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Grows in shady and damp places. Evergreen in winter and summer. Fruits are black and round. Its stems creep and adhere to stones; when broken, white juice exudes. Leaves are smaller than a finger, dense and strong. The upper surface is green, the lower surface pale, rough and not glossy. There are two varieties: pointed and rounded, with identical functions. Stems and leaves are harvested in the sixth and seventh months. Those growing by winding around trees have thinner leaves. Flavor is bitter and warm, slightly cold. Enters the Foot-Yangming, Hand-Shaoyin, Foot-Shaoyin, Foot-Jueyin, and Foot-Shaoyang meridians. Treats swelling and closure of the throat and tongue, back carbuncles, dry mouth, and scorched tongue. Nourishes the Yin Qi of the earth to resolve toxins. Throat opens immediately, showing divine efficacy.

Also known as Mu Mantou (Wood Bun). Another name is Bili (Ficus pumila). Grows along trees and walls. Does not wither in the four seasons. Stems are thick and strong, larger than Luan Shi Teng (Trachelospermum jasminoides). Bears fruit without flowers. Fruit resembles a lotus pod but slightly larger. In the sixth and seventh months, the fruit interior is hollow and red. After the eighth month, it is filled with fine seeds like barnyard grass, each seed with a hair-like appendage. Taste is slightly astringent. Texture is light and void. Flavor is sweet and astringent, Qi is neutral. Mainly treats strengthening the Yang pathway, consolidating essence, reducing swelling and dissipating toxins, stopping bleeding and promoting lactation. Treats chronic dysentery, intestinal hemorrhoids, heart pain, and Yin hernia.

[Discussion] Black Pills treat chronic fistulae with bleeding for many years, using Mu Mantou as the sovereign herb. *Ji Jian Fang* treats scrotal swelling by burning Mu Mantou and taking it with wine. Also... Zhen Zhi... syndrome.

Also known as Wu Zhao Long (Five-Claw Dragon). Not recorded in the *Gang Mu*. Detailed here because of its miraculous effect in treating back carbuncles. This herb creeps in low-lying wet areas. Leaves resemble those of loofah with five lobes, each lobe having tendrils, hence the name Wu Zhao Long. Harvested in the third month, dried in shade for use.

*General Overview of Back Carbuncles*: Back carbuncles are formed by the fermentation of Fire-Toxin. Unable to disperse outward, they inevitably attack inward; unable to discharge from the center, they inevitably ulcerate sideways. Physicians use cooling medicines to surround... guide with fire... illuminate. That is, the Fire Stick Illumination Method. Illumination is performed once daily. Initially use three or four sticks, on the second day use four or five, increasing sequentially up to six or seven sticks. Large... Zi... Medicine... Method fumigation... Tai Yi... Xin etc. formulas... First.

Fumigation Prescription: Xiong Huang (Realgar), Zhu Sha (Cinnabar), Xue Jie (Dragon's Blood), Mo Yao (Myrrh) each 1 qian, She Xiang (Musk) 2 fen. Counterfeit Xue Jie and Mo Yao are very common; one must seek authentic ones according to materia medica. Grind into fine powder. Roll into sticks about one chi long using cotton paper. Use 3 fen of medicine per stick. Moisten with authentic sesame oil and burn. Hold approximately half a cun away from the wound. From outside to inside, rotate slowly around the area. Fire emerges from the tip, medicinal Qi enters inward. The toxin of the carbuncle dissolves with the Qi, naturally preventing invasion of the Zang-Fu organs. Start with three sticks, gradually increase to five or seven. Gradually reduce as symptoms subside. Immediately apply dressing after fumigation. "From outside to inside" refers to starting from the outer edge of the erythema, rotating left and right, gradually inserting the stick into the wound opening. Furthermore, the stick must be pulled vigorously outward to draw out toxic vapors. This is the manual technique.

Dressing Prescription: Wu Zhao Long (Pueraria thomsonii), Che Qian Cao (Plantago asiatica, including roots and leaves), [Missing Character] Cao, Jin Yin Hua (Lonicera japonica) in equal parts. These four fresh herbs are mashed together. Add a small amount of aged vinegar to form a paste. Add a little Fei Yan (calcined salt). Mix into a thick paste and apply to the wound, leaving a central aperture to drain pus. If fresh herbs are unavailable in winter, use roots and... medicine. (Herbs stored should be shade-dried, avoiding sunlight.) Apply mixed with aged vinegar. If Wu Long Cao cannot be found urgently and the carbuncle condition is critical, crush and use Che... flavor, which can also achieve results. At the initial stage of the carbuncle, take half a zhan of Wu Long Cao juice, mixed with yellow wine and water, to drink internally to resolve the condition.

Tai Yi Paste: Yuan Shen (Scrophularia ningpoensis), Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica), Rou Gui (Cinnamon bark), Da Huang (Rhubarb), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa), Chi Shao (Red Peony Root), Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens). Slice eight ingredients. Use two jin of sesame oil, place in a copper pot, boil until... filter through palm fiber to remove dregs. Add twelve liang of Huang Dan (Lead Tetroxide), boil again. Test by dropping liquid into water; when it forms a bead, adjust hardness and softness appropriately, then the paste is ready. Preparation of Dan method: First... purple color, pour into a vat, soak with boiling water. Then fill the vat with cool water, stir constantly with a stick, soak overnight, drain water, fry again as before. Two... grind. Must be extremely fine.

Anyone prone to developing carbuncles or toxic sores will often feel dry mouth, thirst craving tea and water, or hunger immediately after eating, half a year to a year prior. This is named Zhong Xiao (Middle Wasting-Thirst)... Jin Yin... ten plus... together... obtain wine.