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Di Yu (Sanguisorbae Radix)

Taste: Bitter, sweet, sour. Nature: Slightly cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Primarily treats breast abscess (Ru Yong), Qi Shang (seven types of injuries/deficiencies), leukorrhea, pain relief, removal of necrotic tissue, sweating cessation, treatment of metallic weapon wounds (Jin Chuang), stopping pus and blood discharge, treating various malignant sores and heat sores, resolving alcohol toxicity, eliminating Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome), tonifying severe trauma (Jue Shang), treating postpartum internal obstruction, and can be prepared as a plaster for metallic weapon wounds. Grows in the valleys of Tongbai Mountain and Yuanju County. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the sun. (Works well with human hair; incompatible with Ophiopogonis Radix.)

Tao Hongjing states: It is now found everywhere near the capital. The leaves resemble those of elm but are longer; when first sprouting, they spread along the ground. The flowers and seeds are purple-black like fermented soybeans (Chi), hence the name Yu Chi (Jade Bean). A single stem grows straight upward, and the root can also be used to brew wine. In Daoist methods, it is burned into ash, which can corrode stones. When tea is scarce, its leaves make a good beverage. I have checked other editions' notes stating: Currently, people use it only for treating cold dysentery, heat dysentery, and children's malnutrition dysentery (Gan Li); if the heat is extreme, it is effective.

Chen Yuxi et al., according to *Yao Xing Lun* (Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals), state: Di Yu tastes bitter and is neutral in nature. It can treat residual blood stasis after childbirth, rash pain, Qi Shang, metallic weapon wounds, stop bloody dysentery, and erode pus. Xiao Bing states: Current prescriptions use it together with Pterocarpus bark (Chu Pi) to treat red and white dysentery. Ri Huazi states: It expels pus, stops hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, and various bleeding disorders before and after childbirth; red and white dysentery and watery diarrhea; decocted strongly, it stops intestinal wind (blood in stool). It grows in plains and marshes, has a single stem, purple flowers, and is harvested in July and August.

*Tujing* states: Di Yu grows in the valleys of Tongbai and Yuanju, and is now found everywhere. It has perennial roots; seedlings emerge in March, spreading along the ground initially. The stem is straight, three to four chi high, with opposite leaves. The leaves resemble elm leaves but are slightly narrower, long, thin, serrated, and green. Flowers appear in July, resembling mulberries, purple-black. The root is black outside and red inside, resembling willow roots. Harvested in February and August, dried. The leaves are usually not used, but mountain dwellers collect them as a tea substitute when tea is unavailable.

Ancient Duanshou Formula: Rat-tail sage (Shu Wei Cao) 3 liang each, water 2 sheng, boil until half remains, take at once. If the condition persists, soak house dust in water, drink a small cup, and apply. Repeat preparation if necessary until cured. For children's Gan Li, boil alone until syrup-like consistency and administer; the disease resolves. Alternatively, crush fresh roots, extract juice, drink, and apply to sores; this is excellent. Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang*: For red and white dysentery causing emaciation, use Di Yu 1 jin, water 3 sheng, boil to 1.5 sheng, remove dregs, re-boil to thick syrup consistency, filter, take 3 he empty-stomach, twice daily.

*Tang Ben Zhu* states: Treats twelve types of leukorrhea. *Kong Shi Yin Yi* states: 1. Excessive red discharge; 2. Excessive white discharge; 3. Amenorrhea; 4. Genital ulceration; 5. Hard uterus; 6. Deviated cervical os; 7. Pain during intercourse; 8. Cold pain in lower abdomen; 9. Closed cervical os; 10. Cold uterus; 11. Nocturnal emission/dreams of sexual intercourse with spirits; 12. Unstable five zang organs. Using leaves as tea substitute effectively clears heat. *Shenghui Fang*: Treats persistent red and white vaginal discharge causing sallow complexion, emaciation, and deficiency exhaustion. Use Di Yu 3 liang finely chopped, rice vinegar 1 sheng, boil ten times, remove dregs. Take 1 he warm before meals; also treats hematemesis. *Qianjin Yifang*: Treats swelling from severed fingers. Boil Di Yu alone as a decoction to soak the area; heals in half a day. *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats tiger or dog bites. Administer Di Yu root powder, 1 cun bi per dose, one to two times daily; applying to the wound is especially good. Ge Shi: Treats venomous snake bites. Crush Di Yu root, extract juice, drink, and apply to sores. Mei Shi Fang: Treats dog bites. Boil Di Yu to drink, apply powder to sores, take 1 cun bi, three times daily; avoid alcohol. If treating healed sores, crush raw Chinese chive, extract juice, drink 1-2 sheng. *Qimin Yaoshu*: Brew wine with Di Yu juice. Treats wind-bi (painful obstruction syndrome), tonifies the brain. *Sandong Yaolu*: Di Yu grass 1 sheng, glutinous rice 1 sheng, white jade particles 1 sheng. Take dew collected on the White Dew solar term, 2 sheng. Place in a copper vessel, cook rice until done, strain juice. Jade particles dissolve into water, named Yu Ye (Jade Liquid). Mix with medicinal wine, known as Shen Yu Jiang (Divine Jade Elixir).

*Yanyi* states: Di Yu has a sinking and cold nature. Enters the Lower Jiao. It can be used for heat-blood dysentery. However, for patients with deficiency-cold or watery white dysentery, it should not be used lightly.