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Treats accumulated heat and stagnation in the Zang-Fu organs, constipation, and irritability with restlessness in the heart and diaphragm.
Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang) [stir-fried until charred], equal parts. Decoct in water and take orally.

Treats heat accumulation in the Heart and Lungs, mouth ulcers, sore throat, chest oppression, and dysuria with turbid urine.
Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi Ren), Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maimendong), Akebiae Caulis (Mutong), Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdihuang), Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), equal parts. Decoct in water and take orally.

Treats various types of accumulated heat causing erysipelas (Dan Du), and hot pain in the throat.
Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) [roasted], Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishaoyao), Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), equal parts. Decoct in water and take orally.

Fire as a pathogenic factor causes great harm, changes rapidly, manifests prominently, and leads to sudden death. This is because fire has a swift and fierce nature, burning like flames, flying wildly, consuming all things, and nothing can resist it. Fire circulates through the San Jiao (Triple Burner), presenting two pathways of deficiency and excess: Jun Huo (Monarch Fire) is like human fire; Xiang Huo (Minister Fire) is like dragon fire. When fire does not move recklessly and follows the Dao, it obeys its position and commands, facilitating the mechanisms of creation and survival. However, humans exist within the intersection of Qi, moving more than staying still; how can one avoid reckless movement? Therefore, all movement belongs to fire transformation. Once fire moves recklessly, Yuan Qi (Original Qi) is injured, and the two are incompatible. Excess leads to disease, affecting other meridians, which is no small matter. If movement reaches its extreme, illness leads to death. The *Classic* states: "One water cannot overcome two fires." This refers to the Ju Yang (Jue-Yang) fire of the Zang-Fu organs, which arises from heaven and exists outside of Jun and Xiang fire. It roots within the Five Emotions (Wu Zhi). Without stimulation by the Six Desires or Seven Emotions, fire does not arise spontaneously. For example, anger causes fire to rise in the Liver; drunkenness and overeating cause fire to rise in the Stomach; sexual exhaustion causes fire to rise in the Kidneys; sorrow and grief injuring the interior cause fire to rise in the Lungs. The Heart is the Monarch; if it burns itself, death ensues. Thus, Zhu Danxi said: "Fire originates from the Five Zang Organs." The *Classic* also states: "One water cannot overcome five fires." Since each Zang organ has fire, when stimulated by the Five Emotions, fire arises accordingly. Diseases caused by cold must result from exposure to cold air or consumption of cold foods, unlike diseases caused by fire, which originate internally.

Regarding pulse diagnosis: deficiency pulses are floating and large; excess pulses are surging and rapid. Medication should be chosen according to the specific nature. Jun Huo is Heart Fire; it can be subdued by dampness, extinguished by water, or directly reduced using bitter-cold herbs like Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian). Xiang Huo is Dragon Fire; it cannot be subdued by water or dampness but must be controlled by following its nature, using herbs like Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) to descend it. Although these are methods for purging fire, they are not exhaustive; deficiency and excess present in many ways and must be carefully examined. From the perspective of Zang organ governance: Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) purges Heart Fire; Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) purges Lung Fire; Paeoniae Radix (Shaoyao) purges Spleen Fire; Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) purges Liver Fire; Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) purges Kidney Fire. These are all bitter-cold substances that purge excess fire.

If dietary irregularities or fatigue injure Yuan Qi, leading to a conflict between fire and Qi, resulting in Yang deficiency disease, sweet-warm formulas such as Astragali Radix (Huangqi), Ginseng Radix (Renshen), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) should be used. If Yin is weak and Yang is strong, with vigorous Xiang Huo invading Yin positions and slowly consuming fluids, causing blood deficiency disease, sweet-cold formulas such as Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) and Rehmanniae Radix (Dihuang) should be used to descend fire. If Heart Fire is hyperactive with internal stagnant heat, causing Yang excess disease, salty-cold formulas such as Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang) and Natrii Sulfas (Puxiao) should be used to reduce fire. If Kidney Water is injured and True Yin is lost, resulting in rootless fire and Yin deficiency disease, formulas that strengthen Water, such as Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdihuang) and Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen), should be used. If the Gate of Vitality (Ming Men) of the Right Kidney declines, causing Yang collapse disease, warm-hot formulas such as Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) and Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang) should be used to rescue Yang. If Stomach deficiency leads to excessive consumption of cold items, forcing Yang Qi to retreat into the Spleen Earth, causing Fire Stagnation disease, ascending and dispersing formulas such as Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) and Puerariae Radix (Gegen) should be used to vent the fire. Failure to understand these principles may lead to the disaster of reinforcing excess and depleting deficiency.

Fire and Yuan Qi are incompatible; thus, abundant fire indicates deficient Qi. Yuan Qi is the root of Water and Fire, and the mother of Qi and Blood. Although it is the foundation of life, it is essentially an invisible emptiness. Any injury leads to insufficiency; therefore, diseases of excess are actually due to the decline of righteous Qi. The Five Zang, Six Fu, Twelve Meridians, and San Jiao Bao Luo are all flows of a single Qi; where does fire come from? Fire is simply Qi losing its balance. Thus, what maintains harmony and unceasingly protects is called Qi; what disturbs and changes is called Fire. Among the Five Elements, there is only one of each, except for Fire, which has two: Jun Huo (Human Fire) and Xiang Huo (Heavenly Fire). All movement belongs to fire, facilitated by Xiang Huo. Xiang Huo resides in the Kidneys and Liver; in nature, it resembles dragon thunder. Li Dongyuan called it the "thief of Yuan Qi" because it is violent and cruel, worse than Jun Huo. If managed well and controlled by stillness, Yuan Yang is stored. If the Five Fires remain silent and the Spleen is tonified, the creative function continues without theft. In the sequence of the Six Qi, Jun Huo comes first, initiating growth; Xiang Huo comes second, completing fruition. This is the function of Jun and Xiang Fire. The statement that "Fire and Yuan Qi are incompatible, one wins while the other loses" refers to Zhuang Huo (Blazing Fire), not Shao Huo (Lesser Fire). Yang Fire responds to orthodox treatment; Yin Fire responds to contrary treatment. Diseases caused by labor, hardship, or wind-cold damage Yang Fire; treat with Buzhong Yiqi Tang. Diseases caused by mental strain or sexual desire damage Yin Fire; treat with Dihuang Wan. Some say Yang excess leads to Yin deficiency, and fire excess leads to water deficiency. Therefore, use bitter-cold drugs to suppress Yang and support Yin, purging hyperactive fire to save impending water. However, do not use them lightly unless there is real heat. Rooted fire has pathology to absorb it; rootless fire causes immediate collapse upon injuring Yuan Qi. Hence, mistakenly taking cold-cooling drugs leads to immediate death. This is the general principle for treating Yin and Yang Fire, an immutable canon.

For Fire Stagnation, dispersion is indicated, but one must determine the affected meridian. Mild cases can be descended; severe cases follow their nature. Zhu Danxi said: Real fire can be purged, e.g., Huanglian Jiedu Tang; Deficient fire can be tonified, e.g., Siwu Tang. Excess Qi becomes fire; deficient Qi is Qi deficiency. Strong individuals with excess Qi, fire, and mania can undergo orthodox treatment. Weak individuals with excess fire and mania will die if treated orthodoxy; instead, tonify Yin fire to let it descend naturally. Do not abruptly use cooling drugs for high fire; combine with warm dispersants. Cases with external wind-cold binding can be dispersed. Stagnant fire can be dispersed. Qi rising from the left side indicates Liver Fire; Qi rising from below the navel indicates Yin Fire. Qi rising from the feet into the abdomen like fire indicates extreme deficiency. Fire arising from the "nine springs" (deep depths) often results in death. However, if one clears the mind, abandons desires, nourishes Yin, and moistens the Kidneys to restore True Yin, recovery is possible. Mere medication without lifestyle restrictions often leads to untreatable conditions. Topically, apply Fuzi powder mixed with saliva to Yongquan (KI 1) to guide fire downward. Yin deficiency with fire agitation is difficult to treat. Urination reduces fire fastest. Guiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) tonifies Yin and is the ultimate Yin substance. Gancao (raw) moderates fire pathogens; Mutong descends and purges Small Intestine fire. Renzhongbai (Urinae Hominis Depuratum) purges Liver fire; aged two to three years in wind and dew is best. Renzhonghuang is very cooling; aged years are best for treating diseases. Zhizi Ren greatly descends stagnant fire via urination; its nature descends curvingly and can also treat fire pathogens in abdominal masses.