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Grows in the plains, marshes, and fields outside city walls. It is also found in the prefectures of Bian East, Shaanxi, and Hebei. Recently, those from Pengcheng and Caozhou are considered superior; those from other places are unsuitable for use.

The stems and leaves reach a height of about six or seven cun. In the third lunar month, it blooms with slightly yellow flowers, forming pod-like fruits containing seeds resembling millet grains, which are slightly elongated and yellowish. The taste is bitter, with a slight sweetness at the apex.

The *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances) states: "In early summer, soft-leafed plants die," referring to this herb. It is suitable to harvest the fruits after the Start of Summer and dry them in the shade. There are two types: bitter and sweet, which share the same shape but differ in taste—bitter and acrid. It is greatly cold in nature, with a light qi and strong flavor, belonging to yin within yang, and has a sinking property. It is the principal herb for the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, and also enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Bladder Meridian [Note: Text says Foot-Taiyang, likely referring to Bladder or general water metabolism context, but standard TCM associates Tinglizi with Lung/Large Intestine/Bladder via fluid metabolism]. Bitter varieties descend strongly, while sweet ones act more gently and do not injure the stomach; they should be used according to the patient's deficiency or excess. It works well when combined with wine. Jujube (*Ziziphus jujuba*) and Elm bark (*Ulmus* sp.) are suitable as guiding or adjunct herbs.

It treats accumulations and stagnant qi, relieves lung congestion and rebellious qi causing coughing, stops wheezing and shortness of breath, and treats edema of the face and eyes caused by pathological fluids accumulating in the skin (when combined with acrid and sour herbs to guide out swelling qi). It drains latent heat from the Bladder and removes phlegm-fluids from the chest. (From various Materia Medica texts) Like Da Huang (*Rhei Radix et Rhizoma*), it is greatly bitter and cold; Da Huang drains blood stasis obstruction, whereas Tinglizi drains qi obstruction (i.e., obstruction in the Yang aspect of the Lungs), and can also promote bowel movements. (Li Dongyuan) Qian Niu Zi (*Pharbitidis Semen*) comes in black and white colors with different speeds of action; Hu Lu Gua (*Lagenariae Spongiosa Fructus*) has sweet and bitter tastes with differing degrees of toxicity.

[Usage] Do not grind into powder initially. Boil fifty seeds in water, remove the jujubes, add the Tinglizi powder, and decoct until it can be formed into pills the size of wu-tong seeds. Take sixty pills per dose with warm liquid, gradually increasing the amount, stopping when mild diarrhea occurs. Do not overdose, as it causes severe discomfort.

[Discussion] Tinglizi is cold in qi and bitter in taste, belonging to yin. How can it drain obstruction in the Yang aspect of the Lungs? (Its body is light, resembling Yang.) Or does it die in early summer due to specific qi dynamics? Water contains... Metal does not... Tinglizi treats... Qi... returns from the Lungs to the Shanzhong (Chest Center), reaching Kan within Li.) The Lung is the organ governing Qi and enables Qi transformation in water. Is it merely... Tinglizi belongs to Fire in nature, acts swiftly without staying put, and is unfavorable for individuals with Spleen-Stomach deficiency or True Yin insufficiency. Edema and fullness caused by Spleen deficiency failing to control water... Edema...

[Processing] Lightly roast together with glutinous rice until the rice is cooked, remove the rice, and crush the seeds for use.