Library

What among all things is most spiritual? Humans are the most spiritual. Where does this spirituality reside? It resides in the ear. The ear serves as the pivot connecting the postnatal (acquired constitution) and the prenatal (innate constitution). The prenatal foundation primarily governs *Lingming* (spiritual clarity, referring to mental consciousness and cognitive activities), while the postnatal body functions through the circulation of blood and qi. If the movement of blood and qi is not smooth, then spiritual clarity will be obstructed. For this reason, physicians such as Xuanyuan Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo have expressed deep concern, believing that the instability of the prenatal root often stems from postnatal dysfunction. Precious herbs like *Qiongzhi* and *Yaocao* (legendary immortal medicines) are not easily obtainable by ordinary people. Forced to seek a secondary solution, one must rely on tree roots, barks, and herbal stems for livelihood and treatment. These roots and herbs, nurtured by the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, each possess specific medicinal properties and flavors. If not used skillfully, they may be either too acrid-dry or too cloying-moist; however, if used skillfully, acrid-dry herbs can be balanced with cloying-moist ones, and vice versa, achieving a state of balance and harmony that restores vitality—a phenomenon unheard of before. I spoke these words at Pingcui Shufang (Pingcui Study). A guest in the study agreed and asked, "Then how can one obtain such a well-balanced and effective prescription?" I replied, "This is not difficult. As the saying goes: 'Medicines are prepared by doctors, but prescriptions are mostly passed down from ancients.' One need only select prescriptions verified by Xuanyuan Huangdi and Qibo that have proven effective in the world, and widely share them with colleagues. Would this not achieve myriad benefits at once?" The guest immediately responded, "Yes, yes." Thus, he took a booklet titled *Cuoyao* (Essentials) from his crimson bag and handed it to me. I accepted and cherished it. Why cherish it? To make it available to the world.

Recorded by Yunchuan Daoren on the 13th day of the mid-summer month in the year Jiazi, the ninth year of the Qianlong reign.

Treats various types of *Jue Ni* (syncope/reversal cold syndrome), sudden loss of consciousness, drooling, and curling/spasms of the hands and feet.
Chen Niu Dan Xing (Old Cattle Gallstone Star, 1 liang 5 qian), Tian Zhu Huang (Calamus Rhizome, 1 liang), Bai Jie Zi (White Mustard Seed, 5 qian), Xiang Xi Jiao Jian (Aromatic Rhinoceros Horn Tip, 1 liang), Ling Yang Jiao Jian (Antelope Horn Tip, 1 liang).
Grind all five ingredients into fine powder. Form pills using decoction of aged rice water, sized like pepper seeds. Take 21 pills per dose; reduce by 10 pills for the elderly or weak. Swallow with boiled water.

Specifically treats Phlegm-*Jue* (phlegm syncope), coma/unconsciousness, locked jaw, phlegm-rattling wheezing, as well as pediatric convulsions due to wind-stroke and the five types of epilepsy (*Xian*).
Chen Dan Xing (Old Cattle Gallstone Star, 1 liang, stir-fried with ginger juice), Bai Fu Zi (Typhonii Rhizoma, 1 liang, roasted), Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix, 5 qian), Chuan Wu (Aconiti Radix, 1 liang, wrapped in bread and roasted), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 1 liang, combined with Gleditsiae Spina).
Grind the above five ingredients into fine powder. Extract juice from three yellow cattle gallbladders collected in the twelfth lunar month to mix with the powder. Place the mixture back into the gallbladder, tie the opening, and hang it under the eaves for ventilation. Retrieve the medicine from the gallbladder the following year. For every 4 liang of this medicine, add excessive Mang Xiao (Natrii Sulfas), Shui Fei Chen Sha (Cinnabar processed by water levigation), Peng Sha (Borax) (each 1 qian), Bing Pian (Borneolum Syntheticum), She Xiang (Moschus) (each 1 fen). Mix uniformly according to proportions.
(Attached method for preparing Cattle Gallstone Star: In the twelfth lunar month, extract juice from yellow cattle gallbladders. Mix equally with finely powdered Tian Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma) and Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus). Blend thoroughly with the juice, return to the gallbladder shell, and hang under the eaves.)