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At the foot of Mount Min, during years of famine, people used taro (Colocasia esculenta) as food. Epidemics did not occur there, indicating that this food is suitable for human consumption. The *Bencao* (Compendium of Materia Medica) refers to taro as "earth ginseng," stating that it tonifies vital energy and satisfies hunger. Huizhou is abundant in this food, yet those who eat it are inevitably afflicted by miasma. Wu Yuanyou said, "This is not the fault of the taro." Taro should be peeled, wrapped in wet paper, and baked until thoroughly cooked; then eaten while hot. It becomes soft and glutinous, capable of tonifying vital energy and satisfying hunger. Currently, people in Huizhou boil it with the skin on and eat it cold; it becomes hard, tough, and flavorless, so their contracting miasma is indeed understandable. Two days before New Year's Eve in the Bingzi year, I was extremely hungry at night. Yuanyou baked two taros for me to eat. They were delicious, so I wrote this note.

There is a strange herb in Mount Wangwu that can neutralize all poisons. It can snatch life from ghosts' hands, hence the locals call this herb "Moutouhui" (Grave Head Return). Jian Baoguang entrusted Wu Yuanyou to send some of this medicine to me. I have heard that armies without sharp weapons and insects without venom cannot be relied upon; if one, like an Arhat, permanently cuts off the three poisons (greed, anger, ignorance), would such medicine become useless?

In Shu, there is a vegetable similar to peas but smaller, which is very good to eat. When cultivated by covering it with soil, it can fertilize barren land. Its nature is very hot; eating it causes yawning or panting. However, if steamed after being sun-dried with a little wine, it is very beneficial to humans and harmless. Chao Gu (courtesy name Yuanxiu) from Meishan first brought his son to Huangzhou. People in the Jianghuai region, if they recognize it, call this vegetable "Chao Cai," while people in Huangzhou call it "Yuanxiu Cai."

In the mountains of Huangzhou, Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, 苍术) is extremely abundant. Buying it in the wild costs only a few coins per jin. This is a longevity drug. Because it is easily obtained, people no longer value it, even using it to fumigate mosquitoes. This is also a cause for sighing. Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术) from Shuzhou has similar stems and leaves, except its flowers are purple. However, it is very difficult to obtain, costing three hundred coins per liang. Its efficacy is limited to harmonizing stomach qi and dispelling wandering wind; it is not a supreme elixir for immortals.

Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Fang* states that Ginseng Decoction must be prepared with flowing water; if still water is used, it is ineffective. Many people doubt that there is no difference between flowing and still water. I once observed Chancellor Wang Anshi, who loved releasing living creatures. He bought live fish from the market daily and released them into the river, where they swam vigorously. Only loaches died when entering the river water, revealing that loaches can only inhabit still water. Thus, flowing and still water are indeed different, and this cannot be ignored. Furthermore, crucian carp born in flowing water have white dorsal scales, while those in still water have black dorsal scales and poor taste. This is another verification.