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Gansongzhi (Pine Resin) is influenced by the Taiyang Qi of Heaven and obtains the transformation of Fire and Earth from the ground; therefore, its taste is bitter with a hint of sweet, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. Sweetness can detoxify, bitterness can drain heat, and warmth can dispel wind and dry dampness. Thus, when applied externally to sores and toxins, it promotes flesh growth and kills parasites; when taken internally, it expels various winds, treats severe Bi syndrome (painful obstruction), stabilizes the Zang organs, eliminates latent heat, and is effective in dispelling wind and drying dampness. However, it is strictly contraindicated for those with blood deficiency and internal fire.

Pine resin is categorized into Yang resin, which tonifies Yang, and Yin resin, which tonifies Yin. Prepared according to prescriptions, such as forming pills with Eucommiae Cortex (Wujia), Poria (Fuling), Platycladi Semen (Baishi), and Chrysanthemi Flos (Ganju), taken with wine, or used alone, it expels various winds, stabilizes the Zang organs, clears latent heat in the epigastrium, relieves thirst and throat discomfort, lightens the body, prolongs life, and enhances spiritual clarity. Boiled into a paste for external application, it treats sores and toxins and promotes tissue regeneration; made into powder, it treats toothache and kills parasites.

The nut (Songshi) has a sweet taste and warm nature, is mild and non-toxic. For those lacking essence, it tonifies through its flavor; for those lacking form, it warms through its Qi. Due to its sweet taste and warm nature, it treats shortness of breath, emaciation, and weakness, and also drives out wind-Bi. Long-term use prolongs life and lightens the body; only this part fully deserves such praise. The flower (Songhua), while lightening the body and benefiting Qi, may cause heat in the Upper Jiao. The joint (Songjie) has a warm nature and represents the bone of the pine. Its texture is hard and its Qi is vigorous; following the principle of similarity, its action focuses on the limbs and joints, relaxing tendons, stopping joint pain, removing dampness, searching out wind within the bones, drying dampness in the blood, alleviating lower limb Bi syndrome and weakness, treating various winds, and can be taken after soaking in wine. The leaf (Songye) has a bitter and warm nature, promotes hair growth, and when mashed and applied, treats wind-damp sores and toxins; hanging it repels epidemic qi.

[Indications] (Referencing Smallpox and Rash): Pine flower is excellent for dusting on damaged smallpox lesions and moist, rotting wounds that fail to scab.

Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) inherits the most Yin Qi and possesses a clear, cold nature. It tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and non-toxic. It enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and is a key herb for treating Yin deficiency with internal heat. Using its extreme Yin nature, it supplements the insufficiency of extreme Yin. However, it is effective for excess heat and Yang hyperactivity syndromes but strictly contraindicated for deficiency heat and Yang deficiency syndromes. When preparing for decoction, it should be soaked in honey overnight and roasted until yellow. If intended for the Kidney meridian, soak thoroughly in salted wine and stir-fry until brown. If used for oral ganoderma or topical applications, dry it in the sun without exposing it to fire.

Huangbai disperses and moves damp-heat in the Lower Jiao, drains latent Dragon Fire in the Yin, removes bone-steaming fever, tonifies the Kidney and strengthens Yin, cleanses the Liver and brightens the eyes, treats accumulated heat in the five Zang organs and intestines/stomach, jaundice, intestinal hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and dysentery. It drains excessive Ministerial Fire and rescues insufficient Kidney Water. Paired with Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) to nourish Yin and descend fire, it is necessary for treating consumption (Lao). Paired with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Cangzhu) to dry dampness and clear heat, it is essential for treating flaccidity syndrome (Wei). It can be applied topically for mouth ulcers, worm infestations, and scabies. It shows special merit for continuous bleeding from intestinal wind and miraculous effects for dysentery with initial blood presence. It treats accumulated heat in the bladder, leukorrhea, vaginal discharge, yin injury, and erosive sores in women. Regarding the claim that it "tonifies Yin," this is because as fire recedes, Yin grows; it does not have direct tonifying properties. Moreover, excess fire can be drained, but deficiency fire should be supplemented. Without this vital fire, human life cannot exist; using Huangbai to drain fire actually damages the generating Qi. It should only be used temporarily for damp-heat and excess heat. It must be strictly avoided in patients with Kidney deficiency and thin Spleen Qi.

[Indications] (Referencing Smallpox and Rash): Should be processed with wine and stir-fried. It mainly treats accumulated heat in the five Zang organs and intestines/stomach, eye pain, mouth ulcers, and drains bladder heat. It clears urine, descends Ministerial Fire, enters the Kidney to settle dryness, and resolves various toxic vapors. However, it is not commonly used in smallpox treatment and is strictly contraindicated for those with Spleen deficiency and diarrhea.

Commentary: Huangbai is cold in nature, executing the肃杀 (severe/clearing) command of deep winter, thus entering exclusively the Shaoyin meridian to drain excess Ministerial Fire. It can be used (roasted black) temporarily only if the Chi pulse at the wrist is surging and forceful upon pressure. Ancients claimed it tonifies Yin, but this is not its nature; rather, heat removal prevents Yin damage. It benefits excess heat but harms deficiency heat. Regrettably, people today ignore the distinction between excess and deficiency, regarding it as a miraculous drug for clearing heat and treating consumption, unaware that its Yin-cold nature damages Qi, reduces appetite, extinguishes the true Yuan fire of the Mingmen, and obstructs the transport functions of the Spleen and Stomach. When Yuan Qi is already deficient, using bitter-cold herbs to suppress and cut off the source of vitality is the most severe harm.