Library

[Shangpin (Superior Category) of the Classic of Materia Medica]
【Flavor and Nature】Sweet, neutral, non-toxic.
【Indications】Primarily treats qi stagnation in the chest and abdomen, damage to the middle jiao due to dietary irregularities, damage from overeating, severance of the stomach collateral vessels, emaciation, and shortness of breath. Long-term use makes the body light, prevents aging, and reduces hunger.

【Analysis】It is stated: Those growing in the valleys of Hangu Pass and on fertile earth and stones along dikes are mostly wild. Those produced in Jiangning, Xin'an, and Jianqiao of Renhe are mostly cultivated. Ancient people only used wild specimens; they are fine, wrinkled, fragrant, and beautiful, resembling wheat grains, with superior efficacy. It remains green throughout the four seasons; in autumn and winter, its roots and leaves become more lush, growing in clumps like leeks, green like sedge grass, over a chi long, with many longitudinal veins. In the fourth month, it flowers like knotweed, bearing fruits green as jade like pearls. The rootlets are numerous and interlinked. [Note: Original text contains apparent lacuna or error here]. It becomes easily dry without losing medicinal power. Alternatively, cut with a bamboo knife into thin slices including the core, soak in pure wine overnight, grind finely together with the wine, place in a cloth bag, rub to extract white juice, add a little ginger juice and almond powder, stir frequently hundreds of times, let stand for a long time until clear, discard the wine, dry in the sun, and store for use. When added to decoctions or pastes, use including the core to conform to the principle of integrity. Nowadays, people remove the core, not knowing its origin. Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Dihuang) and Plantaginis Seed (Cheqian) serve as its guides. It dislikes Kadsurae Caulis (Kuandong) and bitter bottle gourd (Kuhu). It fears Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen), Indigo Naturalis (Qing), and Auricularia Auricula-Judae (Mu'er). It is controlled by Stalactitum (Shizhongru).

Mr. Shaolong Wang said: Mai Men Dong possesses the sweet nature of grain cultivation and inherits the gentle command of spring, thus entering the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, serving as a medicine for the Yangming body. Therefore, all syndromes described in the *Classic* belong to diseases above the Yangming. If there are flaccidity syndromes (Wei Jue), they belong to diseases below the Yangming. The classic states: Yangming governs closure; if closure is broken, qi has no resting place, and flaccidity diseases arise. Hence, treating flaccidity focuses solely on the Yangming meridians. Yangming is the root of the five zang and six fu organs; all five zang and six fu organs receive qi from Yangming.

My late father discussed: The heart and abdominal collaterals are all governed by the Heart. The stomach collaterals and muscles are all generated by the Heart. Beauty, vomiting blood, and epistaxis are manifested only by the Heart. It can make stagnation not stagnant and severance not severed. Only through leisurely moistening and subtle nourishment can condensed forms be dissolved.

He also said: Mai Men Dong's leaves remain green; its rootlets are tough inside and soft outside, connecting and penetrating above the root, surviving winter, and sprouting wherever it grows. Its whiteness enters the Lung; its sweet neutrality enters the Spleen; its many veins enter the Heart; its survival through winter enters the Kidney; its longevity enters the Liver. Although it enters the five zang, it primarily targets the Heart, acting as a Kidney medicine for the Heart. Its formation and naming meaning can transform Spring into Summer, allowing the Kidney to communicate with the Heart, though its power is not vast. It is like a gentleman who keeps his guard, nurtures himself, remains chaste, quiet, peaceful, harmonious, moist, and leisurely. In times of panic, although one may be confused, those who advance rashly and expose themselves cannot match its constancy over time. Its root resembles collaterals; thus, the *Classic* uses it to treat heart-abdominal qi stagnation, damage to the middle and fullness, and severance of stomach collateral vessels. Essentially, the center of the heart and abdomen belongs to the Heart's domain, and collaterals are also governed by the Heart, entirely following the method of image-based correspondence. If there is severance of collaterals, severance due to damage to the middle, severance due to fullness, or severance of emaciated muscle texture caused by qi stagnation, all can be restored to life. What the *Additional Records* says: "All are generated by qi stagnation, damage to the middle, and fullness," implies strengthening yin, benefiting essence, digesting food, preserving spirit, and beautifying appearance, all relying on the power of restoring pulse flow, communicating with the Heart, moistening channels, and benefiting blood. Since the Heart governs blood vessels, vessel rupture causes bleeding, and vessel injury causes cough; when menstrual water is exhausted, milk does not descend, and pulse qi is about to cease, it can achieve effectiveness. Like water entering dry channels to form blood, if it does not enter the channel, leading to edema, the subtlety of subtle nourishment relies on this. However, it is unsuitable for individuals with yin shapes and slow natures, or those with spleen slowness, middle cold, and dampness.

[Author/Editor] said: When Metal and Water dominate the season, roots and shoots flourish, embodying the meaning of continuing what is severed and replenishing what is lacking. During the three winters of storage, lies the wonder of yin and yang mutually rooting. Wheat-Dong alone preserves its orifice; thus, during autumn and winter, it can execute the commands of spring and summer, transforming descent into ascent, hence named Mai Men Dong. Growing green through four seasons, firm in the center, with sweet-neutral flavor, possessing Earth virtue, it should be judged as entering the Spleen, being the Spleen's Spleen medicine. Whiteness belongs to Metal, making it the Spleen's Lung medicine. Resembling veins belongs to Fire, making it the Spleen's Heart medicine. Non-wilting belongs to Water, making it the Spleen's Kidney medicine. Longevity belongs to Wood, making it the Spleen's Liver medicine. Thus, within one zang, five zangs exist. Therefore, the five zang and six fu organs are located internally, and the twelve meridians appear externally; none do not originate from the Spleen and are nourished by the Stomach, acting as mutual hubs. Basically, heart-abdominal qi stagnation is governed by the Center; damage to the middle and fullness, severance of stomach collaterals, emaciation, and shortness of breath are image-based counter-treatments. Thus, the meaning of continuing severance and replenishing lack arises from the character "Zhong" (Center). Broadly expanding and interpreting, it is profound and thought-provoking. Earth governs the Central Palace and nourishes the post-heaven; it requires a product of complete virtue to match it, which is none other than Mai Dong. As for preserving the Heart's spirit, stabilizing the Lung's qi, calming the Liver's soul, and tonifying the Kidney's essence, transferred via the Spleen, there is nothing unsuitable. If vessel injury causes cough, meridians are severed causing reckless blood flow, menstrual water is exhausted, or irritability, heat, and thirst arise, seeking the cause and borrowing it is also acceptable. Generally, image-based counter-treatment is more suitable. My late father had discussions, which I have expanded upon as follows.