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This is *Mutmugong* (In ancient prescriptions, "Tongcao" referred to what is now known as *Mutmugong*. The common folk term "Tongcao" actually refers to *Tetrapanacis Medulla*). It is produced in various prefectures such as Zezhou, Luzhou, Hanzhong, Jianghuai, and Hunan. It grows as a vine winding around trees. The thicker stems have a diameter of three to five cun. Each node has two or three branches; these branches constitute the medicinal part, characterized by fine, penetrating pores. If one end is placed in the mouth and air is blown in, it exits from the other end. Those with a yellowish-white color are of good quality, while those that are blackish-brown are ineffective in usage. (This is because merchants, finding them light and easy to obtain, often stored them on boat sails where they were soaked by rain, causing them to rot and turn black.) Some claim that *Mutmugong* is the shoot of the grapevine; this is incorrect.

Its taste is bitter, acrid, sweet, and bland, with a slightly cold nature. Its qi is level and its flavor is thin; it has a descending property and belongs to Yin within Yang. It enters the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin and the Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang, and also relates to the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang. It primarily eliminates floating and excessive cold-dampness from the Spleen and Stomach, resolves damp-heat strangury, alleviates soreness in the shins and weakness in the feet, and unblocks the Large Intestine. Treatment should utilize *Mutmugong* to unblock the exterior and interior of the whole body... Baihu Lijie Feng (White Tiger Joint-Biting Wind, a type of Bi syndrome characterized by severe joint pain), widespread... Upon taking *Mutmugong*, if there is no effect, it is discarded immediately. [The text implies] when flow becomes smooth, pain is relieved. Red face and dry lips, biting... Licorice (*Gancao*), used to treat hematuria.

[Discussion] The main therapeutic action of *Mutmugong* is generally understood to be promoting urination. However, the statement in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding "unblocking the nine orifices, blood vessels, and joints" has not been deeply investigated. Water and blood are two distinct entities, originally non-intersecting... Penetrating... Knowing *Mutmugong*... Unblocking... Regarding the Lung. If blood in the chest and diaphragm scatters, and blood in the Danzhong accumulates, it leads to stagnation in the Small Intestine. This demonstrates that the unblocking of blood vessels is indeed its efficacy in unblocking blood vessels. Water within Fire above, when the Qi of the Small Intestine harmonizes and transforms, then below... should also transform accordingly. Therefore, it is not merely about benefiting the Small Intestine without affecting the Bladder; but if the pathology originates in the Bladder, one cannot solely... Dampness mostly belongs to the Blood aspect; it is a disease unfavorable to... For diseases caused by wind-heat affecting the blood, it is also used, because the Wind Zang relates to the meaning of unblocking blood vessels and joints. Regarding women's pregnancy and nourishing the fetus, it begins with the Liver; the Zang-Fu organs mutually nourish each other, changing every thirty days. Only the number of menstrual cycles... Without a fetus, it flows down as menstruation; with a fetus, it... For cases of seminal emission without dreams, as well as Yang deficiency and Qi weakness where there is no internal damp-heat, it is contraindicated. Pregnant women should avoid it. (Zhongchun)

[Processing] Remove the skin and nodes; use raw.