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Song of Tonifying, Purging, Warming, Cooling, and Guiding Herbs for the Twelve Meridians

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Heart Meridian

May I ask which herbs are used to tonify the Heart Meridian? Polygalae Radix (Yuanzhi), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao), and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) are used together; Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (Zaoren), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), and Tianshu Huang (Tianzhuhuang) are combined. Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) brings great merit. Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) is bitter and cold, Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian) is cool; Aromatis Radix (Muxiang) and Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu) strongly purge Heart fire; Lophatheri Herba (Zhuye) and Rhinocerotis Cornu (Xiniu Jiao) cool the Heart, with Cinnabar (Zhusha), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), and Bovis Calculus (Niuhuang). Amomum Fructus Rotundus (Huoxiang) and Pogostemonis Patchouli Herba (Shichangpu) warm the Heart; Asarum Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin) and Angelikae Pubescentis Radix (Duhuo) decoction serves as the guiding agent.

Liver Meridian

To nourish and tonify the Liver Meridian, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (Zaoren) is skillfully used, along with Coicis Semen (Yiyi), Papaveris Fructus (Mugua), and Donkey-hide Gelatin (Gongjiao); Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) purge the Liver, while Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qingpi) and Indigo Naturalis (Qingdai) should not be omitted. Huperziae Herba (Huhuanglian) and Gentianae Radix (Longdancao), Plantaginis Semen (Cheqianzi), and Chrysanthemi Flos (Ganju) cool the Liver exterior; Aromatis Radix (Muxiang), Evodiae Fructus (Wuyu), and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi) warm the Liver; Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qingpi) and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong) are good guiding agents.

Spleen Meridian

To tonify the Spleen, Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Astragali Membranaceus Radix (Mian Huangqi), Dolichos Lablab Semen (Biandou), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Tangerine Peel (Chenpi) are used; Lotus Seed (Lianzi), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao), Poria (Baifuling), Euryales Semen (Qianshi), Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) are suitable. For purging the Spleen, Immaturae Citri Fructus (Zhishi) is used; Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), Rheii Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qingpi) are remarkable. To warm the Spleen, Cinnamomi Cortex (Guigui), Eugeniae Flos (Dingxiang), and Pogostemonis Patchouli Herba (Huoxiang) are used, along with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma (Liangjiang), and Piperis Fructus (Hujiao). Talcum (Huashi) and Natrii Sulfas (Xuanmingfen) are cooling herbs for the Spleen; Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) and Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) guide into the Spleen.

Lung Meridian

To tonify the Lung, Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao) and Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) are used, along with Asteris Radix (Ziwan), Mume Fructus (Wumei), Ginseng Radix (Shenling), Asini Corii Colla (Ejiao), Stemonae Radix (Baibu), and Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi); Astragali Membranaceus Radix from Mianzhou is particularly effective. Perillae Fructus (Zisuzi) and Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Plantaginis Semen (Zexie), and Thladianthae Fructus (Tingli) purge the Lung Meridian; Aurantii Fructus (Zhike) and Morus Cortex (Sangbaipi) also have similar purging effects on the Lung. For warming the Lung, look for Aromatis Radix (Muxiang) and Dendrobii Flos (Donghua), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), Shengjiang (Dried Ginger), and Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Baokouran); for cooling the Lung, Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) and Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu), Human Urine (Ren Niao), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), Glehniae Radix (Shashen), and Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen) are used. Aristolochiae Fructus (Madouling), Trichosanthis Fructus (Gualouren), Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng), and Asparagi Radix (Tiandong) must have their hearts removed; Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi) and Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) are guiding agents, along with a few stalks of Allii Fistulosi Bulbus (Lianxu Congbai).

Kidney Meridian

To tonify the Kidney, use Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao) and Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi), Sepiae Endoconcha (Piaoxiao), Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum (Gui Ban), and Ostreae Concha (Muli), Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong), Cynomorphii Herba (Suoyang), Sesami Nigris Semen (Jushengzi), Corni Fructus (Shanyuzhu), Cynomorphii Herba (Rongrong), and Morii Radix (Bajitian), Dragon Bone (Longgu), Tiger Bone (Hugu), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Huainiuxi), Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi), Cuscutae Semen (Tusizi), and Euryales Semen (Qianshi), plus one more ingredient, Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Huaishudi), totaling eighteen ingredients to jointly tonify the Kidney Meridian. To purge the Kidney, there is no need to seek many formulas; Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) and Plantaginis Semen (Zexie) in equal parts are sufficient. To warm the Kidney, use Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum (Lurong), Psoraleae Fructus (Guzhi), and Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Haichenxiang); Omphalia Lapponica (A'niqi) also warms the Kidney; for cooling the Kidney, use Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), Lycii Cortex (Digupi), plus one more ingredient, Moutan Cortex (Fendanpi); Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Duhuo) and Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) are unique guiding agents.

Stomach Meridian

To tonify the Stomach, Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) and Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) are needed, along with Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia), Dolichos Lablab Semen (Biandou), Astragali Membranaceus Radix (Mian Huangqi), Euryales Semen (Qianshi), Lotus Seed (Lianrou), Lilii Bulbus (Baihe), and Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao) added to Tangerine Peel (Guang Chenpi). To purge Stomach fire, it is similar to purging the Spleen; add Nan Zhishi (Southern Immaturae Citri Fructus), Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), adding more Shigao (Gypsum) makes the effect more urgent. To warm the Stomach, use Muxiang (Aromatis Radix), Dingxiang (Eugeniae Flos), and Huoxiang (Pogostemonis Patchouli Herba), Yizhiren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), Wuyu (Evodiae Fructus), and Liangjiang (Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma), Xiangfu (Cyperi Rhizoma), Baixudoukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Caodoukou (Gratiae Fructus), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Hujiao (Piperis Fructus), and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) or Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger). To cool the Stomach, use Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Huashi (Talcum), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), and Fenhan (Pseudoglobulinae Radix), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Shigao (Gypsum), Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma), and Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia), thirteen herbs to cool Stomach fire; Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) guide the Stomach herbs.

Gallbladder Meridian

To tonify the Gallbladder, use Longdancao (Gentianae Radix) and Mutong (Akebiae Caulis); Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) purge the Gallbladder Meridian. For warming, use Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) processed Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), plus Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) and Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma). For cooling, use Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taenia) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma); the guiding agents are all the same as for the Liver Meridian.

Large Intestine Meridian

May I ask what herbs are used to tonify the Large Intestine? Left-rotating Ostracoda Shell (Muli), Bai Longgu (White Dragon Bone), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Rice Husk (Miqiao), Hezi Pi (Terminalia Chebulae Pericarpium), Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Roukou (Myristicae Semen), and Lianrou (Lotus Seed). Chuan Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Nan Binglang (Arecae Semen), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus), and Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis) purge the Large Intestine; add Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), Tao Ren (Pruni Semen), and Mahuren (Cannabis Fructus), and three cun of Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) enhances the purging effect. Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), and Wuzhuyu (Evodiae Fructus) simultaneously warm the Intestines; the guiding agents are all the same as for the Stomach Meridian; Huaihua (Sophorae Flos) and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) cool the Large Intestine.

Small Intestine Meridian

The Small Intestine is tonified with Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis) and Muli (Ostreae Concha); for purging, use Mutong (Akebiae Caulis) and Zisu (Perillae Folium), Lianxu Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus with Stalk) and Lizhihe (Litchi Chinensis Semen) are known to you as purging agents. To warm the Small Intestine, use Da Xiao Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus) and Wuyao (Linderae Radix); for cooling, use Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix); the guiding agents are Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) and Gaoben (Ligustici Wallichii Rhizoma et Radix).

Bladder Meridian

Juhe (Arillus Juglandis Mandshuricae) and Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma) tonify the Bladder; Yizhiren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), Xuduan (Dipsaci Radix), and Longgu (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi) are good. For purging, use Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) and Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen), Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma), Huashi (Talcum), and Shiwei (Pyrospermatidis Folium) help. For warming, use Wuyao (Linderae Radix) and Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus); for cooling, use Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Gancaoshao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma tip) is also cooling; the guiding agents are all the same as for the Small Intestine Meridian.

Sanjiao Meridian

To nourish and tonify the Sanjiao, use Yizhiren (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus), plus Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) and Huangqi (Astragali Membranaceus Radix); for purging, use Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma); for warming, Jiang (Ginger) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) are beneficial. Original Shigao (Gypsum) and Digupi (Lycii Cortex) rapidly clear and cool the Sanjiao. To guide into the Sanjiao, no other herbs are needed; the herbs are no different from those for the Liver and Gallbladder.

Pericardium Meridian

One ingredient of Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix) tonifies the Bao Luo (Pericardium); for purging, use Wuyao (Linderae Radix) and Zhike (Aurantii Fructus); for warming, use Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex); for cooling, use Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus); Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma), and Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) are the guiding agents.