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Spring rain is suitable for nourishing the male (liver/wood). Autumn frost肃 (clears and descends) the lungs. Snow can cool the lungs and eliminate toxin-induced sores; snow from the twelfth lunar month specifically kills various insects. Dew resolves summerheat and retreats yang pathogens; flower dew especially moistens the lungs. Rao water (rainwater collected from roads without a source) is light, clear, and bland in flavor, capable of eliminating damp-heat jaundice. Counter-current water has significant vomiting effects and can treat wind-phlegm throat obstruction. Ganlan water (labor water), stirred ten thousand times, does not assist kidney pathogens; smooth-flowing water tends downward, treating abdominal diseases. Newly drawn well spring water, when used to decoct herbs, clears heat and nourishes yin. Earth slurry (made by digging a pit in yellow earth, filling with fresh water, stirring, and letting settle), taken orally, relieves irritability and detoxifies. A-well water disperses phlegm and benefits the diaphragm. Mafei tang (boiling water) unblocks collaterals and promotes meridian circulation. Regarding the yin and yang properties of water, appropriate use of raw or cooked water can harmonize cholera and unblock the Sanjiao. (Spring rain obtains the qi of spring generation and rising, implying the nourishment of liver wood and development of all things. ○ Autumn frost obtains the autumn metal肃 (killing/clearing) qi, thus entering the lung to execute its clearing and descending command. All conditions such as skin sores, prickly heat, muscle heat, and facial redness belonging to lung fire can utilize it. ○ Snow obtains the yin condensing qi of heaven and earth, stronger than frost, white in color and light in texture, thus also entering the lung. Its great cold nature clears all toxic fires in zang-fu organs and various mineral-induced sores. However, twelfth-month snow is best; the third Wu day after Winter Solstice is La (twelfth month), which is most effective at killing insects. Thus, if there is snow during La, next year's crops will be free from insect plagues. ○ Dew is the liquid of yin qi at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, nourishing all things and beautifying the complexion. Its ability to resolve summerheat comes from the fact that when White Dew falls, intense summerheat retreats. Therefore, malaria medicines left exposed to dew overnight aim to resolve latent summerheat. As for dew on hundred flowers, although it moistens the lungs, one must be cautious due to varying quality of flowers. ○ Rao water is sourceless water on roads. Shizhen said: it is falling rain, or excessive rain causing flooding, generally spring water pouring onto roads. Zhang Zhongjing treated shanghan with stagnant heat inside causing yellowing of the body using Mahuang Lianqiao Chi Xiao Dou Tang, decocted with Rao water. Commentators say Rao water is light, clear, and bland, not assisting damp pathogens. But since it is described as polluted rainwater on roads, how can it be used for treatment? Perhaps there is another type of Rao water, or else Rao water is actually Lao water, homophonic error in transcription. ○ Counter-current water: water naturally flows east, descending is smooth. Counter-current refers to winding river sections where water cannot flow straight east but loops westward, ideal for decocting emetics. ○ Ganlan water, also called Lao water, uses two dou of long-flowing water placed in a large basin, stirred ten thousand times with a ladle until boiling pearls chase each other; take the clear part for decoction. Water nature is originally salty and heavy; laboring makes it sweet and light, not assisting water pathogens but benefiting spleen and stomach. Thus, Neijing uses it for insomnia, Zhang Zhongjing for Ben tun (fleeing tumor), both employing it. ○ Smooth-flowing water is east-flowing water, taking advantage of its downward tendency to guide chest and abdominal diseases downward. Rapid-flowing water is steep mountain stream water flowing directly down, usable for lower jiao waist and foot wind-bi conditions, and herbs promoting bowel/bladder movement. ○ Xinji water is daily drawn water, possessing quiet, smooth, sinking, and hidden qi, condensed yet unmoving, extremely clear and pure, with sweet-cold nature, thus nourishing yin and clearing heat. Water as an object has same substance but different natures, not just rivers and seas, but well waters also vary in quality, generally high and clean ones are superior, low and dirty ones inferior. ○ Earth slurry digs a three-foot deep pit in yellow earth, pours fresh water, stirs until muddy then settles, taken orally, specifically resolving all heat toxins, fish/mushroom/fruit/vegetable poisons, and sudden heatstroke symptoms, relying on earth transforming toxins and cold removing heat. ○ A-well water, located in Yanggu County, Shandong, source of Ji River, tastes sweet and salty, neutral nature, extremely descending, clear and heavy, used to stir turbid water, clearing all greasy turbid substances, easily sinking, thus decocting gelatin has phlegm-dispersing and diaphragm-benefiting effects. ○ Mafei tang, i.e., hundred-boil water, can move meridians, assist yang qi, disperse wind-bi. Zhang Zhongjing's Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang and Fuzi Xiexin Tang both use Mafei tang to soak juice and squeeze for administration, aiming for upper-lower dissemination and rapid drug action. ○ Yin-yang water is raw-cooked water, method mixes equal parts fresh drawn water and boiling water, dividing and benefiting yin-yang, ascending-clearing and descending-turbid, suitable for decocting all cholera medicines.)