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Saponariae Fructus (Zao Jia, 皂荚)

Pungent, salty, warm, slightly toxic. It primarily treats wind-bi (Wind-Bi syndrome), dead muscle (numbness and insensibility of skin and muscles), evil qi invading the head causing tears to flow, unblocks the nine orifices, kills spirit entities, treats abdominal distension and fullness, promotes digestion of grains, eliminates cough, relieves scrotal swelling or nodules, treats retained placenta in women, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence. It can be used as a bathing medicine but is not suitable for decoction. It grows in the rivers and valleys of Yongzhou and Zou County in Lu; those shaped like pig's teeth are of good quality. The pods are harvested in September and October and dried in the shade. (Platycladi Semen serves as its guiding herb; it is antagonistic with Ophiopogonis Radix; it fears Azurite, Ginseng Radix, and Sophorae Flavescentis Radix.) Tao Hongjing stated: Now it is found everywhere; those one chi two cun long are excellent. Ordinary people see holes caused by insects on them but have never seen the insects themselves, saying they should not be approached as they cause malignant diseases, which is not true. These insects resemble green caterpillars on grass and vegetables; they emerge when the pod turns slightly black, which is why they are hard to see. One only needs to examine fresh green pods to understand this. The Commentary of Tang Bencao notes: There are three types of this substance: Pig's tooth saponaria is the lowest grade, curved and ugly, lacking any moistening property, unable to wash away dirt; those one chi two cun long are thick, large, hollow, and lack moisture; if six to seven cun long, round, thick, with short nodes and straight, thin-skinned and fleshy, with strong flavor, these are very good. Minister Yuxi and others followed the commentary in Yao Xing Lun: Saponariae Fructus acts as an ushering herb. It treats breaking up hard accumulations, abdominal pain, and can induce abortion. It also states: Soak Saponariae Fructus in wine, extract its essence, boil into a paste over fire, apply on silk to treat all swellings and toxins, and it can also stop pain. Chen Cangqi stated: Ghost Saponaria boiled as a bath soup removes wind sores and tinea; rubbing leaves removes clothing stains and promotes hair growth when washing hair. It grows by the marshes in Jiangnan, about one to two chi high, resembling Saponaria. Ri Huazi stated: Saponariae Fructus unblocks joints, removes head wind, resolves phlegm, kills labor worms, treats bone-steaming fever, opens the stomach, and treats stroke with locked jaw. For medicinal use, remove skin and seeds, and roast with lard.

Tu Jing stated: Saponariae Fructus grows in the rivers and valleys of Yongzhou and Zou County, now available everywhere, with those from Huai and Meng prefectures being superior. The trees can be very tall. There are three types: Ben Jing states that those shaped like pig's teeth are good. Tao's commentary states those one chi two cun long are good. Tang's commentary states those six cun long, round, thick, with short nodes and straight, thin-skinned, fleshy, and strong-flavored are very good. Currently, physicians use long Saponariae Fructus for making Shu Feng Qi Wan and decoctions, while using Pig's tooth Saponariae Fructus for treating dental issues and removing stagnation. Although used differently, their nature and flavor are generally similar. Harvested in September and October, dried in the shade. Zhang Zhongjing's formulas for miscellaneous diseases state that for coughing with reversed qi, spitting turbid saliva, able to sit but not lie down, Sao Jiao Wan is prescribed. Saponariae Fructus powder, one ingredient honey-pilled like wu zi (Cocculus Indicus fruit size), taken with jujube paste and water, one pill three times a day and once at night. Cui Yuanliang's Hai Shang Fang treats abdominal distension and fullness leading to emaciation. Pig's tooth Saponariae Fructus measured continuously to one chi long, roasted over mild fire, skin and seeds removed, pounded and sifted, honey-pilled like wu zi. Before taking medicine, eat two pieces of boiled mutton, sip the broth, then take ten pills with meat broth, stopping when bowel movement becomes loose. If feeling strong effects, take more; stop when clear watery stool occurs. For one month after recovery, avoid meat and greasy foods. It also treats heat-labor. Use continuous Saponariae Fructus one chi long, must be solid without holes, lightly coated with earth lard, slow-roasted over fire until lard is absorbed, then pounded and sifted, honey-pilled like wu zi. Take fifteen pills on an empty stomach daily with drink, gradually increasing to twenty pills. Severe cases recover within two courses. Its young leaf buds, eaten as vegetables, are beneficial. The white flesh inside the seed also enters lung-treating medicines. Additionally, roasted yellow heart chewed treats diaphragm phlegm and acid regurgitation. Also, tender thorns boiled with rice vinegar into a thick decoction applied to sores and tinea has miraculous effects.

Lei Gong stated: When using, select red, fine, fat, and non-bitten ones. Soak in fresh well water overnight, scrape off coarse skin with a copper knife, roast repeatedly with lard until lard is exhausted. Then pound, remove seeds, and sift. One liang of Saponariae Fructus with two fen of lard yields seeds. Select round, hard, non-bitten ones, boil in a bottle near fire until cooked, peel off one layer of hard skin, take two pieces of inner white tender flesh, remove yellow part as it consumes kidney qi. Cut white pieces finely with copper knife, dry in sun. Sheng Hui Fang: Treats epidemic qi for three days, headache, irritability, and fever. Burn Saponariae Fructus to ash, powder. At any time, mix two qian with one zhan of fresh well water, a little ginger juice and honey. Bathe in warm water first, then take medicine; sweat will appear shortly and cure. Wai Tai Mi Yao treats sudden stroke with locked jaw. Five liang of Saponariae Fructus, skin removed, powdered, mixed with three-year-old vinegar. Apply to left corner if right is affected, and vice versa; reapply when dry until cured. Another formula for dental caries: Pound Saponariae Fructus, remove skin, roast to powder, apply to teeth, spit out. Another formula for drowning victims alive after one night: Wrap pounded Saponariae Fructus in paper, insert into lower orifice; water will drain and patient revives. Qian Jin Fang: Nasal polyps. Roast Saponariae Fructus powder to size of small beans, blow into nose with bamboo tube. Another formula for sleep paralysis: Knife-edge amount of Saponariae Fructus powder revives the dead. Another formula for difficult labor: Swallow two Saponariae Fructus seeds, immediate cure. Zhou Hou Fang: Sudden whole-body and facial edema. Peel and roast Saponariae Fructus until yellow, chop three sheng, soak in one dou of wine, boil in vessel until boiling, take one sheng, three times a day, frequently prepared. Another formula for malignant sores on children's bodies: Wash with Saponariae Fructus water first, dry. Paste crushed sesame oil, cure when scorched.

Jing Yan Fang: Treats food qi causing whole-body yellow swelling, asthma, inability to eat, chest fullness. Non-bitten Saponariae Fructus (remove skin and seeds, coat with good vinegar, roast until charred, powder) one qian bi, seven Badi Fructus (remove oil and membrane). Mix with light vinegar and ground ink, pill like hemp seeds. Take three pills after meals, increase by one pill daily, stop when loose stools occur. Regular use digests alcohol and food. Mei Shi Fang: Treats cholera with muscle cramps. Blow a small bean-sized amount of Saponariae Fructus powder into nose; sneezing brings cure. Another formula for sudden unilateral testicular pain: Powder Saponariae Fructus with skin, mix with water, apply externally, effective. Sun Simiao burns Saponariae Fructus, grinds fine, takes three qian with millet drink, immediate relief. Another formula for colds regardless of yin/yang, miraculous: One strip of fat Saponariae Fructus, burn until red, powder, mix with five he of water; for yin/yang colds, mix with wine. Another formula for waist and legs unable to touch ground: Take 1200 seeds, wash clean, dry, roast with little lard until fragrant, take thirty pills with seed and sour jujube seed decoction. Another formula for sudden death: Blow powder into nose. Another formula for sleep paralysis: Blow powder into nose. Dou Men Fang: Treats sudden headache. Blow Saponariae Fructus powder into nose, sneezing stops pain. Jian Yao Ji Zhong: Treats stroke with locked jaw and salivary flooding. One strip of Saponariae Fructus, remove skin, powder. Take one qian bi with warm wine at any time. If qi excess and pulse vigorous, take two qian bi. If jaw locked, rub teeth with white plum, open mouth, pour medicine, cure when wind-phlegm is vomited. Bo Ji Fang: Treats hot pain from entering bad water or Saponariae water into mouth. Burn Saponariae Fructus seeds to retain nature, one fen, half liang rock sugar. Grind seeds fine, mix evenly with rock sugar into paste, hold in mouth. Shi Quan Fang: Treats toothache. Use... Bu Jiu Fang: Remove skin and seeds of Saponariae Fructus... soon breaks, slight bleeding, cure. Sun Shang Yao: Treats sudden stroke, drowsy as if drunk, body heavy, limbs flaccid, falling or not, mouth corner twitching, slight saliva, if not treated immediately becomes severe disease harming people. This syndrome involves wind-phlegm flooding upward, diaphragm obstruction, qi blocked, should use Jiu Ji Xi Xian San. Four strips of Pig's tooth Saponariae Fructus, must be fat and solid, non-bitten, scrape black skin, one liang Jin Fan (Alumen), bright and clear. Pound two ingredients into fine powder, sieve again. If patient exists, take half qian, severe cases three zi bi, mix with warm water and灌 (pour). Do not vomit heavily, just slight thin cold phlegm, output one or two sheng. Patient remains alert, treat slowly. Do not force heavy vomiting, fear excessive harm to life. Many efficacious cases cannot be fully listed. Gan Ying Shen Xian Zhuan: Cui Yanzhe, served in Left Qinji Army, suddenly fell ill, eyes dim, unable to distinguish people at close range, eyebrows and hair fell out, nasal bridge collapsed, skin had sores like tinea, all malignant diseases, incurable. As Yangzhou Luogu Zigui Garrison Commander, met a Daoist priest coming from valley, unnamed, gave formula: Say: One to two jin of Saponariae Fructus thorns turned to ash, steamed, dried, ground to powder. After meal, take one qian bi with thick decoction of Da Huang Tang. Within ten days, sideburns and hair regrow, skin smooth and moist, cured, eyes twice as bright. After getting this formula, entered mountain, whereabouts unknown, also iron anvil with... gold and silver, though hundred...

Yan Yi stated: Saponariae Fructus, seeds stir-fried, pounded to remove red skin and kernel. Soak bones until soft, cook, pickle with sugar, edible. Very effective in dredging wind-heat congestion in five zang organs. Pods that are not... fat, lightly roast, powder one liang, add half liang raw Bai Fan (Alumen) powder, half liang Ni Fen (Calomel). Wind-phlegm flooding blocking qi, mix with water... then must vomit phlegm. Whenever using Bai Fan, it separates and drains phlegm downward. Also during summer damp-heat or long rains, burn with Cang Zhu, repels epidemic pathogenic damp-qi.