典藏书目

Endowed with the Qi of Earth, Metal, and Fire, its taste is bitter, pungent, and sweet-ping (neutral), its temperature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Bitterness can drain/descend, pungency can disperse, sweetness enters the Blood level, and warmth can promote circulation; therefore, it mainly treats metal wounds (injuries caused by sharp metal objects) to stop bleeding, and various conditions such as carbuncles, ulcers, and malignant sores.

Wangbuliuxing (Vaccariae Semen), mainly treats metal wounds, stops bleeding and eliminates pain, excels at promoting lactation, inducing labor, regulating menstruation, dispelling wind-bi (wind-damp obstruction), wind-spasm, and internal cold, reduces external swelling such as mastitis and back abscesses, but pregnant women should not take it.

Commentary: Wangbuliuxing implies that it moves without staying put; even with a royal decree, its movement cannot be detained. The ancient saying goes: "Shanjiachuan (Pangolin Scales) and Wangbuliuxing, when taken by women, milk flows constantly," describing its powerful blood-moving force. It is contraindicated for those with hemorrhage or metrorrhagia (profuse uterine bleeding unrelated to menstruation), and pregnant women must avoid it.

Lingzhi Cao (Ganoderma), comes in six color varieties, and its flavors correspond to the Five Elements. Qingzhi (Green Lingzhi) corresponds to Wood, specifically tonifying Liver Qi, fostering benevolence and forbearance, brightening the eyes, and calming the soul. Chizhi (Red Lingzhi) corresponds to Fire, nourishing the Heart and Spirit, enhancing intelligence and memory, opening the chest and diaphragm, and resolving stagnation. Baizhi (White Lingzhi) corresponds to Metal, benefiting the Lungs, stabilizing the魄 (corporeal soul), stopping cough and counterflow qi, and moistening skin and hair. Heizhi (Black Lingzhi) corresponds to Water, benefiting the Kidneys, driving out strangury (difficulty in urination), promoting urination and defecation, and unblocking the nine orifices. Huangzhi (Yellow Lingzhi) resembles gold. Zizhi (Purple Lingzhi) is abundant in Songyue Mountain, corresponds to Earth, expels pathogenic factors, benefits the Spleen, strengthens bones and tendons, beautifies the complexion, and preserves youth. All six types are omens of auspiciousness, glowing at night, unburnable, imperishable when stored, prolonging life with long-term use, protecting against weapons, difficult to obtain in the world, and rarely used by physicians; this description is attached merely to inform readers of the details.

Also known as Lichang, or Jinlingcao. Endowed with the Qi of Northern Kan-Water, its juice is dark black, its taste is sweet-acidic and neutral, and it is non-toxic; it is a purely Yin herb. It enters the Kidney, Liver, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine. It excels at cooling Blood; using it turns white hair and beard black, and it stops bleeding from acupuncture wounds, all verifying its ability to cool and benefit Blood.

Hanliancao (Ecliptae Herba), dyes white hair black, stops bloody dysentery (pus and blood in stool) turning into normal feces, promotes rapid growth of sparse eyebrows and beard, and immediately stops bleeding from red-hot burns/fire sores. However, its nature is cold, possessing a Yin-cold quality. Although it excels at cooling Blood, it does not benefit the Spleen and Stomach. If not processed and taken together with Ginger Juice and Pepper Red, it will inevitably cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. *Shesheng Zhongmiao Fang* (Prescriptions for Health Preservation and Wonders of Life) takes one jin (approx. 500g) of Hanliancao root, washes it cleanly with non-ash wine, mixes it with four liang (approx. 125g) of green salt, marinates for three nights, then puts it with the juice into an oil pan, stir-fries until the original nature is preserved (charred outside but intact inside), grinds into sand powder, uses daily to brush teeth, and swallows with saliva, which can darken hair and strengthen teeth.