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The *Yueling* (Monthly Ordinances) records that Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia, 半夏) grows in the fifth month, which is the middle of summer. Its shape is round, its color is white, and its taste is pungent; it is a herb for the Yangming Stomach organ. The Yangming channel inherits the dryness qi of autumn metal. Banxia stimulates the qi of one yin, combining upward with Wu Earth (Stomach). When Wu and Gui combine, they transform into fire; thus, the Yangming becomes an organ of dryness and heat, capable of transforming the essence and micro-elements of food and drink. Trichosanthis Radix (Tianhuafen, 天花粉), also known as Ruixue (Auspicious Snow), has roots and powder that are pure white. Its flavor is bitter and cold. Its stems draw vine tendrils, which can initiate yin fluids and nourish autumn metal (Lung) upward along the meridians. (Vine tendrils have the characteristic of traversing the meridians.) Hence the names Tianhua (Heavenly Flower) and Ruixue. It is said that the yin qi of water condenses upward in the sky to become snow; Tianhua refers to the six-petaled flowers of heavenly rain. On one hand, it raises yin qi outside the vessels, combining upward with Yangming to form the dryness of fire and earth; on the other hand, it raises yin fluid inside the vessels, combining with Tian Gui (Heavenly Water/Reproductive Essence) to moisten the dry metal. Therefore, in formulas from the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases) and *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), Banxia is used to assist the qi of Yangming. If the patient is thirsty, indicating excessive dryness-heat, Banxia is removed and replaced with Tianhuafen to nourish. Did the sages of old make additions and subtractions to their prescriptions lightly or negligently?

In front of the courtyard, several stalks of Lilii Bulbus (Baihe, 百合) and Perillae Folium (Zisu, 紫苏) were planted. Observing that Baihe flowers open during the day and close at night, while Zisu leaves stand upright in the morning and droop in the evening, I realized that the nature of herbs involves opening and closing movements induced by the yin and yang qi of heaven and earth. Such as spring growth, summer flourishing, autumn maturity, and winter decline—these are the openings and closings of the four seasons; daytime opening, nighttime closing, morning emergence, evening return—these are the openings and closings within a single day. Thus, within a year there are four seasons, and within a day there are also four seasons, to which humans and all things respond. Baihe is white in color and neutral in qi, resembling the Lung in form, and can assist the opening and closing of respiration. Therefore, it treats abdominal distension and heart pain caused by pathogenic qi; because when qi moves, pathogens disperse and distension/pain resolves. It promotes urination and defecation because proper qi transformation leads to smooth excretion; it tonifies the middle and benefits qi because qi originates from the middle jiao. Zisu is purple-red in color, with hollow and permeable stems and branches. Its qi emerges in the morning and returns in the evening, similar to the qi of the meridians, which travels through the yang during the day and the yin at night. Therefore, Zisu leaf can release the exterior and induce sweating, producing sweat from blood/yin. (White-colored herbs traverse the qi level and also the blood level.) The stems and branches can unblock blood vessels. Thus, Mr. Yisilan often used Zisu stems to unblock the acupoints and passageways of the twelve meridians, treating fullness and oppression in the throat and diaphragm, promoting urination and defecation, and stopping dysentery with red and white discharge. I also frequently use the fine stems of Xiangsu (Fragrant Perilla), without cutting them, to treat regurgitation, food stagnation in the diaphragm, hematemesis, and lower bleeding, often achieving remarkable results. Generally, when food enters the stomach, its essence is dispersed to the Liver. Turbid qi returns to the Heart. The Liver governs blood, and the Heart governs the vessels. When the blood vessels are unblocked, food and drink are naturally digested. The classics state: Injury to the yang collaterals causes hematemesis; injury to the yin collaterals causes lower bleeding. By unblocking the collaterals, allowing blood to return to its proper course, vomiting and lower bleeding will cease naturally. Herbs such as Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma (Qiancao, 茜草), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归), and Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎) can all guide blood back to the meridians, yet none match the rapid movement of Zisu emerging by day and returning by night! Alas, the opening and closing of yin and yang is the way of heaven and earth; this knowledge transcends mere technique!