Library

[Qinjiao]
Bitter, neutral in nature with slight warmth, non-toxic. Leigong stated: The character with the 'wen' radical on the left is Qin, used to treat dampness diseases; the character with the 'wen' radical on the right is Jiao, used to treat Hongxiangjiao (podagra/foot swelling and ulceration). Currently, most herbs sold in pharmacies are of the right-radical type; do not mix them up.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It treats cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-bi caused by cold-dampness, pain in limbs and joints, promotes water passage, and facilitates urination.

Invention: Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) possesses a nature of slight yang within yin, capable of ascending and descending. It enters the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians because it dispels dampness; it also enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians because it treats wind disorders. Therefore, for conditions such as flaccidity or paralysis of the limbs, jaundice, alcohol toxicity, and leukorrhea in women, if there is dampness in the Yangming meridian, symptoms include body soreness and pain, vexatious pain in joints, and spasmodic flaccidity. If heat is present, tidal fever occurs during the Shen and You hours (3 PM - 7 PM). Using Qinjiao to dispel wind and overcome dampness will lead to recovery. Whenever pain is accompanied by cold-heat sensations or edema, it usually involves external pathogenic factors; using this herb to dispel wind and promote diuresis is appropriate. Hence, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* uses it to treat cold-heat pathogenic factors, wind-bi due to cold-dampness, and limb joint pain. However, for chronic pain leading to emaciation, where Qi and Blood fail to nourish the limbs causing pain, or for deficiency-cold in the lower body manifesting as painful soreness, withered muscles, and thinness, provided the urine is clear and profuse, these are not suitable indications for Qinjiao. Modern mediocre physicians frequently use Qinjiao without distinguishing between the left-radical and right-radical types. They indiscriminately apply it to all pain syndromes, thereby missing its true therapeutic intent.

[Chaihu]
Also known as Zihou.
Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic. When used in exterior-releasing formulas, use raw; when used to clear Liver heat, use stir-fried.

The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: It treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines, food stagnation accumulation, cold-heat pathogenic factors, pushes out the old and brings forth the new, brightens the eyes, and benefits essence.

Invention: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) can guide clear Yang Qi to ascend from the left; it is a herb of the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian. The Gallbladder is a pure and clear organ, having no exit or entry, and prohibits the use of sweating, vomiting, and purging methods; only harmonization is suitable, as its meridian resides at the half-exterior half-interior level. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats constrained Qi in the heart, abdomen, stomach, and intestines, food stagnation, and cold-heat pathogenic factors by causing the clear Yang Qi to ascend, thereby resolving retained food and stagnation in the stomach. Zhang Zhongjing used it as an essential herb for treating alternating chills and fever from Cold Damage, hypochondriac pain, deafness, and heat entering the Blood Chamber in women. It is also suitable for five kinds of childhood malnutrition (Wugan) with emaciated fever, and various malaria chills and fevers. After the eruption of smallpox or chickenpox, if there are chills/fever or painful heat under the hypochondrium, adding it to exterior-resolving formulas prevents heat from lingering in the Shaoyang meridian, thus avoiding future teeth-grinding complications. It is often useful for deficiency-consumption with chills and fever. Consumption disorders involve five types of consumption affecting the Five Zang organs. If the consumption involves heat in the Liver, Gallbladder, or Pericardium, or Shaoyang meridian chills and fever, Chaihu is an essential medication. If the consumption involves heat in the Spleen and Stomach, or sinking of Yang Qi, Chaihu serves to guide clear Qi upward to reduce fever. Only when consumption affects the Lungs and Kidneys should it be avoided. Li Dongyuan included it in Buzhong Yiqi Tang to guide the clear Yang Qi of the Liver and Gallbladder upward, simultaneously enhancing the lifting power of Ginseng and Astragalus. In treating carbuncles and sores, it is used to dissipate blood stasis and Qi stagnation in various meridians. Nowadays, people mistakenly refer to fine Chaihu as "Xiaochaihu," unaware that Xiaochaihu is actually the name of a decoction formula. Would one use Yinzhou-grown Chaihu to replace the main ingredient in Daxiaohuai Tang? Note: Chaihu is a herb for the Shaoyang meridian. If the disease is in the Taiyang meridian, administering it too early draws the pathogen inside, like inviting a thief into the house. If the disease is in the Yin meridians, using it severely damages the exterior defenses, causing countless errors. Its nature is ascending and dispersing; patients who are deficient and have ascending Qi must avoid it. Those with vomiting and flaming-up of Yin Fire should not take it. If taken by patients with Yin deficiency and bone-steaming fever, it aids the rebellious deficiant Yang, inevitably exhausting the True Yin until death. Alas, how many practitioners holding the power over life and death remain unaware of this!