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Ju You (Citrus medica / Citrus reticulata)

Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Primarily treats heat accumulation and rebellious Qi in the chest, promotes digestion of water and grain, directs Qi downward, stops vomiting and coughing, clears residual heat and stagnant water from the Bladder, treats five types of Lin syndrome (strangury), promotes urination; primarily treats Spleen deficiency failing to digest grain, Qi rushing to the chest causing vomiting and rebellion, Huoluan (cholera-like disorder), stops diarrhea, removes Ascaris lumbricoides (pinworm). Long-term consumption removes bad breath, directs Qi downward and unblocks the Spirit, lightens the body, and prolongs life. Also known as Jupi (Tangerine Peel). Grows in valleys of Southern Mountains and Jiangnan region. Harvested in the tenth lunar month.

Tao Hongjing states: This refers to the efficacy of its peel. The tangerines from the East are considered best; those from the West River area exist but are inferior. Its peel is slightly cold in nature, treats Qi stagnation, and its efficacy surpasses that of Jupi. People in the North also use it, preferring aged specimens. Its flesh is sweet and sour; excessive consumption generates phlegm and may be detrimental. Although the peel is used here, since it belongs to the fruit category, it should remain classified with fruits. Pomelo peel can be taken medicinally but is no longer commonly included in prescriptions. Using this (Jupi) should also direct Qi downward. *Tang Bencao* notes: Pomelo peel is thick and sweet, inferior to Jupi which is pungent and bitter. Its flesh is like Jupi, having both sweet and sour varieties; the sour one is called Hugan. Common people sometimes confuse orange with pomelo, which is incorrect. According to *Lüshi Chunqiu*, among delicious fruits is the You from Yunmeng Marsh. Guo Pu states: You resembles an orange but is larger than a tangerine. Kong Anguo states: Small ones are called Ju, large ones You, both are sweet. The current annotation has been moved from the Wood section. Ministers Yuxi et al. respectfully cite *Yaoxing Lun*: Jupi is a minister herb, pungent and bitter. It treats Qi stagnation in the chest and diaphragm, opens the stomach, primarily treats Qi-type dysentery, eliminates phlegm-saliva, and treats upper-Jiao cough due to rebellious Qi. Chen Cangqi states: Besides their original functions, the pulp of Ju and You is cold in nature. Sour varieties gather phlegm, while sweet varieties moisten the Lungs. The peel is suitable for medicine, but the seeds are not suitable for human consumption. Varieties include Zhugan, Rugan, Huanggan, Shigan, and Shagan. Ju varieties include Zhuju, Ruju, Taju, Shanju, and Huangdanzi. The peels of these varieties all disperse Qi and regulate the middle Jiao, and their fruits are edible, with Rugan being superior. *Shennong Bencao Jing* should have placed them in the Fruit section, adding "fruit" to the name; placing them in the Wood section was incorrect. In Lingnan, there is You as large as a winter melon. Meng Shen states: Ju stops diarrhea and dysentery. Consumption aids digestion and opens phlegm-heat and Qi knotting in the chest and diaphragm. Directing Qi downward is less effective than using the peel. The pulp should not be eaten in excess as it only stops Qi. Though warm in nature, it stops thirst. Additionally, one jin of dried peel, pounded into powder, formed into pills with honey. Take thirty pills before meals with wine to treat cold Qi in the Lower Jiao. Another prescription: Mix one jin of Chenpi (aged tangerine peel) with five liang of Apricot Kernels (Xingren), remove skin and tips, stir-fry, add a little honey to form pills. Take thirty pills before meals with water to expel deficient-cold Qi from the abdomen and viscera. Treats Jiangyang (foot disease) rushing to the heart, hardness below the heart; all are indicated. Rihua Zi states: Ju is sweet and sour. Stops Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst), opens the stomach, removes Qi obstruction in the chest. Regarding the peel: it is warm, eliminates phlegm and stops cough, breaks up masses and accumulations. Regarding the seed: treats lower back pain, Bladder Qi issues, and Kidney cold; roasted, shell removed, taken with wine, effective. The fascia on the Ju sac treats thirst and vomiting wine; roasted and decocted for drinking, it is very effective. Regarding You: non-toxic. Treats poor appetite and bland taste in pregnancy, removes evil Qi from the Stomach, aids digestion, removes intestinal Qi. Resolves alcohol toxicity and treats halitosis in drinkers.

*Tujing* states: Ju and You grow in valleys of Southern Mountains and Jiangnan; currently found in Jiangzhe, Jingxiang, and Huling. Trees are one or two zhang high; leaves are indistinguishable from Zhi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus); thorns emerge from between stems. White flowers bloom in early summer; fruits mature in June and July, turning yellow and ripe in winter, ready to eat. Old theories state small ones are Ju, large ones You. Others say: You resembles an orange but is sour and larger than Ju. Kong Anguo's commentary on *Shangshu*: "Jue Bao Ju You." Guo Pu's commentary on *Erya*: descriptions of You are consistent. You is found in Minzhong, Lingwai, and Jiangnan; compared to Ju, it is yellowish-white and larger; You in Xiang and Tang regions is greenish-yellow and smaller. All are sour, with thick peels unsuitable for medicine. Current medical formulas use only Huang Ju (Yellow Tangerine) and Qing Ju (Green Tangerine), not mentioning You. Could Qing Ju be a type of You? However, Huang Ju is pungent, while Qing Ju is bitter. *Benjing* generally describes both as pungent. It also states another name is Jupi, harvested in the tenth month, referring to current Huang Ju. Current Qing Ju resembles Huang Ju but is smaller, differing from old descriptions of size and taste (pungent/bitter), thus constituting a different species. Upon harvest, remove flesh and sun-dry. Huang Ju is best when aged; used most frequently in ancient and modern formulas. Some take it alone: pound Chenpi into powder, mix with honey into pills the size of Wuzi (seed of Sophora japonica), swallow thirty pills with wine before meals to treat accumulated cold in the Lower Jiao. Can also be combined with Apricot Kernels into pills to treat empty-cold in intestines, Jiangyang rushing to heart, and hardness below heart; all indicated. Qing Ju primarily treats Qi stagnation, aids digestion, breaks accumulations, and is used in formulas for Diaphragmatic Qi, completely distinct from Huang Ju. Generally, Ju seeds treat waist, Bladder, and Kidney Qi issues; roasted, skin removed, taken with wine, effective. Flesh should not be eaten in excess as it causes phlegm stagnation. Rugan and Chengzi are cold in nature and belong to similar categories; excessive consumption is not beneficial. Currently, people only use their seeds for facial applications; other uses are rare, so they are not fully recorded. There is also a variety called Gouyuan (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis), shaped like a small melon, peel shiny like an orange, flesh thick, cut like radish, short-lived flavor but rich fragrance, surpassing citrus types; placed in clothing chests, fragrance lasts for days. Used in ancient times for making Wuhe San. Tao Hongjing states: Warm in nature, pleasant. Currently found in Min, Guang, and Jiangxi; locals call it Xiangyuanzi; some bring it to the capital, where it is valued.

Lei Gong says: When processing, do not use You peel or Zhouzi peel; these two are unusable. For preparation, must remove the white pith layer, finely chop, wrap in carp skin overnight, remove next morning, and use. Aged Jupi is best. *Zhouhou Fang*: Treats sudden loss of voice, choking sensation. Five liang of Jupi, three sheng of water, boil to one sheng, remove dregs, take in one dose. Another formula: Treats fish poisoning; decoct Jupi strongly and drink the juice. *Jingyan Houfang*: Treats cold Qi below the diaphragm and food/wine pulp residue. Mix three parts salt evenly, let stand, stir-fry lightly until scorched in a clay pot, pound into powder. Take 1.5 qian per dose, half qian tea powder, one sheng water, decoct to 0.7 sheng, take warm regularly. Do not add tea; boiling water infusion is also excellent. Another formula: Treats postpartum Qi rebellion in women. Pound Qing Ju peel into powder, decoct with scallion white and urine of a young boy. *Shiyi Xinjing*: Treats latent heat in chest, directs Qi downward, eliminates phlegm, transforms food. Half liang Jupi, lightly roasted into powder, decoct like tea and sip. Another formula: Treats sudden food impaction. One liang Chenpi, soak in hot water to remove pulp, roast into powder. Decoct one large sheng water to half sheng, take with hot wine, miraculous effect. Add money, consume peel and juice, stops anger-induced syncope. Commentary on *Shangshu*: Small is Ju, large is You; those from Yangzhou are best, hence tribute.

*Yanyi* states: Ju and You are naturally two different things, hence stating "another name is Jupi" implies the character You was originally absent. How could two different substances have identical treatments without a single distinguishing word? Thus, the character You is an error. Later scholars who did not seek deep meaning were confused by the character You, creating artificial distinctions, which is also wrong. Moreover, even Qing Ju and Huang Ju have different treatments; how much more so if You is a separate species? Guo Pu said: You resembles an orange but is larger than Ju; this person recognized Ju and You. If we do not speak thus now, later generations may mistake You peel for Jupi, causing endless trouble. Since antiquity is distant, later sages can infer meaning through intuition. Only the peel and seeds of Ju are used. Peel is highly needed worldwide; still soaked in hot water to remove pulp, rest as per *Jing* and *Zhu*. Collecting seeds and peel oneself is best. Someone suffering from chronic Qi-related cough was taught to roast Jupi and ginger, mix with equal parts Shenqu (Medicated Leaven), form pills the size of tung seeds, take 30-50 pills after meals and before bed with rice water. Combined with old Bladder afflictions, all healed due to this. This utilizes Chenpi, one of the "Six Aged Herbs." For Kidney Zhuxie (chronic wasting), lower back pain, and Bladder Qi pain, lightly roast seeds, remove shell, pound to powder, take with wine, curative.