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Ji Ba Jiao (Banana).

Taste: Sweet. Nature: Greatly Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic.

[Invention] Ji Ba Jiao (Banana) has a cold nature. It treats epidemic fever and mania, relieves thirst and restlessness caused by Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome), and promotes urination. It treats jaundice caused by damp-heat; taken with wine, it treats carbuncles and swellings, and applying the dregs to the swollen area is effective. Children suffering from You Feng (Roaming Wind, a type of urticaria) can be cured by lying on banana leaves. For burns, insert chopsticks into a bottle, remove the bottle to collect the juice/oil, and apply it to the injury. *Bie Lu* (Recorded in the Classic of Distinct Records) states it treats heat accumulation in carbuncles and sores. *Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang* (Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies) treats swelling and toxicity of the back. *Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang* (Holy Grace Formulas of the Taiping Era) treats painful and difficult blood strangury. Su Song records that drinking it induces vomiting, which is effective for wind epilepsy with a tendency to fall. However, it is strictly contraindicated for Yin Ju (Yin Carbuncles) that are not red or swollen.

That is the white-colored variety of Ji Ba Jiao (Banana).

Taste: Pungent. Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Avoid iron.

[Invention] He (Lotus) is toxic but can attack toxins, serving as the primary agent for treating Gu Poison (Gu Toxin). Those poisoned by Gu can swallow He juice and lie on lotus leaves, after which they can call out the name of the master of the Gu. It treats ulcers and rotting in the throat and tongue, amenorrhea in women, and high fever, headache, and mouth ulcers associated with Shang Han (Cold Damage) and seasonal epidemics. Its use in these cases relies on its pungent and dispersing properties.

Ku (Bitter). Nature: Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Remove roots and nodes, soak in hot water to remove foam, then dry in the sun for use. If used with roots and nodes, it causes incessant sweating; however, the root specifically stops sweating.

*Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats wind-stroke and cold damage, headache, Wen Nue (Warm Malaria), releases the exterior and induces sweating, eliminates pathogenic heat, stops cough and rebellious Qi, removes chills and fever, and breaks up masses and accumulations.

[Invention] Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba) is slightly bitter and warm, hollow and floating. It belongs to Yang and ascends. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian, which runs down along the back. The meridian originally belongs to Cold Water but is subject to external cold. Therefore, it is suitable for inducing sweating to expel cold pathogens from the skin and hair and the Qi level, thereby venting cold excess. If sweating is induced excessively, it leads to excessive sweating and loss of Yang Qi. If used for conditions such as those caused by dietary irregularities and overwork, or spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency in miscellaneous diseases, it will deplete the body's Yuan Qi, leading to unpredictable disasters. Ma Huang is a herb for treating Wei (Defensive) excess, while Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is for treating Wei deficiency. Although both are herbs for the Taiyang Meridian, they actually regulate Ying (Nutritive) and Wei. The Heart governs Ying Blood, and the Lung governs Wei Qi. Thus, Ma Huang is an herb for the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian, and Gui Zhi is an herb for the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Treating cough due to Shang Han or Shang Feng using Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and Gui Zhi Tang represents the origin of decoctions. Ma Huang is the specific herb for the Lung Meridian, so it is often used for lung diseases. Zhang Zhongjing treated Shang Han: using Ma Huang Tang for no sweat, and Gui Zhi Tang for sweating. Body fluids transform into sweat; sweat is essentially blood. In the Ying level, it is blood; in the Wei level, it is sweat. When Cold injures the Ying, Ying Blood cannot communicate outwardly with the Wei, causing the Wei Qi to close and secure, resulting in no sweat, fever, and aversion to cold. When Wind injures the Wei, Wei Qi cannot protect inwardly the Ying, causing Ying Qi to be insecure, resulting in sweat, fever, and aversion to wind. Although these syndromes belong to Taiyang, the Lung actually receives the pathogen because the pores are closed externally, and pathogenic heat attacks internally, causing Lung Qi stagnation. Therefore, Ma Huang and Gan Cao (Licorice Root) are combined with Gui Zhi to draw out the pathogen from the Ying level, assist the exterior in releasing it, and Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) is added to drain the Lung and promote Qi flow. Thus, although Ma Huang Tang is a heavy sweating formula for the Taiyang Meridian, it is essentially a formula for dispersing Lung Meridian pathogenic stagnation. If the Cou Li (pores/cuticle) are not dense, body fluids leak outward, causing Lung Qi to become deficient. Deficiency requires tonifying the mother (Earth generates Metal); therefore, Gui Zhi is combined with Gan Cao to disperse wind pathogens externally to rescue the exterior, and internally to subdue Liver Wood to prevent it from attacking Spleen Earth. Shaoyao (Peony Root) is added to drain Wood and secure the Spleen. These are all herbs for the Spleen and Lung. Thus, although Gui Zhi Tang is a light muscle-relieving formula for the Taiyang Meridian, it is essentially a formula for regulating the Spleen and rescuing the Lung. Additionally, for Shaoyin syndrome with fever and deep pulse, there is Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction). Shaoyin and Taiyang are interior-exterior partners. This is known as pairing prepared Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) with Ma Huang, where tonification includes dispersion. *Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing* mentions treating wind-stroke, referring to treating flaccid paralysis due to slow wind; stating that Wen Nue is damp malaria is a transcription error. Breaking up masses and accumulations involves treating both interior and exterior. Without divine clarity, it is difficult to apply this method effectively.