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Among all diseases, none is more difficult to treat than deficiency syndromes. The Classics state: "If one cannot treat the deficiency, how can one ask about the rest?" The term "deficiency" (Xu) implies emptiness and nothingness. If a nation is empty, without bestowing kindness to nourish the common people and accumulating resources bit by bit, it will certainly be unable to stabilize the foundation of the state and achieve prosperity. The deficiency of the body is no different. Therefore, the key to treating deficiency lies in warming and tonifying, with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) taking precedence in this efficacy.

The character "Shen" in Renshen implies assisting or participating; it assists the Yuan Qi (Original Qi). When used for weak constitutions, it is like darkness dispersing to reveal sunlight, or a cold valley returning to spring, with vibrant life force ready to emerge. It is truly a spiritual herb that brings the dead back to life and a magical grass that restores vitality. Thus, it is suitable not only for Qi deficiency but also for Blood deficiency; for internal injury as well as external contraction. Restlessness and thirst caused by Fire pathogenic factors are resolved as Yin fluids naturally grow upon receiving Renshen; distension and swelling caused by Qi stagnation are completely relieved relying on the power of Renshen. From symptoms such as loss of appetite, bloating after eating, regurgitation and dysphagia, diarrhea leading to collapse of Yin, chills and shivering, profuse sweating, and wind leakage, all rely on the great power of Renshen to serve as a barrier for the Original Qi. Those who do not understand mistakenly claim that Lung Heat damages the Lung and that Renshen causes fullness, which is particularly astonishing. They fail to realize that the unjust heat of Metal (Lung) cannot be rescued except by Renshen; nor can the abdominal fullness due to Spleen deficiency be transformed and transported effectively without Renshen and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu). Its various merits are too numerous to enumerate. The sages of old praised its preeminence among herbs, and indeed, this was not unfounded.

As for Fuzi alone, it possesses the ability to breach gates and the courage to seize flags. Yu Tun stated that it can guide Qi-tonifying herbs to circulate through the Twelve Meridians to pursue scattered and lost Yuan Yang; guide Blood-nourishing herbs into the Blood aspect to nourish insufficient True Yin; guide dispersing herbs to open the Cou Li (pores and interstices) to expel Wind-Cold at the exterior; and guide warming herbs to reach the Lower Jiao to drive out Cold-Dampness within. Its applications are indeed extensive. People only know to use it for cold limbs, diarrhea with undigested food, and other signs of Yin-Cold, which is the orthodox treatment and easily understood by people. However, its most subtle merit lies in using heat to attack heat. For instance, when Stomach Yang exposes itself causing mouth ulcers and tongue erosion, or Kidney Yang exposes itself causing facial redness and hematemesis, adding it to Yin-nourishing and Qi-tonifying formulas results in clear spirit and subsided fever almost instantly. This demonstrates its ability to return to the root and restore Yang, and its capacity to strengthen Fire to benefit Earth (Spleen).

People willingly use cooling herbs but fear administering warming agents. Whenever Renshen and Fuzi are used, they are rashly slandered. Do they not know that the Qi of Autumn and Winter is not what generates all things? If Yang is already extremely hyperactive, using sexual techniques to stimulate Yang; or if there is latent Yang from external contraction, using Fuzi for Yang Jue (Cold Extremities due to Yang constraint) leading to mania and recklessness, this is akin to committing suicide by poison. This is self-inflicted calamity, not the fault of Renshen and Fuzi.