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The *I Ching* (Book of Changes) states: "To establish the Way of Heaven, there is Yin and Yang; to establish the Way of Earth, there is Softness and Hardness." Although herbs are minute, their flavors and qi possess a distinction of Yin and Yang, and their physical constitution possesses a difference of Softness and Hardness; each herb contains a complete Taiji (the ultimate reality). The ancients, when discussing medicinal properties, mostly spoke of flavor and qi, and rarely spoke of physical constitution. This is because the hardness and softness of Earth are transformed from the Yin and Yang of Heaven; by speaking of Yin and Yang, the principles of hardness and softness are included within them. Later generations failed to comprehend this principle and often misused medicines. Mr. Chunshan stated that diseases have distinctions of dryness and dampness, and medicines have distinctions of moistening and drying. Generally, substances with a soft constitution containing juices and oils are classified as moistening; those with a crisp, dry constitution lacking juices and oils are classified as drying. However, moistening medicines differ in being acrid-moistening, warm-moistening, neutral-moistening, cool-moistening, or cold-moistening; drying medicines differ in being acrid-drying, warm-drying, hot-drying, neutral-drying, cool-drying, or cold-drying. There are also differences in degree: slightly moistening, very moistening, slightly drying, and very drying. Generally, moistening medicines derive more qi from Spring, Autumn, and Winter, and less from Summer; drying medicines derive more qi from Summer, Autumn, and Winter, and less from Spring. Drying medicines obtain more of the Qi of Heaven, thus they can treat dampness; moistening medicines obtain more of the Qi of Earth, thus they can treat dryness. No medicine is without bias; using the bias of a medicine to correct the bias of the body is why it is called "medicine."

Let us briefly enumerate the major categories: Acrid-moistening herbs include Xingren (Apricot Seed), Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), Ziwan (Asteris Radix), Baibu (Stemonae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Chongweizi (Leonuri Fructus), Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Xian Shichangpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma Fresh), Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix), Xian Yujin (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma Fresh), Shuqi (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Jiezi (Sinapis Semen), Laifuzi (Raphani Semen), Suzi (Perillae Fructus), Xiebai (Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Fresh), Douchi (Sojae Preparata), Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus), Qincaizhi (Apium graveolens Juice), Jiuzhi (Allii Tuberosi Juice), etc. Warm-moistening herbs include Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix), Gaolishen (Korean Ginseng), Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma), Tian Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Rongrong (Cistanche Deserticola), Gouqi (Lycii Fructus), Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), Luba (Trigonellae Semen), Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), Sangshen (Mori Fructus), Jinyingzi (Chrysanthemi Fructus), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), Guiyuan (Longan Arillus), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), Hetao (Juglandis Semen), Lurong (Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum), Lu jiao (Cervi Cornu), Lu jiao jiao (Cervi Cornu Colla), Yang shen (Ovis Ren), Haishen (Holothuria), Zhecheche (Human Placenta), Kanqi (Umbilical Cord), etc. Generally, the warm-moistening category has warm qi, obtaining much of the Qi of Heaven; its texture is moist, obtaining much of the Qi of Earth; it receives qi more comprehensively than other categories, and its flavor is mostly sweet, inheriting the true flavor of Earth. It is quite suitable for treating deficiency of both Yin and Yang. Neutral-moistening herbs include Nan Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix), Bei Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix), Dongyangshen (Korean Codonopsis), Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), Shouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Yuzhu (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma), Baihe (Lilii Bulbus), Shayuanzi (Astragali Complanati Semen), Baiziren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), Szaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen Sweet), Dongguaren (Benincasae Semen), Maren (Cannabis Semen), Yamaren (Linseed), Heizhima (Sesamum Indicum Fructus Nigrum), Wumei (Mume Fructus), Fengmi (Honey), Yitang (Maltose), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), Yanwo (Swallow's Nest), Zhufu (Porcine Skin), Yatang (Duck Broth), Renru (Human Milk), etc. Cool-moistening herbs include Gan Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Tiandong (Asparagi Radix), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Xian Shihu (Dendrobii Nobile Caulis Fresh), Nvzhenzi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus), Yinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Juhua (Chrysanthemi Flos), Xian Sangye (Mori Folium Fresh), Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Heye (Nelumbinis Folium), Zhuli (Bambusa Textilis Caulis Succus), Zhuru (Bambusa Textilis Caulis Membrana), Zhuye (Bambusa Textilis Folium), Dan Zhuye (Lophatheri Herba), Lugeng (Phragmitis Rhizoma), Baimaogen (Imperatae Rhizoma), Huai Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Chuan Beimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), Pipaye (Loquati Folium), Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus), Huafen (Trichosanthis Radix), Haizao (Sargassum), Kunbu (Eckloniae Thallus), Shishuang (Diospyros Fructus Crusta), Zicao (Arnebiae Radix et Rhizoma), Baiwei (Clerodendrri Bungei Radix), Li (Pyrus Communis Fructus), Ou (Nelumbinis Rhizoma), Zhezhizhi (Sacchari Sacchari Sucus), Biqizhi (Eleocharis Fructus Juice), Luoshui (Dew), Guiban (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), Biejia (Trionycis Carapax), Muli (Concha Ostreae), Jueming (Cassiae Semen), Wenhae (Concha Meretricis), Haifushi (Lapillus Pumex), Tongbian (Infantis Urina), etc. Cold-moistening herbs include Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Xian Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix Fresh), Xijiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu - now substituted), Lingyangjiao (Saigae Tataricae Cornu), Bangshui (Unio Water), Zhu Danzhi (Sus Scrofa Bile), etc. Acrid-drying herbs include Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix), Duhuo (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix), Sueye (Perillae Folium), Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba), Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), Huoxiang (Agastaches Herba), Peilan (Agastaches Rugosae Herba), Xiangru (Elsholtziae Herba), Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Qianniou (Pharbitidis Semen), Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos), etc. Warm-drying herbs include Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma - though drying, its texture is still slippery), Nanxing (Arisaema Cum Bile), Kourén (Cardamomi Fructus), Sharen (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Yizhiren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Semen), Pozhuzi (Psoraleae Fructus), Shanzha (Crataegi Fructus), Qingchenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Binglang (Arecae Semen), etc. Hot-drying herbs include Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma - Rougui, Guizhi, Ganjiang have slightly moist textures but ultimately strong qi), Paojiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Ustun), Wuyu (Evodiae Fructus), Jiaomu (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium), etc. Neutral-drying herbs include Fuling (Poria), Hupo (Electrum), Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), Yiren (Coicis Semen), Biandou (Vigna Ungiculatae Semen), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma - slightly drying but rich in essence), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata), Chao Guya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus Stir Fry), Zhuling (Polyporus), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Chuan Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Bixie (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma), Yichen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba), Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix), Doujuan (Sojae Semen Praeparatum), Can sha (Bombyx Batryticatus Excrement), Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen), Haijinsha (Lygodii Spora - Cheqianzi has much essence but its nature is draining; Haijinsha is slightly drying. Both do not severely injure Yin among diuretics), etc. Cool-drying herbs include Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Shuang Sangye (Mori Folium Frosted), Danpi (Moutan Cortex), Digupi (Lycii Cortex), Chai Shihu (Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis), Huashi (Talcum), Hanshui Shi (Halloysit Rubrum), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), Chantui (Cicadae Periostracum), Gouteng (Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis), Huaimi (Sophorae Flos), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus Tingled), Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen seu Lepidii Semen), etc. Cold-drying herbs include Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Mutong (Akebiae Caulis), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Jinlingzi (Meliae Fructus), Longdancao (Gentianae Radix), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Yuanmingfen (Natrii Sulfas), Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Gansui (Kansui Radix), etc. The classification of herbal constitutions in materia medica is roughly as above.

Since the physical constitution is detailed, one must also distinguish flavor and qi. Generally, thin qi tends to ascend and open; thick flavors tend to descend and close. Acrid and sweet disperse and belong to Yang, governing ascent; sour and bitter drain and belong to Yin, governing descent. Warm nature tends to open; cold nature tends to close. Draining methods tend to open; tonifying methods tend to close. Acrid-bitter and acrid-sour flavors tend to open; sour-salty flavors tend to close. Acrid can disperse and moisten, and can also promote fluid circulation and water movement; Bitter can dry and firm, and can also break stagnation and drain. Sour can astringe; Salty can soften hardness, and can also coagulate; Sweet obtains the true flavor of Earth (Sweet herbs are non-toxic); combined with opening, it aids opening; combined with closing, it aids closing; its power to moderate the middle is unique; Bland obtains the complete Qi of Heaven (bland and tasteless resembling Heaven, containing clear and austere drying qi, so its function specializes in leaching out dampness); it ascends to Heaven and descends to the Springs, its power to leach out dampness is supreme. As for aquatic products, such as Guiban and Biejia, they inherit the Qi of Dry Hardness and obtain the Essence of Kan Water. Their body is hard but texture soft, flavor salty and bland. They can attack hardness and soften accumulation, dry dampness and clear heat, nourish Yin and subdue Yang. One herb with three uses; especially suitable for Yin deficiency with damp-heat or blood dryness with nodules. However, plants and trees receive biased Qi, and flavors are rarely pure. One herb often combines several flavors, sometimes bitter first then acrid/sweet, or sweet first then acrid/bitter. Generally, the dominant flavor prevails, and the lingering flavor is the true nature. One must personally taste them regularly to avoid errors. Mr. Chunshan, following Shaozi's theory of Yuan Yun (cycles of time), stated that medicinal properties of ancient and modern times cannot be uniform. In the current era, Dryness and Fire govern the sky, so dryness diseases are particularly numerous, and all things change towards dryness. Metal flavor is acrid, Fire flavor is bitter, so medicinal flavors often become bitter and acrid. I opine: The theory of Yuan Yun seems difficult to rely on entirely, but differences in local earth qi are indeed verifiable. For example, Maidong was originally sweet, now it is sweet with acrid notes; Hangzhou-produced has less acridity, Sichuan-produced has more. Chai Shihu was originally bland; Ho Shan produced is near the Central Plains, retaining sweet-bland flavor; Sichuan produced is bland with slight bitterness; Guangxi and Yunnan produced are purely bitter without sweetness, because these regions are on the southwestern border of the Central Plains, receiving an excess of Dryness-Fire Qi. These observations are accurate. Not only do time and place differ, but cultivation methods vary too. For instance, Korean Ginseng originally has slightly damp qi; now grown with sulfur-treated soil, its warming property is stronger. Such examples are countless.

Regarding the method of using medicines, one must understand the application of intent. A physician is one who applies intent. Treating disease with intent is the highest level; resorting to medicine is the second level. Yet, lifeless medicines become effective when used with conscious intent. Ancient methods of using medicine were like using troops: there are attacks and defenses, unorthodox and orthodox strategies, and the same applies to medicine. The Qi of Heaven and Earth operates like the bellows of a forge, opening and closing incessantly, thereby generating all things. In humans, if this mechanism stops, disease occurs; if it becomes biased, disease occurs; if breath ceases, death follows. Among the Six Qi, Cold and Dampness lean towards closing; Dryness and Fire lean towards opening; Wind has no fixed form, combining with Cold/Dampness leads to closing, combining with Dryness/Fire leads to opening; Summer Heat has heat and dampness, leaning towards opening if heat predominates, and closing if dampness predominates. When using medicine to treat disease, opening must be assisted slightly by closing, closing by opening, ascending by descending, descending by ascending. Sometimes orthodox assistants aid the main action, sometimes reverse assistants serve as guides. This illustrates the interdependence of Yin and Yang. To treat dryness with moistening, it is acceptable to assist with slight bitterness, because slight bitterness belongs to Fire, and Fire conquers Metal. To treat dampness with drying, it is better to treat with blandness, because bland flavor obtains the drying Qi of Heaven and specializes in leaching dampness. Furthermore, simple diseases use simple medicines, complex diseases use complex medicines (such as Xiexin Tang, Huanglian Tang). If a disease is complex but stems from one source, the prescription should have a specific focus; if a disease is simple but complicated by another condition, the prescription must allow for flexibility. In treating dryness, one must guard against complicating dampness; in treating dampness, one must guard against transformation into dryness. Observe the past to treat the present; treat the present while considering the future. Exterior/Interior, Cold/Heat, Deficiency/Excess must be clearly distinguished; Root/Branch, Priority/Sequence, Weight/Lightness require flexible adjustment. Dryness diseases should use paste preparations; dampness diseases should use pills and powders. If dryness is complicated by dampness, moistening herbs should be stir-fried or made into water-hulled pills; if dampness transforms into dryness, drying herbs should be steamed or made into honey pills. To achieve rapid action, use decoctions (taking the meaning of sweeping/cleansing); to achieve slow resolution, use pills (taking the meaning of gradual relief).

Regarding decoction methods, intent must also be applied. If Yin fluids are severely depleted and phlegm-fluids are present, heavy/turbid herbs should be lightly decocted to ensure smooth circulation without stagnation (e.g., Dihuang Yinzi). If heat is in the Upper Jiao, the method should be light and sweeping; heavy herbs should be lightly soaked to avoid affecting the Lower Jiao (e.g., Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang). If there is upper heat and lower cold, cold herbs should be lightly decocted, and warm herbs heavily decocted, to prevent interference between upper and lower (e.g., Fuzi Xiexin Tang). Some herbs are decocted first to concentrate the juice, others added later to capture the qi. First decoction captures strong flavor for slow action; later addition captures thin qi for rapid arrival (e.g., Dachengqi Tang: Da Huang, Zhi Shi, Hou Po decocted first, Mang Xiao added later). To achieve rapid purgation, use fast-flowing water; to moderate the middle, use Ganlan Water (Thousand-Yang Water, e.g., Banxiexia Tang). To promote ascending and exterior reaching, use vigorous fire; to promote descending and interior penetration, use gentle fire. After taking medicine, drinking thin porridge can assist the medicinal force to induce sweating (e.g., Guizhi Tang). Taking medicine after meals can assist the ascending nature of the drug. Various treatment methods cannot be achieved without applying intent. Observe Master Zhang Zhongjing: his 113 formulas and 397 methods all contain true intent. Students should use intent to understand intent and gain personal insights. This is merely a discussion of the general principles!