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Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae): Its taste is bitter and slightly sour, its nature is cool and fluid-rich (when boiled alone, its juice is very thick). It excels at nourishing yin and blood, clearing heat and removing irritability. It can constrain floating and hyperactive heat from the upper jiao (Upper Burner), guiding it downward to be excreted via urination. It is a crucial herb for patients with yin deficiency accompanied by heat and difficulty in urination. Due to its sour taste, it enters the Liver channel to generate Liver blood; due to its bitter taste, it enters the Gallbladder channel to benefit bile secretion; because it is both sour and bitter, and has a cool nature, it excels at draining heat from the Liver and Gallbladder, thereby relieving tenesmus after dysentery (tenesmus after dysentery is caused by the downward pressure of Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder) and treating eye diseases involving swelling and pain (as the Liver opens into the eyes). When used together with Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) and Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae), it generates new blood; when used together with Tao Ren (Semen Persicae) and Hong Hua (Flos Carthami), it dissipates blood stasis; when used together with Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), it harmonizes Qi and Blood and effectively treats abdominal pain; when used together with Zhu Ru (Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam), it effectively stops vomiting and epistaxis; when used together with Fu Zi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata), it gathers Yuan Yang (Original Qi) and guides it back to its residence. However, its action is relatively mild, so heavy dosage is required to achieve efficacy.

There are originally two types of Shao Yao: Bai Shao (White Peony Root) and Chi Shao (Red Peony Root). Bai Shao is considered superior, hence it is more commonly used in medical formulas. For resolving blood stasis, Chi Shao is better, so it is often used in treating sores and ulcers, as it can resolve blood stasis caused by toxic heat without causing pus to rupture and spread. Bai Shao originates from the South, with the best quality coming from Hangzhou. Its color is white with a slight red tint, and its skin is reddish and slightly darker. Because its color is a mix of red and white, its power to harmonize Qi and Blood is uniquely excellent. Chi Shao originates from the Northeast region (Guan Dong Three Provinces) in the North, growing in various mountains. Its flesh is red and its skin is crimson; its texture is very coarse, resembling the roots of wild grass. Therefore, Zhang Yinan and Chen Xiuyuan both doubted whether it was the root of the Shao Yao flower. I also harbored doubts until I witnessed it personally in Fengtian, after which my doubts were dispelled. Its flowers and leaves are small, and the flowers are single-petaled. The flower colors may be pink or purple, but regardless of the flower color, the root's color remains the same.

[Attached Case] A boy aged fifteen or sixteen contracted a Warm Disease (Wen Bing) in late spring. After treatment by physicians, the high fever subsided after eight or nine days, but he still felt internal heat, suffered from palpitations and inability to bear the discomfort, had difficulty urinating, and experienced loose diarrhea. His pulse was deficient and rapid, suggesting that external pathogens had not been fully cleared. I prescribed a formula using 2 liang of raw Hang Shao (Raw Radix Paeoniae from Hangzhou) and 1.5 liang of honey-fried Gan Cao (Honey-fried Radix Glycyrrhizae), decocted into one large bowl to be drunk slowly while warm. He recovered after completing the dose. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that Shao Yao benefits Qi, and Li Gao (Zhang Yuansu) stated it stops diarrhea and dysentery. This case confirms these assertions. However, efficacy is significantly enhanced when assisted by honey-fried Gan Cao.

Note: This condition was originally suitable for my formulated Ziyin Qingzao Tang (Nourish Yin and Clear Dryness Decoction), which contains 6 qian of Shao Yao, 3 qian of Gan Cao, plus 1 liang each of raw Huai Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae) and Hua Shi (Talcum). However, that formula had not yet been devised at the time. Fortunately, prescribing only Shao Yao and Gan Cao yielded immediate results. In these two formulas, the difference between raw and honey-fried Gan Cao lies in their usage: in the former, a small amount is used as an adjunct to harmonize the properties and flavors of other herbs, hence raw; in the latter, a large amount (1.5 liang) is used for its tonifying power to stop loose diarrhea, hence honey-fried. Moreover, the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) contains the Shaoyao Gancao Tang (Peony and Licorice Decoction), a superb product for nourishing Yin, where both Shao Yao and Gan Cao are used in 4 liang amounts, and the Gan Cao is also honey-fried.

Zhou XX from a neighboring village, in his twenties, contracted a Warm Disease. Physicians treated him with clearing and resolving agents, but the fever persisted for ten days. His pulse on the left side was larger than the right by double, and firm upon pressure. When cold-heat pathogens transmit to the Yangming channel, the pulse is typically larger on the right, as the Yangming meridian is located on the right. Even if transmitting to Shaoyang or Jueyin, the pulse is still larger on the right, because the presence of external excess heat makes Yangming the primary focus. This case, however, showed a pulse larger on the left, indicating a variant pattern of Warm Disease. I therefore administered a small dose of Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) (using only 5 qian of raw Shigao [Gypsum Fibrosum]) and heavily supplemented with 1.5 liang of raw Hang Shao. Decocted into two teacups and taken in one dose, he urinated copiously shortly after, and the illness vanished.

The wife of Huo from a neighboring village presented with generalized edema, abdominal distension, and difficulty urinating. Treatment with Wupi Yin (Five-Peel Decoction) failed. Her pulse was rapid and forceful, and she frequently felt internal heat. This indicated damage to Yin and hyperactivity of Yang. I prescribed 1.5 liang of raw Hang Shao, along with 3 qian each of Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae), Hua Shi (Talcum), Difuzi (Fructus Kochiae), and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae). One dose showed effect, and subsequent minor adjustments over several doses led to full recovery.

Chen XX from Fengtian, in his forties, began feeling internal heat and loss of appetite in mid-January. By late spring, the heat intensified, accompanied by frequent abdominal pain and occasional diarrhea. His pulse in the right position was exceptionally wiry and hard, firm upon pressure, and his tongue coating was slightly yellow. This indicated latent external pathogens activated by spring, transmitting to the Stomach fu (organ), transforming into heat over time. The Wood of the Liver then exploited the seasonal prosperity to overact upon and suppress the Earth of the Stomach, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. The pulse appeared wiry and hard rather than flooding and excess because the Stomach Earth, being suppressed, transformed according to the Liver Wood. I prescribed 1 liang each of raw Hang Shao, raw Huai Shan Yao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae), Hua Shi (Talcum), and Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae), plus 3 qian each of Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) and Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus). One dose reduced the heat and abdominal pain by more than half, allowing him to eat. He had two bowel movements after taking the medicine. His pulse had returned to near normal, so I halved the dosages of Shao Yao, Hua Shi, and Xuanshen in the next prescription. One more dose resulted in complete recovery.

A woman surnamed Chen, in her twenties, contracted a Warm Disease in late spring. Medical attention was sought only four or five days later. She exhibited heat in both exterior and interior, with flooding and excess pulses on both sides. She suffered from frequent severe abdominal pain, defecated two to three times daily, and had a thick, slightly yellow tongue coating. This indicated that external pathogenic heat had entered the Yangming fu organ, and the Liver and Gallbladder, exploiting the prosperous Wood energy of the season, combined with excess heat to suppress the Central Earth, causing abdominal pain and frequent stools. I used the previous formula, adding 3 qian of fresh Maogen (Rhizoma Imperatae). Abdominal pain and diarrhea stopped after one dose, and full recovery occurred after another dose. Observing these two cases, it is evident that in the formulas of the *Shanghan Lun*, Shao Yao is added for abdominal pain without need for further explanation. Regarding Maogen, it must be used fresh to be effective; if unavailable, it may be omitted.

A woman around thirty years old suffered from severe edema accumulation due to Yin deficiency causing difficulty in urination, and constipation lasting ten days. An elderly physician prescribed Bazheng San (Eight-Herb Powder for Rectification) without success. My friend Gao XX prescribed 6 liang of raw Bai Shao (White Radix Paeoniae), decocted into two large bowls. Then, 2 liang of raw Ejiao (Colla Corii Asini) was melted into the decoction, and the patient was instructed to drink as much as possible. The elderly physician was shocked and skeptical, but Gao XX insisted on administration. After completing the dose, both urine and stool flowed freely, and the edema subsided instantly. Later, the elderly physician recounted this to me and asked how such medication could treat such a disease. I replied: "This must be Yin deficiency failing to transform Yang, leading to blockage of urine and stool. Shao Yao excels at promoting urination, and Ejiao lubricates the bowels. Together, they greatly tonify True Yin, ensuring sufficient Yin to transform the excessive Yang in the Lower Jiao, thus naturally facilitating urination and defecation."

My son XX treated a patient with edema, aged sixty, who had difficulty urinating and defecating, chest fullness, and occasional irritability. This indicated Yin deficiency with accumulated internal heat, compounded by stagnant Qi. I prescribed 3 liang of raw Bai Shao, along with 3 qian each of Juhong (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Chien) and Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri). One dose restored free urination and defecation. Subsequent treatment with formulas nourishing Yin, regulating Qi, and mildly promoting diuresis led to full recovery.