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In the North, cooking is done using coal fire. Since the region belongs to Kan (Water element in Five Phases), the earthly Qi is strong and assists the True Fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life). People consuming food cooked with coal fire have their Yin Qi enhanced, resulting in robust physical strength. However, when people from the South consume such food, they are prone to developing carbuncles and toxic sores. Those affected by the toxicity can be detoxified with vinegar juice; furthermore, placing large vats of water nearby where coal is burned allows the toxicity to be dissolved by the water.

In the South, cooking is done using firewood. People consuming food cooked with firewood have their Yang Qi enhanced, but this Qi tends to be light, floating, and insubstantial, unlike the sturdy constitution found in the North. When decocting tonifying medicines, a gentle fire (Wen Huo) should be used for slow simmering. For purgative medicines, a fierce fire (Wu Huo) should be used for rapid boiling. For preparing pastes, mulberry wood fire is considered the best. Baopuzi stated: "All immortal medicines must not be taken without being prepared with mulberry wood fire." However, it is better to use gentle fire for both decocting and collecting the paste, so as not to damage the medicinal properties.

In ancient times, cooking was done using fire obtained by friction (sui fire), which is considered Yang Fire. Nowadays, fire is obtained by striking stones, which is considered Yin Fire. While suitable for cooking, it is inappropriate for lighting moxa cones for moxibustion. Moxibustion should utilize the True Fire of the Sun, or alternatively, a pure hemp oil lamp can be used to ignite the moxa stem on the cone; in this case, the moxibustion sore will heal without pain. Shen Zhen Huo (Divine Needle Fire) is used to treat cold-damp Bi syndrome (painful obstruction) and deep-seated yin abscesses (Fu Gu Yin Ju); for any hidden pain in the muscles and bones, needling with fire allows the fire Qi to reach the disease site directly. Fan Zhen (Burning Needle) refers to red-hot needles; for various Bi syndromes originating in the meridians and sinews, its effect is most rapid. The Classic states: "Treatment lies in burning needle robbery puncture, taking symptom relief as the limit, and pain cessation as healing." Ma Shi Wei Feng Bi Yao (Moxa medicine simmered with horse dung) is used because its nature is mild and it promotes circulation through the meridians. Wei Xin Huo (Reed fire) is used to decoct Yang-clearing medicines because its nature is light and ascending, preserving the medicinal power; both methods align with the principles of the *Neijing* (Inner Canon).

Deng Huo Cui (Fire-lamp cauterization) treats various infantile convulsions, head wind and brain pain, and wind-Bi causing flaccidity or spasticity, because oil resolves wind toxicity and fire unblocks the meridians. Deng Hua (Lamp wick ash) treats infantile evil heat in the Heart causing incessant night crying; two or three grains mixed with Deng Xin Tang (Juncus effusus decoction) are administered, or applied to the nipple for the infant to suck. Zhu Jin (Candle residue) treats ding zhong (carbuncles); mixed with equal parts of Sesamum indicum seed (Hu Ma) and iron filings (Zhen Sha), ground into powder, and applied with vinegar. To treat Jiu Lou (nine types of scrofula/lymphatic tuberculosis), mix with equal parts of air-dried Portulaca oleracea (Ma Chi Xian), ground into powder, and applied with lard from the twelfth lunar month; this utilizes the residual power of the cuttlefish (W Yu) to resolve necrotic tissue.

Regarding tobacco fire, it is not recorded in medical formularies, appearing only in the *Choson Ilgi* (Records of Choson). It originated among Fujian people who smoked it to dispel miasma, later adopted by Northerners to ward off cold, and now spreads worldwide. Who would know that the qi of this poisonous herb scorches the Zang-Fu organs and travels through the meridians, raising concerns about "vigorous fire dissipating Qi"? Recently, some internal cataract pills in ophthalmology have shown efficacy with tobacco, utilizing its acrid-warm nature to scatter cold accumulation causing visual obstructions. It should not be inhaled together with Borneolum Syntheticum (Bing Pian), as fire adding to fire generates more toxic smoke. It should not be inhaled via vines, fearing the presence of snake venom. After smoking, one must strictly avoid drinking strong liquor, as alcohol draws fire Qi to scorch the viscera. Furthermore, those whose Lung and Stomach are clouded by long-term tobacco toxicity can be detoxified with sugar water. Grease from the pipe stain clothes and cannot be washed off, but chewing watermelon seeds and rubbing cleans them immediately, demonstrating its power to clear phlegm and dirt. Is it not absurd that the world believes melon seeds generate phlegm?