Library

Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Primarily treats damp-bi (dampness obstruction syndrome) in the sinews and bones, tonifies Qi to increase strength, strengthens the sinews and dries dampness. Enhances willpower (the Liver stores the Hun [ethereal soul]). Makes one robust and strong, capable of enduring hunger, and resistant to wind-cold. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents aging, and prolongs life. These are all effects of nourishing and tonifying the Liver and Spleen. It can be used to make wine.

This treatment utilizes the shape of the herb. The grapevine is curved and spreading; it curls up in winter and expands in spring, resembling sinews, thus it can tonify and benefit the sinews and bones. Its fruit is sweet and delicious, obtaining the pure flavor of Earth, thus it can also nourish muscles. The Liver governs the sinews, and the Spleen governs the flesh; therefore, this is a medicine that simultaneously tonifies the Liver and Spleen.

Sweet in taste, neutral in nature. Primarily treats damp-bi, pain in the lower back, spine, and knees, and diseases caused by damp-phlegm in the Lower Jiao. Tonifies the Middle Jiao, eliminates acute sudden illnesses. Acute sudden illnesses arise from deficiency of Middle Qi; when Middle Qi is sufficient, such illnesses do not occur. Benefits Essence and Qi, enhances willpower (when the Liver and Kidney are sufficient, Heart Qi also becomes tranquil), making the ears and eyes clear and bright. Fills all orifices. Long-term consumption lightens the body, prevents hunger, and promotes longevity akin to immortals. When the Spleen and Kidney are both vigorous, various efficacies naturally manifest.

Euryale seed (Ji Tou) grows in water, but its fruit is sweet and bland, obtaining the pure flavor of Earth; thus, it is a medicine for the Spleen and Kidney. The Spleen dislikes dampness, and the Kidney dislikes dryness. Although Euryale seed grows in water, its bland diuretic and sweet aromatic properties ensure it does not injure with dampness. Its texture is sticky and astringent, yet smooth and moist, ensuring it does not injure with dryness. Medicines for the Spleen and Kidney often have opposing actions, but this one complements them, making it particularly valuable.

Sour in taste, warm in nature. Primarily treats women's genital erosion and ulceration, diseases generated by dampness in the Yin region; only Yang-drying substances can cure them. Carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and foul blood are also diseases generated by dampness in the Yin aspect of the Lower Jiao. Strengthens the sinews and bones, bolstering the Yang Qi of the sinews and bones. Treats alopecia capitis (scalp baldness), killing insects generated by dampness at the hair root. Can dissolve gold, silver, copper, and iron artifacts. This is because Fire conquers Metal.

Realgar (Liu Huang) is the essence of Fire obtained from stones. Stones belong to Yin, while Fire belongs to Yang; housing extreme Yang within extreme Yin, it can treat cold-damp diseases in the Yin aspect.

Pungent in taste, cold in nature. Primarily treats scabies, crusty ulcers, and white alopecia; kills lice in the skin; resolves heat-damp toxicity in the skin and hair. Lice are also generated by heat-dampness. Causes abortion; due to its heavy nature, it causes abortion. Additionally, fetal Qi is initially nourished by Liver Qi; since Metal conquers Wood, damaging Liver Qi leads to fetal loss. Clears heat, kills the toxicity of gold, silver, copper, and tin. Because it obtains the essential Qi of the Five Metals, it can eliminate their toxicity. It can transform back into Cinnabar. Mercury (Shui Yin) is mostly extracted from Cinnabar, so it can also be refined into alchemical pills. The essence of Metal undergoes unpredictable changes through fire refinement; Lead and Mercury are similar. Long-term consumption leads to immortality and becoming an immortal. This is because it is imperishable and capable of transformation.

Mercury is the essence of the Five Metals. Having obtained the essential Qi of the Five Metals but not yet refined into a solid form, it can also transform into gold and silver. The conditions it treats are all heat-toxin diseases of the skin. The Lung belongs to Metal and governs the skin and hair; this interaction occurs through mutual resonance of Qi. Alchemists' furnace techniques use Mercury and Lead as Dragon and Tiger, refining them together into pills. Consumption leads to longevity, and long-term consumption allows for ascension and spiritual transformation. Since the *Cantong Qi* (The Kinship of the Three), these theories have been numerous, and many brilliant individuals have been misled. Mercury is the essence of the Five Metals but has not yet become the substance of metal. Generally, metals fear fire; however, Mercury remains unchanged after hundred refinements because it has not formed the quality of metal and contains Water Essence, so fire cannot harm it. Its ability to transmute into gold and silver is due to drug refinement altering its appearance, not actually creating true gold and silver. Now, relying on its imperishable quality to borrow its Qi to consolidate the physical form is truly absurd. Humans and all things originally have different bodies. Borrowing the Qi of objects to attack the Six Evils is theoretically possible; borrowing the substance of objects to perpetuate life is theoretically impossible. Alchemists like to show off their cleverness, discussing Heaven and Yi Jing, which sounds plausible, but in reality, since Fuxi drew the trigrams and past sages composed the commentaries, where have they ever mentioned "longevity"? This is false grand talk to fool the petty-wise. Those who tried it died, yet falsely claimed to still be alive. Those who tested these methods lost their families and lives; if not dead, they did not realize the truth; once dead, they knew nothing. Throughout history, ignorant people have followed in succession, driven by the fear of death and greed for life, which ironically accelerates their own demise. How sad!