《葛仙翁肘後備急方》Vol. 7

This passage records Ge Hong's (the Immortal Lord Ge) emergency treatments for injuries caused by wild beasts and rabies (mad dog bites), as documented in Daoist medical traditions.

For treating poisonous wounds from bear or tiger attacks: First, burn blue cloth and fumigate the wound to expel toxins, then cleanse it with a strong decoction of kudzu root. Pound dried kudzu into powder and take it with kudzu juice—one small spoonful (approximately 7 cubic centimeters) per dose. Administering this every five days and nights yields optimal results. Alternatively, chew raw chestnuts and apply the paste to the wound. Washing the injury with boiled pig iron water is another method.

Mountain protection ritual against wild beasts: Before entering mountainous areas, perform the "Qi Restraint" technique (a Daoist cultivation method). The procedure involves: At the mountain's base, hold your breath 35 times while visualizing immortals leading tigers before you. Then imagine the White Emperor (a Daoist deity) emerging from your lungs to cover the tiger's eyes while contracting your lower body. Exhale white lung Qi to envelop the mountain forest. Repeat the breath-holding 35 times, form hand seals (using the "Supervisor's Eye" mudra), and step forward three paces with your right foot. Recite the incantation: "Li Er, Li Er—are you not Li Er? You stole the Yellow Emperor's dog, and he sent me to question you..." After chanting, enter the mountain—legend claims this makes tigers unable to see you. If encountering a tiger, widen your eyes, vigorously wave your splayed left hand five times, jump while swinging both arms up and down three times, and shout: "Dui! Tiger of the Northern Dipper—begone!" This reportedly makes tigers flee. Repeat this ritual before lodging overnight. Burning ox or sheep horns also deters tigers. Carrying pouches of powdered realgar and amethyst quartz provides additional protection.

Supplementary treatment for tiger bites: Drink copious alcohol until thoroughly intoxicated—this allegedly causes expulsion of tiger fur through vomiting.

For rabid dog bites: First suck out the poisoned blood, then apply moxibustion to the wound ten times. From the next day onward, administer moxibustion once daily until completing 100 treatments—abstain from alcohol during this period. Alternatively, take powdered sanguisorba root orally (one small spoonful once or twice daily), or apply the powder directly to the wound—fresh crushed sanguisorba root poultices work better. Another method involves ingesting powdered tiger teeth or bones, said to cure even manifested rabies. Killing the offending dog and applying its brain to the wound allegedly prevents recurrence.

These methods reflect characteristic features of ancient Daoist medicine, combining herbal remedies, ritual incantations, and specialized therapies. While certain components like kudzu and sanguisorba possess genuine detoxifying properties, the ritual elements belong to the realm of Daoist spiritual practice.

This text records multiple medicinal formulas and precautions for treating bites from rabid dogs:

The first method involves crushing Chinese chives (Allium macrostemon) to extract the juice for external application on the wound, while also drinking one liter of the juice daily in three divided doses until complete healing.

The second method recommends grinding alum into powder to sprinkle on the wound before bandaging, which miraculously prevents infection and accelerates healing.

For the third approach, burn equal parts of human hair and hedgehog skin into ashes, mix with water, and drink one cup. If symptoms like red eyes or locked jaw appear, force open the teeth to administer. Physician Yao emphasizes using equal proportions of these ingredients.

The fourth prescription directs patients to pound fresh rehmannia root for its juice—consumed internally while also applying topically to the wound over a hundred times.

The fifth treatment uses powdered dried ginger, taken orally or applied directly to the injury.

Critical warnings: After a rabid dog bite, symptoms typically recur every seven days. If no symptoms appear within twenty-one days, danger passes—but complete safety requires one hundred days. Drink 2-3 liters of chive juice weekly during this period, and permanently avoid dog meat and silkworm pupae to prevent fatal relapse. During recovery, abstain from raw, cold, or greasy foods—especially steamed fish over rice or exposure to oily fumes—and alcohol, preferably for a full year.

For symptom recurrence:

Consuming raw toad slices proves remarkably effective (verified by Physician Yao), though roasted preparation works too—best taken immediately after the bite. Yao also recommends swallowing with garlic paste.

Supplementary therapies:

Drinking ginger root juice cures; turnip juice also works well; apply warm stove ashes to the wound; pour melted wax into the injury; combine scalp residue with warm cow dung for topical use; crush knotweed for poultices; take dried ginger powder or half-liter ginger juice orally.

Key emphasis: Rabies-specific treatments yield superior results, particularly roasted toad and alum powder applications. Dog bites prove notoriously difficult to treat—especially from dogs fed horse meat that triggers madness. Watch for warning signs: dry nose, red eyes, hiding, and food refusal indicate impending rabies. Prevent by feeding wolfberry juice porridge. If the dog refuses, rub salt on its nose to induce licking.

Final appendix references the "Mei Shi Fang" formula for rabid dog bites.

This records ancient folk remedies for emergency treatments such as animal bites and venomous stings, primarily utilizing readily available herbs and common household items. Though primitive, these methods reflect the wisdom of ancient people in dealing with sudden injuries.

For dog bites, fresh crushed apricot kernels could be applied to the wound. Several approaches existed for treating horse bites or sores caused by horse sweat: applying rooster or hen comb blood to the injury (using hen blood for male horses and rooster blood for mares); applying an ointment made from powdered, burnt horsewhip leather mixed with oil; or drinking strong liquor until intoxicated to alleviate symptoms. If poisoned by a wound from dead horse bones, applying dung from the horse's abdomen could neutralize the toxin.

For swelling and pain caused by fox urine or thorn pricks, one could split open a live chicken and apply it directly to the wound, or repeatedly soak the injury in warm mulberry ash solution. Another method involved dripping hot wax into the wound followed by fumigation with smoke to draw out the venom. As noted in Minor Prescriptions (Xiaopin Fang), such wounds resembled snakebites and required prompt treatment.

An appended formula documents the personal experience of Sun Simiao (the renowned Tang dynasty physician), who used the white sap from dandelion roots to treat a wood splinter wound, achieving full recovery within ten days. This method was also recorded in Yang Yan's Southern Travel Formulas (Yang Yan Nanxing Fang), confirming its efficacy.

These prescriptions embody the "using poison to attack poison" treatment principle, employing foul substances like animal dung or menstrual blood to counteract toxins. While modern medicine no longer recommends direct application of these methods, their underlying principles of wound cleansing and detoxification remain valuable references.

Here are several emergency treatments for poisoning from animal bites:

For horse bites or when horse sweat contaminates a wound: Finely grind apricot kernels, boil them, and soak the wound while the liquid is still hot, replacing it frequently. If poisoned by a horse bone puncture, wash the wound with dung and urine from the horse's abdomen—applying the dung directly is particularly effective. Alternatively, strain the dung to extract its juice for drinking. Another remedy involves decocting purslane for oral administration. If horse sweat enters a sore causing swelling and intensified pain, immediate treatment is crucial—delay may allow the toxin to penetrate deeply, making cure difficult. Apply raw aconite powder to the sore until yellow fluid discharges, signaling recovery. Another method combines alum and yellow lead (huangdan), frying them until purple, then applying the mixture to the affected area.

For venomous snake bites: Crush equal parts of realgar, musk, and dried ginger, sift them, blend with honey, and store in small bamboo tubes for emergency use. Apply to the wound—effective against various snake venoms. Another approach involves mashing black-feathered chickens for a hot compress. Special caution is required for the green-striped snake (qingtiao she), a virulent green serpent often coiled on trees; its bite causes instant death.

Ge Hong's recommended first aid: Immediately bury the bitten limb in a pit of compacted earth to draw out the venom. Once pain subsides, remove the limb. Alternatives include pounding the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis for juice (taken orally and applied topically) or applying crushed garlic with its residue. Other methods involve using earwax from pigs, chewing salt and spitting it onto the wound before moxibustion, or applying burnt centipede powder.

In dire emergencies: Urinate directly on the wound, then face the sun, hold your breath, and take three steps. Dig a small pit, pour in hot water, form mud pellets the size of phoenix tree seeds, ingest them, and apply a small amount of mud to the wound.

This text records several emergency treatments for snake bites:

Grind equal parts of cinnamon bark and trichosanthes root into powder, store it in a sealed bamboo tube, and carry it at all times. When bitten by a viper, apply it immediately—this remedy can counteract various snake venoms. Note that the bamboo tube must be tightly sealed to prevent the medicinal properties from dissipating.

Universal first aid for snake venom: Quickly apply moxibustion (3-5 cones of mugwort) at the bite site to prevent toxin spread. Alternatively, crush bidens herb and apply it to the wound for immediate pain relief.

Other proven remedies include: applying a cloth pouch filled with vitex leaves to swollen areas; smearing swollen areas with aconite juice (a toxic plant extract) until bleeding occurs; applying crushed zanthoxylum leaves with their stems; or cauterizing the wound with a red-hot knife.

Secret formulas from different physicians:

• Master Mei's formula: Crush single-clove garlic with oxalis to make juice for application.
• Guangli formula: Apply finely chopped black bean leaves to the wound, changing three times daily.
• Guangji formula: Apply burned reed rhizome ashes (the plant resembles a swallow's tail).
• Military Ministry's collection: Lightly tap an egg to create a small hole and place it over the wound.
• Liu Yuxi's verified formula: Drip molten alum onto the wound using a red-hot knife tip—reportedly saving dozens of lives.

Notable case: During the Zhenyuan era, two monks bitten by snakes were immediately cured using the alum method above.

Additional snakebite therapies:

• For bone splinters from snake bites: Apply toad liver to make the splinter emerge naturally.
• Broken snake fangs in flesh: Secretly cover with nymphoides leaves (don't let others see)—when holes appear in the leaves, the fangs will follow.
• Severe cases with bleeding from nine orifices: Take 14 horseflies engorged with bovine/equine blood, burn to ashes, and ingest.

Precaution: Avoid hot-natured foods while the bite wound heals, as this may cause relapse. Treatment methods remain the same as during initial bite.

This passage primarily discusses treatments for snakebites and methods for snake prevention.

For snakebite wounds, several treatment methods are described: Iron filings can be blown into the wound; alternatively, the ashes of a burned dead mouse can be crushed and applied to the wound. If the wound heals but residual toxins cause pain and itching, crush one sheng each of garlic and wild garlic, steep them in hot water, and use the liquid to rinse the wound.

If a snake coils around a person, pour hot water over its body or urinate on it. If a snake enters a person’s mouth and refuses to leave, moxibustion can be applied to its tail. If fire is unavailable, use a knife to make a circular cut around the tail, sever the skin, and peel it backward to remove the snake.

The seventh and eighth lunar months are when snake venom is most potent, making bites during this time more dangerous than usual, though the treatments remain the same. Additional remedies include rinsing the wound with warm wine. If a snake enters any of the seven orifices, cutting the tail of a sow and letting the blood drip can drive the snake away.

For snake prevention: When entering the mountains, it is best to carry realgar (a mineral) from Wudu (a place name), as hanging a five-liang piece on the arm can ward off snakes. If bitten, realgar can also be ground and applied. Another effective remedy is the "Five-Gu Yellow Pill" (a medicinal pill containing centipede). However, these methods will fail if the prescribed taboos are not observed.

A special warning: After being bitten, avoid immediately wading through water, as this will intensify the pain. When crossing a river, visualize a large centipede clearing the path ahead. In the mountains, avoid directly saying the word "snake"—use an alternative name instead. Burning goat horns and using the smoke to repel snakes is also effective.

An additional remedy: Grind equal parts of dried ginger and realgar, place the powder in a small silk pouch, and tie it to the arm (left for men, right for women). The medicinal scent will deter snakes, and the powder can also be applied to bites if needed.

This passage describes several folk remedies for treating bites from venomous insects like centipedes and spiders, explained in modern terms:

For centipede bites, the methods include: applying rooster comb blood to the wound; or covering it with salt (it's said centipedes avoid salt odor); soaking in hot salt water; applying crushed garlic or wild garlic paste, white mulberry sap, or even rubbing the wound with dirt from hemp shoe soles. Though centipede bites are painful, their venom is milder than bee venom, and the pain subsides quickly.

Spider bite treatments include: soaking iron rust in vinegar to make a concentrated solution for application; or mixing black sesame oil with lead carbonate paste, reapplying when dry; actinidia leaves provide immediate relief when applied.

Additional remedies:

• For earthworm, mole cricket, or silkworm bites: rub the wound with single-clove garlic for pain relief; apply chicken droppings ash mixed with wine or vinegar
• When spider bites cause body-wide sores: drink fine spring wine until drunk and asleep, causing the parasites to emerge from the flesh like rice grains
• Pediatric treatment: shake earthworms inside scallion stalks to liquefy them, then apply to wounds
• Universal antidote: apply a paste of Isatis root juice mixed with realgar and musk; for severe poisoning, take orally

The passage concludes with a historical case: During the Tang Dynasty, Judge Zhang Yanshang's assistant suffered a venomous spider bite on the neck. The redness spread to his chest, and within two days his head swelled to bucket-size, nearing death. Magistrate Zhang offered a substantial reward for treatment, and later... (the original text cuts off, implying someone cured him with special methods)

Here are several folk remedies recorded for treating insect bites:

When someone was bitten by a spider, Official Zhang Xiang initially doubted it could be cured. The person conducted an experiment by soaking the spider in Da Lan juice (a Chinese herbal medicine, specifically Isatis root juice). The spider first became paralyzed and motionless, then after adding musk and realgar, it completely dissolved into liquid. Applying this medicinal solution to the bite healed it in two days, leaving only a small scab.

Another remedy for spider bites: drink one liter of goat's milk. Records mention a victim whose abdomen swelled like a pregnant woman's, causing family to abandon them. Later, a Buddhist monk instructed them to drink goat's milk, and recovery followed within days.

For earthworm bites: repeatedly soak the entire body in concentrated saltwater. A military officer named Zhang Shao suffered such a bite—his eyebrows and beard fell out, and at night he could hear the earthworm's cries inside his body. This method cured him. Alternatively, bathing in limewater works.

For cricket or earthworm bites: apply chicken droppings to the wound.

For mole cricket bites: mix lime with vinegar and apply the paste.

For silkworm bites: grind musk into powder, blend with honey, and apply topically.

For blisters caused by the toxic urine of earwigs (a venomous insect): apply ash from burned chinaberry tree bark mixed with lard, or use mashed fermented black beans as a poultice. Vinegar mixed with flour also works. The insect's venom causes millet-sized pustules on skin—painful as needle pricks with white pus at the center—and makes skin feel tight.

This passage describes ancient emergency treatments for various insect bites and venomous stings, explained in modern terms:

When experiencing chills accompanied by persistent high fever, with discomfort in the waist, ribs, and chest, the initial treatment involves grinding rhinoceros horn into powder and applying it to the affected area for relief.

The Records of Diverse Matters documents that contact with the venom of earwigs (a type of poisonous insect) causes skin ulcers. Applying the juice of chickweed (a Chinese medicinal herb) externally proves highly effective.

The Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library mentions that if earwig venom causes ulcers encircling the body, it can be fatal. A remedy involves mixing soil from swallow nests with lard and vinegar for external application. Another prescription recommends burning deer antlers into ash and applying it mixed with vinegar.

Minister Qian's prescription states that earwig venom ulcers discharge yellow fluid—chewed pear leaves should be applied and replaced when dry. The Triumphant Golden Formulas records that these ulcers initially resemble millet grains, gradually grow to bean-size, and eventually form burn-like blisters with intense pain. Immediate relief comes from grinding ordinary tea leaves or aged tea cakes mixed with raw oil for topical application.

The Sagacious Benevolence Formulas treats poisonous insect bites with lithospermum oil application or clarified butter (ghee) mixed with salt.

For scorpion stings: Apply Jade Vessel Pills or Five Insect Pills (two types of detoxifying pills) recorded in the Emergency Pill and Powder Formulas. A folk remedy uses mud from dripping eaves mixed with water for topical application.

Wasp sting treatments include: Rinsing with human urine; applying the white sap of paper mulberry or mulberry trees; using tooth tartar; crushing spiders for application; or boiling wasp nests into wash water. Other methods involve burning ox horn into ash mixed with vinegar, slicing garlic for rubbing, or chewing wormwood for external application.

The Thousand Gold Formulas records using powdered wild honeycomb mixed with lard. The Yang's Maternal Care Formulas recommends honeycomb decoction washes. The Arcane Essentials suggests crushed mint leaf poultices, while the Sagacious Benevolence Formulas uses ghee application.

Shen Kuo's Dream Pool Essays from the Song Dynasty recounts: Recluse Liu Tang, dwelling at Mount Wu, once observed a giant wasp trapped in a spiderweb. The spider, stung by the wasp, swelled until near bursting. Gradually, the spider crawled into grass, gently gnawing a taro stem and rubbing its wound against it—soon the swelling subsided. Henceforth, taro stems became a standard treatment for wasp stings.

This passage records ancient Chinese medical emergency treatments for scorpion stings and gu poison from Ge Hong's Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One's Sleeve (Zhouhou Beiji Fang) of the Eastern Jin dynasty. Here's a vernacular explanation:

For scorpion stings, these methods were used: Immediately soak the wound in warm water; or pound purslane and garlic together, then chew some dried ginger to make a poultice for better effect. The Yao family formula recommends soaking the sting in cold water to relieve pain—when the water warms up the pain returns, so change the cold water frequently. Another method uses old cloth soaked in cold water as a compress, replaced several times.

Flowers of hollyhock and pomegranate gathered at noon on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, along with dried mugwort heart, when pounded and mixed with water for application, provide instant pain relief. If pain persists, apply beggarticks juice. Other remedies include: applying yellow lead powder mixed with vinegar, wild aconite powder with saliva, chewed dried ginger, sealing the wound with musk, or soaking in warmed wine.

Supplementary formulas include Sun Simiao's recommended scorpion poison treatment: boil one liang of alum with half a sheng of vinegar, or apply wild aconite powder mixed with vinegar. Chancellor Qian's formula uses pinellia tuber ground with water, while Dietary Physician's Heart Mirror suggests applying monkshood root ground in vinegar. The Empirical Formulas record donkey earwax as effective, and the Extensive Beneficial Formulas mention immediate pain relief from paper mulberry white sap.

For gu poison treatment: Use three-cun-square black sheepskin (or broken drum skin) combined with two liang each of ginger lily leaf, sophora root, coptis, and Chinese angelica, decocted in water and taken in three doses. Another version adds three liang each of rhinoceros horn and skunk cabbage root—if ginger lily root is unavailable, use madder root instead.

The ancients believed gu poison caused severe heart and abdominal pain as if being gnawed, or hematemesis and bloody stool, becoming fatal if untreated. To detect gu poisoning: have the patient spit into water—if it sinks, gu is confirmed. To identify the poisoner: burn a small piece of drum skin for the patient to ingest, and soon they'll name the perpetrator. Persuading the poisoner to lift the curse then brings recovery. Some cases used snake venom as gu poison.

This passage describes ancient methods for treating gu poison (a form of sorcery involving poisoning through food or drink). After entering the human body, gu poison could cause symptoms like vomiting blood, bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, a greenish or yellowish complexion, and emaciation, sometimes leading to death.

Several antidote formulas are listed:

1. Boil three liang each of madder root and ginger lily root in water to make two sheng of medicinal liquid. Drink it warm in one dose—after taking it, the patient would allegedly call out the poisoner's name involuntarily.

2. Mix one croton seed, three fermented black beans, and stove-bottom ash, then pound into three pills. Taking one pill would expel the poison; if ineffective, take another.

3. Consuming one sheng of salt mixed with bitter wine (vinegar) induces immediate vomiting to detoxify.

4. Soak fourteen earthworms in three sheng of bitter wine. After the worms die, drinking the wine was said to revive those in a deathlike state from poisoning.

5. Boiling bitter gourd in water induces vomiting when consumed.

6. Roast three soapberry branches, remove the skin, soak in five sheng of wine overnight, and take in three doses.

7. Mix iron powder with black chicken liver to make pills the size of phoenix tree seeds. Take three pills per dose—severe cases show improvement within ten days.

8. Pan-fry pork liver with honey and consume in twenty portions.

9. Boil jujube wood core in water to make a concentrated liquid. Taken on an empty stomach, it purportedly expels gu poison through vomiting.

10. Grind one liang each of realgar, cinnabar, and hellebore into powder. Take one spoonful with morning well water to vomit out the gu worms.

These methods are cited with sources, some attributed to ancient medical texts like Xiaopin Fang or the Yao family formulas. Note that these are historical records—certain ingredients like realgar and hellebore are toxic and should never be attempted today without professional guidance.

This text records several remedies for gu poison (an ancient concept of illness caused by venomous creatures or dark magic):

The first method uses juice pressed from the young shoots of Platycodon grandiflorus (yinrencao), consuming one to two liters. This herb is commonly eaten and can treat cases where the gu poison has eroded the lower abdomen, causing intestinal perforation.

The second method involves burning a green-backed, long-legged toad together with one fen (a traditional unit) of chicken bone zhifang (a medicinal ingredient) into ashes. The mixture is then inserted deep into the rectum. This formula is also recorded in the Xiaopin Fang (a medical text) and has proven highly effective with repeated use. Physician Yao's prescription follows the same approach.

The third remedy uses pig's bile dripped into the rectum, followed by inserting a cotton wick to guide it deeper.

The fourth recommends the Five Gu Yellow Pill, a crucial formula for treating gu poison, with its specific composition documented in the Beiji Tiao (Emergency Remedies).

There's also a naturally occurring "flying gu," elusive as ghostly qi. For such cases, genuine rhinoceros horn, musk, and realgar are the best medicines. Carrying these ingredients can also prevent gu poisoning.

Physician Yao had a prescription for gu poisoning causing bloody stools resembling chicken liver color, where internal organs are nearly destroyed except for the heart: take Platycodon root powder with wine for seven days. Ge Hong's formula is similar.

Physician Zhi (a renowned ancient doctor) passed down over ten prescriptions, including one where Aristolochia root is pounded into powder. Taking a small spoonful with water immediately induces vomiting of the gu poison, proving remarkably effective. This vine resembles kudzu and bears fruit like small tangerines.

If gu poisoning is suspected, drinking raw licorice juice induces vomiting of toxins. For preventive measures, use cooked and roasted licorice to dissolve toxins internally without vomiting.

Another common preventive method involves holding roasted licorice in the mouth and swallowing its juices. If poisoned through food, it automatically induces toxin expulsion. Regular use prevents both medicinal and gu poisoning.

Taking one ge (about 20ml) of white mulberry sap quickly expels gu poison through vomiting. Inspector Xi Bian verified two remarkably effective formulas: 1) four blister beetles (banmao) with legs and wings removed, roasted, combined with peach bark collected on the fifth day of the fifth month (with black skin removed and shade-dried), plus a small amount of knoxia root (daji). These three ingredients are separately pounded and sifted, then mixed in proportion to form jujube seed-sized pills taken with rice water. If ineffective after one dose, repeat after ten days. Gu poisoning was most prevalent in Hongzhou (modern Jiangxi region), where elderly women using this secret formula could earn twenty bolts of silk as reward, though transmission to descendants was prohibited.

(Note: Ingredients mentioned like blister beetles and knoxia root are toxic. Modern readers should never attempt these ancient remedies without professional guidance.)

This passage records several ancient medicinal formulas for treating gu poison (an illness believed in antiquity to be caused by venomous insects or dark magic) and water toxin (similar to modern waterborne infectious diseases), all derived from the empirical knowledge of ancient physicians.

First, the gu poison remedies: The first formula uses seven square inches of ram's hide combined with four liang of galangal root, two liang each of sophora root and coptis, plus three liang each of Chinese angelica, rhinoceros horn, and cimicifuga. These are boiled in nine sheng of water until reduced to three sheng of medicinal liquid, to be taken in three doses. Records claim some patients immediately vomited several sheng of bee-like creatures after taking this remedy—a formula attributed to Physician Yao.

Other folk remedies for gu poison are equally fascinating: A handful of white bark from the north side of an oak tree boiled for fasting consumption induces vomiting of the poison; ashes of burned hedgehog skin taken with water; ashes of white pigeon feathers and droppings mixed with water; concentrated juice from raw hawksbill turtle shell; and using bluegrass juice to stop bleeding and save children afflicted by gu poisoning.

Regarding water toxin (also called stream affliction or water contamination), its symptoms resemble modern parasitic diseases: initial chills, headache, eye pain, restlessness, stiff joints, daytime drowsiness worsening at night, and cold extremities. If untreated for three days, parasites multiply internally, potentially causing organ necrosis within six to seven days. Diagnosis hinges on observing red ulcerations on the lower body—bright red indicating acute cases, dark red chronic ones.

A secret remedy for water toxin involves drying duckweed and taking it with wine for rapid effect. Another diagnostic trick: genuinely afflicted patients will have cold extremities—the severity correlating with the chill's progression (reaching elbows/knees indicates critical condition).

Though primitive, these formulas reflect the ancients' meticulous observation of symptoms and experimental spirit. The use of animal-derived medicines and plant extracts, viewed through modern lenses, demonstrates discernible pharmacological rationale.

This passage discusses several methods for treating water poisoning (illness caused by exposure to contaminated water sources). Water poisoning manifests insidiously and is difficult to detect, but can be fatal in severe cases, typically developing within twenty days.

To diagnose water poisoning: Boil several liters of water with five inches of wild garlic (a medicinal plant), ensuring the temperature isn't too high as excessive heat diminishes efficacy. After straining, use the lukewarm decoction for bathing. If red rashes appear without other symptoms, treat as another condition.

Treatment methods include:

1. Crush plums or peach leaves to extract juice. Mix three liters with a little water for drinking. For infants unable to drink directly, apply the juice to the mother's nipple for nursing.

2. Pound changsi grass (a medicinal herb) to extract juice. Drink 1-2 liters while applying the juice to the lower body with cotton cloth three times daily until recovery.

3. Blend indigo plant juice with water and apply to face and entire body.

4. Crush a handful of pear leaves with a cup of wine for oral administration, not exceeding three doses.

5. Take powdered snakeberry root orally or apply to the lower body. In summer, sprinkle powder in water before entering as prevention.

Mountain streams often carry toxins, especially in spring when "stream fever" resembling typhoid occurs, with symptoms including chills, fever, and pain that may prove fatal. Treatment parallels typhoid protocols.

Additional remedies:

• Consume burned acanthopanax root ash with wine or rice water (better results with chaste tree leaf juice, though this is a closely guarded secret)
• Drink 1-2 ge of knotweed juice while applying topically
• Steep purple ox knee stems in wine; take thrice daily
• For ulcerated lower body sores: Boil 1 liter glutinous rice with 5 liters salt in 60kg water for steam therapy
• Bathe in concentrated peach bark/leaf decoction to expel parasites
• Insert gleditsia ash wrapped in cotton into affected areas while taking peony formula

(Note: "Shegong" refers to aquatic venomous insects; "treating the lower body" indicates therapies for genital/rectal ailments; "1 dan" ≈ 60kg)

In the Jiangnan region, there exists a venomous creature called the "arrow-worker" (also known as "short fox" or "yu"), which commonly inhabits mountain streams. When people wade or bathe in the water, this creature can shoot venom from a transverse bone in its mouth like a crossbow—even striking a person's shadow can cause illness.

Initial symptoms resemble typhoid fever or demonic possession, potentially including speech impairment, alternating chills and fever, and limb stiffness. Symptoms are milder in the morning but worsen by evening. If untreated for three days, bleeding gums may lead to death. The bite manifests in four ways: first, skin blackens like ink with surrounding needle-like pain; second, ulcers form that may fester if unhealed; third, stone-like protrusions appear on the skin; fourth, burn-like blisters and ulceration occur (the most dangerous, often fatal).

Prevention methods: During rainy seasons, these creatures may flow into homes with rainwater. Keeping white geese or ducks can repel them, while carrying high-quality rhinoceros horn offers protection. For treatment, apply moxibustion within one cun (≈3cm) around the wound—100 moxa cones per lesion.

Eight specific therapies:

1. Crush red amaranth stems/leaves for juice (take orally); apply residue externally (Yao-family physicians recommend 7 ge [≈140ml] per dose, 4-5 times daily)

2. Apply crushed garlic to wounds, then perform moxibustion over the paste 1,000 times

3. Mix two portions of white chicken droppings with sugar as poultice

4. Combine 7 ge each of pill bugs and fermented beans with three shelled/cored croton seeds in lard for topical application

5. Hold one floating black "mother" bean bug from water surfaces in mouth

6. Crush a 1.2-chi [≈36cm] honeylocust pod, decoct in 1 sheng [≈200ml] vinegar to syrup consistency, strain and apply

7. Drink 1 sheng of crushed purslane juice; apply residue externally (effective within 4-5 daily doses)

8. Decoct 2 liang [≈75g] each of black cohosh and iris domestica in 3 sheng water to 1 sheng, consume in one dose

(Note: Ancient measurements: 1 ge ≈20ml, 1 sheng ≈200ml, 1 liang ≈37.5g. In moxibustion, one "zhuang" refers to burning one moxa cone. These remedies require professional guidance.)

This passage primarily discusses methods for treating bites from sand mites (minute venomous insects inhabiting mountainous streams). These mites are extremely tiny, nearly invisible to the naked eye, and can burrow into human skin while bathing or walking through wet grass during rain.

After being bitten, small red dots the size of red beans appear on the skin, causing needle-like pain upon touch. Within three days, victims experience joint pain throughout the body alternating between chills and fever, with the red spots developing into ulcers. If the mites penetrate to the bone, the condition may become fatal. The text recommends immediately rubbing the body vigorously with cloth after bathing in mountain streams, followed by wiping with used silk fabric, and finally applying talcum powder as prevention.

Several treatments for sand mite poisoning are described: First, roast ten garlic cloves until warm, slice them, and apply alternately as hot compresses to the wound, then perform moxibustion with mugwort seven times. Second, use two blister beetles (a type of insect)—brew one for oral consumption and burn the other to fumigate the wound. Third, crush musk and garlic, mix with mutton fat, and carry the mixture in a small bamboo tube for emergency use.

In the Lingnan region, locals immediately scrape the skin's surface with cogongrass and repeatedly apply sow thistle juice after being bitten. For deeper burrowing mites, needles should be used to extract them—under sunlight, the mites can be seen wriggling like scabies mites. After removal, perform moxibustion three or four times on the wound to kill remaining parasites. Dizziness indicates severe poisoning requiring local folk remedies.

The text mentions "shewang"—an ancient arrow poison, "banmao" (blister beetles), and "shexiang" (musk secreted by male musk deer), all commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine.

This passage presents several practical emergency remedies for drug poisoning or overdose, all grounded in traditional medical knowledge.

For medication overdose causing heart discomfort and chest tightness, scrape some soil from an eastern wall, mix with 1-2 liters of water, and drink the solution. Alternatively, dig a pit (2 chi square, 3 chi deep) beneath roof eaves, pour in 7 liters of water, stir to create foam, then drink 1 liter of the foamy water. Repeat if ineffective. Another method involves pounding indigo plants for juice (drink several liters), or soaking blue silk in water for substitute juice.

For mental distress and agitation, fresh kudzu root juice works effectively. If unavailable, mix dried kudzu powder with water (about 100ml dose). Swallowing several raw egg yolks also helps—continue if symptoms persist.

For mineral drug overdose: Drink water mixed with white duck feces powder. Alternatively, boil 150g rhubarb, 100g mirabilitum with 5 liters of fresh rehmannia juice until reduced to 3 liters; take in three doses. Bowel movement indicates recovery.

Persistent vomiting after medication: Drink 1 liter of freshly drawn well water to stop it. For croton-induced diarrhea: Take 1g (about 1 square-inch spoonful) of dried ginger and coptis powder. Alternatively, drink 1 liter of boiled bean juice.

The Waitai Miyao records: For life-threatening poisoning distress, burn rhinoceros horn to ash and take 1g with water.

For fake death from toxic vine poisoning: Force-feed three raw eggs to induce vomiting. Alternatively, drink 1 liter of warm lard. A dramatic method involves beheading a live duck and dripping its blood into the patient's mouth. If jaws are locked, place a bamboo tube (nodes removed) under the armpit and continuously pour cold water through it until the mouth opens.

These methods specify precise measurements: "square-inch spoon" (approx. 1g) and "he" (approx. 200ml). Important note: While these ancient first-aid methods are documented in detail, modern poisoning cases require immediate professional medical attention—these historical approaches serve primarily as reference material.

This passage records various methods for treating poisoning cases, all being practical and effective emergency remedies.

When multiple people are poisoned, placing bamboo tubes (similar to cupping therapy) on both sides of the ribs and the navel area proves highly effective. Another method is to drink large quantities of licorice juice.

The Yao family's remedy states: For those who have fallen unconscious due to poisoning from various toxic substances or wild kudzu, mix fresh urine with human feces, strain the mixture to obtain one liter of juice, and administer it all at once. Once the poison reaches the stomach, it will be neutralized, and the person will regain consciousness—this is the most effective antidote.

For those poisoned by zhen (an ancient lethal toxin) and unconscious, mix three he of powder with three liters of water and administer it orally. If the jaws are clenched, force open the mouth with a bamboo tube to pour the mixture in.

For poisoning from shemang (a type of arrow poison), use indigo plant juice, soybean juice, pig blood, or dog blood as an antidote.

Other antidotes for specific poisons include:

• Wolf poison: Indigo plant juice
• Wolf's bane poison: Mallow root juice
• False hellebore poison: Realgar or onion juice
• Azalea poison: Gardenia juice
• Croton seed poison: Coptis root, adzuki bean soup, or soybean juice
• Realgar poison: Fangji (Stephania tetrandra) juice
• Prickly ash and centipede poison: Mulberry juice or boiled mulberry root juice
• Alum poison: Soybean juice
• Daphne poison: Saposhnikovia root, licorice, or cinnamon
• Pinellia poison: Ginger juice or dried ginger
• Aconite and monkshood poison: Soybean juice or polygala juice
• Apricot kernel poison: Indigo seed juice

For cases of swallowing gold leading to death:

• Filter half a liter of chicken feces with water to obtain one liter of juice; take it three times daily.
• Alternatively, ingest two liang of mercury, which can encase and expel the gold. A small amount of gold requires only one liang of mercury. (Yao's method suggests one liang per dose, divided into three administrations; the patient should be seated upright to allow the medicine to enter the stomach.)
• Duck blood and eggs can also counteract gold poisoning.

General detoxification methods:

1. Chop licorice into fine pieces, boil it into a strong decoction, and drink large quantities of the juice while consuming plenty of the slimy liquid from scallion whites.

2. Boil soybeans thoroughly and drink the juice in large amounts; if soybeans are unavailable, fermented beans (douchi) may be used instead.

3. Indigo plants or indigo seeds can neutralize hundreds of poisons—it is advisable to keep them on hand.

4. Boil qini (a medicinal herb) into a strong decoction and drink one to two liters. In emergencies, chew the herb directly or take it in powdered form—this remedy is particularly potent.

(Note: Some detoxification methods described here, such as ingesting mercury, pose serious safety risks. Modern readers should not attempt these and should instead seek professional medical assistance.)

This passage records several antidote formulas primarily targeting poisons used by the Li ethnic people of Lingnan (modern-day Guangdong and Guangxi regions). It notes that the antidote decoction should never be consumed hot, as heat exacerbates the poison's effects—it must be cooled before drinking.

Li poisons typically enter the body through food. Early symptoms are subtle: gradual loss of appetite, distension in the chest and abdomen, tightness and discomfort in the back, accompanied by malaria-like chills. A simple detection method involves placing a silver plate in the mouth overnight—if it turns bluish, the poison is "blue medicine"; if yellowish-red, it's "fungus medicine" (a toxic substance). Chronic poisoning also manifests in corresponding eye discoloration.

Antidote methods include:

First Emergency Formula: Begin with 4 liang of ginger and 3 liang of roasted licorice boiled in water to make 2 sheng of decoction, taken in three doses. Then soak 4 liang of changshan (Dichroa root) and 4 qian of white salt overnight in water, ideally starting the soak at month's end and boiling at dawn (3-5 AM) on the first day of the new moon in an earthen pot (the process must be hidden from servants, chickens, and dogs). Reduce to 2 sheng and take in two doses. Vomiting will occur—collect the vomit in a bronze vessel. If the expelled fluid is bluish and can be stretched 5 chi (≈1.5m) unbroken on a wooden stick, the antidote hasn't fully taken effect; administer a second dose after two days. A man named Xi Bian, poisoned for over a month before detection, recovered using this formula but had to abstain from all foods except plain rice for twenty days. This formula cured nine individuals.

Second Formula: Boil 10 liang of yellow vine (common in Lingnan) in water and consume in three doses to neutralize toxins. The Li people regularly ingest this vine like fangji (Stephania root) to prevent poison activation. Xi Bian noted its diuretic properties and reported several successful treatments.

Third Formula: Use 10 liang of duling vine (locally called "three hundred taels of silver"), a Lingnan plant with slender leaves growing up to 3 chi (≈1m) long. Preparation mirrors the previous formulas.

These remedies were documented by Lingnan officials through prolonged observation of Li medicinal practices. As the Li people lacked medical texts, they often used whimsical names for poisons (e.g., "three hundred oxen medicine" or "three hundred taels of silver medicine"), requiring practical verification of efficacy.

Here are several recorded antidote formulas and treatment methods:

The first method involves boiling one dou of water mixed with two sheng of wine until reduced to three sheng of medicinal liquid. Divide this into three doses. After consumption, toxins will be expelled through urination. For ten days after taking the medicine, avoid eating poisonous foods. If not fully recovered, repeat the dosage.

Another formula uses four liang each of dried lan shi (a medicinal herb) and white-flowered vine (must be sourced from Junzhou and never grown alongside wild kudzu). After chopping, boil with seven sheng of water and one sheng of wine until reduced by half. Consume the entire dose on an empty stomach. Mild dizziness may occur but is harmless. Alternatively, grind dried lan shi alone into powder—a single dose of this preparation also proves effective.

For abdominal poisoning: Take two liang of dulinteng (cut into three-cun segments) and three sheng of wine. Seal in a jar and heat evenly with chaff fire until boiling three times. Drink warm when cooled. Maintain a flushed complexion from mild inebriation—there are no specific dietary restrictions, and the effects are remarkable.

If accidental consumption of toxic food occurs, first roast one cun of licorice root until cooked, then chew and swallow. Poisoned food will induce vomiting, after which the aforementioned treatments may be applied. Xi Bian recommends always keeping ten slices of licorice for emergency use.

Additional antidote formulas:

• Shengjin Formula: Grind dansufan into powder, mix with glutinous rice paste to form chicken-head-sized pills, and coat with cinnabar. Store preserved in cinnabar; when needed, dissolve one pill in cold water for consumption.
• Empirical Formula: Equal parts honeycomb and licorice, stir-fried yellow with wheat bran (discard bran afterward), then ground. Boil two bowls of water until reduced to eight-tenths; drink warm before sleep—toxins will be expelled by morning.
• Waitai Biyao: For fever and thirst after consuming medicinal stones, with desire to lie on cool ground (avoid hot noodles and wine). Boil two liang of wujiapi in four sheng of water until reduced to two and a half sheng; consume when symptoms manifest.

Sun Simiao notes: For aconite or croton poisoning, licorice proves effective upon ingestion. Though soybeans are said to neutralize all toxins, tests show limited efficacy—adding licorice to create sweet bean soup accelerates results.

Meishi Fang records: Sichuan pepper (unopened pods) is toxic; accidental consumption may cause breathlessness, frothing, or chills. Immediately drink cinnamon decoction and one or two sheng of cold water. If vomiting occurs, consume concentrated fermented soybean juice.

This passage mainly describes practical emergency treatments for poisoning from various foods and medicines in ancient times.

If accidentally eating sulfur causes chest tightness and shortness of breath, drink a small bowl of sheep’s blood (about 200 milliliters) to counter the poison. In another case, meat contaminated with arrow poison, or dried meat that has become toxic through improper storage, can be treated by grinding shellfish into powder, taking half a qian (about 2 grams), and mixing it with water. This remedy is also effective for poisoning from wheat foods.

A secret remedy for medicinal poisoning: grind equal amounts of peeled croton seeds (without pressing out the oil) and matiyaoxiao, a mineral medicine, into a paste. Dissolve a marble-sized amount in cold water and take it; it should work.

Precautions for food poisoning: unopened Sichuan peppercorns (a kind of peppercorn) are poisonous. Eating them can cause a stinging throat, difficulty breathing, and foaming at the mouth. In that case, drink plenty of cinnamon juice or cold water, and eat a large amount of garlic to counter the poison. Be sure not to drink hot water, as it can be fatal. For Sichuan peppercorn poisoning, holding garlic or qini, a medicinal herb, in the mouth is also effective.

The leaves of gou wen, a highly poisonous plant, closely resemble mustard greens, and eating them by mistake can be fatal. To counter the poison, boil eight liang (about 240 grams) of qini in six sheng of water until reduced to three sheng of medicinal liquid. Drink five he (about 100 milliliters) at a time, five times a day.

When vegetable poisoning causes madness and vomiting, burn chicken droppings to ash and take a small spoonful, or boil kudzu root in water and drink it. For henbane poisoning, drink boiled licorice water or bluegrass juice. For poisoning from bitter bottle gourd, boil millet stalks into a strong decoction and drink several sheng.

For poisoning from accidentally eating horse liver, take fourteen mouse droppings with pointed ends at both sides (referring to the droppings of a male mouse) and drink them mixed with water. For poisoning from other poultry or livestock meat, use one qian (about 4 grams) of greasy dirt from a headcloth, or drink several sheng of fermented soybean juice.

Take special care: animal liver must not be eaten raw, and the livers of animals that died naturally are especially dangerous. If raw liver causes poisoning, grind aconite into powder and take one daogui (about 0.5 grams) at a time, three times a day. Meat contaminated with arrow poison can be treated with bluegrass juice or soybeans.

Finally, meat left overnight in a honey jar, called yuru, and dried meat soaked by rain leaking through a thatched roof, called loupu, are both poisonous. To counter the poison, burn human feces to ash and take it with wine, or extract juice from xiebai (small wild garlic) and drink two or three sheng. For poisoning from dried meat hidden in millet, boil soybeans and drink several sheng of the liquid; this method also works for poisoning from other spoiled meats.

This passage records various ancient methods for treating food poisoning, primarily addressing symptoms caused by consuming diseased livestock or spoiled fish and meat. Here are the specific detoxification protocols:

For poisoning from eating diseased livestock (the "six domestic animals" referring to horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, and chickens), grind huangbai (Phellodendron bark) into powder and take one fangcunbi dose (approximately 1 gram). Repeat if symptoms persist. Meat from sick animals typically causes diarrhea or abdominal masses, so dysentery-relieving pills are recommended to purge toxins.

For fish poisoning, boil concentrated orange peel water as remedy. The Xiaopin Fang notes winter melon juice works best. When pork becomes indigestible due to cold and forms parasites, decoct one liang each of rhubarb (dahuang) and mirabilite (puxiao) into one sheng (≈200ml) of medicinal broth. If unresolved, take three sheng of apricot kernel (xingren) decoction divided into three doses to induce vomiting.

For beef poisoning, drink one to two sheng of licorice (gancao) decoction. Severe diarrhea from horse meat poisoning requires consuming 200 fermented soybeans (douchi) and 20 crushed apricot kernels steamed overnight—take the full dose at dawn (note: only applicable to meat from diseased horses).

For perch liver or other toxic fish poisoning, drink reed rhizome (lugen) decoction. Concentrated perilla stem (xiangsu) broth (one sheng) also neutralizes toxins. For unknown poison sources, decoct licorice with sheqi (Pseudostellaria heterophylla) as antidote.

When accidentally swallowing leeches causes abdominal pain and wasting, drink one to two sheng of hot livestock blood (cow/sheep), followed by one sheng of lard the next day to expel parasites. For mushroom poisoning, consume one sheng of human feces juice or two to three sheng of excavated mud-water. Wild taro poisoning follows the same treatment—note that cultivated taro becomes toxic if grown over three years.

Supplementary formulas: The Meishi Fang recommends decocting three liang of kushen (Sophora flavescens) with vinegar to induce vomiting, or rhinoceros horn decoction as antidote. For indigestible dog meat, drink reed rhizome water. Peeled apricot kernel decoction also aids digestion. The Jinkui Fang mentions crab poisoning remedies (details unspecified). These methods predominantly employ common herbs to induce vomiting, purge bowels, or neutralize toxins, demonstrating ancient emergency wisdom against foodborne illnesses.

This passage primarily discusses ancient methods for preventing and treating food poisoning, along with dietary taboos. Let me explain each point in detail:

Regarding detoxification methods: Boiling perilla leaves to make three liters of broth can counteract toxins, as can drinking juice extracted from perilla seeds. Crabs caught before the frost season are often poisonous. Other effective antidotes include raw lotus root juice, boiled garlic juice, and winter melon juice.

For pheasant meat poisoning: If someone experiences vomiting and diarrhea after consuming pheasant meat soup, they should take about 7 grams of powdered rhinoceros horn (the "fangcunbi" was an ancient measurement unit) mixed with freshly drawn well water for recovery.

The Tang Dynasty story of Cui Xuan: An official suddenly collapsed at night, and physician Liang Xin diagnosed food poisoning. The servant revealed the man frequently ate bamboo pheasants, which often consume pinellia (a toxic plant), suggesting pinellia poisoning. They pounded ginger juice and pried open the teeth to administer it, successfully reviving him.

The celery poisoning case: During spring and autumn, dragon essence was believed to enter celery, causing "flood dragon disease" with symptoms of blue-tinged hands and unbearable abdominal pain. The treatment involved consuming 2-3 liters of hard candy twice daily until vomiting up several lizard-like creatures.

The Tang eunuch official's story: A returning southern envoy was diagnosed with a flood dragon in his abdomen. He had drunk untreated water when thirsty at Dayu Ridge, noticing abdominal hardness afterward. Physicians administered water boiled with niter and realgar, causing him to vomit a several-inch-long, scaly creature that transformed into a dragon when placed in water.

Dietary prohibitions:

• Mutton shouldn't be eaten with rooster meat
• Sheep liver shouldn't be paired with smoked plum or Sichuan pepper
• Pork shouldn't be combined with sheep liver
• Beef intestines shouldn't accompany dog meat
• Chicken shouldn't be eaten with raw leeks
• Poultry shouldn't be consumed with garlic, plums, or turtle meat
• Animal livers that don't collect dust when dropped shouldn't be eaten
• Dried meat that won't dry or cook thoroughly shouldn't be consumed
• Meat that moves when exposed to water is unsafe
• Naturally deceased animals with closed mouths are inedible

Fish prohibitions:

• Fish with white spots connecting head to fins are unsafe
• Fish lacking intestines/gallbladders or with head bones missing gill covers shouldn't be eaten
• Fish shouldn't be consumed with black chicken meat

These records reflect ancient empirical knowledge of food safety. While some beliefs may appear unscientific by modern standards, they demonstrate our ancestors' meticulous observations.

On Dietary Prohibitions and Alcohol Consumption:

Regarding food restrictions: Do not prepare raw fish (kuai) from red-eyed live fish, and avoid eating adzuki bean leaves with fish. Salted black carp should not be consumed with raw coriander, and soft-shelled turtles with sunken eyes are inedible. When eating turtle meat, avoid consuming chicken eggs, duck eggs, or red amaranth simultaneously. Pregnant women must abstain from raw fish dishes.

Fruit and vegetable combinations to avoid: Plums should not be eaten with eggs or consumed near water. Refrain from eating raw vegetables on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Patients must avoid raw mustard greens, while pregnant women should shun mulberries and duck eggs. Stews made with croton leaves are prohibited. Certain herbal combinations require caution: liquorice conflicts with Chinese cabbage, peony with coriander, dichroa root with scallions, coptis and platycodon with pork, poria with vinegar, and asparagus root with carp.

Remedies for alcohol overconsumption: When severely intoxicated and concerned about gastrointestinal damage, immerse the body in warm water using a large container, replacing cooled water as needed. Avoid lying still after drunkenness—frequent movement is advised, though exposure to wind, sleeping on the ground, cold showers, or immediate water intake must be avoided. Most critically, abstain from sexual activity while intoxicated.

Sobering preparations: For alcohol-induced headaches, boil five liang of fresh bamboo shavings in water, strain the decoction, whisk in five eggs, reboil and consume. Treat post-drinking diarrhea with dragon bone (fossilized bone) decoction or powdered dragon bone. Chronic alcoholics suffering throat ulcers or tongue sores may take hemp seed and phellodendron bark powder mixed with honey into pills.

Preventative and curative measures: To enhance alcohol tolerance while minimizing harm, soak seven eggs in vinegar, seal the container, and submerge it in a well for two days—ingest two eggs per dose. For persistent drunken discomfort, boil shepherd's purse with minimal rice, strain and chill the broth before drinking. Fresh kudzu root juice (1-2 liters) or dried kudzu decoction also proves effective.

This records several ancient prescriptions for sobering up from alcohol and abstaining from drinking. Take two portions each of cypress seeds (Bai Zi Ren) and hemp seeds (Ma Zi Ren), crush them, and consume the mixture to counteract intoxication—it works even better when taken while drinking.

Another sobering remedy: Dry and grind kudzu flowers (Ge Hua) and adzuki bean flowers (Xiao Dou Hua) into powder, then take three to seven fen (a traditional unit of measure) per dose. For daily prevention, one can drink kudzu root (Ge Gen) soup, loquat leaf (Pi Pa Ye) soup, or brew dried cattail grass (Gan Pu Cao) and hemp seeds (Ma Zi) as a tea substitute—all of which help mitigate alcohol’s harm. Black sesame (Hu Ma) also neutralizes alcohol toxicity. Eating salt before drinking can reportedly double one’s alcohol tolerance.

The Waitai Miyao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library) records a sobering formula: Pick chrysanthemums (Ju Hua) on the Double Ninth Festival, dry them, grind into powder, and take one fangcunbi (an ancient spoon measure) dissolved in water. For quitting alcohol: Burn a donkey foal’s afterbirth (Lü Ju Yi) into ashes and take it with wine. Another method involves burning cormorant droppings (Lu Ci Fen) into ashes and consuming one fangcunbi with warm water.

The Sheng Hui Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary) prescribes: Dry-roast two liang of mandarin orange peel (Gan Pi), grind it, then boil three qian and seven fen of the powder in one bowl of water for three to five boils. Drink it like tea with added salt for best effect. Another recipe calls for two ge of Chinese cabbage seeds (Bai Cai Zi), finely ground, mixed with a bowl of well water, and divided into two doses.

The Qianjin Fang (Thousand Gold Formulary) offers abstinence methods: Add half a liang of cinnabar powder (Zhu Sha) to seven sheng of wine, seal the bottle, and place it in a pigpen for seven days while pigs jostle it. Then drink it all at once. Alternatively: On New Year’s Day, pour five sheng of wine over a mortar and pestle, then collect and drink the runoff. For alcohol-related ailments: Simmer half a sheng each of fermented black beans (Dou Chi) and scallion whites (Cong Bai) in two sheng of water until reduced to one sheng, and consume it in one go.