典藏书目

Now, the bark of the cypress is used. It is evenly coated with honey and roasted, then mixed with equal parts (one fen) of Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis), ground together into a powder. Add one zi (approximately 0.5-1 gram) of raw Longnao (Borneolum Syntheticum), and grind uniformly. This is used to treat heat in the Heart and Spleen, causing sores on the tongue and cheeks. The powder should be sprinkled onto the sores; if saliva is produced, it should be spat out. Additionally, Zhang Zhongjing's Baipi Tang (Cypress Bark Decoction) is invariably effective, as recorded in *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders).

The flowers bloom before the leaves appear; this is also known as Mubi Hua (Magnolia Flower). It blooms earliest in early spring. Because when the flower buds are not yet open, they are covered with hairs and are bright and long like a brush, it is named "Mubi" (Wooden Brush) based on its shape. There are two varieties: red and purple. One resembles the color of peach blossoms, and the other is purple. For medicinal use, the purple variety should be employed, and it must be harvested before blooming. When preparing for medicinal use, remove the hairy buds.

This refers to the pods that appear in early spring. Remove the wrinkled, astringent, dry, and withered parts. Take the tender middle part, chop it, dry it, and grind it into powder. In years of poor harvest, farmers use it as a food substitute. When the leaves are green and tender, they can be collected and stored, and also used to make soups or vegetables. During the Jiayou era, passing through Feng and Pei, people lacked food, and villagers ate much of this plant.

There are two types of Wuyi (Celtis seeds): small and large. Small Wuyi is actually Yu Jia (Ulmus seed). Rubbing the kernels to make a paste yields a particularly pungent taste. For medicinal purposes, large Wuyi should be used, which is a distinct species. However, small Wuyi is often adulterated with other substances during processing, so careful selection and removal of impurities are essential. It is indispensable for treating cold and slippery conditions of the Large Intestine and excessive internal cold qi.

Suanzao (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) has a slightly warm nature. Medical classics do not specify using the kernel, but it still treats insomnia. It grows everywhere, but its quality depends on whether the local soil is suitable. Songyangzi said: "In Suanzao County, a subordinate county of Hua Prefecture, the trees grow several zhang high, have a sour taste, and are valued by physicians. What is sold in markets today are all Jizi (thorny branches)." This statement is incomplete. In fact, what is small is Jizi (thorny bush), and what is large is Suanzao (wild jujube). They grow easily on flat land but are difficult to cultivate in cliffs and gullies. Therefore, Ziziphus trees mostly grow on cliffs and gullies; if left uncut for a long time, they become timber, at which point people call them Suanzao and no longer refer to them as Jizi. This is merely due to common perception; in reality, they are the same species. Because they are not highly demanded by society and obstruct paths, few grow into large trees, as most are cut down by people. However, this plant begins to flower and bear fruit as soon as it reaches three chi in height. Plants with smaller crowns have weaker aroma and flavor, while those with larger trunks have stronger aroma and flavor, representing another distinction. Those produced in the wild mountains of Lintong, Shaanxi, are also good, being suited to the local environment, and their kernels can be harvested. The white thorny twigs appearing later are actually the thorns of young Suanzao before it matures into a large tree. As it grows mature, the thorns decrease, and the fruits become larger. Thus, for Ziziphus, one selects large trees, and for thorns, small bushes; there is no need to force a rigid distinction.