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Sweet in flavor, warm in nature, non-toxic. The method for processing Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shu Dihuang): Select the original plant material weighing approximately 6 to 7 qian, soak it in fine wine, mix with powder of Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Sha Ren), place in a wooden steamer and earthenware pot, steam nine times and sun-dry nine times, allowing it to absorb the true fire of the Sun, only then can it be effective. This is because Rehmanniae Radix has a muddy/sticky nature; aided by the aromatic and penetrating properties of Amomi Fructus, it can unblock and regulate the harmonious Qi of the five Zang organs, guiding it to return to the Dantian.

[Invention] Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata relies on heat from steaming and drying to transform its bitter taste into sweet, becoming Yang within Yin, thus it can tonify the Yuan Qi of the Kidney. It must be steamed and dried multiple times to absorb the true fire of the Sun, truly possessing the wonderful effect of Kan-Li interaction (Heart-Kidney intersection); if merely boiled without steaming and exposure, what benefit would there be in taking it? Haogu stated: Sheng Di Huang (Raw Rehmanniae Radix) treats Heart heat, heat in the palms, benefits Kidney Water, cools Blood, and is suitable for those with a surging and solid pulse. If the pulse is deficient, then Shu Di Huang is suitable. Qian Yi's Liu Wei Wan uses it as the sovereign herb, representing the source of Tianyi generation. If the Mingmen (Gate of Life) true fire is inherently weak, Cui Shi Ba Wei Wan must be used, relying on the joint assistance of Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) and Aconite Root (Fu Zi) to achieve the merit of mutual supplementation of Yin and Yang. Si Wu Tang uses it as the principal herb, treating based on the principle that Yi and Gui share the same source (Liver and Kidney homology). Its function specializes in filling marrow, growing muscle, generating essence and blood, tonifying insufficiency of internal injury to the five Zang organs, unblocking vessels, benefiting ears and eyes, blackening beard and hair, treating five labors and seven injuries in men, and women with damage to the middle, uterine leakage and bleeding, irregular menstruation, and various diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth. It nourishes Kidney Water and True Yin, treats urgent pain in the umbilical and abdominal regions, soreness and pain in the shins and thighs after illness, restlessness when sitting wanting to rise, and vision blurred as if unable to see things. Generally, pain below the navel belongs to damaged Kidney essence storage; soreness and pain in the shins and thighs stem from deficiency of the lower origin; blurred vision occurs because Water deficiency cannot reflect objects. These are all diseases governed by the Kidney, which cannot be cured without Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata. Nowadays, people often treat cataracts by administering Liu Wei Wan combined with Ci Zhu Wan, which is actually inappropriate. Rehmanniae Radix forbids iron; Magnetitum (Ci Shi) is the mother of iron, how can one not avoid it? I once used Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dang Gui) to replace Rehmanniae Radix, borrowing its acrid-warm nature to assist the growth of hair. If Fire is excessive, use Paeoniae Radix Alba (Bai Shao) to replace Corni Fructus (Shan Zhu Yu), borrowing its sour-cold nature to consolidate dissipating Yin. Although the herbs differ, the effects are similar. In my opinion: Rehmanniae Radix originally belongs to the Hand Shaoyin meridian, specializing in clearing heat and dispersing blood; without steaming and drying, it cannot enter the Foot Shaoyin meridian to achieve the effect of Water-Fire already interacting, transforming bitterness into sweetness, changing purple to black, thus directly entering the Kidney organ to fill True Yin, while simultaneously cultivating the Huangting Hou Tu (Spleen/Stomach Earth). When Earth is thick, it bears all things, and all Zang organs receive its shade. Therefore, Cui Shi Ba Wei Wan and Qian Shi Liu Wei Wan are the general managers for cultivating True Yin and True Yang. Later generations borrowed these formulas and added or subtracted according to individual constitutional biases, reaping benefits everywhere. If Yin Qi is not secure, add Ichthyospermi Colla (Biao Jiao) and Tribuli Fructus (Ji Li). If Yang Qi is insufficient, add Cervus Nippon Cornu (Lu Rong) and Placenta Hominis (He Che). If Middle Qi is stagnant, add Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (Chen Xiang) and Amomi Fructus Rotundus (Suo Sha). If Lower Qi fails to grasp, add Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niu Xi) and Plantaginis Seed (Che Qian Zi). if Upper Qi fails to generate fluids, add Ophiopogonis Radix (Mai Dong) and Schisandrae Fructus (Wu Wei Zi). If Liver Qi is internally excessive, reduce Corni Fructus and double Alismatis Rhizoma (Ze Xie). If Essence and Qi descend uncontrollably, reduce Alismatis Rhizoma and double Corni Fructus. Each achieves the wonderful effect of correcting bias and saving dysfunction. For those with vigorous Yin Fire, adding Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhi Mu) and Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bo) to Liu Wei Wan is no different from quenching thirst with poison. Others, such as Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Xiong) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Gui) in Si Wu Tang, correspond to the meaning of Corni Fructus in Liu Wei Wan. Astragali Radix (Huang Qi) and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi) in Shi Quan Da Bu Tang correspond to the meaning of Cinnamon Twig and Aconite Root in Ba Wei Wan, thereby achieving the wonderful effect of mutual supplementation of Yin and Yang. It must be known that Ba Wei Wan and Shi Quan Da Bu Tang peacefully regulate Blood and Qi, and since decoction properties easily disperse, using Rehmanniae Radix together with Ginseng Radix (Ren Shen) causes no obstruction whatsoever. In Liu Wei Wan, one must absolutely not mix any Middle Jiao herbs, such as Ginseng Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Bai Zhu), or Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao), all of which are unsuitable. In the past, someone took Liu Wei Wan with added Ginseng Radix, and shortly after swallowing, felt confused and uncomfortable; or instructed to increase Ophiopogonis Radix and Schisandrae Fructus, doubling the efficacy, deeply grasping the wonderful effect of Metal-Water mutual generation. This is not something that can be discussed with those who are not specialists in materia medica.