Hail Pronounced: bo. From the "Supplement to the Materia Medica".

Explanation of Names

Li Shizhen states: Master Cheng says that hail is the energy created when Yin and Yang clash against one another; it is essentially a form of "seeping" vapors. Master Wu says: Hail (bao) is like a cannonball (pao); it strikes objects with the force of a projectile. Master Zeng says: Concentrated Yang energy becomes lightning, while concentrated Yin energy becomes sleet. Lu Nongshi says: When Yin envelops Yang, it forms hail; when Yang envelops Yin, it forms sleet. Snow has six points and forms a flower, whereas hail has three points and forms a solid fruit In traditional Chinese cosmology, numbers were associated with the elements. The hexagonal snowflake (six) represents water/Yin, while the triangular or three-pointed hail (three) represents a different stage of elemental consolidation. This is the distinction between Yin and Yang. The Classic of the Five Thunders says: Hail is the energy of disharmony between Yin and Yang. It is also said to form within the scales of strange dragons; when the cold freezes into ice, it is released by the action of thunder, causing it to fly and fall to the earth. The large ones are the size of bushels or liters, while the small ones are like pellets. There is also a saying that lizards can create hail by holding water in their mouths, though I am not certain if this is true.

Nature and Flavor: Salty, cold, and toxic.

Li Shizhen states: According to the Classic of the Five Thunders, if a person eats hail, they will suffer from seasonal epidemics, "great wind" diseases Great Wind: A traditional term often referring to leprosy or severe paralytic conditions, and symptoms of insanity or demonic possession. Chen Cangqi says: If the flavor of fermented soy sauce has gone bad, take one or two liters of hail and place them into the vat; the sauce will immediately return to its original flavor.

Summer Ice From the "Supplement to the Materia Medica".