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Lychee having just passed, Longan ripens immediately. Its color is greenish-yellow, and southerners call it "Lychee's Slave." The tree's nature fears cold; however, it can only be harvested after the White Dew solar term.

Its flavor is sweet and neutral, entering the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It opens the stomach and benefits the spleen, calms the mind and stabilizes the will, eliminates forgetfulness, and prevents palpitations (Zhenchong). It inherits the transformation of agriculture (Jiaose), therefore... [Text gap] ...Longan and Lychee both have a sweet taste, but their qi differs in being warm or neutral. Qi is governed by flavor, thus some are warm and some neutral. Flavor follows its qi to... [Text gap] ...quickly obtain... then fire... [Text gap].

When the Betel Nut tree first sprouts, the stem grows straight up without side branches. Shoots emerge from the center, with leaves at the tip resembling banana leaves. The fruit grows in spring, producing spikes with hundreds of nuts, maturing in May. After peeling off the skin, the flesh is boiled and dried. The skin consists of fibrous strands, identical to Dafupi (Arecae Pericarpium). Those from Jiaozhou are sweet, while those from Guangzhou... [Text gap] ...There is a variety similar in shape to Betel Nut but smaller, with a taste near bitter-sweet, called Shanbinglang (Mountain Areca Nut) (i.e., ...zi). Another variety resembles Betel Nut but is larger, with an astringent taste, and the seed... is Dafuzi (Areca Seed).

The taste is astringent, bitter, and pungent, slightly sweet. The qi is warm, thin in qi and strong in flavor, belonging to Yang with slight Yin, possessing descending properties. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. White ones have more pungency and disperse qi; red ones... [Text gap] ...hard as iron and stone... moving to the extreme... [Text gap]. Growing in the hot south, white in color and astringent in taste, it is said to possess Metal qi, so its qi moves forward and shifts right. However, it is most intimate with Spleen Earth. (Not far away) Betel Nut receives Heaven's Yang qi and Earth's Metal flavor... merely the Fire qi of midsummer. (Commentary by Zhongchun). Combined with Caoguo (Tsaoko Fructus), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), and Juapi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), it treats food-stagnation malaria. Added with Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma), Pengzhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), Fanhong, Hongqu (Red Yeast Rice), Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), and Maiya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus), it dissolves all kinds of hard meat foods as well as raw/cold rice, noodles, etc.... [Text gap] ...tenesmus. Combined with Leiwan (Omphalia Lapidea), Wuyi (Pyrethri Flos), and Luluhuang (Aloe), it treats Ascaris lumbricoides (Cunbai Chong). Combined with Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Caoguo, and Qing... Tongbian (Child's Urine) half cup, Water one cup, decocted to mix with powder two qian for oral administration. Hongjiaojiao (Gout) rushes... taken with... twice daily. Or add Ginger Juice... Decoct shell juice or drink as tea. Su... [Text gap].

[Discussion] Betel Nut tastes astringent upon entry, then bitter, then pungent, and finally slightly sweet. Although astringency does not overcome bitterness, and bitterness does not overcome pungency... With astringency... Suitable for exclusive... Qi of... Must... Again... Earth... Contraindicated for those with Qi deficiency. Not used for dysentery unless there is tenesmus; not used for malaria unless it is mountain miasma. For diseases belonging to dual deficiency of Yin and Yang, unless there is gastrointestinal stagnation, residual... [Text gap].

[Differentiation and Treatment] Those that are pointed, long, and have purple stripes are named "Bing," with weak efficacy. Those that are round and short are named "Lang," with strong efficacy. The best quality is chicken-heart shaped, stable in the center, solid inside with brocade-like patterns. In ash fire... [Text gap].