By Imperial Decree: The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries

Compendium of Materia Medica, Volume Five

Waters, Part I Celestial Waters, Category One: Thirteen Types

Rainwater From the Supplement to Materia Medicaoriginal: 拾遺 (Shiyi). This refers to the "Supplement to Materia Medica" (Bencao Shiyi), an 8th-century work by Chen Cangqi used as a source here.

【Explanatory Names】 Shizhen says: The vapors of the earth rise to become clouds, and the vapors of heaven descend to become rain. Therefore, the sweat of a human being is named after the rain of heaven and earth.

【Nature and Flavor】 SaltyIn traditional Chinese medicine, "salty" flavors are often associated with the Kidneys and the ability to soften hardness., NeutralA "neutral" (ping) property means the substance is neither inherently heating nor cooling., non-toxic.

1. Rainwater from the Start of Spring: Start of Spring (Lichun) is the first of the twenty-four solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar, marking the beginning of the spring season. This is primarily used for a husband and wife to each drink one cup before returning to the bedroom. It is divinely effective for helping them conceive a child at the appropriate time.