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Also known as Huangsongjie. Treats pianfeng (hemiplegia). Facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eyes). Tendon spasms and mutism caused by toxic wind. Palpitations and convulsions due to fright in the heart spirit. Forgetfulness due to deficiency. Treats bi-pain (numbness and pain) caused by jiaoxie (beriberi or gout-like conditions).
Various tendon contractions and pulling. Wind-cold-dampness congealing in the tendons and bones, causing painful tendon spasms in the feet making walking difficult. Use Fushenmu (Wood of Poria) 1 liang, Xuxiang (Frankincense) 1 qian, stir-fry in a clay vessel, grind into powder. Take 2 qian with Qujiajiu (Quince wine).

[Processing] Remove the woody part. First, peel the Fushen (Sclerotium of Poria with Hostwood), cut finely, place in a sieve, set in a basin of water, wash and sieve. Remove the fibrous membranes, clarify, and take the fine sediment at the bottom, dry it in the sun. Then mix with cow's milk and steam for three or four times, or five or six times is better. For every 1 liang of Fushen, it becomes 2 liang after steaming. When Fu Ling (Poria) is used in tonifying prescriptions, process it according to this method. If used to guide out pathogenic factors, simply removing its tendinous parts is sufficient; there is no need to collect the fine sediment from the water.

When the pine tree is lush, resin flows into the soil. After a thousand years, it condenses and forms. One type resembles an object with internal shapes; one type is Xuepo (Blood Amber), dark red like blood; one type is Chisongzhi (Red Pine Resin), shaped like amber, turbid, large, and brittle, with horizontal textures; one type is Shuipo (Water Amber), pale yellow, with many wrinkles; one type is Shipo (Stone Amber), deep yellow, heavy like sand and stone; one type is Huapo (Flower Amber), textured like Masson pine, with yellow and white intermingling, which is of secondary quality. Another type is Milapo (Honey Wax Amber), smelling of honey wax when burnt, yellow-white in color, transformed from honey. Another type is Fengzhipo (Maple Resin Amber), does not smell of pine resin when burnt, transformed from maple resin. For medicinal use, Songzhi (Pine Resin) and Xuepo (Blood Amber) are the best.

Taste: Sweet, neutral. Nature: Pure yang, red color. Yang containing slight yin. Descending action. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Shaoyang (Sanjiao) meridians, also enters the Foot-Jueyin (Liver) meridian. Specifically enters the Blood level. Main actions: Calm the five zang organs, stabilize the hun and po spirits, resolve blood stasis, treat heart pain and manic disorders, clear the lungs and benefit the small intestine, brighten the eyes and remove nebulae, treat postpartum blood-stasis abdominal pain (Erzhen tong), stop bleeding and generate flesh, heal metal wounds. Hupo (Amber) belongs to Yang Metal. (Zhu Danxi) It perceives the qi of wood and earth and combines with fire transformation. Combined with acrid-warm herbs, it moves and breaks blood; combined with bland-leaching herbs, it opens orifices and promotes urination; combined with mineral-heavy sedatives, it calms the heart and settles the spirit. (Chen Shigong) With Ruxiang (Frankincense), Moyao (Myrrh), Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizome), Ganqi (Drynaria Rhizome), Biejia (Carapax Trionycis) made into a powder, it treats postpartum blood syncope with miraculous effect. Assisted by Renshen (Ginseng Root), Yimucao (Motherwort Herb), Zelan (Lycopus Herb), Shengdi (Rehmannia Root), Niuxi (Achyranthes Root), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Sumu (Sappan Wood), decocted to send down the previous medicine, it treats Erzhen pain, incomplete lochia discharge, abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain, chills and fever, etc., with extreme efficacy. Together with Dansha (Cinnabar), Huashi (Kaolin), Zhuye (Bamboo Leaf), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Mutong (Akebia Stem), it treats heat in the heart affecting the small intestine, resulting in difficult urination, with immediate effect. Together with Renzhua (Human Nail), Zhenzhu (Pearl), Manao (Agate), Shanhu (Coral), it removes eye nebulae and red obstructions. Obtaining Dansha (Cinnabar), Xijiao (Rhinoceros Horn - *Note: Substitute with Buffalo Horn in modern practice*), Lingyangjiao (Antelope Horn), Tianzhuhuang (Calamus Tuber), Yuanzhi (Polygala Root), Fushen (Sclerotium of Poria with Hostwood), it settles fright and treats various epilepsy syndromes. For pediatric retention of urine (Zhuanbao), Hupo (Amber) 1 liang ground into powder, boiled with 4 sheng of water and 10 stalks of Congbai (Scallion White) to obtain 3 sheng of juice, add 2 qian of Hupo powder, take warm. Effective for lithiasis and strangury after three doses.

[Discussion] The pine tree possesses the nature of true yang, unaltered by yin-cold. Even when penetrating deep into the earth, its true yang qi can still absorb yin to form Fuling (Poria). Penetrating the earth for a long time, its true yang fluid can further transform yin to form Hupo (Amber). Therefore, if Hupo (Amber) is not dark red like blood and not sufficiently crystal clear, it indicates that yin has not been fully transformed and the light of true yang has not emerged. It enters the blood level to treat Ying-nutrient blood. Jiegu (Zhang Yuansu) and Dongyuan (Li Dongyuan) both state it is pure yang because yang can transform Ying-nutrient blood, and transformed Ying-nutrient blood can return to nourish yang. When yang transforms Ying-nutrient blood, and Ying-nutrient blood returns to nourish yang, the function is to calm the five zang organs and stabilize the hun and po spirits. If true yang is deficient and cannot transform blood, qi and blood stagnate in the chest causing heart pain; or blood fails to transform and phlegm gathers in the heart orifices causing manic disorders. These flavors are all counter-treatments for these conditions. The heart governs blood, while the small intestine conducts the qi transformation of monarch fire. Blood and water share the same origin. Since Hupo (Amber) can gather the essence of yang to transform blood, then benefiting the small intestine, brightening the eyes, and removing nebulae can be understood as consistent principles. Regarding the resolution of blood stasis (such as postpartum blood-stasis abdominal pain), it does not primarily rely on breaking and purging. Therefore, resolving leads to stopping, and its efficacy manifests in stopping bleeding and generating flesh. Generally, Hupo (Amber) is indicated specifically for cases where yang deficiency prevents blood transformation. If yin deficiency leads to lack of blood generation and subsequent failure to transform, it is certainly not suitable.
For those with blood deficiency and difficult urination, using Hupo (Amber) may instead cause discomfort of dryness and urgency. (Zhu Danxi) For those with yin deficiency and internal heat, with fire flaring and water dried up, taking Hupo (Amber) to strongly promote urination will further damage yin. (Chen Shigong)

[Processing] Wrap in fine cloth, boil in a pot with tofu, then briefly roast over ash fire before use. For ophthalmic preparations, use processed Hupo (Amber); for calming the heart spirit, use raw Hupo (Amber).