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Liu Hua (Willow Flower)
Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats wind-water jaundice, facial heat and blackening, scabies with crusts, malignant sores, and metal weapon injuries. Also known as Liu Xu (Willow Catkin).

Leaf Primarily treats equine scabies and crusted sores. Decocted for washing horses with scabies leads to immediate recovery. It also treats internal blood stasis in the heart and abdomen, and relieves pain.

Fruit Primarily treats ulcerated carbuncles, expelling pus and blood.

Juice of Seeds Treats thirst. Grows in the river marshes of Langya.

Tao Hongjing states: Willow refers to the current water willow. When flowers mature, they scatter with the wind resembling flying snow. Chen Yuanfang argues: For metaphorical use, one should employ it when not yet unfurled.

Seeds also fly with flowers, corresponding to the description of water-soaked juice. Willow flowers are also suitable for application on moxibustion sores. Bark and leaves treat lacquer dermatitis. Tang Ben Zhu notes: Willow and Shui Yang (Poplar) are completely dissimilar. Shui Yang has round, broad, reddish leaves and short, stiff branches; Willow has narrow, long, green leaves and long, soft branches. This discussion concerns Willow, not Shui Yang. Although Shui Yang has therapeutic effects, it is not recorded in this materia medica. Branches and insect frass within the wood. Bark of branches is bitter, cold, and non-toxic. Primarily treats phlegm-heat strangury, and can be used as an emetic decoction. Boiled for external washing treats wind-induced swelling and itching. Wine-boiled and held in the mouth treats toothache. Insect frass from wood can be used for bathing, treating wind-induced pruritus and urticaria, with significant efficacy. This is the common willow tree in human habitation.

Tao's reference to Shui Yang is incorrect. Chen Yuxi et al., according to Yao Xing Lun, state: Bitter Liu Hua serves as an assistant drug. It stops bleeding, treats damp-bi syndrome, limb spasms and stiffness, and knee pain. Chen Cangqi states: Regarding Liu Xu, the *Ben Jing* confuses catkins with flowers; the flower is the initial yellow stamen. The seed becomes the flying catkin. To consider catkins as flowers is a great error. People in Jiangdong generally call them Yangliu (Poplar-Willow), while northerners do not mention Yang. Poplar leaves are short, willow branches are long.

Ri Huazi states: Leaves treat epidemic febrile diseases, ding sores, tuberculosis with bone-steaming fever, burns and scalds, heat and oppression caused by toxins entering the abdomen, and severe heat/oppression induced by taking mineral drugs. It also promotes the downward movement of water qi. Made into a paste, it reconnects sinews and bones, promotes flesh growth, and relieves pain. Held in the mouth for toothache; branch decoction aids digestion.

Tu Jing states: Liu Hua, leaves, and fruits grow in Langya river marshes and are now ubiquitous, commonly known as Yangliu. *Ben Jing* identifies catkins as flowers. Chen Cangqi states: Hua refers to the initial yellow stamens; seeds become the flying catkins. Collection time is unrestricted. Branch bark and roots are also medicinal. Ge Hong uses this extensively for treating carbuncles, sores, swelling, and toxic breast abscesses. Wei Zhou's *Du Xing Fang* treats ding sores and reverse-flower sores by decocting willow branches and leaves into a paste for topical application. Modern people make bathing waters and pastes... Calling willow "Yangliu" is incorrect. *Shuo Wen Jie Zi*: Yang is Pu Liu (Poplar); Liu is small Yang. Their categories are not singular. Pu Liu branches are tough and can serve as arrow shafts. As mentioned in *Zuo Zhuan*, the Pu of Dongze, also called Fu, is the Shui Yang mentioned above. It grows mostly in sandy areas of Hebei and near water, with coarse white leaves and slightly reddish wood grain, known as Bai Qi Liu (White Dogwood Willow). The *Book of Songs* says: Do not cut my Qi trees. Lu Ji states: Qi is willow; its wood is used for chariot hubs. Pure Qi grows beside Shan Qi River and Wen River in the State of Yu. Additionally, *Mencius* quotes Gaozi: Treating human nature as benevolence and righteousness is like making cups and plates from dogwood willow. Nowadays, people take thin strips, soften them with fire, bend them into boxes and chests; this is especially common in He-Shuo. Below there is Chi Cheng Mu (Red Tamarisk), growing in western desert sands. Red bark, fine leaves; this is what is now called Cheng Liu (Tamarisk Willow), also named Chun Liu (Spring Willow). *Er Ya* states: Cheng is He Liu (River Willow). Guo Pu states: It is the small poplar with red stems by the river. Lu Ji's *Poetry Commentary* states: Bark is bright red like crimson, also named Yu Shi (Rain Master). Branches and leaves resemble pine. Its resin is named Cheng Ru (Tamarisk Milk). Rarely used in medical prescriptions, so it is appended here.

Chen Cangqi states: Catkins stop bleeding and treat infantile intermittent fevers (day 1 or day 5); bathing with willow branch decoction. *Waitai Miyao*: Treats jaundice. One dou of willow branches, boiled to obtain half sheng of thick decoction, taken entirely. *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang*: Treats mastitis where pain persists after two or three days, becoming hard and purple. Use the method of decocting willow root bark, warm it, and apply hot compress to the swelling; recovers overnight. Another prescription: For burns/scalds forming sores. Burn willow bark to ash, apply powder. Another prescription: Finely chop white willow bark, decoct in lard to extract juice, apply. Sun Simiao: Treats toothache. One handful of willow branches, finely chopped, add a little salt flower, decoct in sour rice wash water, hold in mouth—very effective.

*Ji Yan Fang*: Treats swelling. Willows branches the size of a toe, three chi long, twenty pieces, boiled until very hot. Wrap swollen area with old cloth, wash with hot decoction; heals immediately. *Zimu Milu*: Infantile erysipelas with restlessness. One jin of willow leaves, one dou of water, boil to three sheng, remove dregs, apply/wash red areas, seven to eight times daily. If pus cannot exit, or carbuncle has aggregated. Finely chop and pound cooked willow root, cover with silk bandage, change when dry. Another prescription: Treats sudden wind-toxin swelling. Use insect frass from willow trees, dissolve in water, mix clear liquid with a little alum, drip into ear—very effective. Another prescription: Treats sudden wind-toxin swelling with urgent breathing and pain. One jin of white willow bark, chopped, wine-boiled until hot, wrap in silk and compress swelling; re-boil when cool—very effective. *Gujin Luyan*: Treats toothache. Roll white willow bark finger-thick, chew and hold, let juice soak painful tooth root; heals after several applications. Another prescription: Treats dental wind-carries. Chop one sheng of willow branches, one sheng of soybeans, stir-fry together until beans are roasted, store in porcelain vessel, soak in three sheng of clear wine for three days, hold in mouth and spit frequently. *Danfang Jingyuan*: States willow gum binds sand particles. Bieshuo: Catkins applied to moxibustion sores are excellent. Flying into ponds, they turn into duckweed in dark places. Experimentally, placing catkins in water-covered containers for several days yields duckweed. Accumulated catkins can be processed into felt, replacing wool, extremely soft, suitable for infants to sleep on.

*Yanyi* states: Liu Hua, *Jing* says: Bitter taste. Refers to the initial stage with yellow stamens. When flowers dry, catkins emerge, also called Liu Xu. Collected for applying to moxibustion sores or making cushions. Under the catkins connect small black seeds, rising with wind, sprouting in damp places like earth-dings, often arising without planting, similar to willow catkins carrying seeds. Chen Cangqi's view is correct. However, ancients mistook catkins for flowers; Tao Hongjing also said flowers fly like snow with the wind. This was erroneous. *Jing* mentions fruits and seed juice, which various commentators did not understand, and modern people rarely use them. Note: Buddhist texts refer to willow as Nikutalata tree, its seeds extremely fine. Just as false causes lead to small results, true causes lead to large ones; thus knowing small black seeds rise with the wind.