典藏书目

Hawthorn Fruit (Shanzha)
Enters prescriptions and acts on the Spleen to reach the Stomach. It possesses the efficacy of digesting accumulations and resolving food stagnation. It courses through the Jueyin channel to treat hernia and moves blood stasis. Its nature is sour, bitter, sweet, and warm. (Hawthorn fruit tastes sour and sweet, is warm in temperature, red in color, and tight in nature. It enters the Blood aspect of the Liver and Spleen. It excels at digesting food, moving blood stasis, and breaking up blood clots. Because its nature is warm and enters the Liver, it can treat conditions such as hernia. It is used in formulas for smallpox and chickenpox because when blood circulates freely, the skin relaxes, facilitating the eruption of rashes to the surface. In summary, Hawthorn fruit is a digestive agent for the Blood aspect of the Liver and Spleen; therefore, it can also resolve meat stagnation.)

Torreya Seed (Feizi)
Its function is to kill parasites and moisten the Lungs. Its nature is sweet and warm. (Torreya seed is a fruit associated with the Lung organ. It tastes sweet and neutral, slightly warm, and has a moist texture. It excels at killing parasites and moistening the Lungs. Consuming too much causes slippery bowels. If cough results from parasites eroding the Lungs, or if hemorrhoids and fistulas result from parasites eroding the anus, this herb can be used. All antiparasitic herbs are typically bitter, but only this herb and Quisqualis Indica Fructus (Shijunzi) are sweet and moist without damaging the Spleen and Stomach.)

Pomegranate Peel (Shiliupi)
Sweet and astringent, it treats chronic diarrhea and dysentery caused by prolonged injury; it secures the Kidney and consolidates the intestines. Sour and warm, it treats deficiency-cold in chronic cough; it protects Metal (Lung) and astringes the Lung. For hematochezia (blood in stool) and hematemesis, take after burning to ash. For leukorrhea and metrorrhagia, decoct in water and drink. Pomegranate flower disperses heart depression causing hematemesis; when charred black and insufflated into the nose, it treats epistaxis. (Pomegranate peel tastes sour and astringent, slightly sweet, and is warm. It enters the Blood aspect of the Lungs, Kidneys, and Large Intestine. It must be used after being stir-fried until black. Its function is specifically astringent and consolidating. It can be used for any condition involving chronic deficiency-cold cough, lower bleeding, metrorrhagia, or leukorrhea, provided there is absolutely no pathogenic heat. It can turn white hair black when used to brush teeth, apply to beard, or dye cloth, similar to Chinese Gall (Wubeizi). However, it constricts Qi and Blood and dries out the intestines and stomach, so it should not be used excessively. ○ Pomegranate flowers should be taken from varieties with many petals; their red color enters the Heart. Since all flowers have a dispersing nature, charring them black utilizes the principle that "red stops when seen with black," thus treating hematemesis and epistaxis.)

Ginkgo Nut (Yinxing)
Moistens and descends Qi to calm wheezing. Ascends to astringe Lung Metal to eliminate rebellious cough. Bitter and sweet, astringent in nature, descends to clear damp turbidity and transform phlegm-saliva. (Ginkgo nut tastes sweet, astringent, and neutral. It is white in color and descending in nature. It specifically enters the Lung organ, astringing Lung Qi and descending turbidity, thus calming asthma and cough. It descends turbid phlegm. Its flowers open at night and are rarely seen by people. This is likely due to its endowment of Yin-toxic nature, which allows it to kill parasites. Parasites arise from damp-turbidity. However, excessive consumption leads to Qi stagnation, probably because its astringent action is too strong.)