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[Sha Tang (Brown Sugar)]
Sweet in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Its efficacy and properties are the same as Shimi (Rock Honey), but its cold and purgative nature is stronger than that of Shimi. It is made by pressing sugarcane juice and boiling it down. It is produced in Shu, Xirong, and Jiangdong. (First attached in *Xinxiu Bencao*)
Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite Meng Shen: "Consuming too much Sha Tang causes heart pain. It should not be eaten with crucian carp, as this leads to the formation of gan parasites. Furthermore, it should not be eaten with mallow, which may cause salivation or other adverse effects. Also, it should not be eaten with bamboo shoots, as this prevents the digestion of the shoots, leading to abdominal masses, heaviness of the body, and difficulty in walking."
*Tu Jing Ben Cao* provides detailed records under the entry for Sugarcane.
*Shi Liao Ben Cao* states: "It treats heat in the heart and dry mouth. Excessive consumption promotes the growth of parasites, consumes muscle tissue, damages teeth, and induces gan disease. It should not be consumed long-term. *Zimu Milu*: To treat abdominal tightness, boil white sugar in two sheng of wine and take orally; recovery occurs within no more than two doses."
*Yanyi* states: "Sha Tang ranks below Shimi. Because the sugarcane juice is clear, it requires extensive boiling and refining, resulting in a purple-black color. It treats heat in the lungs, heart, and large intestine, and can also be fed to camels and horses."

[Shi (Persimmon, pronounced 'bei')]
Sweet in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily suppresses fever caused by mineral drugs, promotes urination, and resolves alcohol-induced heat. Long-term consumption causes cold in the middle jiao, while removing heat from the stomach.
It grows south of the Jianghuai region. It resembles the trunk of the persimmon tree but is dark green/black. *Xianju Fu* states: "The persimmon of Hou Wu from the Liang dynasty is this type." (Now attached)
Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite Ri Huazi: "Persimmon stops thirst, moistens the lungs and heart, eliminates cold and heat in the abdomen and viscera, and is excellent for making lacquer. It should not be eaten with crab, as this causes abdominal pain and severe diarrhea."
*Tu Jing Ben Cao* provides detailed records under the entry for Persimmon.

[Tao He Ren (Peach Kernel)]
Bitter and sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It treats blood stasis, blood obstruction, abdominal masses and pathogenic qi, kills small parasites, stops cough and rebellious qi, dissipates hardness beneath the heart, removes sudden traumatic blood stasis, breaks abdominal masses, regulates menstruation, and relieves pain. Collect the kernels in the seventh month and dry them in the shade.
**Tao Hua (Peach Flower):** Kills malignant ghosts and zhu diseases, improves complexion. Bitter in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Treats water retention, breaks stone lin (lithiasis), promotes urination and bowel movements, and expels three types of parasites.
**Tao Xiao (Dried Peach Fruit):** Bitter in taste, slightly warm. Kills spirits and evil entities, treats acute abdominal pain due to zhong'e (sudden evil invasion), dispels demons and misfortunes. Also known as Tao Nu or Xiao Jing.
**Tao Mao (Peach Fuzz):** Treats bloody abdominal masses, chills and fever, accumulations, infertility, leukorrhea, breaks firm obstructions. Scrape off the fuzz for use.
Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite *Benjing* general usage for monthly closure: "Tao Mao is neutral."
**Tao Du (Peach Borer):** Kills ghosts and wards off evil and misfortune. It is the insect that eats peach trees.
**Jing Bai Pi (Inner Bark of Stem):** Bitter and pungent in taste, non-toxic. Removes evil ghosts and zhong'e abdominal pain, clears heat from the stomach.
**Ye (Leaf):** Bitter and pungent in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Treats corpse worms and expels insects from sores.
**Jiao (Gum):** After refining, it protects the middle jiao from hunger and enhances resistance to wind and cold.
**Shi (Fruit):** Sour in taste; excessive consumption generates heat. Grows in valleys of Mount Tai.
Tao Hongjing states: "It is now found everywhere; those from Jingkou are also good. It is best to select varieties that produce viable pits for planting. There is also wild peach (Shan Tao), whose kernels are unsuitable for medicinal use. Peach kernels can be made into cheese, which is considered cold in nature. Peach gum is used by immortals. Pick peach flowers on the third day of the third lunar month; they are also required for alchemical formulas. *Fangyan* states: 'If one finishes eating the flowers of three peach trees, their complexion becomes rosy like peach blossoms.' No one has tried this. Those who consume Atractylodes advise against eating peaches. *Tang Bencao* commentary states: 'Peach gum is bitter, neutral, and non-toxic. It treats stone lin, invigorates blood, and treats zhong'e zhu wu. The flower treats expulsion of evil qi, reduces swelling and fullness, and promotes urination and bowel movements.' Minister Yuxi et al. respectfully cite *Yaoxing Lun*: 'For pain caused by Tao Ren, crush fresh leaves, wrap in silk, and insert vaginally, changing 3-4 times daily until cured. Alternatively, collect flowers on the third day of the third lunar month, dry, powder, and take 2 qian bi with water. For children, take half a qian bi to treat heart and abdominal pain. For alopecia areata, collect unopened flowers, dry, mix equally with red mulberries, powder, and blend with lard. Wash the scab with ash lye first, then apply. Also: Peaches can trigger Dan Shi toxicity and should not be eaten; raw ones are particularly harmful. White fuzz treats evil ghosts and pathogenic qi. Peach gum does likewise. Peach charms and Tao Nu treat demonic influences. Charms are boiled and drunk; Tao Nu is taken as pills or powders. Chew one Tao Ren nightly and mix with honey to apply to hands and face for benefit.' Ri Huazi states: 'Peach is hot and slightly toxic. It benefits complexion, but excessive consumption generates heat. Dried-on-tree peaches treat lung qi-related lower back pain, dispel demonic influences, break blood stasis, treat heart pain; grind with wine and take warm. Also: Peach leaves are warm. They treat evil qi and pediatric chills/fever with ke wu. Peach fuzz treats metrorrhagia and breaks pi qi. Eating Tao Du makes one fat and improves complexion.'
*TU Jing* states: "Tao Ren, flowers, and fruits grow on Mount Tai but are now ubiquitous. Those from Jingdong and Shaanxi are particularly large and beautiful. Most superior fruits are grafted onto other rootstocks by gardeners, becoming plump but losing their true nature. These are unsuitable for medicine; naturally grown ones are best. Collect pits in July, crack open to get kernels, and dry in shade. Merchants in the capital often sell roasted ones, claiming health benefits, but these are often mixed with grafted fruit pits and are inferior. *Qianjin Fang* Tao Ren Decoction treats postpartum ailments and qi disorders. Take 1200 Tao Ren, remove double kernels, tips, and skins, roast and grind finely. Mix with 10 dan 5 dou of clear wine, grinding like millet porridge until very fine. Store in a small-mouthed porcelain jar, seal tightly with flour paste, and boil in water for one fu shi (approx. 2 hours). Take one spoonful with warm wine twice daily. Flowers are collected on the third day of the third lunar month and dried in shade. *Taiqing Huimu Fang* states: 'Soak peach flowers in wine and drink to cure hundred diseases and improve complexion.' Cui Yuanliang's *Haishang Fang* treats facial sores with yellow discharge and eye sores: Collect peach flowers over 105 days, powder finely, take one fang cun bi after meals with half a zhan of water, three times daily, highly effective. Fruit dried on the tree through winter is called Tao Xiao. Collect in January; choose solid ones. Hu Qia's Tao Nu Tang for zhong'e toxic qi and gu zhu uses this. Scrape fuzz from the fruit to treat female metrorrhagia. Tao Du (worm) improves complexion when eaten. Inner bark is used for zhong'e formulas. Leaves are often used as decoctions; tender tips are called Tao Xin and are superior. Zhang Wenzhong’s physician’s method for Tian Xing involves fumigation with Tao Ye Decoction: Boil 1 shi of water with peach leaves, reduce to 7 dou. Use as a mat cover, wrap patient in quilts, place hot decoction under the bed, fumigate while hot. When sweating occurs, remove heat, rest, dust with powder, and moxa Da Zhui point for cure. Chen Linqiu's *Zheng Fa Jing* states: 'If sweating fails repeatedly, death ensues; steaming is indicated as for wind-stroke. Ask Zhang Miao, who had extreme fatigue with sweating, lay on a single mat, felt cold and weak. After eight failed sweat-inducing attempts over four days, he steamed with heated earth and peach leaves, inducing heavy sweat, dried with powder, and recovered. For steaming, burn earth, remove fire, sprinkle water, add silkworm sand, peach leaves, cypress leaves, bran, or wheat chaff. Use readily available materials; cow/horse manure works but smells. Collect falling peach leaves and dry. Place 2-3 cun thick layer on fire, sit on cloth mat, keep warm. Monitor temperature carefully. If too hot, use double mats; stop when whole-body sweat appears. Dust with warm powder, do not overdo. This method originated from Ruan Henan.' Peach skin also treats disease. *Ji Yan* treats persistent lung heat oppression, chest wheezing, palpitations, and alternating external heat causing near-death sensation where medication is intolerable. To vent chest wheezing, use 1 sheng each of Tao Pi and Yuan Hua, boil in 4 sheng water to 1.5 sheng, strain, soak old cloth in juice, apply to chest, warm limbs; relief comes in minutes. *Bi Xiao Fang* treats Gu Du: Use 1 part Da Ji, 1 part East-growing Tao Bai Pi (roasted), 1 part Ban Mao (de-footed and de-winged, roasted). Powder together. Take half fang cun bi with cold water; toxin exits. If not, take another dose; both toxins exit. This is Li Raozhou’s method, claimed miraculous. If contracted via wine, take with wine; if via food, take with drink. Peach Gum in Immortal Formulas: Take 20 jin gum, put in silk bag, boil in 1 shi oak ash lye for 3-5 boils, remove bag, hang high to dry, boil again. Repeat three times, dry, powder, mix with honey, take 20 pills (walnut size) with wine on empty stomach. Long-term use leads to immortality. Also treats Stone Lin (*Gu Jin Lu Yan*): Take date-sized peach gum, mix with 3 he cold water (summer) or warm water (winter), take once daily three times. Stones will pass; stop when finished. Fruit should not be eaten excessively as it generates heat.
Lei Gong states: "When using, select peeled kernels. Boil with Baizhu and Wudou in a crucible for one fu shi, drain, wash clean, hang in silk bag under eaves to dry, remove dust before use. Do not confuse with Gui Du Lou (dried thousand-petal peach fruit hanging on tree in November), which is potent. Process by steaming with wine from Si to Wei hour, bake dry, cut with copper knife, bake flesh for use. *Shenghui Fang* tonifies Heart deficiency, treats amnesia, sharpens ears and eyes: On Wuzi day, take 2 cun East-growing Tao Zhi, mix with 2 qian Jisheng powder, brew like tea, take 4-5 times daily. *Waitai Miyao* treats Huoluan with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea: Cut 3 sheng Tao Ye, boil in 5 sheng water to 1.3 sheng, divide into two warm doses. Another formula for Deficient Heat Thirst: Hold Tao gum pellet in mouth. Another for Bone-steaming Fever: Take 120 Tao Ren, boil in water (more is better/more precise). Take alternate days. Avoid meat for 100 days. Another for Hemiplegia and Pi Zhu: Soak 1700 Tao Ren (remove double, tip, skin) in 1.3 dou good wine for 21 days, dry, powder, make pills. Take 20 pills with peach wine. Another for Three Parasites: Crush leaves, take 1 sheng juice. Another: Soak peach flowers in wine to cure hundred diseases and beautify. Another: Lie on bed with Tao Ye under mat, neck on herbs, cover with clothes to steam vapor; sweat leads to cure. Another for Throat Closure: Drink 3 sheng boiled Tao Pi juice. Another for Postpartum Body Rash like Millet Grains, Hot as Fire: Grind Tao Ren, mix with December lard, apply daily. Another for Pediatric Ear Issues: Cook Tao Ren powder, wrap in cloth, plug ear. Another for Peach Poisoning: Late at night, grind rice slurry with peach tree sap/water until smooth, cool slightly, wash face. Another: On May 5th, before sunrise, carve 3-cun wooden figure from East-facing branch, carry in belt to prevent forgetting. *Zhouhou Fang* for Shi Zhu/Ghost Zhu: Ge Hong says this is one of the Five Shi, accompanied by ghosts. Symptoms vary from 36 to 99 types, causing chills, silence, unknown suffering, aversion everywhere. Accumulates over years/months, leads to death, spreads to others, wipes out families. Treat urgently. Crush 50 Tao Ren, boil in water to 4 sheng, take all at once to induce vomiting. If not fully expelled, wait 2-3 days, repeat. Another for Sudden Heart Pain: Cut 1 handful East-growing Tao Zhi, boil in 1 sheng wine to 0.5 sheng, take at once, highly effective. Another for Sudden Heart Pain: Take 7 Tao Ren (remove skin/tip), crush well, mix with 1 he water, take at once, good. Can treat 30-year chronic cases. Another: Start with 4-5 he, increase to 1 sheng over 7 days. Ge Shi: For Stroke Sores on legs: Crush Tao Ye, mix with vinegar, apply. Skin also... Burn fallen peach fruit to ash, mix with water, take for cure. Another for Postpartum Vulvar Swelling/Pain: Burn Tao Ren, apply. Another for Lower Body Ulcers/Cavities: Crush Tao Pi/Ye, soak in water... Another for Post-Febrile Lower Body Sores: Boil Tao Bai Pi thick like syrup, add bear bile, apply with cotton. Another for Mad Dog Bite: Take 1 handful Tao Bai Pi, boil in 3 sheng water to 1 sheng, take. Sun Simiao: Peach is pungent, suitable for Lung disease. Peach is sour, non-toxic, but excessive consumption causes Luoli nodes in groin. Another for Nightmares: Roast 3-7 Tao Ren (remove skin/tip), administer with urine. Another for Emergency Ghost Zhu Heart Pain: Take 1 he Tao Ren, crush, boil, drink. *Shiyi Xinjing* treats Upper Qi Cough, Chest Fullness, Asthma: Take 3 liang Tao Ren (remove skin/tip), grind in 1 sheng water to extract juice, mix with 2 sheng Jing Mi... [Text fragment] ...and lower back pain. Take 1 sheng Tao Ren (remove tip/skin), roast until black smoke appears, grind hot into paste, mix with 3 sheng wine, take once to induce sweat. Cured within 3 doses. *Shanghan Leiyao* treats Jaundice: Body and eyes golden. Do not let women, chickens, or dogs see. Take 1 handful East-growing Tao Gen (cut thin like chopsticks), boil in 1 da sheng water to 1 xiao sheng, take warm on empty stomach. After 3-5 days, jaundice disperses like clouds. Final cure takes 100 days. After jaundice disperses, drink clear wine occasionally to help eyes disperse faster; otherwise slow. Avoid hot noodles, pork, fish. This is Xu Zhicai’s family secret. Another for Tian Xing with Lower Body Sores: Boil Tao Zhi water thick, take 1 fang cun bi. Another for Epidemics: Boil East-growing Tao Zhi finely, bathe, beneficial. Another for Pediatric Shanghan/Shi Qi: Tao Ye... [Fragment] ...treats Yin Swelling: Crush Tao Ren, apply. Another for Pediatric Sores/Blisters (Lan Chuang): Grind Tao Ren, apply with fat. Another for Pediatric Wet Tinea: Take 1 handful Bai Pi, boil in 2 sheng water to 0.5 sheng, drink all, cure. Repeat if needed. *Xiuzhen Mizhi*: Bathing after eating peach causes Lin Disease. *Baopuzi*: Soak Tao Gum in Mulberry Ash Lye and take to cure hundred diseases. Body becomes light, sees light in darkness, fast for months. *Jingchu Suishi Ji*: Xie Daotong saw children on Luofu Mountain pasting peach boards with vermilion on doors to ward off ghosts. Song Wang Wei: Peach Syrup is Yue Di Tongtian Liquid... Song Qiqiu *Huashu*: Li grafted onto peach, strong root, hairy fruit. *Zhou Li*: Right Military Officer manages chariot armor... offers peach as condiment. People in deep mountains cook it as rice. *Dianshu*: Peach is essence of Five Woods. Peach charms on doors repel evil qi; this is Immortal Wood. *Kongzi Jiayu*: Confucius sat with Duke Ai, offered peach and millet. Duke Ai said: Use it. Confucius ate millet first, then peach. Attendants laughed. Duke Ai: Millet cleanses peach, not for eating. *Dongjing Fu*: Duoshuo barrier guarded by Yulei. Shenshu assists, holding reed rope. Note: Ancient brothers Shenshu and Yulei inspected ghosts under peach tree, bound unreasonable ones with reed ropes to feed tigers. Hence left/right Shenshu/Yulei on peach charms. Malaria Treatment: Take 100 Tao Ren (remove skin/tip), grind in mortar to paste, avoid raw water. Add 3 qian Huang Dan when paste forms, make walnut-sized pills. Take 3 pills facing North on attack day with warm wine (well water if no wine). Prepare on May 5th at Wu hour. Avoid women, dogs, chickens.
*Yanyi* states: "Tao Ren varieties are many. Jingji has You Tao (Oil Peach), shiny, smaller, does not benefit Spleen. Some have spots and shine like oiled paint. One mountain variety matches 'Peach Blossoms Begin' in *Yueling*, but has many flowers few fruits, inedible, only for kernels. *Tang Wenxuan* refers to Shan Tao with red calyx. Taiyuan has Jin Tao (Golden Peach), deep yellow. Xijing has Kunlun Tao, deep purple-red flesh. These two are very sweet. Also Bingzi Tao, like modern fragrant cakes. For medicine, only naturally growing mountain peaches are correct, utilizing their dispersing/purgative action, not the plump/fine ones. Example: In Shanghan 8-9 days, fever with mania, lower abdominal fullness/pain due to blood stasis: Use 30 Tao Ren (boil, remove skin/tip, stir-fry bran until red, separate grind), 30 Meng Chong (remove wings), 20 Shui Zhi (stir-fry), 1 liang Chuan Da Huang. Powder together, mix with Tao Ren, pound evenly, make honey pills bean-sized. Take 20 pills with Tao Ren decoction. Stools will pass bloody stasis; cured. If not, repeat."