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Burdock Fruit (Niubangzi):
It matures in autumn, inheriting the cool and clear qi of heaven and earth; therefore, its flavor is pungent and bitter, nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. The pungency can disperse stagnation, while bitterness can drain heat; it enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. It is a supreme herb for dispersing wind, clearing heat, detoxifying, and benefiting the throat. It is essential throughout the course of Sha disease (sand disease) and a key ingredient for blood-heat type smallpox/rash. However, its nature is cold and slippery; those with Qi deficiency leading to diarrhea must strictly avoid taking it. When used, stir-fry until dry and grind into powder so as not to dissipate its qi. For toothache, use raw Burdock Fruit, grind finely, wrap in cotton, hold against the affected area, and spit out the bitter water to be cured.

Burdock Fruit primarily moistens the lungs and disperses Qi, treating corrosive toothache, facial edema, relieving wind-heat sore throat, wind-dampness urticaria, and toxic carbuncles. Its pungency disperses nodules, and bitterness drains heat. It is a crucial herb for benefiting the throat in smallpox/rash, resolving Yangming heat, eliminating swelling, dispersing wind, removing heat, and clearing internal toxins.

Indications (Integrating Smallpox/Rash): Moistens Lung Metal to dispel wind-heat, benefits the pharynx and diaphragm to dissipate various swellings, treats sore throat and dissipates stagnant Qi, cools blood during rash eruption, assists medicine in forming pustules, and resolves Yangming heat toxicity. It is most suitable for cases where the rash is red/purple, heat is severe, and constipation exists. However, it opens muscle pores and promotes bowel movements; excessive use moves the Middle Qi internally and causes exterior deficiency externally. In patients with Qi and Blood deficiency after illness, using it may instead consume true Yuan Qi. If eruption is slow accompanied by diarrhea, it is especially contraindicated. Do not use if carbuncles have already ulcerated.

Peucedani Radix (Qianhu):
Inheriting the Qi of Earth and Metal, and responding to the seasons of Autumn and Winter, its flavors are bitter, pungent, and neutral, slightly cold, and non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. Bitter and cold properties descend, while pungent and neutral properties disperse; thus, it is an herb that directs Qi downward, eliminates phlegm, removes stagnation, and disperses pathogenic factors.

Peucedani Radix excels at eliminating phlegm obstruction, treating asthma, cough, chest and hypochondriac fullness, epigastric and abdominal Qi stagnation, alternating chills and fever from Cold Damage, headache due to wind-cold, removing wind-phlegm, and clearing excess heat.

Indications (Integrating Smallpox/Rash): Can be used when wind-pathogen heat is in early stages, ambiguous, or characterized by wind-cold cough with sputum.

Commentary: Peucedani Radix, with its pungency, unblocks Lung Qi and resolves wind-cold; with its sweetness, it nourishes Spleen Qi and regulates the chest and abdomen; with its bitterness, it drains Jueyin heat; with its cold nature, it disperses Taiyin/Yangming pathogens. Its nature is Yin and descending, differing from Chaihu which ascends. It is particularly effective in directing Qi downward; when Qi descends, Fire descends, and Phlegm follows. For phlegm not caused by external contraction, as well as cases of Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, Qi failing to return to its root, and reverse fullness in the chest and hypochondrium, it must strictly be avoided.