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Bopogu Zhi (Psoraleae Fructus)

Pungent in flavor, greatly warm in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats wulao qishang (generalized deficiency syndromes due to overwork and injury), wind-induced deficiency-cold, destruction of bone marrow due to injury, cold kidney leading to seminal emission, and spontaneous abortion in women caused by blood and qi disharmony. Also known as Pugu Zhi. It is produced in various prefectures of Guangnan and the country of Persia. The plant is three or four chi tall, with small leaves resembling mint. Those imported by sea ships are of the best quality. (Currently appended)

Min Yuxi and others verified according to *Yaoxing Lun* (Treatise on the Properties of Medicinals): Poguzhi, also named Pugu Zhi. Bitter and pungent in flavor. It can primarily treat lower back pain in men, coldness of the knees and dampness of the scrotum, expel various cold-bi (painful obstruction) stubborn conditions, stop frequent urination, and relieve coldness in the abdomen. Rihua Zi recorded: It promotes sexual function, treats cold lao (deficiency-wasting syndrome with aversion to cold), and clarifies the eyes and ears. Those from Southern Fan are red in color; those from Guangnan are green. For medicinal use, it should be slightly stir-fried before use. Also known as Hujiu Zi.

*Tujing Bencao* (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) records: Bopogu Zhi is produced in various prefectures of Guangnan and the country of Persia. Currently, it grows abundantly in the mountains beyond the Lingling region, but it is not as good as that brought by foreign merchant ships. The stem is three or four chi tall, leaves resemble mint, flowers are slightly purple, fruits resemble hemp seeds, round, flat, and black. Harvested in the ninth lunar month. Some refer to it as Hujiu Zi. The Hu people pronounce it as "Poguzhi," hence the alias Pugu Zhi. Nowadays, people often take it together with walnuts. This method originated from Zheng Xiangguo of the Tang Dynasty. He narrated: When I served as the Military Commissioner of Nanhai, I was seventy-five years old. The land of Yue is low-lying and humid, causing internal and external pathogenic factors to attack, resulting in multiple diseases arising simultaneously, with a severe depletion of yang qi. I took mineral-based tonifying medicines, but they were ineffective in all aspects. In the seventh year of Yuanhe, Li Moha, a shipowner from the Kingdom of Heling, knowing my condition, transmitted this prescription and medicine to me. At first, I suspected and did not take it. Moha kowtowed and earnestly requested, so I finally took it. After seven or eight days, I felt its efficacy. Since then, I have taken it regularly, and its effects are miraculous. In the second month of the tenth year, upon resigning from the commandery and returning to the capital, I recorded the prescription to spread it. Take ten liang of Pugu Zhi, carefully select, peel, wash, crush, and sieve into fine powder. Use twenty liang of walnut kernels, soak in hot water to remove skins, grind finely into a paste, then mix with the aforementioned powder. Further blend with high-quality honey until uniform like maltose syrup. Store in a porcelain vessel. In the morning, take one spoonful of the medicine mixed with two he of warm wine, followed by rice to settle the medicine. For those who do not drink alcohol, mixing with warm boiled water is also acceptable. The longer the duration of intake, the more it prolongs life, benefits qi, refreshes the mind, clarifies vision, and strengthens bones and sinews. However, avoid consuming Youcai (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) and sheep blood; other foods are unrestricted. This substance originally came from foreign lands via sea ships and is not native to China. The foreigners call it Boguchi, which was phonetically corrupted into Pugu Zhi. *Xu Chuanxin Fang* (Continued Collection of Believed Effective Prescriptions) records this incident, with detailed explanation, so it is recorded here in full.

*Haiyao Bencao* (Materia Medica of Maritime Drugs) records: It is incompatible with Gancao (Licorice Root). Leigong recorded: Generally, its nature is greatly drying and toxic. When preparing, soak it in wine for one night, then drain. Subsequently, soak it in running water from the east for three days and nights, then steam it. Remove it between Si hour (09:00–11:00) and Shen hour (15:00–17:00), and dry in the sun for use. Empirical Prescription: Miraculous for treating lower back pain. Use Pugu Zhi powdered, taken with warm wine, three qianbi per dose. Another Prescription: Treats wulao qishang in men and women, chronic coldness of the lower yuan, darkens beard and hair, treats all wind diseases, and limb pain, preserves youthfulness and strengthens qi. Take one jin of Bopogu Zhi, soak in wine for one night, then dry. Mix with one sheng of black sesame oil seeds and stir-fry until the cracking sound of the sesame seeds ceases. Winnow to remove the sesame seeds, retaining only the Bopogu Zhi. Grind into powder. Make pills using vinegar-boiled wheat flour paste, sized like wutong seeds. In the morning, take twenty pills with warm wine or salted water decoction.