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The root is named Tanhuan.
Bitter, cold, non-toxic. Used raw to descend and clear excess fire. Processed with wine to treat flaming fire of the Yin. Processed with salt to treat fire in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner). Processed with ginger to treat phlegm-fire in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner); stir-fried with ginger juice until black to treat damp-heat. Stir-fried with salt and wine until black to treat deficient fire. For excessive fire due to Yin deficiency, with a red face and floating Yang (deficient Yang floating upward), process with decoction of Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata).
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it primarily treats internal knotting of heat in the five Zang organs and intestines/stomach, jaundice, hemorrhoids, stops dysentery and diarrhea, treats leukorrhea with red and white discharge in women, and sores/ulcers on the genitals. Tanhuan treats various diseases of the heart and abdomen, calms the Hun and Po spirits, eliminates hunger and thirst, and long-term use lightens the body, prolongs life, and enhances spiritual clarity.
Invention: Huangbai is bitter and drying, serving as a specialized herb for treating damp-heat in the three Yin meridians. A detailed examination of the indications in *Shennong Bencao Jing* reveals they are all conditions where damp-heat injures Yin. Even leukorrhea with red and white discharge must be caused by pathogenic heat injuring Yin and an excess of fire energy, which differs from chronic metrorrhagia or prolonged spotting due to deficiency-cold. Its ability to cure various heart and abdominal diseases and restless Hun and Po spirits stems from hyperactive internal fire. Zhang Zhongjing’s Zhizi Bopi Tang (Gardenia and Phellodendron Decoction) for treating yellowing of the body with fever captures this essence accurately. Note: Huangbai has a strong flavor and descending nature, entering the Kidney meridian and blood level. In cases of insufficiency of Kidney water and Bladder Qi, manifesting as various Wei syndrome (flaccidity syndromes) and Jue syndrome (cold extremities) with weakness, adding it to Huangbai Tang causes Qi strength to surge in the knees and legs, curing flaccidity. Huangbai and Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) are essential herbs for treating Wei syndrome. It is suitable for damp-heat swelling and pain in the Lower Jiao, Bladder fire pathogenic factors, difficult urination, and yellow, turbid urine. The formula uses Huangbai and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) as Sovereign herbs, with Fuling (Poria) and Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) as Assistant herbs. For urinary retention accompanied by thirst, the pathogenic heat is in the Qi level; treatment focuses on the Lung’s failure to generate water. For urinary retention without thirst, the pathogenic heat is in the Blood level; treatment focuses on the Bladder’s failure to transform Qi; Huangbai and Zhimu are also appropriate. Historically, a patient suffered from urinary retention, an abdomen hard as stone, edema oozing from the legs, and protruding eyes. After failing numerous treatments for distension and diuresis, it was diagnosed that rich food accumulated heat injured Kidney water, causing the Bladder to fail to transform fire Qi, which reversed upward causing vomiting and hiccups. Thus, Zishen Wan (Kidney-Nourishing Pill) was used. The formula employed Huangbai and Zhimu, with Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) as a guiding agent. Upon taking a small amount, the external genitalia felt like burning, and urine gushed out; within moments, the swelling subsided. *Jingui Yaolue* treats poisoning from accidentally consuming meat of animals that died naturally using crushed Huangbai bark taken as one Cunbi (a traditional measure) to detoxify, not merely for clearing rich-food accumulated heat. This is because bitterness detoxifies and coldness drains heat. Generally, the bitter-cold nature benefits excess heat but harms deficient heat. It is contraindicated in cases of Spleen deficiency with poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, preference for warmth and aversion to cold, Kidney deficiency with dawn diarrhea, urinary incontinence, cold pain in the lower abdomen, Yang deficiency with fever, stagnant blood stasis, postpartum blood deficiency with fever, fever after carbuncles/sores have swollen, Yin deficiency with difficult urination, Spleen deficiency with difficult urination after smallpox, and blood deficiency with irritability and insomnia. One variety, small and solid like a sour pomegranate, is called Xiaobai. Its properties are not significantly different; it is used in Ajituo Wan (Ajituo Pill) from *Qianjin Yifang*.