Library

Li Shizhen stated: "Whenever taking decoctions, even if the materials are of superior quality and processed according to regulations, if the person boiling the medicine is careless or hasty, and the water and fire are improper or the heat control is out of measure, the medicine will be ineffective. Observing that the quality of tea flavor and the sweetness of rice depend on the success or failure of water and fire cooking, one can deduce this principle." My family pays special attention to the water and fire used for boiling medicine. Although we do not adhere rigidly to rules, by paying attention within possible limits, we can enhance the efficacy of the medicine. Therefore, at the end of *Bencao Zhengyao*, I have specifically appended sections on water and fire for reference during clinical practice.

1. Water for Boiling Medicine

(1) Heavenly Water
Rainwater
This refers to rain falling from the sky, colloquially known in Yangzhou as "heaven-falling water." It can be further subdivided into several types:
Spring Water: Rain obtained after the Beginning of Spring (Lichun). Yu Bo in *Yixue Zhengzhuan* stated, "Rainwater during the Beginning of Spring solar term can be used to decoct medicines for insufficient middle qi and non-rising clear qi." Li Shizhen said it "is suitable for decocting dispersing and middle-tonifying qi medicines."
Lao Water: Lao, as explained in *Shuowen Jiezi*, refers to heavy rain. *Qu Li* mentions "falling flood waters." Han Yu's poem says, "Puddles have no source." Li Shizhen said, "Falling and pouring rain is called lao; prolonged rainy weather is also called lao." In essence, it refers to water obtained from heavy rains or prolonged rainfall. My family refers to water from torrential rains during the dog days of summer as Lao Water. However, water from the Plum Rain season (also written as Mold Rain) is not used (Entering the Plum Rain begins on the Ren day after Mangzhong, and Exiting the Plum Rain begins on the Ren day after Xiaoshu.) The *Mahuang Lianqiao Chixiaodou Tang* (Ephedra, Forsythia, and Red Bean Decoction) in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) is decocted using Lao Water. Wu Yi said, "Its taste is light and does not aid dampness but promotes heat clearance." Li Shizhen stated it "is sweet, neutral, and non-toxic (suitable) for decocting medicines that regulate the spleen and stomach and remove damp-heat."
Ye Rainwater: Li Shizhen said, "Ten days after Lidong (Start of Winter) is entering Ye; until Xiaoxue (Minor Snow) is exiting Ye. Rain obtained during this period is called Ye Rain, also known as Medicine Rain." He also said, "It is suitable for decocting medicines that kill parasites and eliminate accumulations."
Li Shizhen further detailed under the item "Solar Term Water": "Water stored during the Beginning of Spring and Qingming (Clear and Bright) solar terms is suitable for soaking and preparing various pills, powders, and medicinal wines for treating wind pathogens and spleen-stomach deficiency damage, and it remains unspoiled for a long time."
Water from the Cold Dew, Winter Solstice, Minor Cold, and Major Cold solar terms, as well as water from the twelfth lunar month, is suitable for soaking and preparing tonics for the five zang organs, pills for phlegm-fire accumulation and insect toxins, and for brewing medicinal wine; its efficacy is equivalent to that of snow water.
Wuzhong Day Noon Water (Case Note: When I was over ten years old, I encountered this once. At noon on Duanwu Festival, a torrential rain suddenly fell. My father immediately ordered an inspection of *Bencao Gangmu* and *Bencao Gangmu Shiyi* for study.) Li Shizhen said it "is suitable for manufacturing pills for malaria, dysentery, sores, traumatic injuries, and various insect/bite poisons." Zhao Xuemin said, "Rain on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month; water extracted from split bamboo can be used to treat sweat stains."
Water from the Xiaman, Mangzhong, and Bailu solar terms, when used for making medicine, wine, vinegar, and all kinds of food, spoils easily. Drinking it also easily causes spleen and stomach diseases.
Except for plum rain water which is unsuitable for decocting medicine, rainwater from other times can be used, but fresh is preferred over aged. The method of collection is to spread clean cloth nets during rainfall, catching the water with basins or buckets below. Alternatively, it can be collected from roof gutters. One must wait until two hours after the rain starts before using it; otherwise, the roof tiles may not be thoroughly washed clean and may contain impurities. Furthermore, it must first be stored in a bucket, allowed to settle and clarify, then poured into a vat, ensuring all sediment at the bottom of the bucket is removed before use. Using it to brew tea or cook rice is very pleasant, superior to river, lake, or pond water, and even more superior to well water.
Rainwater should not be stored in lead buckets or basins because rainwater is soft water, dissolves oxygen, and has corrosive properties; storing it in lead containers can dissolve lead into the water, which is harmful to humans.

Dew
Zhao Xuemin said, "Dew is originally yin fluid; at night, earth qi rises and descends as dew. Its nature changes according to the object it attaches to." For decocting and preparing medicine, my family uses two types of dew, described below:
Lotus Leaf Dew
Zhao Xuemin said, "In summer at dawn, just before sunrise, place a bowl supported by a long spoon and tilt it towards the lotus leaves in the pond to collect the dew. Dew from the dog days (Fu) is best; autumn dew is too cold, and dew on flowers has a dissipating nature and slight toxicity, so do not use it." He also said, "It is sweet, brightens the eyes, soothes the chest/middle, clears summer-heat, benefits the chest/diaphragm, and reduces water swelling and distension." He further said, "Dew nourishes yin and supports yang; combined with the clear qi of lotus leaves, it achieves such effects." Our family uses lotus leaf dew for eye drops; internal use also brightens the eyes. For patients with persistent throat discomfort, excessive worry, and chest diaphragm stagnation, instructing them to take lotus leaf dew freshly in the morning to decoct medicine often yields satisfactory results.
Dew on Rice Leaf Tips
Zhao Xuemin said, "All plants and trees require heavenly dew to become moist. Only rice, at You hour (5-7 PM), sees moisture rising from its roots, reaching the leaf tips at night, and descending back to the roots by dawn. Thus, on nights without dew, rice leaves remain moist. This is what Chen Cuixu meant in his poem: 'A few pearl-like dew drops, who carried them up to the rice flower heads?'" My sixth great-uncle, Mr. Guangqi, frequently used this to treat night sweats due to deficiency consumption, with good effect. This is likely because it can rise and moisten itself, and descend and gather itself. It is also effective for dry throat due to autumn dryness.

Snow Water
Sweet in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic. Chen Cangqi said it "resolves all toxins and treats epidemic febrile diseases caused by heaven-transmitted seasonal qi." Wu Rui said it "when used to brew tea or cook porridge, resolves heat and relieves thirst." Li Shizhen said it "is suitable for decocting medicines for treating cold damage and fire-heat." Symptoms suitable for snow water treatment are mostly seen in late spring, mid-summer, and autumn dryness periods; opportunities to use it during actual snowfall seasons are rare, so it must be pre-stored and preserved annually by the practitioner. Our family often uses snow water to decoct medicine for treating sore throat scarlet fever and diphtheria with blazing toxic fire, achieving satisfactory results. It can also be used to brew tea, giving a sensation of "refreshing the heart and spleen."

(2) Earth Water
Living Water
Also known as flowing water, Qianli Water, or East-flowing Water. Flowing water is contrasted with stagnant water; living water is contrasted with dead water. Zhu Xi's poem says, "Living water comes from the source." Su Dongpo's poem says, "Living water must be cooked with living fire." Hence, our family calls it "Living Water." Li Shizhen said, "Flowing water includes large rivers and streams. Externally moving but internally still, soft in texture but firm in qi, it differs from the stagnant water of lakes and ponds. However, river water is turbid while stream water is clear, showing further differences." Chen Cangqi said, "Qianli and east-flowing waters can both cleanse evil filth and are suitable for decocting herbal teas."
River water must be clarified after extraction before use. Stream water, mostly mountain springs, requires selection. In general, living water is superior to pond water and well water for decocting medicine.

Reverse Flowing Water and Rapid Flowing Water
These also belong to the category of living water. Yu Bo in *Yixue Zhengzhuan* stated, "Water that flows in reverse and swirls back has a nature that moves upward against the current, so it is used for medicines that induce vomiting of phlegm-fluids. Rapid flowing water is turbulent and swift, with a nature that moves downward quickly, so it is used for medicines that promote urination/defecation and treat wind-bi." Kou Zongshi said, "East-flowing water is used for its smooth and rapid nature to open the diaphragm and lower gates. Reverse-flowing water is used for its swirling flow, stopping upward movement without going down." Li Shizhen said, "Reverse flowing water mainly treats various throat diseases..." Our family prefers reverse flowing water for treating throat diseases; if accompanied by joint swelling and pain, rapid flowing water is used, though this requires some rigidity or compromise.

Ganlan Water
Also known as Lao Water. Li Shizhen said, "Lao water is agitated water. Zhang Zhongjing called it Ganlan Water. Take two dou of flowing water, place it in a large basin, and scoop it high up thousands of times until bubbles chase each other. Then take it to decoct medicine. Because water nature is originally cold and heavy, agitation makes it sweet and light, taking advantage of its ability not to assist kidney qi but to benefit the spleen and stomach." He also said, "It treats five labors and seven injuries, kidney deficiency and spleen weakness, excess yang and deficient yin, inability to close the eyes..." Chen Cangqi said, "For post-illness weakness, agitating it ten thousand times makes it most effective for boiling medicine." Our family uses this for chronic throat diseases characterized by deficiency, restlessness, and insomnia. Adding honey and agitating it yields even better effects.

Well Water
Also called Jinghua Water. Wang Ying said, "Well water, newly drawn, treats disease and benefits people. The first draw at dawn is Jinghua Water... Among well waters, those coming from distant earth veins are best; those seeping from nearby rivers/lakes are secondary. Those near city ditches mixed with sewage have foul odors and tastes, and are unfit for medicine, food, tea, or wine." Regarding不得已 (forced circumstances) usage, he said, "Must boil vigorously, let stand for a shichen (2 hours), clarify with alkali, then use." Li Shizhen said one must "select those with deep soil, thick water, distant sources, and pure quality, only then suitable for consumption." Yu Tan said it "is suitable for decocting yin-nourishing medicines." Li Shizhen said it "is suitable for decocting all phlegm-fire, qi, and blood medicines." Zhang Yuxi said, "For drinking water to treat illness, always select newly drawn clear springs; do not use stagnant, dirty, turbid, or warm water. Not only is it ineffective, but it also harms the body." In summary, for decocting medicine, well water is inferior to living water, and far inferior to heavenly water.
There are also simple external treatment methods appended below for reference.
*Jia Bu Zhu Bencao* states it "treats bad breath"; newly drawn well water "removes fish bones stuck in the throat." Both methods come from *Zhouhou Fang*. The former: "Take one cup of water, close mouth facing the water, open mouth to inhale water vapor, the stuck bone should go down." The latter: "On New Year's Day, hold Jinghua Water in mouth and spit it out." Also, *Zhizhi Fang* "treats toothache from drinking alcohol, frequently swish well water in mouth." All are simple and easy to perform, and can be tried.

2. Fire for Booming Medicine

Reed Fire and Bamboo Fire
Reed refers to reed wood; bamboo refers to bamboo split into blocks to replace firewood. Li Shizhen said it "is suitable for decocting all tonifying medicines." He also said, "Use aged reeds and dried bamboo for fire, taking advantage of their mild heat which does not damage medicinal power." In my hometown, reed wood is commonly used for cooking fuel, so using it for decocting medicine is convenient and ensures drug quality.

Rice and Wheat Straw Fire
Zhao Xuemin said, "Wheat straw fire for cooking food/drinks treats polydipsia, dry throat, and promotes urination." "Rice straw fire for cooking food/drinks calms the spirit and benefits the six fu organs." Our family prefers wheat straw fire for treating lung dryness, dry throat, and sore throat. For throat discomfort accompanied by restless spirit, rice straw fire is used, both being beneficial. In rice-producing regions, both are easy to obtain. In the north, however, rice straw is hard to get.
I once stayed near the Summer Palace in Beijing, surrounded by rice fields, and introduced patients to use it, as it was readily available by hand.

Mulberry Wood Fire
Baopuzi said, "No medicine is effective unless decocted with mulberry. Mulberry aids medicinal power and removes wind-cold-bi pains." Li Shizhen said, "All tonifying medicines and pastes are suitable for this fire." He also said, "Mulberry wood benefits joints, nourishes fluids, and when burned, draws out toxic vapors and expels wind-cold." Although this refers to moxibustion, it serves as a reference for using mulberry wood for decocting. Under the entry for Mulberry Branch in the Wood section, it notes: "For decocting medicine using mulberry, take advantage of its ability to benefit joints and remove wind-cold-damp-bi pains. Observing *Ling Shu Jing* treating cold-bi with internal heat using cinnamon wine, and the method of heating cloth with mulberry charcoal to apply to bi areas; treating facial paralysis using horse fat method, hooking the mouth with a mulberry hook, and sitting on mulberry ash, all derive from this intent."
Our family introduces patients with throat tonsillitis accompanied by bi syndrome to use mulberry wood for decocting medicine, specifically for *Luoshi Fangfeng Yingliu Tang*, specifying mulberry wood fire. While following Li's theory, practice has proven its benefit.

Charcoal Fire
Before coal became common, heating, stewing, decocting medicine, and ironing were mostly done with wood charcoal. Li Shizhen said, "Oak charcoal fire is suitable for refining all metal/stone medicines; Chestnut charcoal fire is suitable for cooking, frying, and roasting hundred-medical pills and powders." He also said, "Oak charcoal is chosen for its strong/intense force; Chestnut charcoal for its slow/gentle force." In short, charcoal fire for decocting medicine allows for easy heat control and does not affect medicinal power, so it is advisable. Coal-fired or kerosene stove decoction is inappropriate, especially for throat condition medicines.

The above three appendices were explained by Geng Jianting and recorded by Geng Yinxun.