Library

The *Classic of Difficult Issues from the Lushan Hall* states: The Qi received by humans comes from grain and water; the place where grain and water are deposited is the Stomach; the Stomach is the sea of blood and Qi generated from grain and water. Just as clouds and Qi circulate in the ocean, corresponding to the whole world (the circulation of meridians and Qi-blood throughout the body), the blood and Qi outputted by the Stomach travel through the Jing-Sui (meridian tunnels). The Jing-Sui are the large collaterals connecting the Zang and Fu organs. Thus, the Zang and Fu organs receive the essence-Qi from grain and water, which, via the large collaterals of the Stomach, connects to the meridians of the Zang and Fu organs.

*Ophiopogonis Radix* (Maidong, 麦冬) primarily treats internal injury caused by improper diet or overeating, and the severance/blockage of Qi and blood in the stomach collaterals. This is because its rootlets penetrate vertically from the center, similar to how collaterals penetrate the Mu-Yuan (membranous origin in the chest and abdomen), thereby unblocking the Qi of the chest collaterals through its central penetrating nature. *Ophiopogonis Radix* does not wither in winter, enabling it to stimulate Yin Qi and nourish the Heart and Lungs upwards; thus, it treats knotting Qi in the chest and abdomen, cough, and deficiency consumption. The Kidney meridian ascends through the Liver and diaphragm, enters the Lung, and emerges from the Lung to connect with the Heart, illustrating the upward intersection of Kidney Qi with the Heart and Lungs. Phlegm-heat in the Heart and Lungs, wishing to resolve from below, relies on the Heart-entering property of *Ophiopogonis Radix* to guide the pathogenic factors out through the vessels. Generally, substances that are cold in nature have a hot core; heat is Yang within Yin. People only know how to use drugs to clear heat, but do not know how to utilize Yang; only by obtaining this Yang can one unblock the Qi within Yin.

The *Classic* states: If the water passages do not flow, the form and Qi will diminish and exhaust. Water circulates on the skin surface following Qi, and there is mutual assistance between Fire and Water above and below. If Qi stagnation causes water to fail to move, water diseases or phlegm diseases arise. *Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix* (Fangji, 防己) grown in Hanzhong has a cross-section resembling chariot spokes, with hollow and smooth stems, primarily functioning to promote Qi movement and diuresis. Due to Fangji's ability to control damp-earth, it is named "Fangji" (preventing dampness). In the *Jin Gui Yao Lue*, formulas for treating water diseases include *Fangji Huangqi Tang* (Stephania and Astragalus Decoction) and *Fangji Fuling Tang* (Stephania and Poria Decoction); for treating phlegm-fluid retention, there is *Mufangji Tang* (Wood Stephania Decoction) and *Fangji Jia Fuling Mangxiao Tang* (Stephania with Poria and Mirabilite Decoction). Sun Simiao used *Sanwu Mufangji Tang* (Three-Ingredient Wood Stephania Decoction) to treat urinary obstruction. This is likely because Qi moves upward while water tends downward. Currently, it is conventionally used as a medicine for the lower part of the body; this stems from predecessors establishing theories and successors making forced interpretations based on text! Li Gao said: Fangji is like a treacherous and litigious person who delights in others' misfortune and initiates chaos; yet, if used skillfully, it can also counteract凶险 (peril), making it a drug that induces Mingxuan reactions (severe initial reaction to expel disease), so the Sages retained it without abolishing it. For diseases of the Upper Jiao Qi level, it should not be used; it is merely a medicine for the Lower Jiao Blood level! Alas, such discussions, from where were they derived? After Qi transformation, water flows; Fangji is clearly an agent for promoting Qi and promoting urination, yet it claims the Upper Jiao Qi level cannot use it. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* classifies herbs into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades. Those that nourish life, tonify, and prolong youth are Upper Grade; those treating diseases are next; toxic ones are Lower Grade. Fangji promotes circulation to remove disease, implying tonification within movement, so the *Bencao Jing* lists it before the Middle Grade. Why say it is retained but abolished? Moreover, its flavor is pungent and neutral, non-toxic; why call it a Mingxuan drug? Such arguments are too numerous to list, offering no benefit to therapeutic principles but rather confusing later learners. I observe that among scholars today, only Mr. Lu Zitian possesses profound learning, reveres only the classic scriptures, and alone is not deceived by predecessors.