Introduction: Mr. Tao Yufeng, drawing from ancient texts, the experiences of physicians throughout history, and his own clinical insights, has compiled 17 clinical treatment references for "Dark Plum," which are worth studying and keeping for reference.

I

Many diseases arise from the liver; the liver acts as a troublemaker among the five organs, making it the most challenging to regulate among them.

Black plum is most effective for nourishing the liver and can also astringe the liver. When used in yin-tonifying formulas, its efficacy is remarkable.

It is particularly suitable for conditions of deficiency that cannot tolerate tonification; it is effective for all liver meridian disorders. Black plum has no pathogenic properties, can be used in large quantities, can be used alone, and can be combined with any tonifying formula.

For treating chronic dysentery with physical weakness, the Single Plum Decoction (5 large black plums decocted in water, taken with 5 qian of white sugar as a guide) has cured countless cases.

For treating deficiency-type diarrhea, combine the Single Plum Decoction with the Six Gentlemen Decoction.

For treating wasting-thirst, use the Four Substances Decoction with Mume Fructus (Mume Fructus, Rehmanniae Radix Cruda, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Paeoniae Radix Alba). For upper wasting, add Trichosanthis Radix; for middle wasting, remove Trichosanthis Radix and add Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma; for lower wasting, remove Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and add Ophiopogonis Radix. Using the above formula to treat severe palpitations, sweating syndrome, and hematemesis, with modifications according to the symptoms, often yields rapid and effective results.

For treating chronic cough that does not stop, especially in cases of deficiency syndrome, I often use the Metal-Water Six Gentlemen Decoction with added Mume Fructus, or the Four Substances Decoction with Chuanxiong Rhizoma removed and a heavy dose of Mume Fructus added, which also frequently proves effective.

For treating deficiency-type wheezing, when qi deficiency is severe, it is appropriate to use the Single Ginseng Decoction combined with the Single Mume Decoction; when blood deficiency is severe, it is appropriate to use the Zhenyuan Drink combined with the Single Mume Decoction (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Mume Fructus).

For treating deficiency-heat insomnia, you can add a heavy dose of 40 Mume Fructus to the Three Talents Paste (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, Codonopsis Radix, Ophiopogonis Radix). Before sleep, take one spoonful each time, with white sugar as a guide, and closing the eyes will lead to sleep.

For treating paralysis due to deficiency of both qi and blood, it is advisable to focus on replenishing qi by three parts and nourishing blood by seven parts, with particular attention to the liver. The modified Liangyi Gao (Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Codonopsis pilosula, Astragalus membranaceus, Prunus mume, Chaenomeles speciosa) is recommended. If there is deficiency heat, add Ophiopogon japonicus; if there is mild cold, use roasted ginger decoction as a guide; if there is phlegm and saliva, use tangerine peel decoction as a guide. Take it regularly morning and evening, and recovery will occur over time.

In addition, using Wumei Gancao Tang (five large Prunus mume fruits, five qian of licorice) to treat stomach qi pain often results in immediate relief after one dose.

In summary, for various chronic diseases presenting signs of deficiency and exhaustion, or complications arising from liver meridian disorders, Prunus mume can be used to astringe and nourish.

Even during acute illness, as long as there is no stagnation or blood stasis, it can be administered appropriately based on the condition.

Two

When the pulse is weak and feels scorching hot upon deep palpation to the bone, it indicates kidney heat causing bone fatigue. Only dark plum can guide the medicine into the bones and absorb the heat.

Three

Dark plum not only has an astringent aspect but also an opening and purging aspect. It might be more accurate to say that dark plum is an astringent purgative, embodying unblocking within astringency.

Ye Tianshi described it as "obtaining the vitality of Shaoyang" and used it to treat liver wood invading the stomach, relying on its "sour nature to purge liver yang."

Four

Dark plum, when combined with cyperus rhizome, promotes the flow of qi; when combined with kudzu root, it relieves alcohol intoxication.

Five

Beyond the uses described in pharmacological texts, dark plum has multiple other applications.

First, dark plum can moisturize the skin and relieve itching, and it also has the remarkable effect of being anti-allergic. It can be used for skin itching, urticaria, and stubborn tinea caused by blood deficiency and wind-dryness.

Second, dark plum has a sour and astringent taste and enters the spleen. It has the function of astringing spleen essence and stopping leakage and turbidity, making it useful for treating diabetes with persistent high urine sugar levels.

Third, dark plum can harmonize the stomach and promote fluid production to increase acidity, making it effective for treating symptoms such as gastric acid deficiency and loss of appetite caused by chronic atrophic gastritis.

Six

Black plum has proven efficacy for modern medical diagnoses of allergic diseases, disorders caused by immune dysfunction, and digestive system diseases resulting from autonomic nervous system dysfunction, making it an essential therapeutic agent.

Seven

Using 40–50 grams of black plum, decocted to a concentrated 250 ml solution and taken in a single dose or divided into two doses, effectively reduces alanine aminotransferase levels in viral hepatitis, alleviates jaundice, and improves symptoms and signs.

Apart from its astringent taste and occasional constipation in some patients after consumption, there are no significant toxic side effects.

Eight

For treating atrophic gastritis characterized by stomach yin deficiency and insufficient gastric acid, black plum is often combined with papaya, yielding effective results in many cases.

Nine

Black plum is often combined with borax, each using 4 grams, added to decoctions to treat vomiting caused by various reasons. The ability of these two herbs to lower adverse qi and stop vomiting is unmatched by other herbs.

For stomach heat, add 2 grams of raw rhubarb; for stomach cold, add 2 grams of evodia fruit. In cases of prolonged vomiting damaging yin, double the dosage of black plum.

It is effective for vomiting caused by various reasons such as acute and chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, inner ear vertigo, uremia, and more.

Ten

Black plum combined with charred human hair can treat radiation-induced enteritis and diarrhea caused by radiotherapy. It works well for loose stools accompanied by mucus or floating white pseudomembranes, and can be modified according to the clinical presentation.

Eleven

In the treatment of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, adding 15 grams of charred dark plum to the syndrome differentiation-based formula can exert an anti-allergic effect, thus holding certain significance in the management of this condition.

Twelve

Black plum has a sour taste and warm nature, which can benefit the tendons and vessels, relieve spasms. When used to treat nephritis, it can alleviate spasms of the renal arterioles, thereby improving renal blood circulation and achieving the purpose of repairing damage.

Thirteen

Using black plum to brew tea and drinking it can effectively treat insomnia without obvious organic lesions. The treatment period is usually 1 to 2 weeks at most, or 3 to 5 days at least, with good results.

Fourteen

Take 250 grams of black plum (pitted), 200 grams each of silkworm, platycodon root, and salvia miltiorrhiza, and 30 grams of licorice. Grind them together into a fine powder and form into honey pills. Take 9 grams each time, three times daily, to treat rectal polyps, vocal cord polyps, etc., with good results.

Fifteen

For the treatment of Behçet's disease, black plum is an essential herb, as it promotes ulcer healing and improves therapeutic efficacy.

Sixteen

Malaria and dysentery in their initial stages are contraindicated for the use of black plum.

Black plum can quickly stop dysentery and halt malaria, often producing rapid effects. However, those seeking immediate relief may experience temporary alleviation, which often leads to the condition becoming chronic and difficult to cure. Caution is advised.

Furthermore, it is common practice in summer to prepare black plum soup to quench thirst. For those without summer-heat pathogens in the abdomen, it can astringe the lungs and relieve thirst. However, if summer-heat pathogens remain undispersed and accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, there is a risk of developing malaria or dysentery by autumn.

Seventeen

The kernel in dark plum decoction pieces accounts for about 50%, so the dosage of dark plum with kernels should be doubled, i.e., 12–24 grams.