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[Recorded in the Bie Lu as a Middle Grade herb]
The Xuanfu (sweat pores) and hair follicles are the channels for turbid substances, such as the Youmen (metaphorically referring to internal excretory pathways).
When weeping, the Qi mechanism becomes chaotic and difficult to sustain; when lax, it leads to waste without measure. Yin stores essence and responds urgently to Yang; Yang guards the exterior and maintains solidity. Yang acting on the exterior is the servant of Yin.
Yin residing in the Lung acts like an official of court, from which governance and regulation arise.
[Flavor and Nature] Pungent, slightly warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Primarily treats Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome with vomiting and diarrhea), abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and dissipates edema.
[Verification] It is stated: Grows in mountains and wild areas; found in Jinghu North and South, and both Shuans. People in the Central Plains cultivate it in gardens, calling it "Xiangcai" (fragrant vegetable), using it as a foodstuff.
Seedlings emerge in April; leaves resemble Artemisia capillaris (Yinchen), spikes resemble Schizonepeta (Jingjie), flowers resemble Perilla frutescens (Shuisu), yet their aromas are distinctly different. One variety has large leaves and square stems, resembling Vitex negundo (Mujing) leaves but smaller and pointed; another variety has very fine leaves, growing only a few inches high, with leaves resembling broomcorn millet (Luoshu), possessing a stronger fragrance; this is Shi Xiangru (Stone Mosla). It is best harvested in September when flowers bloom and spikes form. Remove roots, take stems and leaves, and dry them in the sun. Processing methods vary according to prescriptions; avoid fire exposure. Dosage can reach ten taels; one must avoid eating peaches (Bai Xiantao) for life.
[Annotation] It is said: "Xiang" refers to aroma, "Ru" refers to softness/pliability. It also excels in differentiation and explanation. Speaking of its aroma, it is fragrant; its substance is soft; its efficacy lies in skillful differentiation and explanation. The world certainly knows its efficacy in treating Summerheat, but neglects to inquire into the reasons for its treatment and the syndromes it addresses. Adhering strictly to the method of drinking cold beverages immediately after water intake, without considering the appropriateness or contraindications of such drinking habits, causes many merits of Xiangru to be lost. Generally, the prevalence of Summerheat is called Summerheat pathogenic influence (Shu Yin); when Lung Metal is affected by pathogens, it is called Metal Stagnation (Jin Yu). Summerheat pathogenic influence overcomes the Metal it controls; Metal stagnation must wait for the Water it generates, acting as the mother to restore against the unconquered Summerheat, causing Summerheat to descend from the Heart and retreat. Thus, the efficacy of Xiangru, being a helper in resolving Lung Metal stagnation, should fully possess the ability to differentiate the substance and function of Water. Therefore, distinguishing the substance of Water and delimiting the function of Water, its merit is particularly prominent. The Classic states: When liquid enters the Stomach, its refined essence floats and overflows, transporting upward to the Lung, regulating water passages, and transporting downward to the Bladder. However, if refined essence does not float or overflow, and water passages are not regulated, it also causes Metal to suffer stagnation. Thus, the cause of Metal stagnation is not solely Summerheat. The efficacy of Xiangru is not merely reversing Summerheat. Even floating/refining essence and regulating water passages are means to relieve Metal stagnation. If one abandons refining essence and transporting it upward to the Lung, there is no way to regulate water passages and transport them downward to the Bladder. The efficacy of Xiangru is thus also a helper of refined essence. The Classic states: When Metal is stagnant, it should be drained. Commentary explains: This means releasing the exterior and promoting urination. However, if Xuanfu closes, exterior Qi resists; if Youmen seals, Bladder suffers retention. This also causes Metal to suffer stagnation. Opening and lifting Xuanfu, and opening Youmen, is precisely how Metal stagnation is relieved. If one abandons opening Xuanfu, there is no way to open Youmen. The efficacy of Xiangru is thus also a helper of Xuanfu. The Classic states: The Zhenzang (True Organ) Qi resides highest in the Lung, to circulate Ying and Wei, and Yin and Yang. However, if Ying blood stagnates in vessels, and Wei Qi relaxes outside vessels, Yang loses its guarding solidity, and Yin loses its urgent response, this also causes Metal to suffer stagnation. Organizing Ying within vessels,肃qing Wei outside vessels, consolidating Yang's defense, and initiating Yin's service, is precisely how Metal stagnation is relieved. If one abandons the Zhenzang of the High Source, Ying, Wei, Yin, and Yang, there is no way to act upon the Form Organs. The efficacy of Xiangru is thus also a helper of Zhenzang. As for the Lung governing Qi, Qi congestion also causes Metal stagnation; the Lung orifice is the nose, nasal obstruction also causes Metal stagnation; the Lung opens, opening collapse also causes Metal stagnation; the Lung governs voice, hoarseness and aphonia also cause Metal stagnation; the Lung connects with court messengers, failure of court messengers also causes Metal stagnation; the Lung performs respiration, rapid breathing and slack breathing also cause Metal stagnation; the Lung manifests in skin and hair, hair loss and skin aggregation also cause Metal stagnation. Furthermore, sorrow injures the Lung, worry also injures the Lung; loss of Po stability also injures the Lung, external cold and cold drinks also injure the Lung, failure of governance and regulation also injures the Lung, and opposing Autumn Qi leading to Taiyin not receiving, resulting in scorched and full Lung Qi, are all named Metal Stagnation. Along with various causes of Metal stagnation generating various Metal stagnation syndromes, all can be relieved; relieving them is what is meant by draining. The Classic says Metal stagnation should be drained; the meaning of draining is not limited to the commentary's explanation of releasing the exterior and promoting urination. Bie Lu indicates treatment for Huoluan. Huoluan involves yin-yang disorder, indeed belonging to Zhenzang Qi failing to circulate; however, failure to separate water and grain also belongs to failure of differentiation. Sudden vomiting and diarrhea—could this not be Earth stagnation? Earth stagnation requires plundering/draining; the efficacy of Xiangru excels in draining Earth stagnation. Treating sudden accumulation of Five Waters forming edema indeed belongs to refined essence failing to float, overflow, and transport; however, Water takes moistening as its substance and irrigating as its function; accumulation renders it substantive but useless—could this not be Water stagnation? Water stagnation requires breaking/restraining; the efficacy of Xiangru originally excels in breaking Water stagnation. Now this is even more manifest. Carefully observing the causes of Huoluan and Five Waters, could they be solely rooted in Summerheat? Rooted in Wind is possible, rooted in Cold is possible, rooted in Dampness is possible, rooted in Deficiency is possible, rooted in Excess is possible, rooted in Ying-Wei disharmony is possible, rooted in dietary irregularity is possible. The efficacy of Xiangru is not merely reversing Summerheat, which is now manifestly clear. Jian Yi Fang treats improper Qi of Cold-Heat from the Four Seasons, which suffices as proof. Even Ju Fang's Xiangru Yin, listing causes and syndromes, treats lying in dampness and facing wind in summer, inability to tolerate raw/cold foods, leading to true-pathogen interaction, resulting in vomiting and reversal,
or fever, headache, body pain, or heart/abdominal pain, or muscle twitching and dry retching, or cold extremities, restlessness and impending death, assisted by Dou Chi (Sojae Semen Praeparatum) and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), ground into powder, decocted with wine or water into a drink, further proves this. If it merely reversed Summerheat, how would Da Ming Ben Cao indicate treatment for vomiting and reverse cold qi, instead treating the root cold and matching the superficial Yin causes/syndromes? Linpu (Li Shizhen) said: Using Xiangru in summer is like using Ephedra (Mahuang) in winter, which suffices as proof. Zhou Hou Fang treats bleeding from the tongue like drilled holes. Sheng Hui Fang treats persistent epistaxis. Wai Tai Mi Yao Fang treats hematemesis like a gushing spring. Yong Lei Qian Fang treats delayed hair growth in children; hair is the surplus of blood. Reciting these four formulas reveals the mechanism of Zhenzang Qi residing highest in the Lung to circulate Ying, Wei, Yin, and Yang. Ju Fang decocts with wine and water; drinking cold beverages immediately after water intake; Hu Qia uses earth-water to boil into pills; Shen Shi Fang extracts juice and refines into paste; Jian Yi Fang grinds into powder, taken hot with wine to induce sweating. These each guide according to the trend. Is it merely the method of drinking cold beverages immediately after water intake, using counter-agents to achieve the result? Observing ancients calling Xiangru "Shan Gao" (Meal Paste), one understands. Having gained something偶然ly, avoiding ridicule, expanding thus. Perhaps borrowing this to seek the causes and syndromes of the Five Stagnations, comparing the efficacy of herbs, avoiding being bound by hearsay, then the fortune of herbal medicine in curing diseases would be great.