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Bitter, pungent, cold in nature, non-toxic.

[Invention] There are two types of Diding (Viola Yedoensis): purple-flowered and white-flowered. It treats ding sores (carbuncles) and malignant ulcers, and also treats carbuncle back (erysipelas of the back) and unnamed swelling/toxins. The one with purple flowers has a white stem, and the one with white flowers has a purple stem; therefore, they can be used interchangeably to treat ding sores. Some say that one should use the type corresponding to the color of the ding sore. However, if there is diffuse swelling without a head, neither red nor swollen, it is contraindicated because its cold nature is unfavorable for Yin abscesses (Yin-type sores).

Sour, astringent, slightly toxic.

[Invention] Jianshuxiao (Symphytum officinale) specializes in eliminating carbuncles/swellings and dog bites. Crush the leaves and apply externally. For residual toxins from Shanghan (Cold Damage) manifesting around the ears, take one handful of Jianshuxiao, crush it together with Baiji (Bletilla striata), Baidian (Ampelopsis japonica), Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Daji (Cirsii Japonici Herba), and Zhugen (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam), form into a cake, add one qian of Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) and a little white honey, mix and apply, leaving the head of the sore open. Change when dry.

Named "Huangliang" in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, also known as "Jiangjun" (General).

Bitter, cold in nature, non-toxic. Those produced in Sichuan with colors resembling brocade patterns and moist texture are of good quality. If used for severe purgation, use raw. If pathogenic factors are in the upper part, it must be soaked in wine to guide the medicine upward and drive heat downward. To break blood stasis, process with juice of Chinese chive (Jiucai). For deficiency-wasting with hematemesis and internal blood accumulation, stir-fry with Chinese chive juice until blackened. For wind-constipation and dry binding of the large intestine, process with wine of Gaojia (Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus Spina) and Lvfan (Chalcanthite). Alternatively, soaking in a urine bucket allows it to scatter blood stasis and promote diuresis. Use with caution during pregnancy and postpartum; do not use lightly. If there is internal accumulation of excess heat where the situation cannot be delayed, use wine-steamed. When taking Dahuang, medication intake must be far apart from grain intake; if grain qi enters, the purgative effect will not work.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: Dahuang eliminates blood stasis, treats blood obstruction and alternating chills and fever, breaks masses and accumulations, clears retained fluids and old food, cleanses the stomach and intestines, pushes out the old to bring forth the new, promotes the free flow of water and grain, harmonizes the middle jiao and transforms food, and calms and harmonizes the five zang organs.

[Invention] Dahuang has strong aroma and flavor, is sinking and pure yin, and acts on the blood aspect of the spleen, stomach, large intestine, liver, and triple burner. It is suitable for diseases located in the blood aspect of the five meridians. Using it in the qi aspect constitutes punishing the innocent. Its function specializes in moving blood stasis, guiding blood closure, unblocking stagnations, breaking masses, clearing excess heat, draining fullness, moistening dryness, applying to swellings/toxins, all relying on its ability to push out the old and bring forth the new. Both the *Shennong Bencao Jing* and Li Dongyuan stated that it removes retained fluids and old food because old food stagnates in the central jiao, generates heat over time, so bitter-cold properties transform the heat, and the old food goes down with the momentum. Later generations did not understand this, mistakenly believing Dahuang generally digests food, which is erroneous. The stomach prefers warmth and dislikes dampness; warming melts old food, while cooling makes it hard and stagnant. Because Dahuang cleanses the stomach and intestines, allowing food accumulation to be pushed away, only then does grain qi flow freely, middle qi becomes smooth, food is transported and transformed, and the five zang organs are harmonized. If food retention is in the upper jiao, even if accompanied by fever, only Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) and Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) are needed to eliminate fullness-heat, and the old food will naturally pass. If Dahuang is mistakenly used and fails to push it down, it causes stagnation that does not resolve, causing significant harm. For example, Xiexin Tang (Heart-Draining Decoction) treats hematemesis and epistaxis due to insufficient heart qi, which is actually due to excess evil fire in the pericardium, liver, and spleen. Although named "draining the heart," it actually drains latent fire in the blood of these four meridians. Zhang Zhongjing treated lower abdominal fullness that was soft upon pressure using Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang; this too drains damp-heat of the spleen and stomach, not the heart. If lower abdominal fullness is accompanied by aversion to cold and sweating, the person's yang qi is originally deficient, so Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) is added to warm and disperse. When disease originates from a yin pattern but is treated with purgation, pi syndrome (fullness) results; this is phlegm-solidity and pathogenic factors combining with deficiency to knot at the lower chest, hence called "draining the heart," but actually draining the spleen. When disease originates from a yang pattern but is treated with purgation, it becomes Jie Xiong (chest-knotting); this is because yang pathogens sink into the yin aspect and knot above the diaphragm. Zhang Zhongjing's Da Xianxiong Tang/Wan (Major Chest-Knotting Decoction/Pill) both use Dahuang and Mangxiao to drain pathogens in the blood aspect and descend turbid qi. If Jie Xiong is in the qi aspect, Xiao Xianxiong Tang (Minor Chest-Knotting Decoction) is used. If Pi Man (fullness) is in the qi aspect, Banxia Xiexin Tang (Pinellia Heart-Draining Decoction) is used. If the disease is originally a yang pathogen or combined with food retention, and attack/treatment is excessive, leading to depletion of healthy qi and unresolved solid knots, intending to attack but healthy qi cannot move the medicinal power, then Renshen (Ginseng Radix) is added to Taohe Chengqi Tang (Peach Kernel Decoction for Preserving Qi) to assist the force of Xiaoshi (Sodium Sulfate) and Dahuang. Such as Tao Hua's Huanglong Tang (Yellow Dragon Decoction), which follows the precedent of predecessors. Generally, Dahuang and Mangxiao drain dry-heat of the stomach and intestines; Qiuniu (Pharbitidis Semen) and Gansui (Kansui Radix) drain damp-heat of the stomach and intestines; Badou (Crotonis Fructus) and Liuhuang (Sulfur) drain cold-binding of the stomach and intestines. Each has fixed indications. As for elderly people with blood-dryness constipation, qi-deficiency difficulty in defecation, spleen-deficiency abdominal distension with poor appetite, women with blood-dryness amenorrhea, yin-deficiency alternating chills and fever, spleen-qi stagnation masses, kidney-deficiency moving qi, and conditions like white-colored Yin abscesses that do not rise, these must not be used recklessly, to avoid the disaster of worsening deficiency with deficiency.