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(Wu Xi Qie - phonetic notation)
Taste is sweet, nature is neutral, non-toxic. It has been passed down since ancient times that: pine resin turns into Poria (Fu Ling, 茯苓) after a thousand years, then into Amber (Hu Po, 琥珀) after another thousand years, and then into [missing character]. However, when these two substances are burned, they both emit the scent of pine resin, and their effects are the same as Amber. They nourish the heart and calm the spirit (An Shen, 安神), and are particularly effective in breaking blood stasis (Po Xue, 破血). Their appearance resembles black jade but is lighter. They originate from the Western Regions (Xi Rong, 西戎), yet where Poria is found, this substance is not seen. Those obtained today in the desert three hundred li south of Xizhou are large, up to one chi square, black, lustrous, and light; when burned, they have a fishy odor. People in Gaochang call them "Wood Amber" (Mu Po, 木珀) and refer to black jade as "Stone Amber" (Shi Po, 石珀). Those obtained in the soil and rocks of Hongzhou emit a pine scent when burned; their ability to break blood stasis and generate flesh is the same as Amber, but they crack and break upon exposure to wind, making them unsuitable for crafting vessels. Comparing these two types with Amber, perhaps they are not formed from pine resin. Due to these discrepancies and errors, a brief discussion is provided here (Newly observed in *Tang Bencao*).

Chen Cangqi added the efficacy profile of [missing character] after the note on Amber. According to the herbal properties of [missing character], besides its external functions, wearing it can ward off evil influences in children, and grinding it into powder and applying it to the eyes can treat leukoma (Mu Yi, 目翳), redness, and visual obstructions. The *Taiping Guangji* records in the *Biography of the Four Princes of Liang*: In the flat deserts between Jiaohe, digging deep to ten zhang reveals [missing character]-Amber below, blacker than pure lacquer, some as large as chariot wheels. Taken as powder, it attacks various diseases such as mass accumulations (Zheng Jia, 症瘕) in the small intestine of women.

Elm Bark (Yu Pi, 榆皮)
Taste is sweet, nature is neutral, non-toxic. It primarily treats obstruction of urination and defecation, promotes water passage, dispels pathogenic factors, clears pathogenic heat from the intestines and stomach, and reduces swelling. Its nature is slippery and lubricating. Long-term consumption makes the body light and suppresses hunger; its fruit (Elm Seeds/Yu Jia, 榆荚) is particularly effective. It treats scabies and crusts on infants' heads.
Flowers: Treat infantile epilepsy (Xian, 痫), difficult urination, and heat injury. Also known as Ling Yu (Ling Yu, 零榆). Grows in the valleys of Shuchuan. Harvest the bark in the second lunar month, take the white part, and dry it in the sun; harvest the fruits in the eighth lunar month. Do not let them get wet, as moisture harms people.
Tao Hongjing stated: This is the current elm tree. Peel the bark, scrape off the upper reddish layer, and it can be used temporarily; its nature is extremely slippery. The newly formed seed pods can be made into porridge or soup, causing drowsiness. This is what Ji Gong meant by "Elm induces sleep." To fast (Duan Gu, 断谷), one consumes powdered bark mixed with sandalwood bark, which prevents hunger. The *Tang Bencao* annotation states: Elm fruits ripen in the third lunar month and fall shortly after. The statement about harvesting fruits in the eighth lunar month suggests an error in the *Ben Jing*. Current examination of Chen Cangqi's *Bencao* states: Elm seeds treat leukorrhea in women; eating them cooked with beef is beneficial. Collecting fruits in the fourth lunar month to make sauce acts like Tso-yu (Wu Ti, 芜荑) to kill parasites, with aged ones being superior. Young leaves eaten as soup suppress the toxicity of cinnabar/stone drugs and reduce edema. In Jiangdong, there is Thorny Elm (Ci Yu, 刺榆) but no large Elm. The bark is used medicinally but is not slippery. Thorny Elm fruits in autumn. Thus, Tao was mistaken. Ministers Yu Xi et al. carefully followed the *Erya Shu*: There are ten kinds of Elms, leaves are similar, but bark and wood grain differ. Thorny Elm has thorns like Zhe tree, leaves resemble Elm, blanching it makes a delicious vegetable, smoother than White Elm. The *Book of Songs* says: "The mountain has Shu" refers to this. *Yao Xing Lun* states: White Elm Bark is slippery. It primarily treats five types of strangury (Wu Lin, 五淋), treats insomnia, and treats [missing character]. Take white bark, dry in shade, roast, and grind into powder. Every morning and evening, mix two qian of powder with five he of water, decoct until gelatinous, and take; the disease heals. Meng Shen said: Fresh bark treats sudden redness and swelling. Pound three liang of bark, mix with three-year-old vinegar residue, apply as a poultice, changing six or seven times daily; it also treats breast engorgement in women (Du Ru, 妒乳). Patients taking mineral drugs should eat fresh leaves, one or two meals are good. Sauce made from seeds assists lung qi, kills parasites, directs qi downward, promotes appetite, and dissipates malignant qi in the heart and abdomen, curing sudden [missing character].
*Tujing* states: Elm bark grows in Shuchuan valleys and is now ubiquitous. Seed pods appear in the third lunar month; ancients made porridge from them, but this is no longer done; only aged fruits are used for sauce. However, there are over ten varieties of Elm, leaves are similar, but bark and grain differ. White Elm produces leaves first, then pods; the bark is white. After peeling and scraping the rough outer layer, the inner part is very smooth and white, which is the "White Powder of Elm" mentioned in *Erya*. This bark is used in medicine, frequently in formulas for inducing abortion in pregnant women. For infantile tinea capitis (Bai Tu, 白秃) where hair does not grow, grind into powder and apply mixed with sour wine. Thorny Elm has thorns like Zhe tree, which was consumed by ancients and is said to be more delicious than White Elm. The "Shu" in *Erya*, [missing character]. The *Book of Songs · Tang Feng* says: "The mountain has Shu" refers to this. Harvest bark in the second lunar month, take white part and dry; harvest [missing character] in the fourth lunar month.
*Shiliao* states: Raw Elm bark promotes urination and treats stone strangury (Shi Lin, 石淋). Additionally, boiling and eating leaves, occasionally consuming one meal, is excellent. People in Gaochang often grind white bark into powder and mix it with pickled vegetables; it is very delicious. It promotes appetite, is taken long-term by immortals, and by those taking mineral drugs because it benefits the joints. Additionally, Elm kernels can be made into sauce, very fragrant and delicious. With a slight pungent taste, it assists lung qi, kills parasites, directs qi downward, promotes appetite, and internally dissipates malignant qi in the chest and abdomen. Aged ones are better. Additionally, applying it to various sores and ringworms is wonderful. It also cures sudden cold qi pain in the heart and abdomen. It treats infantile epilepsy and difficult urination. *Waitai Miyao*: Formula for thirst with frequent urination but not strangury: Two pieces of Elm bark, remove black skin, decoct in ten dou of water to obtain five sheng. Take three he per dose, three times daily. *Qianjin Fang*: Five-color carbuncle, commonly known as oily swelling. If infection spreads, it can be fatal; do not underestimate it. Apply powder of White Elm bark mixed with egg white externally.
Miscellaneous Records: Eating rice porridge promotes urination. *Zimu Milu*: Treats retained dead fetus in the womb, or when the mother is ill and wishes to expel the fetus. Decoct White Elm bark and drink two sheng. Another formula: Infantile tinea capitis. Grind White Elm bark into powder, mix with vinegar and apply; parasites will emerge. *Yang Shi Chanru*: Treats sores all over the body and head. Roast White Elm bark until yellow, grind into powder, mix with good sour wine and apply. Cover with cotton; once parasites emerge, it heals. Ji Shunye's *Yangsheng Lun* states: Elm induces sleep. Bieshuo: Carefully follow the method of roasting White Elm bark into powder. For women near term, take one fangcun bi three times daily. This facilitates delivery; postpartum, the baby's body is also smeared with it, trusting its efficacy. Additionally, when wet-ground into paste, it is very powerful for sticking tiles and stones. People in Jingdong and Jingbei use it to glue stone pestle tips.
*Yanyi* states: Elm bark refers to the variety producing seed pods in early spring. Remove the wrinkled, astringent, dry parts; take the tender middle part, chop, dry, and grind into powder. In lean years, farmers use it as food. When leaves are green and tender, collect and store them for soups and vegetables. During the Jiayou era, passing through Feng and Pei, people lacked food, and villagers ate much of this.