warming the Liver and completing its form. Kidney Yin receives the transformative power of Lesser Yang without leaking true qi. This is the practical achievement of strengthening Yin, benefiting essence, warming the Water Organ, tonifying Kidney Qi, and stimulating Yang. Although this herb secures essence, it is also said to expel cold-damp bi, seeming contradictory. One must understand that usage follows form: securing hibernating Yin allows the necessary Yang to be expressed (such as unblocking nine orifices, expelling all qi and wind). Thus, securing essence is the root of benefiting essence and raising Yang, while benefiting essence and raising Yang is the root of unblocking orifices, expelling pathogens, and treating wind deficiency. Jie Gu spoke of its form, calling it a blood herb of the Kidney; Hai Zang spoke of its function, calling it a qi herb of the Kidney. Essentially, astringing Yin enriches Yang, and consolidating Yang transforms Yin. They mutually benefit and require each other; how can one definitively assign primary indications? Therefore, for Yin consumption and Yin tonification, it is similar to this herb; for Yang deficiency and Yang tonification, it is similar to this herb; even for dispelling Yin and Yang pathogens, this herb may be added as the foundation of Yuan Yin and Yuan Yang. The use of Cornus generally falls into these three categories. Furthermore, the Liver likes Pungent to avoid stagnation. Here we use Sour astringency. Why? Knowing that at the time of Great Fire, obtaining this herb's astringing Yin and consolidating Yang to enrich True Yuan resembles taking Kan to fill Li, ensuring the use of Primal Qi is not depleted. Does this contradict the Liver's liking for Pungent? However, Jie Gu's theory regarding the Blood aspect is superior. Herbs like Psoralea that tonify Yang but are drying cannot be mentioned in the same breath. Shi Zao (Cornus) and Chaenomeles (Mugua) share a sour flavor and warm nature. But Shi Zao wins entirely by sourness, so it only warms the Liver to benefit the Kidney. Mugua is more than half sour but has a sweet taste, allowing it to perform the function of Earth, harmonize blood, and remove dampness. Texts say excessive sourness supports the Liver, but too much sourness damages the Kidney. This statement requires scrutiny. Shi Zao is sour and dominant; Liu Wei Di Huang Wan uses it to benefit the Kidney. Why doesn't it damage teeth and bones like Mugua used in large quantities? Or perhaps, like Mugua, its sourness combined with Earth function leads to Earth controlling Water, causing Kidney disease?

Miao states: Contraindicated for those with blazing Minister Fire and persistent erection without flaccidity. Not suitable for those with heat accumulation in the Bladder and difficult urination. Not suitable for those with Yin deficiency and weak blood. If used, it should be combined with Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai).

[Processing] Select those that are ruddy and fleshy. Mix with wine to moisten, remove the pit, take the skin, steam with wine for the time it takes to burn one incense stick, then use.