Atractylodes original: 朮 (Zhu). While this heading for a new section appears at the top of the manuscript page, the text below it concludes the previous entry on Rehmannia.

original: 三才圖會 (San Cai Tu Hui); a famous Ming Dynasty encyclopedia compiled by Wang Qi and Wang Siyi around 1607, covering subjects from astronomy to biology.

Page 7

Rehmannia

Rehmannia original: 地黃 (Dihuang); Rehmannia glutinosa grows in the river valleys and marshes of Xianyang; those harvested from yellow soil are of the best quality. It is now found in many regions, though the variety from Tongchuan An ancient administrative district in modern-day Sichuan province, historically famous for high-quality medicinal herbs is considered the most superior.

In the second lunar month, the leaves emerge and spread across the ground. They resemble the leaves of the Plantain original: 車前 (Cheqian); a common medicinal weed (Plantago asiatica) used in cooling teas, but the surface is wrinkled and not glossy. Taller plants reach over a foot in height, while shorter ones are only three or four inches tall. Its flowers resemble those of the sesame plant and are reddish-purple, though some plants produce yellow flowers. The fruit forms a capsule similar to that of Forsythia original: 蓮翹子 (Lianqiaozi); the seeds are very fine and brown in color.

The roots resemble human fingers and are entirely yellow, though their thickness and length are not uniform. The roots are harvested in the second and eighth lunar months. If the roots are steamed until they are thoroughly soft and then dried in the sun, they are called Processed Rehmannia original: 熟地黃 (Shu Dihuang); a "warm" tonic used to nourish the blood and kidney essence. Those dried in the shade are called Raw (Dried) Rehmannia original: 生地黃 (Sheng Dihuang); used to "cool" the blood and clear internal heat.

Physicians distinguish the quality of the roots by soaking the freshly harvested batch in water. Those that float are called "Heavenly Yellow" original: 天黃 (Tianhuang) and are unfit for use. Those that half-sink are called "Human Yellow" original: 人黃 (Renhuang) and are considered secondary in quality. T... The text cuts off here; historically, this refers to the "Earthly Yellow" (Dihuang), the highest grade roots that sink completely in water.