Library

[Odor and Flavor]
Bitter, neutral in nature, non-toxic. Light and clear, possessing ascending and floating properties. It is yin containing yang. Enters the Hand-Shaoyang, Foot-Shaoyang, and Hand-Yangming meridians. Also enters the Hand-Shaoyin meridian.

[Indications]
Drains exogenous heat from the Heart channel. Eliminates various types of heat in the Upper Jiao. It is regarded as the supreme medicine for treating sores and ulcers. It performs miraculous functions in treating sores, ulcers, tumors, goiters (enlargement of the thyroid gland), and tuberculous lymphadenitis. This is because its shape resembles two halves of a human heart joined together, with a kernel inside that has a very fragrant aroma. It is the principal herb governing the Qi level of the Shaoyin Heart channel and the Jueyin Pericardium/Capillary Vessels.

[Odor and Flavor]
Bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic. Heavy in texture, possessing descending properties. It is yin containing yang. Specifically governs blood-level disorders of the Lower Jiao.

[Indications]
Treats wind-intestinal bleeding (hematochezia with itching or pain). Treats profuse bloody diarrhea. Treats women's breast diseases, seven injuries (a general term for various deficiency and exhaustion syndromes), and leukorrhea. Treats purulent and bloody stools, watery diarrhea in the lower body. It should not be used lightly for white dysentery. It is frequently used in cases of heat-toxin bloody dysentery.
Incompatibilities: Avoid Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Xionghuang (Realgar), Fudansha (Cinnabaris), Liuhuang (Sulfur).

[Odor and Flavor]
Pungent, slightly cold, non-toxic. Heavy in texture, possessing descending properties. It is yin. Enters the Qi level of the Foot-Yangming, Hand-Taiyin, and Hand-Shaoyin meridians.

[Indications]
Eliminates stomach heat and lung heat. Disperses yin pathogens. Soothes the Spleen and benefits Qi. Treats Yangming channel headache, fever, and aversion to cold. Treats tidal fever occurring at dusk (Ribu Chaore). Treats extreme thirst with excessive drinking. Treats tidal fever and toothache caused by summerheat. Generally, wind pathogens tend to damage Yang, and cold pathogens tend to damage Yin. When Ying-Wei Qi and Yin-Yang are damaged by wind-cold, light dispersing agents alone cannot resolve the pathogen. It is necessary to combine light and heavy dispersing agents to jointly expel the pathogen, thereby removing the Yin-Yang pathogens and harmonizing the Ying-Wei Qi. Therefore, in Da Qinglong Tang (Major Blue Dragon Decoction), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) serves as the guiding drug; utilizing its bitter and sweet properties to dissipate heat and reach directly to the muscle layer. Furthermore, for heat in the Yangming channel manifesting as fever, aversion to cold, dryness and heat, tidal fever at dusk, intense heat in the muscles, turbid and reddish urine, extreme thirst with excessive drinking, spontaneous sweating, and headache, this indicates the pathogen is in the Yangming channel, and the Lung is constrained by fire. One must use pungent and cold herbs to clear Lung heat; Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) used by Zhang Zhongjing is the representative formula. If the aforementioned symptoms are absent, but fever resembling Baihu Tang syndrome appears, it is mostly due to blood-deficiency fever or physical manifestations of Spleen-Stomach deficiency and exhaustion. At the initial stage of these conditions, the presentation may also resemble the aforementioned symptoms, but Baihu Tang should not be taken. If misused without proper differentiation, the consequences are beyond rescue. Excessive consumption of Baihu Tang before Lixia (Start of Summer) causes urinary incontinence. This is because the descending action is too strong, preventing Yangming fluids from being transported upward to the Lung, causing the clear Qi of the Lung to descend as well. Generally speaking, if there is no extreme heat in the abdomen, Shigao should not be used lightly. Indiscriminate use leads to cold Stomach and loss of appetite.