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Curculiginis Rhizoma (Xian Mao), pungent in flavor, warm in nature, toxic. Enters the Kidney meridian. Treats cold qi in the heart and abdomen; cures spasmodic bi-syndrome of the waist and knees, rendering walking impossible; treats deficiency and exhaustion injuries in men; treats urinary incontinence in the elderly; aids conception for those without offspring; nourishes the skin and muscles; brightens the ears and eyes; assists the Dao of Yang; enhances spirit; long-term use promotes spiritual clarity and strong memory. Those poisoned by Curculiginis Rhizoma can be detoxified by holding a slice of Rheum Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang, 大黄) in the mouth; excessive use of Rheum is unnecessary. This herb is currently most favored by people because the *Bencao* records its ability to assist Yang. However, it completely fails to arouse Yang. Presumably, because Curculiginis Rhizoma is warm and enters the Kidney, and can dispel Yin-cold qi to stop urinary incontinence in the elderly; if it did not assist Yang, how could it achieve this? Your claim that it entirely fails to arouse Yang stems from the fact that the nature of Curculiginis Rhizoma is radically different from that of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi, 附子) and Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui, 肉桂). Although Curculiginis Rhizoma is warm, it lacks an ascending and expansive Qi; it excels at consolidating Essence but is deficient in stirring Fire. Consolidating Essence means Essence does not easily leak; stopping urinary incontinence means Qi does not scatter outward. Thus, those without offspring naturally acquire offspring, not because it arouses Yang and fights well, but to enable reproduction. I have clarified this reason so that those wishing to consolidate their Essence may use it to firmly guard their Jing. For those with exhausted Yuan-Yang, impotence, and failure to erect, one must not be confused by the theory of assisting Yang and mistakenly use Curculiginis Rhizoma, then blame the drug for ineffectiveness.

Someone asked: "Curculiginis Rhizoma consolidates Essence but does not arouse Yang; this theory is novel, yet your discussion is very detailed. Did you verify this through trial?" I replied: "I am discussing its properties; why must there be trial? Yet I have indeed tried it myself. My Yang was not particularly weak normally. After taking Curculiginis Rhizoma for half a year, my condition remained exactly as before. I failed to grasp its meaning until Teacher Qi guided me, whereupon I felt enlightened and ashamed. That Curculiginis Rhizoma consolidates Essence without arousing Yang is verified by personal experience; these are words of experience, not speculation."

Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi, 附子), pungent in flavor, warm and extremely hot in nature, floating, Yang within Yang, highly toxic. The large ones are called Tianxiong, the small ones Chuanwu. Tianxiong is too hot and should not be used; Chuanwu's heat is inferior, making it less suitable than Fuzi. Processing method: For each piece, use 5 qian of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草), boil in one bowl of water, soak the Fuzi thoroughly. There is no need to remove the skin, umbilicus, or tip; using the whole piece is best. Select Gancao, the most benevolent herb, to restrain the non-benevolent (toxicity) of Fuzi. Fuzi penetrates all meridians, moves freely without staying put, and can only serve as a minister or envoy herb, assisting other drugs to circulate through all meridians, breaking through barriers like cutting gates and seizing doors, but cannot be relied upon for calming and sedating. It removes cold limbs and reversal cold, dispels Yin-cold in the five Zang organs, warms the feet and knees while strengthening sinews and bones, warms the Spleen and Stomach while unblocking the waist and Kidneys. It is truly a miraculous elixir for saving lives and a fairy medicine for restoring youth. Used correctly, one can instantly regain life; used incorrectly, death can occur in a moment. Fearing it and daring not to use it, leading to hesitation and observation, inevitably results in the sorrow of missed rescue; despising it and daring to use it rashly leads to the sigh of mistaken killing. The key lies in distinguishing cold, heat, Yin, and Yang, and using it cautiously. Fuzi is a Yang drug; treating Yin with Yang is most appropriate, while treating Yang with Yang is naturally repulsive. Yang governs heat, Yin governs cold, like ice and charcoal, how could errors arise? Only when Yang resembles Yin, and Yin resembles Yang, deceiving reality with falsehood, do deaths often occur, more tragic than knife wounds. I now distinguish the differences between Yin/Yang and cold/heat, so that users of Fuzi may save lives and no longer kill by mistake.

Yin-Heat syndrome is caused by depletion of Kidney Water, causing the Fire guarding the Kidney to fail to settle in the Kidney palace, rushing up to the throat and teeth. The tongue coating will necessarily be slippery. Logically, one should greatly tonify True Yin Water; when Water is abundant, Fire returns. However, merely tonifying Water, although Fire slightly declines, cannot drop suddenly in an instant. Use a small amount of Fuzi, combined with Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui, 肉桂) into Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), taken in large doses cold. Upon swallowing, Fire dissipates immediately, returning to the lower Kidney, and heat in the Upper Jiao transforms into coolness. This is the secret method of using Fuzi to treat Yin-Heat.

Yang-Heat syndrome is caused by excess Heart Fire transferring to the Stomach, manifesting as madness and loud shouting, or loss of spirit with delirious speech. Hands and feet may appear cold, and macules often appear on the chest and diaphragm. There is extreme thirst calling for water, and the tongue coating may be red, yellow, or gray-black, necessarily dry, rough, and cracked like silk patterns. Logically, one should not follow the counter-treatment method but directly use Sanhuang Shigao Tang (Three-Yellow Gypsum Decoction) to clear Fire. If Fire is drained and Kidney Water is not dried, one can avoid the disaster of Yang collapse. However, if Fire is excessively vigorous, using extremely cold herbs may cause rejection (geju). It is better to add one piece of Fuzi, increasing the dose slightly, into Sanhuang Shigao Tang. Using Fire to follow Fire guides the bitter-cold herbs downward without opposition. Once the hot nature passes and the cold nature emerges, Fire pathogenic factors are drained instantly. This is the secret method of using Fuzi to treat Yang-Heat.

Yin-Cold disease occurs when Cold pathogenic factors strike directly into the Kidney meridian, which is an acute stage of Shanghan (Cold Damage). When the Kidney receives Cold pathogenic factors, the Fire of the Gate of Vitality cannot hide and attempts to escape the body shell. Cold chases victoriously; invading the Spleen causes abdominal pain, invading the Liver causes hypochondriac pain, invading the Heart causes heart pain. Hands and feet may turn blue; sinews and bones may contract. Vomiting or diarrhea may occur. In severe cases, the body turns blue and the scrotum retracts. Life and death hang in the balance of turning a palm over; this is truly a critical moment of survival or extinction. Examining the tongue reveals a slippery coating. Urgently use 2-3 qian of Fuzi, 5-6 qian or 1-2 liang of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), 1-2 liang of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu, 白术), and 2 qian of Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang, 干姜), decocted together and taken orally. Upon swallowing, Yang returns and Cold disperses. This is the method of using Fuzi for Yin-Cold.

Yang-Cold disease arises from chronic damage to Spleen and Stomach Qi, failing to nourish and defend the body, so that Wind-Cold invasion causes fever and aversion to cold. The patient prefers lying down and dislikes speaking, prefers quiet and dislikes disturbance. They retain taste for food. Although the body is hot, mental clarity remains high. The pulse is necessarily fine and minute, and Qi is very timid. This indicates insufficient Yang allowing pathogenic factors to invade. The tongue, though dry, is necessarily slippery. Urgently treat with Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) plus 1 qian of Fuzi. When Righteous Qi is sufficient, pathogenic factors disperse naturally. "Sweet and warm eliminates great heat"—does this not refer to this? This is the method of using Fuzi for Yang-Cold. Understanding these four treatments allows for analogical reasoning, ensuring no misuse.

Someone asked: "Fuzi is toxic. When used correctly, it can restore Yang in one dose. Is it true that toxic drugs work this way?" The wonder of Fuzi lies precisely in its toxicity. Breaking through gates and seizing doors, without relying on its fierce toxic vapor, how can it dispel the toxicity of Yin-Cold? The hottest thing in the world is Yang-Toxin; the coldest is Yin-Toxin. Humans infected with Yin-Cold qi often die with blue-black hands, feet, and body, indicating deep infection with Yin-Toxin. Yin-Toxin cannot be dispelled without Yang-Toxin, and Yang-Toxin is ineffective unless handled by Fuzi. Treating toxin with toxin leaves no residue; thus, once Cold is dispelled, Yang returns. Fuzi uses its toxicity to dispel toxicity, not non-toxicity to treat toxicity.

Someone asked: "When Fuzi is added to Sansheng Yin (Three-Life Decoction) to save critical stroke patients, why must it be used raw?" This contains profound meaning. Stroke is not Wind; it is Qi deficiency with Phlegm blocking the Heart, causing sudden collapse resembling being blown down by wind. If treated as Wind disease, nine out of ten will die. One must use Ginseng as the Sovereign herb, Fuzi as the Assistant herb, plus raw Arisaema Cum Bile (Sheng Nananxing, 生南星), raw Pinelliae Rhizoma (Sheng Banxia, 生半夏), and fresh Zingiberis Rhizoma (Sheng Jiang, 生姜), to open the Heart orifices and expel Phlegm, bringing the dying back to life. People attribute this to Ginseng. Without Fuzi, how could turbidity be pushed away and stability restored? However, using processed Fuzi at this time might lack divine efficacy, often suffering from slowness failing to meet emergencies. Raw usage is necessary to take advantage of its lack of restraint, allowing it to break through barriers and突围 (break out), defeating strong enemies instantly. Drugs achieving success through 'domineering Qi' are of this type.

Someone asked: "Canfu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction) treats direct invasion of Yin-Cold and saves critical conditions, yet why is raw Fuzi not used?" Processed Fuzi treats direct invasion of Yin-Cold to restore Yang. Yin-Cold enters the ultimate Yin Kidney, driving the Fire of the Gate of Vitality out, preventing it from returning to the palace. True Fire escapes, and Yin-Cold drives it further. Yuan-Yang has almost nowhere to hide. At this moment, if large amounts of Ginseng are not used, Yuan-Yang will fly out of the body shell. However, using only Ginseng without Fuzi means Yin-Cold is overwhelmingly strong, and Ginseng cannot enter the abdomen directly to generate Yuan-Yang in the void. Since Fuzi is used, its fierce nature must be restrained; otherwise, it will chase Yin-Cold relentlessly, possibly driving off Heat but leaving Yuan-Yang with no return path, causing sudden Qi collapse. Therefore, processed Fuzi must be used together with Ginseng. It can drive Yin-Cold outward and guide Yuan-Yang inward, gaining the benefits of Fuzi while removing its harms—great courage achieving great benevolence.

Someone asked: "Fuzi is a Yang drug, suited for removal with Yang drugs. Why is it biasedly used in Yin drugs for tonification?" Fuzi is a highly hot substance. When entered into Yang drugs, it saves urgent situations; when entered into Yin drugs, it treats chronic stagnation. For Yang deficiency syndromes, Yang drugs should be used to save them, so Fuzi can be used in larger amounts to achieve surprise effects. For Yin deficiency diseases, Yang drugs should be used to nourish (support Yin), so Fuzi can be used in small amounts to aid victory. Yang gains speed with Yin; Yin gains effect slowly with Yang. Each has its subtle utility.

Some doubt the efficacy of Fuzi, asking why it sometimes succeeds with small doses? Urgent conditions require large doses; chronic conditions require small doses. This is the rule for using Fuzi. However, ancients succeeded with just one piece of Fuzi, not relying on its barrier-breaking power. Perhaps Fuzi penetrates all meridians; obtaining its Qi without needing its Flavor, entering meridians without staying in Zang organs, it can tonify Qi to generate Qi, assist Blood to generate Blood, avoiding increased Fire and Heat, instead achieving the effect of strengthening Earth and regulating the Stomach.

Someone asked: "Why must Fuzi rely on Ginseng to succeed? Can't other drugs control it?" Ginseng with Fuzi advances forward, breaking everything; Fuzi with Ginseng achieves success without damaging blood vessels. Other drugs can certainly be combined. However, the combination of Ginseng and Fuzi is truly like milk and water blending perfectly.

Someone asked: "Miao Zhongchun discusses the harms of Fuzi. Are his words acceptable?" Alas. Miao's heart is benevolent, but his argument is not fully sound. He states that for exterior Cold due to Spleen Yin deficiency, causing loss of appetite, preference for cold drinks and fresh fruits, blood-deficiency abdominal pain relieved by pressure, Fire flaring causing nausea, dry Huoluan, severe malaria with alternating chills and fever, elderly essence exhaustion, impotence, young men injuring essence through lust, insecure Yin Essence, seminal emission, nasal discharge, women with blood dryness and infertility, amenorrhea due to blood dryness, Kidney deficiency with dribbling urine, chaotic dreams, heavy gait, Bi-syndrome, stroke with rigidity and silence, facial deviation, slurred speech, hemiplegia, excessive phlegm and coma in stroke, and un-ulcerated Yin-type carbuncles—these 31 syndromes all require Fuzi. Ten parts tonifying Yin, three parts tonifying Yang, to save lives. Miao universally warns against using it. Quack doctors are rigid and inflexible, firmly believing not to use Fuzi to restore Yang. How then can they generate Yin to prolong life? Although Miao is overly cautious, rather than using indiscriminately and killing instantly, it is better to use it frequently and let nature take its course. However, if the disease is curable, neglecting it due to carelessness and missing the rescue, letting the patient sit and die, is also a fault of the physician. Chen Shiduo therefore extracts from Miao's 72 contraindicated syndromes those suitable for Fuzi, highlighting them to extend patients' lives, rather than sitting idly watching them die.

Someone asked: "Miao's excessive caution may well be a way to preserve life. By extracting what he forbids, if you cause death by mistake, is the fault not yours?" Alas! What Miao cautions against is precisely what need not be cautioned against. Not only need not be cautioned, but actually must not be cautioned. Being cautious where caution is needed, and being cautious where caution is not needed, is not the doctrine of the Mean.