Sang Ji Sheng, also known as Mulberry Mistletoe or Parasitic Grass, is mentioned in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" by Shen Nong. It is the stem of the plant Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser in the family Loranthaceae. It is harvested in winter and early spring, and the thick stems are removed, cut into sections, and dried or steamed and then dried.
[Processing Method] 1. Sang Ji Sheng in "Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun": "After harvesting, use a copper knife to finely chop the roots, branches, and stems, let them dry in the shade, and avoid exposure to fire." In "Caution and Benefit of Materia Medica": "Finely chop with a copper knife, let it dry in the shade, and avoid exposure to fire." Currently, the raw material is taken, impurities are removed, and it is separated into coarse and fine parts. It is washed, soaked briefly until moist, cut into thick slices or sections, and dried.
2. Wine-processed Sang Ji Sheng: Take clean slices or sections of Sang Ji Sheng, spray with wine, mix well, let it soak, put it in a pot, stir-fry over low heat until the surface turns deep yellow, take it out, and let it cool. For every 100kg of Sang Ji Sheng, use 10kg of wine.
[Appearance of Prepared Medicinal Material] Sang Ji Sheng is oval-shaped, with thick slices or small sections of varying sizes. The cut surface of the stem is light reddish-brown in the wood part, reddish-brown in the bark, and reddish-brown or grayish-brown in the outer skin. It has fine longitudinal lines and numerous small raised brown pores. Some tender branches may have reddish-brown or brownish-brown hairs. It is hard in texture. The leaves are yellow-green, often curled, with short petioles, and leathery. It has a slight odor and astringent taste. Wine-processed Sang Ji Sheng is similar in shape to Sang Ji Sheng but is deep yellow in color.
[Processing Actions] Sang Ji Sheng has a bitter and astringent taste, and it is neutral in nature. It belongs to the liver and kidney meridians. It has the functions of nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the tendons and bones, dispelling wind and dampness, and calming the fetus. It is used for lumbago and weakness of the knees, weakness of the tendons and bones, rheumatic pain, dizziness, blurred vision, restless fetus, and excessive uterine bleeding; it can also be used for hypertension. For example, it is used in the Duhuo Jisheng Tang (a formula from the "Essentials of Emergency Golden Prescriptions") to treat lumbago, tendon and bone weakness. Wine-processing enhances its functions of nourishing the liver and kidneys, strengthening the tendons and bones, and dispelling wind and dampness.
