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Jili Zi (Tribuli Fructus)

Bitter, pungent, warm, slightly cold, non-toxic. It primarily treats evil blood (stasis), breaks up masses and accumulations (abdominal lumps), relieves throat bi (swelling and obstruction of the throat), facilitates lactation (difficult milk secretion), alleviates body wind-itching, headache, cough with qi rebellion injuring the lung, lung萎 (withering of the lung tissue), stops irritability and directs qi downward, treats infant head sores, carbuncles, and damp sores in the yin region; it can be made into a powder for external massage. Its leaves treat wind-itching and can be boiled for bathing. Long-term consumption promotes muscle growth, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body. It is also known as Pangtong, Quren, Zhixing, Chaiyu, Shengtui, Jili, and Ci. It grows in Pingze of Fengyi or by the roadside. The fruits are harvested in July and August and dried in the sun. (Aconitum carmichaelii root is its assistant herb.)

Tao Hongjing stated: It grows abundantly on roadsides, with leaves spreading on the ground. The fruits have thorns, resembling water caltrops but smaller. Chang'an has the most abundant supply, and pedestrians often wear wooden clogs. Nowadays, the military casts iron ones to scatter on enemy paths, also called Jili. The *Book of Changes* says: "Resting on Jili," indicating danger and injury. The *Classic of Poetry* says: "There are weeds on the wall, which cannot be swept away," referring to the tangled thorny stems. It is rarely used in prescriptions. Now, consulting other editions' notes: The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it is warm, while the *Bencao Jing Jiuzhu* states it is cold. This drug's nature is unblocking and circulating; long-term use does not cause coldness nor stagnation with heat, thus it is considered warm. Ministers Yuxi et al. respectfully note that according to the *Erya*: "Ci is Jili." The annotation states: "Spreading on the ground via vines, with fine leaves, fruits having triangular thorns piercing people." The *Yaoxing Lun* states: White Jili Zi is the sovereign herb, sweet in taste, slightly toxic. It treats various wind-related ulcers, breaks old blood stasis, treats vomiting of pus, manages difficult labor, removes restlessness and heat, and is not used in decoctions. Ri Huazi stated: It treats running piglet syndrome (Qi rushing from lower abdomen to chest), kidney Qi issues, lung Qi issues, chest and diaphragm fullness, induces labor and causes abortion, benefits essence, treats swellings and toxins, coldness of the water organ, frequent urination, stops dribbling urine and seminal emission, and hematuria. For medicinal use, whether in pills or powders, it must be stir-fried to remove thorns.

The *Tujing* states: Jili Zi grows in Pingze of Fengyi or by the roadside. Fruits are harvested in July and August and dried in the sun. Winter harvesting is also practiced. They are yellowish-white, resembling the military's iron Jili. This is what the *Classic of Poetry* refers to as "weeds on the wall." Guo Pu's annotation of the *Erya* states: "Spreading on the ground via vines, with fine leaves, fruits having triangular thorns piercing people," which is correct. Another type, white Jili Zi, now grows in Shayuan of Tongzhou, where horse pastures are most abundant, and also near roads. It has green leaves and fine vines, spreading densely on sand. It flowers in July, with yellow-purple flowers, similar to pea flowers but smaller. It bears fruit in September, forming pods, ready for harvest. The fruit tastes sweet and slightly fishy, brownish-green, resembling silkworm seeds but slightly larger. It closely resembles Ma Lin Zi (Iris tectori seed), but Ma Lin Zi is slightly larger and unsuitable for medicine; careful distinction is required. Nowadays, people mostly use this type. However, ancient formulas state: Jili Zi should always be the thorny variety, which is best for treating wind and brightening the eyes. Immortal formulas also include single-drug Jili consumption, stating that regardless of color, choose firm ones, pound to remove thorns, and use. It additionally treats hemorrhoids and fistulas, sweaty yin, and women's breast abscesses and leukorrhea. Ge Hong treated sudden stroke with five corpse pathogens by pounding Jili Zi, making honey pills, taking two pills the size of broad beans three times a day until cured.

Lei Gong stated: Whenever used, after harvesting, clean and select, then steam from Wu hour to You hour, take out, and dry in the sun. Pound in a wooden mortar until all thorns on the skin are removed. Mix with wine, steam again from Wu hour to You hour, take out, and dry in the sun for use. The *Shenghui Fang* treats chronic nasal congestion, inability to smell, and continuous watery discharge. Take two handfuls of Jili Zi, run over by carts on the road, boil one large cup of water until half remains. Lie supine, fill mouth with rice, and pour one heaping spoonful of juice into the nose. After no more than two instillations, sneeze out one or two polyps resembling red pupae worms, and the condition will heal. The *Waitai Miyao* treats acute pulling pain in the waist and spine. Pound into powder, mix with honey to make pills, take two pills the size of broad beans with wine, three times a day. Another formula: Bu Gan San (Liver-Nourishing Powder) treats thirty years of blindness. Harvest Jili Zi on the seventh day of the seventh month, dry in shade, pound into powder. Take one fangcun bi (measure) with water after meals. Another formula: Treats swelling. Roast one sheng of Jili Zi until yellow, pound and sieve, mix with sesame oil into a paste, stir-fry until charred black, spread on old cloth, cut to match the size of the swelling, do not cover the center. Another formula: Treats roundworm attacking the heart like stabbing, vomiting clear fluid. Harvest Jili Zi on the seventh day of the seventh month, dry in shade, turn to ash. Take one fangcun bi before meals, three times a day. Another formula: Treats all types of ding sores. Turn one sheng of Jili Zi to ash, mix with strong vinegar to seal the top; if broken, apply externally. Another formula: Emergency treatment for children's qusu sores (ulcerative lesions); if encircling the body, death ensues. Pound Jili leaves and apply; if no leaves, use seeds. The *Qianjin Fang* treats sores and swellings. Wash Jili vines, cut into three-cun pieces, boil five sheng of water until two sheng remain, strain, put in a copper vessel, boil again until one sheng remains, cool into a thick syrup consistency, and apply to sores and swellings. Another formula: Treats generalized wind-itching and scabies. Boil Jili Zi and seedlings in water and wash; immediate cure. The *Qianjin Yifang* agrees. Mei Shi Fang treats difficult labor with fetus obstructing in the abdomen, visible fetus, retained placenta, or dead fetus. Use four liang each of Jili Zi and Beimu, pound into powder. Take one spoonful with rice soup; if not delivered after traveling four or five li, take another dose. Sun Simiao's Food Taboos treats vitiligo. Pound raw white Jili Zi into powder, make into a decoction and drink. The *Shenxian Mizhi* states: Consume one shuo of Jili Zi, harvested when ripe in July and August, dried in the sun, pounded to remove thorns, then processed into powder. Take two qian each time, mixed with fresh drawn water, three times a day, without interruption, to achieve grain avoidance and longevity. After one year of consumption, one feels neither cold in winter nor hot in summer. After two years, the elderly appear youthful, white hair turns black, and fallen teeth regrow. After three years, the body becomes light and one achieves longevity.

The *Yanyi* states: There are two types of Jili: One is Du Jili, which grows spreading on the ground by roadsides or on walls, producing small yellow flowers and sharp thorns; this is exactly the "weed on the wall" mentioned. The flowers are harvested, shaded-dried, and powdered. Take two or three qian each time, mixed with warm wine after meals, to treat vitiligo. The other type is white Jili Zi, sourced from the horse collection areas in Shayuan, Tongzhou. It has yellow-purple flowers, forms pods, and bears seeds resembling sheep kidneys. It is used in kidney-tonifying medicines and is widely used nowadays. Practitioners treating wind disorders exclusively use the thorny Jili.