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Treatment of blood disorders involves the use of blood-tonifying herbs, such as those found in **Sì Wù Tāng** (Four Substances Decoction). Let us elaborate on the key aspects of their flavors and specific functions. **Chuān Xiōng** (Ligusticum Rhizome) is a Qi-moving herb within the blood category; it enters the Kidney Meridian. Its nature and flavor are sweet and cold [Note: Text says 'sweet and cold', though traditionally pungent and warm], capable of generating deficiency of true Yin. **Dāng Guī** (Angelica Sinensis Root) has three therapeutic applications and is the principal herb for blood; it enters the Liver Meridian. Its nature and flavor are pungent and warm, capable of invigorating blood and guiding it back to its respective meridians. **Sháo Yào** (Peony Root) is a Yin-category herb; it enters the Liver Meridian. Its nature and flavor is sour and cold, capable of harmonizing blood and treating abdominal pain due to blood deficiency. If one seeks herbs belonging to the Yin category, one must take this as the model. If practitioners adjust formulas according to the meridians, reducing or increasing one or two appropriate herbs, they can serve as the main treatment. This specifically discusses blood diseases and seeking herbs belonging to the blood category. However, if there is blood deficiency and weakness, one should follow the teachings of Changsha (Zhang Zhongjing), using **Rén Shēn** (Ginseng Root) to tonify; when Yang Qi is vigorous, Yin Blood is generated. If using **Sì Wù Tāng**, it solely addresses injuries to the blood aspect where Qi is not deficient. For auxiliary and assisting herbs, **Táo Rén** (Peach Seed), **Hóng Huā** (Carthamus Flower), **Sū Mù** (Sappan Wood), **Xuè Jié** (Dragon's Blood), and **Mǔ Dān Pí** (Tree Peony Bark) are suitable for blood stasis. **Pú Huáng** (Typha Pollen), **Ē Jiāo** (Donkey-Hide Gelatin), **Dì Yú** (Sedge Rhizome), **Bǎi Cǎo Shuāng** (Soot from Hundred Herbs), and **Zōng Lǘ Tàn** (Charred Palm Frond) are suitable for uterine bleeding. **Rǔ Xiāng** (Frankincense), **Mò Yào** (Myrrh), **Wǔ Líng Zhī** (Trogopterus Dung), and **Líng Xiāo Huā** (Campsis Flower) are suitable for blood-related pain. **Cōng Róng** (Cistanche Stem), **Suǒ Yáng** (Cynomorium Stem), **Niú Xī** (Achyranthes Root), **Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ** (Goji Berry), **Yì Mǔ Cǎo** (Motherwort Herb), **Xià Kū Cǎo** (Prunella Spike), and **Bài Guī Bǎn** (Tortoise Plastron Charred) are suitable for blood deficiency. Dairy products and animal bloods are suitable for blood dryness. **Gān Jiāng** (Dried Ginger Rhizome) and **Ròu Guì** (Cinnamon Bark) are suitable for blood cold. **Shēng Dì Huáng** (Rehmannia Root Prepared Fresh) and **Kǔ Shēn** (Sophora Root) are suitable for blood heat. These are merely general principles of syndrome differentiation and treatment; others can be understood by analogy.

The Ministerial Fire (Jun Huo) refers to Heart Fire. It can be subdued by dampness, extinguished by water, or directly reduced; only herbs like **Huáng Lián** (Coptis Rhizome) can control it. The Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) is Dragon Fire; it cannot be reduced by water. One should subdue it according to its nature; only herbs like **Huáng Bò** (Phellodendron Bark) can descend it. Alas! Are these the only methods to drain fire? There are numerous variations of excess and deficiency that must be carefully examined. Based on organ qi regulation: **Huáng Lián** drains Heart Fire, **Huáng Qín** (Scutellaria Root) drains Lung Fire, **Sháo Yào** drains Spleen Fire, **Shí Gāo** (Gypsum Fibrosum) drains Stomach Fire, **Chái Hú** (Bupleurum Root) drains Liver Fire, and **Zhī Mǔ** (Anemarrhena Rhizome) drains Kidney Fire. These are all bitter-cold flavors that drain excessive fire. Due to dietary irregularities and overwork, internal injury to the Nine Qi creates a conflict with fire, resulting in Yang deficiency diseases; these are treated with sweet-warm formulas, such as **Huáng Qí** (Astragalus Root), **Rén Shēn**, and **Gān Cǎo** (Licorice Root). If Yin is weak and Yang is strong, with rampant Ministerial Fire invading Yin positions, resulting in blood deficiency diseases, treat with sweet-cold formulas to descend fire, such as **Dāng Guī** and **Dì Huáng** (Rehmannia Root). If Heart Fire is extremely hyperactive with internal stagnant heat, resulting in Yang excess diseases, treat with salty-cold formulas to reduce fire, such as **Dà Huáng** (Rhubarb Root) and **Pǔ Xiāo** (Natrii Sulfas). If Kidney Water is injured and True Yin is lost, leading to rootless fire and Yin deficiency diseases, treat with formulas that strengthen water, such as **Shēng Dì Huáng** and **Xuán Shēn** (Scrophularia Root). If there is decline of Fire in the Kidney and Mingmen, resulting in Yang collapse diseases, treat with warm-hot formulas to assist Yang, such as **Fù Zǐ** (Aconite Root Prepared) and **Gān Jiāng**. If Stomach deficiency leads to excessive consumption of cold foods, suppressing Yang Qi in the Spleen Earth, resulting in depressed fire diseases, treat with ascending and dispersing formulas to vent the fire, such as **Shēng Má** (Cimicifuga Rhizome), **Gān Gě** (Kudzu Root), **Chái Hú**, and **Fáng Fēng** (Saposhnikovia Root). Without understanding these categories, how can one seek the pathology of fire and have a basis for treatment? Therefore, I have collected brief explanations from various meridians to prepare for prescription usage, hoping to avoid the disaster of reinforcing excess and depleting deficiency.