Library

The *Gezhi Yulun* states: Yang is often in excess, while Yin is often deficient; Qi is often in excess, while Blood is often deficient. The "excess Yang" mentioned here does not refer solely to the Primordial Yang of the Heart Meridian (Xin Jing), but refers generally to various types of "Fire". Fire is divided into two categories: the Heart belongs to Ministerial Fire (Jun Huo), which is the orthodox fire of the Five Elements; the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) belongs to Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), which is the pathogenic fire generated by erratic movements. Whenever there is a movement, Ministerial Fire follows and burns fiercely, scorching True Yin and exhausting Essence and Marrow. The Classics state: "Strengthen the master of Water to control the sunlight," which refers to this principle. It also states: "For deficiencies in form, warm with Qi; for deficiencies in essence, tonify with flavor." By "warm," it means to warm-nourish the Qi and harmonize it, using stillness to overcome movement. The Classics say: "For exhaustion, use warmth." Here, "flavor" refers to medicinal flavors. The Classics state: "The generation of Yin originates from the Five Flavors." Thus, it can be seen that the method of tonifying Yin is one that everyone must use, indispensable from youth to old age. Zhu Danxi said: "Eight or nine out of ten diseases are caused by Fire; only one or two out of a hundred are not." Therefore, Fire is a rootless entity, present everywhere in the five Zang and six Fu organs. Only an abundance of Yin can subdue it. Zhao Jizong stated: "Yin is inherently deficient, so there is no need to tonify it; if one tonifies what is deficient, it may lead to excess, causing harm from over-tonification." Alas! Zhao did not reflect deeply on this matter. Assisting what is insufficient and tonifying what is lacking is natural logic; making the excess more excess and the deficiency more deficient is a profound flaw in medicine. If one does not support when danger arises, nor help when someone falls, then what is the use of an assistant? The Classics state: "For conditions treated with cold remedies that remain febrile, seek treatment in Yin." This is because the deficiency of Yin leads to Deficient Fire rising due to its weakness, causing Essence, Blood, and Body Fluids to become dry and withered, resulting in symptoms such as nocturnal emission, stranguria, turbid urine, and internal heat from consumptive disorders. The treatment method should address the lack of Water, using formulas to tonify Yin, as well as those to nourish Blood, regulate the Middle Jiao, and nourish Yin while descending Fire. It is also said: "When tonifying the Kidney, one need not uniformly use cold medicines. To strengthen Kidney Yin, the use of warm medicines is acceptable." This certainly does not imply rigid adherence to tonifying Yin with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex), but rather recognizing that they can serve as principal agents in such contexts, which would suffice. Otherwise, it is common to see bitter-cold medicines damaging Stomach Qi, adhering rigidly without flexibility, endangering life itself, let alone hoping for offspring. How could that be possible? Therefore, Yin-nourishing formulas can be taken regularly even when healthy, which is known as "treating the root in chronic cases." Additionally, by clarifying the mind and resting thoughts, and using mild methods to nourish, one should frequently take formulas such as Jian Gan and Ban Long. Regarding procreation, if one desires children, they will likely arrive, clearly visible as if looking at one's palm. Why do most people fail to examine this carefully, blindly trusting conventional views, and suddenly administer acrid-warm, aromatic-dry, Yang-assisting medicines? Is this not equivalent to adding fuel to the fire, throwing stones into a flood to save drowning victims, or carrying firewood to extinguish a blaze? What difference is there? Wise gentlemen, please heed this warning.