Library

Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii): Its flavor and odor are both faint, with a slight pungent quality. Ezhu (Rhizoma Curcumae): It has a slightly bitter taste and a faint fragrance, also possessing a slight pungent quality. Both have a slightly warm nature and are essential herbs for resolving blood stasis. They are used to treat male abdominal masses (Pi accumulation) and female abdominal growths (Jia accumulation), as well as amenorrhea due to obstruction. Their nature is not fierce, yet they achieve results rapidly. Their ability to move Qi can also treat pain in the heart and abdomen, distending pain under the hypochondrium, and all conditions characterized by blood coagulation and Qi stagnation. If used together with tonifying herbs such as Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), they can greatly stimulate appetite and harmonize the blood. Upon careful examination of the differences between these two herbs, Sanleng is superior to Ezhu in resolving blood stasis, whereas Ezhu is superior to Sanleng in regulating Qi.

Medicinal substances often possess unique therapeutic potentials that cannot be deduced merely from their flavors and odors. For instance, although Sanleng and Ezhu have relatively mild natures, when used to treat blood stasis in women, they can gradually eliminate even hard masses like iron or stone, whereas harsher purgative or breaking agents fail to achieve this remarkable effect. This unique efficacy is the distinctive merit of Sanleng and Ezhu. However, those who rely on hearsay often suspect them to be too fierce because of their ability to dissipate hardness and break stasis, thus daring not use them lightly, which amounts to burying good medicines.

When treating sudden onset of abdominal and hypochondriac pain caused by Qi and blood stagnation, Sanleng and Ezhu can be used alone without the assistance of tonifying herbs. However, when treating old, hardened blood stasis that cannot be cured in a few doses, it is necessary to combine them with tonifying herbs to allow for long-term administration without adverse effects. One may use Huangqi (Astragali Radix) 6 qian, along with Sanleng and Ezhu each 3 qian; or reduce Huangqi to 3 qian and add Yetaishen (Wild Panax Ginseng Radix) 3 qian. In this manner, the tonifying and breaking forces balance each other. Not only will Qi and blood remain undamaged, but the resolution of blood stasis will also be faster, as robust Qi and blood enable the body to better harness the medicinal power to overcome disease.

Ruxiang (Resina Draconis): Its aroma is penetrating and its taste is bland, making it effective at opening orifices and regulating Qi. Moyao (Resina Commiphorae): Its odor is faint, while its taste is pungent and slightly sour, making it effective at resolving blood stasis and regulating blood. Both have a slightly warm nature. When used together, they are essential herbs for promoting the free flow of organs and meridians. Therefore, they can treat pains in the heart, stomach, hypochondrium, abdomen, limbs, and joints. They are also particularly effective in treating dysmenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, and irregular menstruation. Their ability to promote Qi circulation and invigorate blood makes them suitable for treating Bi syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, generalized numbness, paralysis of the four limbs, and various sores and swellings, whether painful or hard and painless. Applied externally as powder to sores, they can detoxify, reduce swelling, generate flesh, and relieve pain. Although they are dispersing agents, they do not consume Qi and blood, truly being excellent medicines.

Ruxiang and Moyao not only circulate Qi and blood in the meridians but can also resolve Qi and blood stagnation within the organs. Physicians who only know their ability to enter the meridians to eliminate sores, or use them topically for sores, but fail to utilize them to regulate organ Qi and blood, do not truly understand Ruxiang and Moyao.

Ruxiang and Moyao are best used raw. If stir-fried, their circulating power diminishes significantly. For use in pills and powders, crush the raw herbs into coarse fragments, place them in a pot, and heat over paper until half-melted. Allow to cool completely before grinding into fine powder. This is the method for removing oil from Ruxiang and Moyao.