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[Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Zhuling)]
Nature and Flavor: Unblocking, promotes water metabolism. Bitter flavor drains stagnation, bland flavor opens orifices, sweet flavor assists Yang. Enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians. Ascending yet capable of descending, opens interstices and induces sweating, promotes urination and moves water. Similar to Poria Cocos (Fuling) but lacks tonifying properties.

Treats high fever caused by Cold Damage (Shanghan) and warm epidemics (Jing Shu states: Promoting urination during high fever is also a method of dispersing and eliminating pathogens), mental restlessness and regret, thirst, edema, stranguria, turbid urine, dysentery, and malaria (Malaria is often caused by summerheat, which invariably combines with dampness. The Classics state: Injury by summerheat in summer leads to malaria in autumn). However, it consumes body fluids; excessive use damages the kidneys and causes blurred vision (Insufficient Kidney Water leads to blurred vision. Zhang Zhongjing's Wuling San, composed of Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Zhuling), Poria Cocos (Fuling), Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi), is the general formula for treating water disorders. Wang Ang notes: The Classics state: The Bladder is the official of the capital, where fluids are stored; only through Qi transformation can they be excreted. Using the acrid-hot nature of Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui) to guide into the Bladder facilitates Qi transformation. Removing Rougui yields Siling San. Zisheng Jing states: Wuling San can generate body fluids and also unblock the bowels. Zeng Shirong used Wuling San to treat convulsions. White Poria Cocos (Baifuling) calms the mind spirit; Alismatis Rhizoma (Zexie) guides urination downward. When the Small Intestine is unblocked, Heart Qi becomes peaceful. Wood withers when encountering Cinnamon Twig, suppressing Liver Wind so wind stops naturally. This exemplifies proficient use of Wuling San).

Polygoni Multiflori Caulis (Zhuling) grows mostly under maple trees; its name derives from resembling pig feces (Horse feces is called "Tong", pig feces is called "Ling". Ling means feces; these characters were interchangeable in ancient times). Those with white flesh and solid texture are superior. Use after peeling.

[Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai)]
Efficacy: Drains Ministerial Fire, tonifies Kidney Water.
Nature and Flavor: Bitter, cold, slightly acrid; heavy, yin, descending. Drains Ministerial Fire in the Bladder (Meridian guiding herb for Foot-Taiyang), tonifies insufficient Kidney Water, consolidates the Kidneys and moistens dryness (Bencao Faming states: It does not truly tonify. The Kidney dislikes dryness, urgently needing acrid flavors to moisten it; the Kidney desires consolidation, urgently needing bitter flavors to consolidate it. When Ministerial Fire retreats and the Kidney consolidates, there is no risk of manic dissipation. Note: The Kidney belongs to Water; deficiency generates heat. The Heart belongs to Fire; deficiency generates cold), dispels dampness and clears heat.

Treats deficiency of the Lower Jiao, bone-steaming consumptive fever (Yin deficiency generates internal heat), various atrophy syndromes and paralysis (Excessive heat injures Blood; if Blood fails to nourish sinews, they become short and contracted. Excessive dampness injures sinews; if sinews fail to bind bones, they become flaccid and elongated. Combined with Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu), it forms Ermiao San, clearing heat and draining dampness, a key herb for treating atrophy. If accompanied by Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, Spleen deficiency, Kidney deficiency, damp-phlegm, or dead blood, modifications should be made according to the syndrome), red eyes and tinnitus (Kidney Fire), thirst and constipation, jaundice and edema (Wang Shanfu suffered from urinary retention, abdomen hard as stone, legs cracking and oozing fluid, inability to eat or drink. Doctors treated with diuretics without effect. Li Dongyuan said: This results from excessive indulgence, accumulation of heat from rich food damaging Kidney Water, leading to dry Bladder, failure of urination, and rebellious fire causing vomiting. As stated in Nan Jing: Guan implies inability to urinate, Ge implies vomiting. As stated in Nei Jing: Without Yin, Yang cannot transform. He prescribed a great bitter-cold formula from the North: Huangbai and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) each 1 liang, washed with wine, baked and powdered, with 1 qian of Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi) as a guide, named Zishen Wan. After taking 200 pills, the anterior orifice felt like knife-stabbing and burning, urine flowed onto the bed, and swelling subsided). Watery diarrhea, hot dysentery, hemorrhoidal bleeding, intestinal wind, leukorrhea with blood and discharge (all caused by damp-heat), pain and itching of various sores, head sores (powder applied externally), mouth ulcers (honey-fried, powdered, and held in mouth. Mouth ulcers unresponsive to cooling herbs indicate insufficient Middle Qi and defluxion of deficient fire. Use counter-treatment: Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) tonify upper deficiency; dried ginger scatters fire. Severe cases add Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) or hold Cinnamomi Cortex (Guigui) to guide fire back to its source), kills parasites and calms roundworms. Long-term use damages Stomach Qi; contraindicated in weak Chi pulse (If deficient fire defluxes upward, using bitter-cold herbs may cause Middle Cold injury. Li Shizhen says: Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) assists Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) to nourish Yin and descend fire, embodying the principle of Metal generating Water. Ancient saying: Huangbai without Zhimu is like a jellyfish without a shrimp. Huangbai controls fire in the Yin of Mingmen and Bladder; Zhimu clears Lung Metal and nourishes the source of Kidney Water. Zhu Danxi says: Ruler Fire is human fire, i.e., Heart Fire. It can be extinguished by water or directly suppressed, as with Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian). Ministerial Fire is heavenly fire, dragon-thunder fire, also Yin fire. It cannot be controlled by water-dampness; one must follow its nature to subdue it. Only Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) can descend it. Note: Fires differ: deficient, excess, dry, damp, stagnant, ministerial. Deficient fire requires tonification; excess fire requires purging; dry fire requires moistening; stagnant fire requires ascending. Damp-fire arises from dampness transforming into heat, often causing edema. The Classics state: All abdominal distensions belong to heat; all edemas belong to fire. Treat by promoting dampness, clearing heat, and supplementing the Spleen. Ministerial Fire resides in Liver and Kidney, is dragon-thunder fire, unconquerable by bitter-cold; nourish Yin and Blood, strengthen the Master of Water to control Yang. Further note: Among diseases, fire syndromes are common. Some originate in their own meridian, e.g., anger generates Liver Fire, anxiety generates Heart Fire. Some involve mother-son mutual overcoming, e.g., Metal-Fire overcomes Lung Metal, Liver Wood overcomes Spleen Fire. Some transfer between organs, e.g., Lung Fire cough transfers heat to Large Intestine causing diarrhea; Heart Fire irritability transfers heat to Small Intestine causing stranguria. Some transfer between other meridians, some involve multiple meridians simultaneously. Treat according to the severity).

Produced in Sichuan; those with thick flesh and deep color are superior. Raw use descends excess fire; honey-fried use does not damage the Stomach; charred use stops metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. Wine-processing treats the Upper Jiao; honey-processing treats the Middle Jiao; salt-processing treats the Lower Jiao (Also, powder mixed with milk can be applied to frostbite).