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Zaofan (Green Vitriol)
Acidic in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic.

Invention: Zaofan is specifically used to remove dirt and grease. When made into pills with Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Jiuqu (Medicated Leaven), and vinegar, it is highly effective for treating fullness in the heart and abdomen, or yellowish swelling resembling the color of earth. This is because the alum stone is green in color and acidic in taste; when calcined, it turns red. It is used to break up blood stasis, and its efficacy is the fastest. In *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet), for the treatment of Nulao Heidan (Black Jaundice caused by sexual exhaustion), Xiaoshi Fanshi Wan (Niter and Alum Pill) specifically utilizes Zaofan to break up accumulated blood stasis. Due to the lack of specific designation in the original text, misuse has occurred in the past. Baifan (White Alum) possesses astringent properties and fails to grasp this principle. Furthermore, for women suffering from excessive leukorrhea and irregular menstruation, with hard masses in the uterus containing dried blood and white matter, Fanhong Xingren Miwan (Alum-Red Almond Honey Pill) is inserted into the vagina and changed once daily.

Guolao (National Elder - Alias for Gancao)
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Antagonistic to Haizao (Sargassum), Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), Gansui (Kansui Radix), and Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos). For tonifying the middle and dispersing exterior pathogenic factors, use honey-fried Gancao; for clearing fire and detoxifying, use raw Gancao. Those with a black center are toxic and should not be used.

*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats cold and heat pathogenic factors in the five zang and six fu organs, strengthens sinews and bones, promotes muscle growth, increases strength and energy, and resolves sores, ulcers, and traumatic injuries.

Invention: Gancao has a thin qi and strong flavor, capable of ascending and descending yin and yang, and greatly moderating various fire pathogens. When used raw, its qi is balanced; it regulates deficiency heat in the spleen and stomach, significantly clears heart fire, and resolves toxins from sores, ulcers, and traumatic injuries. When honey-fried, its qi becomes warm; it tonifies the primordial qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner), treats cold and heat of the zang and fu organs, disperses exterior pathogenic factors, relieves sore throat, moderates righteous qi, nourishes yin and blood, promotes muscle growth, strengthens sinews and bones, harmonizes rebellious qi of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), and relieves tension of the Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel). In cases where Heart Fire invades the Spleen, causing urgent abdominal pain and contraction of the abdominal wall, it should be used in double dosage. Its nature can relieve urgency and harmonize other herbs; thus, it moderates the heat of hot-natured herbs and the cold of cold-natured herbs, achieving balance in formulas combining cold and hot herbs. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding the treatment of cold and heat pathogenic factors in the zang and fu organs essentially revolves around the meaning of harmonizing Stomach Qi. Zhang Zhongjing uses Gancao in Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Decoction to Regulate the Middle) likely to prevent the medicinal force from overstepping upwards. In Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulating the Stomach and Purging Yang Decoction), Gancao is used to prevent purgation from being too rapid. Both instances reflect the intent of "moderation." Xiao Chaihu Tang contains the cold nature of Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) and the warm nature of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); the addition of Gancao serves to harmonize. Zhi Gancao Tang (Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction) treats palpitations and intermittent pulse due to Taiyang disease, which is fundamentally a disharmony of interior and exterior fluids and blood; thus, Gancao is used to harmonize the properties of various herbs and restore the pulse, demonstrating the subtle utility of combining attack and tonification. It is strictly contraindicated in cases of excess-fullness due to Earth excess, but must be used in cases of deficiency-fullness due to Spleen deficiency, as the Spleen thrives on warmth and movement. Laypeople fail to distinguish between excess and deficiency; upon seeing fullness, they immediately prohibit Gancao, failing to think deeply about this. In cases of middle-fullness, vomiting, various dampness-induced swellings, and diseases of wine drinkers, the sweet taste is disliked. The antagonism with Haizao, Daji, Gansui, and Yuanhua also represents a sluggish approach unsuitable for rescuing critical conditions. However, Hu Qia, in treating phlegm disorders, adds Gancao and Daji to Shizao Tang (Ten Jujube Decoction) because the phlegm is located above the diaphragm, aiming to promote drainage to extract the root of the disease. Ancient formulas sometimes combine mutually hostile or antagonistic herbs; only those who thoroughly understand the subtleties know this principle. The tip of Gancao treats pain in the urethra, the nodes treat carbuncles and sores, and raw strip licorice resolves the toxicity of all medicines. Generally, poisons are transformed by earth; Gancao is the essence of the nine soils, hence it can resolve various toxins. *Qianjin Fang* (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) states: Gancao resolves the toxicity of all medicines. Like hot water melting snow, if one is poisoned by Wutou (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata) or Badou (Crotonis Fructus), Gancao acts immediately upon entering the stomach, with verification as easy as turning a palm. Formulas claim that Da Dou (Soybean) resolves the toxicity of all medicines, but I have tested this repeatedly without success. Adding Gancao to create Gandou Tang (Licorice and Soybean Decoction) yields very rapid results. People in Lingnan resolve gu poison (poisonous sorcery/parasitic disease); whenever eating or drinking, they first chew an inch of honey-fried Gancao, and if poisoned, they vomit it out immediately.