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Yu Li Ren (Seed of Prunus japonica)
Taste: Sour. Nature: Neutral. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Mainly treats abdominal edema, edema of the face, eyes, and limbs, and promotes urination through the water passages.
Root: Mainly treats gingival swelling, dental caries (pronounced "Yu"), strengthens teeth, and removes intestinal parasites. Also known as Jue Li, Che Xia Li, or Di. Grows in high mountains, river valleys, and hills. The root is harvested in May and June.
Tao Hongjing states: It is found everywhere in the mountains and wilds. When ripe, the fruit is red and can be eaten. Chen Yuxi et al., according to the Shu Ben Cao, state: It is very sweet and fragrant, with a slight astringent taste.
[Annotation] states: Chang Di is also known as Di. Guo Pu says: There are Di trees in the mountains now; the fruit is like a cherry and edible. The *Book of Songs · Xiao Ya* says: The flower of Chang Di. Lu Ji says: Xu Shen says, Bai Di tree looks like a plum but smaller, like a cherry, pure white, and is now planted in imperial gardens. There is also a Chi Di tree, similar to Bai Di, with leaves like those of Urticifolia Ziziphus but rounder, the fruit is bright red, like Yu Li but smaller, ripening in May, abundant in Guanxi, Tianshui, and Longxi. *Yao Xing Lun* states: Yu Li Ren acts as a minister herb, tastes bitter and pungent. It can treat Qi stagnation in the intestines and Guan Ge obstruction (blockage of upper and lower jiao). The root treats toothache, disperses stagnant Qi, and breaks up accumulations. Ri Hua Zi states: Yu Li Ren unblocks and drains the five zang organs, treats acute pain of the bladder, disperses cold pus in the waist and hips, eliminates retained food, and directs Qi downward. It also states that the root is cool and non-toxic. It treats fever in children due to heat; decocted as a bath for wind-induced toothache, used as a mouthwash when decocted strongly.
*Tujing* says: Yu Li Ren, not recorded in the *Ben Jing* regarding its origin province, only states it grows in high mountains, river valleys, and hills, and is now found everywhere. The tree is five to six chi tall; branches, flowers, and leaves resemble those of a plum tree; only the fruit is small like a cherry, red, sweet and sour in taste, and the pit matures with the fruit. The root and fruit are harvested in June, and the kernel inside the pit is used. Lu Ji's *Caomu Shu* says: Tang Di is Ao Li. Also known as Que Mei, or Che Xia Li. Found in mountains everywhere. Its flowers are either white or red; fruits mature in mid-June like plums and are edible. Now, near the capital, households plant a variety in gardens with long stems, extremely dense flowers and many leaves, also called Yu Li, but unsuitable for medicinal use. Wei Zhou's *Duxing Fang* treats Hong Xiang Jiao (gouty edema) with swelling, fullness of heart and abdomen, obstruction of urination and defecation, and急促 breathing/asthma. Use Yu Li Ren 12 fen, crush, grind in water to extract juice; Yi Yi Ren (crushed like millet) 3 he, cook rice into porridge with the juice. Eat on an empty stomach; this is good. *Bixiao Fang* treats Pi accumulation (masses). Take Che Xia Li Ren, slightly scald to remove skin and kernel, mix with dry flour, pound into cakes. If too dry, add plain water, knead like normal dough into cakes, size like a patient's palm. Make two cakes, lightly roast until yellow, do not let them become fully cooked. Eat one on an empty stomach; there should be a rapid bowel movement. If no movement, eat another, or drink hot porridge juice, stopping when bowel movement occurs. If dysentery continues after noon, stop it with vinegar-rice. After purging, the body will be deficient. For unresolved disease, take another dose after 1-2 days according to strength, until the disease is exhausted. Children's dosage should be adjusted accordingly; avoid cheese, beef, horse meat, etc. All cases are effective. For severe disease, use half Yu Li Ren and half flour; for mild cases, reduce according to judgment. After symptoms subside, patients may take doses according to their capacity; repeated trials show miraculous efficacy.
Lei Gong says: Upon harvesting, first soak in hot water, then shave off the tip, peel cleanly, soak in raw honey overnight, drain, dry in shade, and grind into a paste.
Food Therapy: [Annotation] says: For Qi stagnation, swallow 49 kernels with wine; purging afterwards is even better. It also breaks Pi Qi and can drain water from the four limbs. *Waitai Miyao*: Zhang Wenzhong treats dental caries. Cut the white bark of Yu Li root, boil in water to make a strong decoction, hold in mouth. Change when cold; worms will be spat out. Yao Hezhong: Treats children after prolonged heat illness fails to heal. Grind Yu Li Ren in hot water like apricot paste, take 2 he per day. Another prescription: Treats sudden heart pain. Chew 37 Yu Li Ren thoroughly, swallow with fresh well water; warm water after meals is excellent, sip while hot. Yang Shi Chan Ru: Treats body swelling, fullness, urgent water qi, inability to lie down. Grind 1 Da He of Yu Li Ren into powder, mix with wheat flour to form cakes for eating; upon entry, bowels open immediately, Qi moves, and condition improves.
*Yanyi* says: Yu Li Ren, its fruit resembles the Imperial Plum, red when ripe and edible, slightly astringent. Its kernel, peeled after blanching, ground extremely fine, mixed with raw Borneolum Syntheticum (Long Nao),