Library

[Background Information]
Book: Feng Shi Jin Nang Mi Lu (Secret Records of Feng's Brocade Pouch)
Author: Feng Chuzhan
Dynasty: Qing Dynasty
Chapter: Yi Zhi / He Shou Wu
Category: Comprehensive

**Yi Zhi (Alpinia oxyphylla)**

Yi Zhi derives its nature from the Qi of Fire, Earth, and Metal; therefore, it tastes pungent, is warm in temperature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The pungent flavor disperses nodules, the warmth promotes circulation, and the aromatic quality enters the Spleen; it can also enter the Kidney because "pungency moistens." Since it inherits the properties of Fire, Earth, and Metal, it is dry and astringent. Thus, it is used to astringe seminal emission, floating phlegm-saliva, rebellious Qi, and urinary incontinence, and serves as a necessity for warming the Middle Jiao, opening the stomach, and promoting appetite. Within its function of unblocking stagnation, there is also the meaning of astringency. However, it is contraindicated for those with Yin deficiency and dry-heat.

Yi Zhi primarily regulates the Ministerial Fire (Mingmen Fire) and Sovereign Fire (Heart Fire), entering the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney meridians. It harmonizes Qi in the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold-Evil in the Spleen and Stomach, prevents seminal emission, reduces urination and stops incontinence, stops vomiting and hiccups, controls saliva, regulates various Qi to calm the Triple Burner. For frequent nocturia, adding salt and decocting yields immediate results. Ancients often used Yi Zhi to promote eating because it warms the Middle Jiao and opens the stomach. It can also astringe and capture rebellious Qi of the Spleen and Kidney, causing Qi to store and return to its source, making it a crucial herb for Spleen-Kidney deficiency accompanied by cold.

Commentary: Yi Zhi promotes Yang and retreats Yin; it is an herb that connects the Mother (Heart) and Child (Spleen). It is contraindicated for those with weak Qi in the Triple Burner and Mingmen, as well as for Heart deficiency and Spleen weakness. The Heart is the Mother of the Spleen; thus, promoting digestion is not merely about harmonizing the Spleen, but also allowing Heart herbs to enter Spleen herbs, i.e., "benefiting Fire within Earth," because Fire generates Earth. It is contraindicated for those with blood dryness and excessive fire, as well as for those with turbid discharge due to heat and active fire in the Triple Burner.

**He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum)**

He Shou Wu grows inheriting the vital Qi of deep Spring; it tastes bitter and astringent, is slightly warm, and non-toxic. Spring corresponds to Wood transformation, entering into the Blood level, combining externally with Wind, rising, and belonging to Yang. It enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian and concurrently the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, making it a superior herb for nourishing blood and dispelling wind. There are male and female varieties; they intertwine at night, symbolizing the union of Yin and Yang, thus enabling conception. The Liver governs Blood, and the Kidney governs Essence; nourishing these two meridians makes menstrual blood abundant. Hair is the surplus of Blood; thus, it darkens beard and temples. It treats scrofula (lymph node tuberculosis); when Qi stagnates in the Liver and Gallbladder, internal heat arises, and Ying-Qi congestion leads to this disease. All eleven organs depend on the Gallbladder; the Gallbladder and Liver are interior-exterior partners, belonging to the Shaoyang meridian, which cannot freely exit or enter. When Qi and Blood are both deficient, governed by Wind-Wood, moving Gallbladder Qi and nourishing Liver Blood causes scrofula to dissipate naturally. Harmonizing Ying-Qi resolves swelling; treating wind requires treating Blood first; when Blood moves, Wind disperses. Thus, it treats wind sores on the head and face. Intestinal pruritus develops into hemorrhoids; hemorrhoids result from Damp-Heat flowing downward, damaging the Blood level without outlet, forcing entry into the anal flesh, appearing as salty shapes (hemorrhoidal tissue). Wind overcomes Dampness; when Damp-Heat resolves, hemorrhoids flatten. Heart Blood deficiency causes internal heat; heat agitates the Heart, agitation causes pain. Nourishing Blood resolves heat and removes pain. Nourishing Blood and Qi darkens beard and temples, brightens complexion, strengthens sinews and bones, benefits Essence and Qi, prolongs life, and prevents aging; these are the ultimate merits of nourishing Liver-Kidney and benefiting Essence-Blood. It also treats postpartum conditions and leukorrhea in women. Women rely on Blood; menstruation is regulated by the Jueyin Liver. Leukorrhea stems from Blood deficiency combined with Damp-Heat; moving Dampness and nourishing Blood eliminates it. However, as a herb for nourishing Ying and benefiting Blood, it is contraindicated for concurrent use with Tian Xiong, Wu Tou, Fu Zi, Xian Mao, Ginger, Gui Pi, and other drying-hot herbs. Processing involves slicing with a bitter bamboo knife, soaking in rice wash water overnight, sun-drying, steaming nine times and sun-drying nine times. Avoid iron contact during use. It is antagonistic with Radish, causing premature graying of beard and temples.

He Shou Wu treats scrofula, carbuncles, sores, wind-rashes on the head and face, strengthens sinews and bones, brightens complexion, benefits Blood and Qi, stops heart pain, tonifies True Yin, regulates chickenpox/smallpox; long-term use increases Essence, enables procreation, eliminates five types of hemorrhoids, darkens beard and temples, strengthens Essence and marrow, and treats leukorrhea. Its overall function is harmonizing Qi and Blood; for chronic malaria, chronic dysentery, and diseases where Qi and Blood need prior harmonization, using this herb achieves miraculous results. It is an herb for the Liver and Kidney meridians; sweet and warm to dispel wind and benefit Blood, astringent to gather Yin. Large specimens harvested after many years, refined and processed, prolong life and prevent aging when taken long-term. For external application, to soothe pain beneath the skin, verify its extreme merit in activating Blood and nourishing Blood. (Different usage: Grind He Shou Wu into powder, mix with ginger juice to form a paste, apply, wrap with cotton, and iron with a heated shoe sole.)

Legend of He Shou Wu: He Shou Wu tastes sweet, is warm in temperature, non-toxic, with Poria cocos as its guiding herb. It treats five types of hemorrhoids, waist and knee ailments, cold Qi heart pain, chronic emaciation with phlegm-stasis, wind-deficiency debility, strengthens sinew strength, benefits essence and marrow, boosts Qi, preserves youth, blackens hair, prolongs life, treats evil blood and sallow complexion in women, postpartum diseases, red and white leukorrhea, toxic vapors entering the abdomen, and chronic dysentery; its merits cannot be fully enumerated. Also known as Ye Miao; second name Jiao Teng; third name Ye He; fourth name Di Jing; fifth name Shou Wu. Originally produced in Qianzhou, found throughout Jiangnan. Leaves glossy like peach or plum leaves; male vines are yellow-white, female are yellow-red. Roots extend no more than three feet; harvestable in spring and autumn; sun-dried, peeled, powdered, best taken with wine. Use Poria decoction as a guide when ill. Store powder in new urns; take occasionally. Contraindicated with pork, blood, scaleless fish, as they render the herb ineffective. Roots large as fists, nodular, resembling bird/beast/mountain shapes are precious. Dig up, peel, eat raw; tastes sweet, can serve as grain substitute. Eulogy: Divine efficacy surpasses Daoist methods, recorded in immortal books. Male and female intertwine, joining at night, separating by day. Taking it allows fasting, day after day, reversing aging, transforming sick bodies. Only those with affinity meet it; only you know yourself. Recorded by Li Yuan, Prefect of Mingzhou: He Shou Wu from Nanhe County, Shunzhou, and Shaozhou, Chaozhou, Sizhou, Hezhou, Guangzhou Si Hui County, Panzhou is top grade; Yongzhou, Guizhou, HT Zhou, Chunzhou, Gaozhou, Lezhou, Xunzhou, Jinxing County is secondary grade; truly an immortal herb. Fifty-year-old roots fist-sized, called Shan Nu. One year of use turns beard/temples black. Hundred-year-old roots bowl-sized, called Shan Ge. One year of use brings ruddy complexion. One-hundred-fifty-year-old roots basin-sized, called Shan Bo. One year of use regrows teeth. Two-hundred-year-old roots basket-sized, called Shan Weng. One year of use restores youthful appearance, walking speed of galloping horses. Three-hundred-year-old roots triple-basket sized, called Shan Jing, pure Yang body, long-term use becomes an Earth Immortal.

Main Indications (Integrated with Chickenpox/Smallpox): Treats insufficient Ying-Blood in chickenpox/smallpox. Highly suitable for delayed healing, chronic dysentery, and chronic abscesses.

Commentary: Shou Wu tonifies Yin without stagnation or cold, strengthens Yang without dryness or heat, inheriting neutral nature and pure Qi of Heaven and Earth. Once, an old man surnamed He saw vines intertwining at night, dug them up, took them, and his beard and hair turned completely black, hence named Shou Wu. Later, his sexual potency increased, and he fathered many sons, changing his name to Neng Si, demonstrating its ability to nourish Yin and benefit the Kidney. Although Shu Di Huang and Shou Wu both tonify Yin, Shu Di inherits the Qi of Mid-Winter, steamed and dried until black, entering specifically the Kidney to nourish the True Water of Tian Yi. Its benefit to the Liver is secondary to nourishing Water. Shou Wu inherits Spring Qi, undergoing Wind-Wood transformation, entering the Liver, being a Yang-within-Yin herb, thus specifically entering the Liver Meridian to benefit Blood and dispel Wind. Its benefit to the Kidney is secondary to nourishing the Liver. One is an herb inheriting congenital True Yin, capable of rapidly resolving the crisis of hyperactive solitary Yang; the other is needed for regulating postnatal Ying-Blood, serving as daily tonic to nurture spirit, expel disease, and adjust primal Qi. The Yin of Congenital and Postnatal origins differs greatly in the speed and weight of their effects. Moreover, named Ye He (Night Union) and Neng Si (Capable of Progeny), it possesses Yang-tonifying power within Blood-nourishing, unlike Di Huang which solely nourishes Water. With thin Qi and strong flavor, it is turbid among turbids, strengthening bone marrow. This is Zhang Jingyue's insight, previously unanalyzed by ancient sages; modern practitioners mixing Yin tonics indiscriminately commit great errors!