Drugs, Treatments and Bodily Matters

Acupoints:

• Da Heng (Da4 Heng2 大横) - Located 4 cun (13.32 centimetres) lateral to umbilicus, directly below the nipple, on the lateral side of the rectus abdominis muscle. Indications: Abdominal pain, dysentery, constipation, intestinal paralysis, diarrhea, intestinal parasitosis, lenkorrhagia, ascariasis. Part of the Yinwei Channel (Yin1 Wei2 Mai4 阴维脉). Bencan sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity through his thumb into Duan Yu's body via Duan's Da Heng acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Da Zhui (Da4 Zhui1 大椎穴) - Located between the 7th cervical vertebra and the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra. In other words, it is located at the base of (back) neck, somewhere around the area of the two protruding bones. Indications: Fever, heat stroke, malaria, schizophrenia, epilepsy, asthma, eczema. Duan Zhengchun sent a gentle stream of energy from the Single Finger of Positivity into Duan Yu's body through the latter's Da Zhui acupoint, in order to counter the internal strength that was coming from Yue the Third (Chapter 6).
• Feng Fu (Feng1 Fu3 风府) - Located directly below the occipital protuberance, in the midline, in a depression 1 cun (3.33 centimetres) above the hairline. Indications: Cold, headache, mental disorders, apoplexy. Part of the Du Channel (Du1 Mai4 督脉). Benguan sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity through his thumb into Duan Yu's body via Duan's Feng Fu acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Guan Chong (Guan1 Chong1 关冲) - Located on the ulnar side of the ring finger, 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) posterior to corner of nail. Indications: Headache, sore throat, febrile diseases. The energy for 'Guan Chong Sword of the Ring Finger' was released through the Guan Chong acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Huan Tiao (Huan2 Tiao4 环跳) - Located at the junction of the middle and lateral third of the distance between the highest point of the great trochanter of the femur and the hiatus of the sacrum; in other words, on the upper corner of either butt, towards the outer side(s) of body. Indications: Sciatica, paralysis of lower extremities, disorders of the hip joint and its surrounding soft tissue. Duan Zhengchun struck Gan Baobao and Qin Hongmian on their respective Huan Tiao and Qu Quan acupoints, so that neither of them could walk, before releasing their Zhang Men acupoints (Chapter 7).
• Ji Quan (Ji2 Quan2 极泉) - Located at the centre of the axilla, on the medial side of the axillary artery. Indications: Pain in arm, paralysis of upper extremities, deficient lactation, pain in the cardiac region, disorder of shoulder joint and its surrounding soft tissue. Yun Zhonghe's point of weakness was located in the Ji Quan acupoint (Chapter 9, 3rd edition only). See Tian Quan below.
• Jing Ming (Jing1 Ming2 睛明) - Located 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) lateral and superior to the inner canthus, near the medial orbital border. Indications: Eye diseases, facial paralysis. Part of the Yinjiao Channel (Yin1 Jiao1 Mai4 阴跤脉). Erroneously named as Qing Ming (Qing2 Ming2 晴明) in the 2nd and 3rd editions. The Emperor Baoding sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity into Duan Yu's body via Duan's Jing Ming acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Lie Que (Lie4 Que1 列缺) - Located above the styloid process of the radius, 1.5 cun (5 centimetres) above the transverse crease of the wrist. Or, when the index fingers and thumbs of both hands are crossed, the point is in the depression right under the tip of the index finger. Indications: Headache, stiff neck, cough, asthma, facial paralysis. The Emperor Baoding took Duan Yu's pulse at the Lie Que acupoint. Elsewhere, Jiumozhi gripped Baoding on the Lie Que and Pian Li acupoints in an attempt to take him as a hostage after failing to obtain the scrolls for the Phenomenal Swords of the Six Channels (Chapter 10).
• Pian Li (Pian1 Li4 偏历) - Located 3 cun (9.99 centimetres) above the hollow between the tendons of the extensor pollicis brevis and longus, on the radial side of the back of the wrist. Indications: Tonsillitis, facial paralysis, pain in the forearm, epistaxis, edema. Jiumozhi gripped Baoding on the Lie Que and Pian Li acupoints in an attempt to take him as a hostage after failing to obtain the scrolls for the Phenomenal Swords of the Six Channels (Chapter 10).
• Qi Tu (Qi1 Tu1 七突) - see Tian Tu below
• Qing Ming (Qing2 Ming2 晴明) - see Jing Ming above.
• Qu Quan (Qu3 Quan2 曲泉) - Located at the medial end of the transverse popliteal crease, posterior to the medial epicondyle of the tibia, in a depression on the anterior border of the insertions of semi-membraneous and semi-tendoneous, with the knee flexed. Indications: Infection of urogenital system, spermatorrhea, impotence, hernia, disorders of the knee joint and its surrounding soft tissue. Duan Zhengchun struck Gan Baobao and Qin Hongmian on their respective Huan Tiao and Qu Quan acupoints, so that neither of them could walk, before releasing their Zhang Men acupoints (Chapter 7).
• Que Pen (Que1 Pen2 缺盆) - Located in the middle of the supraclavicular fossa, on the mammillary line. Indications: Sore throat, asthma, pleuritis, costal neuralgia. In other words, slightly above the mid-way mark of the collar-bone. The Stranger in Black moved to strike the Emperor Baoding on the Que Pen acupoint as the latter tried to remove the granite boulder from the doorway of the stone hut at the Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities (Chapter 8).
• Ren Zhong (Ren2 Zhong1 人中) - the vertical groove on the median line of the upper lip; known as the 'philtrum' in English. A person who has fainted can be revived by stimulating his/her philtrum. Duan Zhengchun stimulated Gan Baobao's philtrum to revive her from unconsciousness (Chapter 9).
• San Yin Jiao (San1 Yin1 Jiao1 三阴交) - Located 3 cun (9.99 centimetres) above the tip of the medial malleolus just posterior to the tibial border. Indications: Abdominal distention, loose stool, irregular menstruation, nocturnal emission, impotence, spermatorrhea, orchitis, enuresis, frequency of urination, retention of urine, hemiplegia. Found at the confluence of the 3 Yin channels of the foot. Duan Yu grabbed Ye the Second on the San Yin Jiao acupoint when he tried to pull her away from the tunnel (Chapter 9).
• Shan Zhong acupoint (Shan4 Zhong1 膻中穴) - Located midway between the two nipples. Indications: Bronchitis, bronchial asthma, thoracalgia, fullness of chest, hiccups. Noted as one of the two most vital acupoints in the practice of the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness (Chapter 5). Jiumozhi tried to torture Duan Yu by sending a burst of internal strength into the latter's Shan Zhong acupoint (Chapter 11).
• Shang Yang (Shang1 Yang2 商阳) - Located on the radial side of the index finger, 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) posterior to the corner of the nail. Indications: Febrile diseases, coma, apoplexy, pain and swelling of throat and pharynx. The energy for the 'Shang Yang Sword of the Forefinger' was released through the Shang Yang acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Shao Chong (Shao4 Chong1 少冲) - Located on the radial side of the tip of the small finger, about 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) posterior to the corner of the fingernail. Indications: Palpitation, thoracalgia, apoplexy, coma. The energy for the 'Shao Chong Sword of the Little Finger' was released through the Shao Chong acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Shao Shang (Shao4 Shang1 少商) - located on the radial side of the thumb, about 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) posterior to the corner of nail. Indications: Tonsillitis, coma, respiratory failure, epilepsy, fever. The first lesson on the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness named the Shao Shang acupoint as the place from which the cultivation of internal strength along the Hand Taiyin Channel of the Lung began (Chapter 2). Noted as one of the two most vital acupoints in the practice of the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness (Chapter 5). The energy for the 'Shao Shang Sword of the Thumb' was released through the Shao Shang acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Shao Ze (Shao4 Ze2 少泽) - Located at the ulnar side of the small finger, about 0.1 cun (0.33 centimetres) posterior to the corner of the nail. Indications: Headache, eye diseases, mastitis, deficient lactation in mothers. The energy for the 'Shao Ze Sword of the Small Finger on the Left Hand' was released through the Shao Ze acupoint of the left hand (Chapter 10).
• Shen Feng (Shen2 Feng1 神封) - Located in the 4th intercostal space, 2 cun (6.67 centimetres) lateral to the Shan Zhong acupoint. Indications: Intercostal neuralgia, pleuritis, bronchitis, mastitis. An acupoint on the Foot Taiyin Channel of the Kidney. Jiumozhi immobilised Duan Yu by grabbing him on the Shen Feng acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Shen Que (Shen2 Que1 神阙) - Located in the centre of the umbilicus (navel). Indications: Apoplexy of the flaccid type, abdominal pain, diarrhea. An vital acupoint on the Ren Channel. Duan Yu grabbed the Shen Que acupoint of Yue the Third in an attempt to defeat him with the Mystical Skill of Norther Darkness (Chapter 6).
• 'Sleep Acupoint' (Shui4 Xue3 睡穴) - acupoints on the waist and below the ribs that purportedly sent a person to sleep when struck; used by Yue the Third on Mu Wanqing to prevent Ye the Second from antagonising her (Chapter 4). Note: These acupoints were not identified by their proper names, so the true effect of striking them cannot be ascertained.
• Tian Chi (Tian1 Chi2 天池) - Located 1 cun (3.33 centimetres) lateral to the nipple in the 4th intercostal space. Indications: Fullness in chest, pain in the hypochondriac region, tuberculosis of lymph nodes. The Stranger in Black attempted to strike the Emperor Baoding on the Tian Chi acupoint after being stopped from hitting the Que Pen acupoint (Chapter 8).
• Tian Quan (Tian1 Quan2 天泉) - Located 2 cun (6.67 centimetres) below the anterior end of the axilliary fold, between the two heads of the biceps brachii. Indications: Pain in chest and the hypochondriac region, cough, pain in back and in the medial aspect of arm. Yun Zhonghe's point of weakness was located in the Tian Quan acupoint (Chapter 9, 2nd edition only). See Ji Quan above.
• Tian Tu (Tian1 Tu1 天突) - Located at the center of the suprasternal fossa 0.5 cun (1.67 centimetres) above the sternal notch (the depression where the collar-bones meet). Indications: Bronchial asthma, bronchitis, pharyngitis, hiccups. Erroneously named as Qi Tu (Qi1 Tu1 七突) in the 2nd and 3rd editions. The Emperor Baoding attacked the Stranger in Black on the Tian Tu acupoint after he realised what the latter set out to do with Duan Yu and Mu Wanqing (Chapter 8).
• You Men (You1 Men2 幽门) - Located slightly to the right (or left) of the depression (space) between the left and right rib-cages. Indications: Thoracalgia, belching, vomiting, diarrhea. Part of the Chong Channel (Chong1 Mai4 冲脉). Benyin sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity into Duan Yu's body via Duan's You Men acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Yun Men (Yun2 Men2 云门) - located below the acromial extremity of the clavical in the depression lateral to the triangle of the pectoralis, 6 cun (19.98 centimetres) lateral to midline of chest. Indications: Cough, asthma, pain in the chest, pain in the shoulder and back, fullness of chest. The first lesson on the Mystical Skill of Northern Darkness named the Yun Men acupoint as the place on which the cultivation of internal strength along the Hand Taiyin Channel of the Lung ended (Chapter 2).
• Zhang Men (Zhang1 Men2 章门) - Located at the free end of the 11th rib. Indications: Splenomegalia, diarrhea, abdominal distention, pain in the costal region. Duan Zhengchun struck Gan Baobao and Qin Hongmian on their respective Zhang Men acupoints with the Single Finger of Positivity to immobilise them for a chat (Chapter 7). Benyin sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity into Duan Yu's body via Duan's Zheng Men acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Zhong Chong (Zhong1 Chong1 中冲) - Located at the midpoint of the tip of the middle finger. Indications: Apoplexy, coma, heat stroke, febrile diseases. The energy for 'Zhong Chong Sword of the Middle Finger' was released through the Zhong Chong acupoint (Chapter 10).
• Zi Gong (Zi3 Gong1 紫宫) - Located on the midline of the sternum, 3.2 cun (10.67 centimetres) above the Shan Zhong acupoint (see above), at the level of the 2nd intercostal space. Indications: Bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pleuritis. Part of the Ren Channel (Ren4 Mai4 任脉). Benxiang sent the energy of the Single Finger of Positivity into Duan Yu's body via Duan's Zi Gong acupoint (Chapter 10).

Antiaris Toxicaria (Jian4 Xue3 Feng1 Hou2 见血封喉) - a large tree that grows in the rainforests of Southern China and South-East Asia. The sap/latex of the tree contains varying amounts of cardiac glycosides and can be very poisonous. Indigenious tribes in Malaysia, where the Antiaris Toxicaria is known 'Pohon Ipoh', use the sap as a poison for blow-pipe (hunting) darts. The flesh of animals killed with the Antiaris Toxicaria is safe to eat. Mu Wanqing's short arrows were made deadly with a coat of Antiaris Toxicaria sap (Chapter 3). The antidote for the Antiaris Toxicaria sap on Mu's arrows consisted of a yellow powder for ingestion and a white one for application on the wound itself. In the 2nd edition, the oral medication consisted of red-coloured pellets (pills), two of which were given to Duan Yu after he took the arrows on behalf of Dao Baifeng (Chapter 7).

Ginseng from the wild mountains (ye3 shan1 ren1 shen1 野山人参) - a subordinate of Sikong Xuan stuffed a whole ginseng from the wild mountains into Sikong's mouth after he was bitten by the Lightning Marten; probably to replenish his qi and prevent him from collapsing as he resisted the marten's poison with his internal strength. Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Ginseng (Chapter 1).

Intestine-Fragmenting Powder (Duan4 Chang2 San3 断肠散) - a type of poison. Red in colour; sweet in taste. Dispensed according to the number of days that the victim is given to do something for the dispenser, after which the poison will fragment the victim's intestines into cun-long (1 cun = 3.33 centimetres) parts until the victim is dead. Sikong Xuan forced Duan Yu to ingest a seven-day dosage of the Intestine-Fragmenting Powder, in a bid to obtain the antidote for the Lightning Marten's poisonous bite (Chapter 1).

The antidote for this poison had to be taken once a day for three consecutive days, at the rate of a qian (5 grammes) per dose (Chapter 3). Bitter in taste. Despite the antidote, Duan Yu suffered a brief period of excruciating pain in his intestines because the Intestine-Fragmenting Powder was too strong and the grace period for the dosage that he had taken was over (Chapter 4).

Note: It is not known if this particular type Intestine-Fragmenting Powder is related to 'Gelsemium elegans', which is known as 'Duan Chang Cao' (Duan4 Chang2 Cao3 断肠草, literally 'Intestine-Fragmenting Grass') in Chinese, and has the same effect of fragmenting a person's intestines into cun-long bits when ingested.

Medicine for metal-inflicted wounds (jin1 chuang1 yao4 金疮药) - A common type of medicine for treating wounds caused by weapons; usually found in powder form. After Sikong Xuan chopped his right arm off in a bid to stop the poison from the Lightning Marten's bite from spreading, his subordinates put this medicine on his wound (Chapter 1).

The type used by Mu Wanqing was red in colour, paste-like and exuded a strong fragrance, so much so that Duan Yu thought it was rouge, but it was very effective in stemming the flow of blood. Had a 'cooling' effect when applied on to wounds (Chapter 4).

Mu Wanqing's 'rouge' (yan1 zhi1 胭脂) - see Medicine for Metal-Inflicted Wounds.

Musk (she4 xiang1 麝香) - the strong-smelling secretion of the male musk-deer; contains anti-venom, anti-bacterial and pain-killing properties. Pharmaceutical name: Moschus. Used in combination with realgar by Sikong Xuan to overwhelm Zhong Ling and the Lightning Marten (Chapter 1). Mu Wanqing had a fragrance that smelt like orchids and musk about her (Chapter 3).

Philtrum (ren2 zhong1 人中) - the vertical groove on the median line of the upper lip. A person who has fainted can be revived by stimulating his/her philtrum (Chapter 1).

Powder for the Harmonious Union of the Yin and the Yang, The (Yin1 Yang2 He2 He2 San3 阴阳和合散) - a very potent type of aphrodisiac. Not a type of poison; therefore, Duan Yu's immunity to poisons could not prevent him from succumbing to the effects of this drug (Chapter 7).

(1) Effects on male users (Chapter 7):

• A sudden upsurge of warmth in the abdomen, the dilation of blood vessels and an uncontrollable wave of passion.
• Women appeared to be more attractive, leading to sexual arousal.
• Red blood-shot eyes and flared nostrils; involuntary twitching of facial muscles.
• Rising body temperatures, leading to the removal of as much clothing as possible.
• Increased heart-rate.
• Impaired reasoning abilities that favoured arguments for copulation.
• Excessive perspiration (Chapter 8).

(2) Effects on female users (Chapters 7-8):

• Generally similar to the effects on men.
• Hot flashes and restlessness, as well as red flushes on the face and neck.
• Prolonged periods (more than 24 hours) without copulation could reduce female users to a semi-conscious state.

Users (and/or victims) who did not follow through the ingestion of the drug with an act of copulation that re-balanced the yin and the yang would find their flesh splitting into cun-long (3.33 centimetres) bits, bleed from the seven orifices on each of their faces (i.e. both eyes, both ears, both nostrils and the mouth), and die. The aphrodisiac effects of the drug grew with each successive day, becoming virtually impossible to withstand from the eighth day on (Chapter 7).

So potent that it could turn a well-mannered man into a lecher, and a chaste woman into a promiscuous one. Belonged to the Stranger in Black (Chapter 8). Duan Yu, who had unwittingly eaten food that was laced with the Powder for the Harmonious Union of the Yin and the Yang, eventually stripped down to a bare torso and a pair of shorts (Chapter 9).

Could be expelled from the bodies of its users (and/or victims) without copulation if these individuals took some laxatives, and drank large amounts of cold water (Chapter 9).

Realgar (xiong2 huang2 雄黄) - a mineral in the class of sulfides and sulfosalts; a major ore of arsenic. Also known as 'ruby sulfur'. Pharmaceutical name: Realgar. Used in combination with musk by Sikong Xuan to overwhelm Zhong Ling and the Lightning Marten (Chapter 1).

Sikong Xuan's 'Special Snake Repellant' (Mi4 Zhi4 She2 Yao4 密制蛇药) - a snake repellant that Sikong Xuan made with a secret formula of his own, for use against poisonous snakes. The Lightning Marten, which consumed a lot of poisonous snakes, was unable to withstand the odour of the 'Special Snake Repellant' (Chapter 1).

Talisman of Life and Death, The (Sheng1 Si3 Fu2 生死符) - a supposed 'illness' that could only be cured completely and personally by the Child-Crone of Mount Heaven. An attack by the Talisman of Life and Death brought its victim such excruciating suffering that was likened to 'the inavailability of death to one whom life was not given' (qiu2 sheng1 bu4 de2, qiu2 si3 bu4 neng2 求生不得, 求死不能) (Chapter 1). The antidote for the Talisman of Life and Death were given out on an annual basis (Chapter 5).

Waternut Herb (Tong1 Tian1 Cao3 通天草) - a plant that could provide a slight measure of relief from the excruciating suffering that was wrought by the Talisman of Life and Death; found in the compound of The Boundless Sword on the Boundless Mountain (Chapter 1).