Library

When I first began practicing medicine, I also consulted medical formularies but had not studied the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica). I only knew that certain herbs were cold in nature, others hot; some could resolve phlegm, others move qi, some dry dampness, some strengthen the spleen, some break blood stasis, and some tonify blood. When treating diseases with herbs, it was merely so much! It was only when my prescriptions failed to produce results, and I turned to ancient methods which proved effective, that I came to understand the principles of Wuyun Liuqi (Five Movements and Six Qi, referring to the laws of climatic changes and their influence on the human body). Heaven and Earth possess Five Movements and Six Qi; the human body also possesses them; and all flowers and grasses are likewise governed by them. The Five Movements refer to the Five Elements; the Six Qi are also related to the Five Elements. After Heaven and Earth were created, grasses and trees began to grow. Shennong (the Divine Farmer), observing the heavens above and the earth below, discovered that flowers and grasses originated from five directions and grew during five seasons. Within them existed five colors, five odors, and five flavors, which corresponded to the Zang and Fu organs of humans. Heaven, Earth, and humanity were integrated through this principle, establishing the properties of medicinal substances. Knowing the nature of herbs allows for endless application and a fundamental basis for selection; later generations, unaware of these natures, spoke only of their uses, thereby neglecting the root for the branches. For instance, it is said that Rhinoceros Horn (Xijiao) resolves Heart heat, and Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao) clears Lung and Liver heat. In cases of Heart heat, one should use Rhinoceros Horn; in Lung and Liver conditions, Antelope Horn. If, upon usage, there is no effect whatsoever, what then? One must know the nature of Rhinoceros Horn and why it clears Heart heat; the nature of Antelope Horn and why it clears Lung and Liver heat. Understanding the "why" allows one to find resources everywhere; forcing usage without understanding is like striking wood to make gold sing. Even if struck, it will not sing; the more one strikes, the less it sings, until hands are broken, yet success remains elusive. What benefit is there?

The properties of herbs must be distinguished according to Zang-Fu organs and meridians, as well as their ascending, descending, exiting, and entering movements. Some act on the skin and hair follicles, some release the muscle layer, some unblock meridians, some raise the Qi of water and earth, some assist the transmission of Metal and Wood Qi, and some descend due to their heavy and settling nature. Applying the herb's movement to the body's movement constitutes having a foundation. Since I cannot detail everything here, I shall briefly discuss several dozen commonly used items.

Renshen (Ginseng Root) tonifies the True Yuan (Original Qi) of the Five Zang organs. If the True Yuan of any one Zang organ is deficient, Renshen is used. If Water and Fire do not interact, it indicates deficiency of the True Yuan of the Heart and Kidney; if Heaven and Earth do not interact, it indicates stagnation of the True Yuan of the Spleen and Lung; if Qi and Blood are disharmonious, it indicates failure of Yin and Yang True Yuan to support each other. In such urgent cases, even immediate use of Renshen may prove insufficient. Whenever appetite is poor and the Stomach gate is closed, Renshen is essential. This is because the Qi of all Zang and Fu organs converges at the Stomach, just as the Yangtze and Han rivers flow into the sea. If the Qi of even one Zang or Fu organ fails to reach the Stomach, the person will be unable to eat; even if they do, intake will be meager. Other herbs tonify only one Zang or Fu organ, whereas Renshen embodies the Qi of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity (San Cai), capable of tonifying the Original Spirit of all Five Zang and Six Fu organs. Thus, it is indispensable. Its other effects are too numerous to recount; to list them all would require writing on bamboo slips until they run out. Profound comprehension is key.

Huangqi (Astragalus Root) assists the Qi of the San Jiao (Triple Burner), allowing it to reach the muscle layer via the meridians. If the interior of the San Jiao is deficient and cannot reach the muscle layer from the meridians, Huangqi is mandatory.

Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) tonifies Spleen Earth. It is essential when Spleen Earth is deficient. Similar herbs include Shanyao (Chinese Yam Rhizome), Shihu (Dendrobium Stem), Yiyiren (Coix Seed), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), and Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root); all are herbs for tonifying Spleen Earth. There are countless other herbs for promoting Spleen function and aiding digestion.

Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), Duzhong (Eucommia Bark), Buguzhi (Psoralea Fruit), Bajitian (Morinda Root), and Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) are all Kidney-tonifying herbs. If Yang Qi is established but Yin Essence is insufficient, these can be used, though they act slowly. However, if Kidney Essence is exhausted and Yang has nothing to attach to, Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Root) should be used to tonify Yang.

Herbs with hollow or open structures regulate the movement of Qi. Examples include Shengma (Cimicifuga Rhizome), Mutong (Akebia Stem), Wuyao (Lindera Root), Fangji (Stephania Root), and Tongcao (Tetrapanax Pith). Vining herbs travel through the meridians, such as Yinhua (Honeysuckle Flower), Gange (Kudzu Root), Fengteng (Uncaria Vine), Xuduan (Dipsacus Root), and Sangjisheng (Taxillus Branch). Herbs that enter the Blood level need not be vines to travel through meridians; examples include Honghua (Safflower), Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root), Danpi (Moutan Bark), Qinjiao (Gentiana Macrophylla Root), and Baishao (White Peony Root). For disharmony in the chest and diaphragm, located above both breasts, Chuanbeimu (Fritillaria Bulb), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), Qiancao (Rubia Root), Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Mutong, and Louren (Trichosanthes Seed) are used to open chest bi-syndrome. If the Stomach collaterals and Pericardium collaterals are not connected, preventing lateral distribution, these herbs are also indicated. If Heart Qi does not communicate with the Kidney, Guizhi, Fuling (Poria), Zaoren (Ziziphus Seed), and Gouqi (Goji Berry) can guide Heart Qi to settle downward. If Liver Qi is excessive and rebels inward, Yanhusuo (Corydalis Rhizome), Qingpi (Green Tangerina Peel), Wulingzhi (Trogopterus Dung), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizome), and Baijili (Tribulus Fruit) are used to soothe the Liver.

Herbs that have thorns and belong to the Metal element primarily subdue the Liver. Metal controls Wind and calms Wood; thus, controlling Wind and calming Wood is equivalent to subduing the Liver. If Liver Qi is deficient and internally weak, Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit), Wuweizi, Shudihuang, Danggui, Baishao, and Mugua (Chaenomeles Fruit) are used to tonify the Liver. Furthermore, Water generates Wood; tonifying the Kidney is tonifying the Liver, following the principle of "tonifying the mother when deficient."

When the Five Zang are harmonious and the Six Fu are healthy, but there is excess Fire in the San Jiao, blazing Dryness in the Yangming, or reckless movement of Ministerial Fire in the Shaoyang, Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit), and Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark)—all cooling and fire-draining herbs—can be used. However, if internal Zang-Fu deficiency leads to rising Dryness-Fire, one must harmonize the Zang-Fu or combine tonification and purgation; one should not rely solely on cooling purgatives. The Lung is the chief of the Five Zang, receiving the convergence of all vessels, and should not be diseased Although coughs involve the Lung, the root cause lies in other Zang-Fu organs. When Qi of Zang-Fu organs fails to follow its meridian pathway and instead rebels upward into the Lung, cough ensues. If the cough truly originates solely in the Lung and persists, it becomes incurable. Medications for the Lung meridian vary infinitely and should not be applied rigidly. Xingren (Apricot Seed), Jiegeng, Sangpiao (Mulberry Bark), Baijiezi (White Mustard Seed), Mahuang (Ephedra Herb), Zisu (Perilla Leaf), and Tinglizi (Lepidium Seed) are Lung-draining herbs; Baihe (Lily Bulb), Kundonghua (Winter Bud Flower), Beimu (Fritillaria Bulb), Renshen, and Wuweizi are Lung-tonifying herbs. Herbs that tonify the Spleen also tonify the Lung because the Foot-Taiyin belongs to Spleen Earth and the Hand-Taiyin to Lung Metal; Earth generates Metal, so tonifying the Spleen aids the Lung. Herbs that disperse the pores and induce sweating through the muscle layer drain the Lung because the Lung governs the skin and hair, and Metal generates Water; according to the principle of "draining the son when excess," inducing sweat through the skin drains the Lung.

For diseases in the bones, Kidney herbs such as Guizhi and Fuzi are appropriate. For diseases in the sinews, Liver herbs such as Danggui and Baishao, along with previously mentioned Liver-tonifying herbs, are suitable. For diseases in the muscles, Spleen-tonifying and Earth-assisting herbs are used. For diseases in the meridians, Pericardium herbs are used. For diseases in the skin and hair, Lung meridian herbs are used. These herbs have been listed earlier; one should grasp their spirit and apply them flexibly.

Regarding the treatment of smallpox (Douzheng), medical formularies provide established methods. I alone comprehend the origin of the smallpox toxin and treat it with spiritual insight. Smallpox toxin originates in the Kidney. Upon eruption, it ascends combined with Ministerial Fire. Thus, smallpox is a Water-Toxin that erupts due to Fire. Seeing one or two spots indicates external heat and internal eruption. The Classic states: Ying (Nutrient) Qi governs Blood, and Wei (Defensive) Qi governs Qi. Governing Blood corresponds to the Pericardium governed by the Heart; governing Qi corresponds to the muscle layer of the San Jiao. If San Jiao Qi is deficient, and upon seeing one or two spots, Fire-Toxin blazes internally causing restlessness and irregularity, Dachengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction) is used, representing the method of "removing firewood from under the cauldron." Qianyi's Baixiang Wan (Hundred Auspicious Pills) also employs this method. If such symptoms are absent, observe the path of the smallpox eruption. Ensure San Jiao Qi internally connects with the Pericardium. Since the Pericardium governs Blood and vessels, once spots appear, exterior-releasing treatments are unnecessary. First, use meridian herbs to guide San Jiao Qi to merge with Ying Blood and flow to the Pericardium, using herbs like Honghua, Xuduan, Qinjiao, Qiancao, Danggui, Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Rhizome), Shengdi (Rehmannia Root), and Yinhua. If eruptions occur gradually with lustrous color, harmonize the San Jiao and regulate the Middle Jiao/Stomach-Spleen. By the fourth or fifth day, if the roots show slight fluid content, assist the San Jiao and tonify Qi and Blood using Yinhua, Danggui, Baishao, Fuling, Huangqi, Renshen, Gancao (Licorice Root), and Sangchong (Bombyx Batryticatus). This is the general approach. Other treatments often fail to understand meridians and natural principles, resulting in reckless interventions. This covers the essentials.