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Sweet in taste, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It primarily benefits the five Zang organs (five visceral organs), stabilizes the Hun and Po souls, expels spirits and evil ghosts, resolves blood stasis, and unblocks the five types of Lin syndrome (strangury). It originates from Yongchang.

Tao Hongjing states: Old theories suggest that this is pine resin that has sunk into the ground and transformed over a thousand years; burning it now also emits the scent of pine resin. Folklore claims there is a bee inside amber, with color and shape resembling a living one. *Baowu Zhi* (Classic of Marvels) further claims it is made by burning beehives, which is likely incorrect; rather, bees may have been stuck by pine resin and thus fallen to the ground and submerged. Some are fabricated using boiled chicken eggs or green fish otoliths, which are not genuine. Authenticity can only be verified by the "attracting mustard seeds" test. People often wear it to ward off evil. Scraped powder taken orally is highly effective for treating blood stasis. *Xian Jing* (Scriptures of Immortals) does not list a standard usage, except for Qu Chen Dan, where red ones are preferred. Currently, most come from foreign countries, and none are found in areas producing Poria cocos (Fu Ling). It is unknown whether Poria cocos exists in areas producing amber. According to Chen Cangqi's *Bencao*, amber stops bleeding, generates flesh, and heals traumatic wounds. Combined with Rheum palmatum (Da Huang) and Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis (Bie Jia) to make a powder, taken with wine as a dose of one cubic inch, it expels foul blood; for women, stop taking when intra-abdominal blood is fully expelled. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Song, Ningzhou presented an amber pillow, which was broken and given to soldiers to apply to traumatic wounds. *Han Shu* (Book of Han) states it comes from Da Qin (Rome); initially like peach gum, it hardens upon coagulation. Ministers Yu Xi et al., according to the Shu edition notes, state: Another theory says maple resin turns into amber after a thousand years underground, proving it is not formed by burning beehives. If beehives were burned, how could bee shapes remain? Not only pine resin transforms; could maple resin also form it? Examining the facts: Amber is indeed wood resin that has sunk into the ground and transformed over a millennium. However, other trees do not produce as much resin as maple or pine, nor do they endure as long, so they cannot be excavated from below. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Amber serves as the sovereign herb. It treats various pathogenic factors and postpartum blood stasis pain. Ri Huazi states: It treats gu poison, strengthens the heart, brightens the eyes, removes nebulae, relieves heart pain, mania, and breaks up mass formations.

*Tujing* states: The textual content is under the entry for Poria cocos.

*Haiyao Bencao* states: It is the sap of sea pine trees, initially like peach gum, later solidifying. Neutral in nature, it primarily stops bleeding, generates flesh, calms the heart, brightens the eyes, and breaks up mass formations and qi blocks. It is suitable for postpartum syncope due to blood loss, fainting, and lochia retention pain. Formula: Amber 1 liang, Carapax et Plastrum Testudinis 1 liang, Burrete Rhizoma (Jing San Leng) 1 liang, Corydalis Rhizoma (Yan Hu Suo) 0.5 liang, Myrrha (Mo Yao) 0.5 liang, Rheum palmatum 6 zhu. Process by boiling, pounding into a powder. Take 3 qian bi with wine on an empty stomach, twice daily; the effect is unparalleled. Reduce the dose of Rheum palmatum for postpartum cases.

To verify authenticity, rub vigorously in the palm until warm; if it attracts mustard seeds, it is genuine. There is also Southern Amber, which is inferior to imported varieties. Lei Gong states: For medicinal use, there are Red Pine Resin, Stone Amber, Water Amber, Flower Amber, Object-Image Amber, Yi Amber, and Amber. Red Pine Resin resembles amber but is turbid, too brittle, with horizontal grain. Water Amber is mostly non-red, pale yellow, with rough wrinkled skin. Stone Amber is heavy like stone, yellow, and unusable. Flower Amber has patterns resembling new Masson pine heartwood, alternating red and yellow lines. Object-Image Amber contains living organisms within; manipulating it yields miraculous effects. Yi Amber is the chief of all ambers, hence named Yi Amber. Amber resembles blood color; if rubbed hot on cloth and attracts mustard seeds, it is genuine. For medicinal preparation, mix Platycladi Semen (Ce Bai Zi) powder with water, place in a porcelain pot, put the amber in the powder, heat from Si hour to Shen hour; it will emit unique light. Pound separately into powder and sieve repeatedly. *Waitai Miyao* treats fish bones stuck in the throat for six or seven days. Thread an amber bead onto a rope, push it forward to the obstruction, then pull it out with a bow-like motion. Crystal beads also work; ensure no sharp objects scratch them smooth. Another prescription treats bruising from falls or heavy impacts causing blood stasis. Scrape amber powder, take one cubic inch with wine. Also take Polygoni Catenati Spora (Pu Huang) two or three bi doses, four to five times daily, until cured. *Guiyi Fang* treats traumatic wounds from arrows, causing syncope and unconsciousness. Grind amber to powder, mix with urine of a young boy, take one qian, three doses until cured. *Tongdian* records that Nanman, Hainan, Linyi Kingdom, Qinxiang Commandery, and Linyi County produce much amber. Pine resin sinks underground, where no plants grow nearby, at depths of eight or nine chi, large as oak, peeled to form it; initially like peach gum, it hardens into KT, shining brightly. *Bieshuo* states: According to various sources, Poria cocos and amber have slight differences but are both said to transform from pine resin entering the ground. However, Poria-producing areas never yield amber. When harvesting Poria, look for large pines broken or felled, where root scars remain intact and sap flows fresh when cut; dig nearby. Since broken pine trees do not sprout again, their roots survive, and sap flows down, generating Poria cocos and Fu Shen. These are used to treat Heart and Kidney, promoting fluid circulation. Amber forms when pine branches and nodes are lush, scorched by intense sun, causing resin to flow out of the trunk, thickening daily, falling into soil, and over years, being permeated by earth while retaining its lustrous body. It still attracts mustard seeds today due to stickiness. Thus, insects like mosquitoes are trapped before entering the soil. Both originate from pine but differ in constitution. Poria generates in Yin; Amber generates in Yang and completes in Yin. Thus, both nourish Ying and calm the Heart, and promote diuresis. Observing the diagram of pine resin below clarifies this principle. *Yanyi* states: Amber is also found in Western Regions; its color is lighter and clearer, while Southern amber is darker and turbid. Locals carve it into shapes. To claim it transforms from thousand-year-old Poria is absurd, as bees and ants are perfectly preserved inside. *Dili Zhi* states: Linyi produces much amber, truly transformed from pine resin. This view is superior. However, land suitability varies, so some transform and others do not. Zhang Maoxian claimed it came from burning beehives, but we do not know where he got this idea. Rubbing it with hands makes it warm enough to attract mustard seeds. The rest follows the *Jing*.