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Salty, slightly warm. Slightly toxic. Used for bathing in boiled water to remove wind-induced pruritus and tinea (skin itching and fungal infections). Drinking one he (approx. 20 ml) induces vomiting and purgation of retained food, relieving cranial distension.

Also known as Earth Slurry (Dijiang). Clears heat and detoxifies.
Sweet, cold. Treats diarrhea and dysentery caused by cold-heat imbalance, including red-and-white dysentery. Treats colic pain caused by heat-toxin in the abdomen. Resolves poisoning from various fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, drugs, and all kinds of fungi. ("Fungus" is pronounced like "Jun", grows on rotting wood and damp ground, also called "Xun"; fungus on maple trees causes uncontrollable laughter if eaten; taking this resolves it.) Also treats leeches entering the abdomen. (Accidentally eating horse leeches which lay eggs in the abdomen; use this to expel them.) For sudden death due to heatstroke. (Take hot soil from the roadside surrounding the navel, have someone urinate into it, still use hot soil and garlic in equal parts, pound into powder, filter dregs, and administer to revive. *Weisheng Baojian* states: Heatstroke and cholera are caused by internal injury from summer-heat and confusion of the seven emotions. When Yin Qi is quiet, the spirit is stored; when agitated, it dissipates. Only extreme Yin Qi can cure this. Kun represents Yin, Earth belongs to Yin, Soil is called quiet and compliant. Earth slurry is made in a pit in the shade of a wall, being Yin within Yin, capable of draining Yang within Yang.) Dig a pit in yellow earth, three chi deep. Pour newly drawn water in and stir until turbid. After a short while, take the clear liquid for use. (Eating yellow catfish while having taken Schizonepeta can harm the body; taking earth slurry resolves it.)

Disperses and assists Yang Qi.
Assists Yang Qi, unblocks meridians. (Wang Ying says: Hot water must be boiled vigorously (hundred boils) to be good; if only half-boiled, drinking it damages Yuan Qi and causes distension. Zong says: Hot water can unblock meridians. For those suffering from wind-cold qi bi, pour hot water over feet up to the knees, cover tightly to induce sweating throughout the body. However, there are other medicines; this merely borrows Yang Qi to move. For sudden diarrhea and dysentery in any season, with cold limbs and umbilical/abdominal coldness, sit in a deep basin of hot water, soaking up to the abdomen, doing this frequently. Among herbs that generate Yang Qi, none is faster than this. Those with deficiency-cold will tremble upon first sitting in the bath; attendants should watch constantly. Zhang Congzheng says: For initial injuries from wind-cold or dietary excess (alcohol/food), if no medicine is available, drink about one bowl of Taihe Tang, or sour pickle juice. Rub the abdomen with hands; when feeling dizzy/confused, drink again and rub until unable to hold more, induce vomiting. Sweating indicates recovery. Li Shizhen says: Zhang Zhongjing treated epigastric fullness (Pi syndrome) where palpation was soft and the pulse at Guan was floating, using Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang, decocted with Mafei Tang (boiling water), to utilize its thin aroma to drain deficient heat. For years-long wind diseases, dig a pit, sit inside, undress, pour hot water for a long time, cover with a bamboo mat, sweat out to recover. This is also a method to unblock meridians. Li Shizhen often extended this idea: for cold-dampness, add Mugwort to decoct; for wind-deficiency, add Wuzhi or Wujiapi to decoct for washing, finding it faster. An says: Bathing with hot water for wind-cold common cold is also a dispersing method; thus *Neijing* mentions moxibustion with heat, bathing, and massage/bathing texts. *Beiji Fang* treats sudden severe heart/abdominal pain by soaking hands and feet in hot water, changing when cool.) Also known as Taihe Tang. Also known as Mafei Tang. (If a snake coils around and won't release, pour hot water to make it detach. For sudden death due to evil qi, fill a copper or earthenware vessel with hot water, apply through clothing to the abdomen, changing when cool.)