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Tenth Discourse on Damp Agents. Master Qibo said: "Dampness can remove dryness." Dampness and dryness are mutually suitable; using dampness to moisten dryness. However, dryness differs in whether it is in the Qi level, Blood level, Zang organs, or Fu organs; it also differs in being internal, external, chronic (long-standing), or recent. One cannot apply a uniform method. For dryness in the Qi level, pungent substances are used to moisten it; for dryness in the Blood level, sweet substances are used to moisten it; for dryness in the Zang organs, salty substances are used to moisten it; for dryness in the Fu organs, cool substances are used to moisten it. For internal dryness, cold substances are used to moisten it; for external dryness, bitter substances are used to moisten it; for chronic dryness, warm substances are used to moisten it; for recent dryness, sour substances are used to moisten it. Since dryness varies, by examining deficiency and excess before applying dampening methods, there will be no unsuitability.

Someone asked: "The discussion of dryness syndromes has long been neglected. Fortunately, you have elucidated the principles of dryness syndromes, supplementing the theory of the Six Qi (Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire). You also promote damp agents to treat dryness syndromes generally. Do the various dampening methods corresponding to Qi, Blood, Zang, Fu, internal, external, chronic, and recent conditions suffice to cover all methods for treating dryness?" Alas! When discussing dryness syndromes, even a hundred prescriptions may not suffice to treat the common cases; when discussing damp agent formulas, if only the Eight Methods are employed, they are sufficient to exhaust their variations. One must not see that our prescriptions for dryness are numerous and thereby suspect that our methods for damp agents are few.

Someone doubted: "Damp agents treat dryness, but dryness syndromes are actually numerous. If one adheres rigidly to damp agents to treat dryness without flexibility, I fear that while the previous dryness is not resolved, subsequent dryness will arrive even more severely." The reply was: "Flexibility lies in the mind; how can words fully express it? I expound the meaning of damp agents, which are roughly encompassed by the Eight Methods, but how can flexibility be fully exhausted? It depends on the physician's ability to comprehend well when facing clinical cases."

Someone doubted: "Since damp agents are few, if people can flexibly adapt, the few can become many. However, those who can comprehend are extremely rare. Why do you not list more damp agents to show the world?" Alas! Famous physicians of past dynasties mostly did not clarify dryness syndromes, hence later generations rarely heard of them. I, Chen Shiduo, received the transmission from Master Qi Tian Shi and Zhang Zhongjing. The *Neijing* (Inner Canon) has already supplemented the principles of dryness, and the section on *Six Qi* has thoroughly discussed dryness texts. It seems unnecessary to heavily reiterate dryness syndromes in this *Bencao* (Materia Medica). However, with my Eight Methods guiding damp agents, treating dryness is more than sufficient; why is it necessary to list many damp agent methods? (Commentary: One must refer to the books *Neijing* and *Six Qi*, then treating dryness will be more than sufficient.)

If the above Ten Agents are clearly understood in the mind, naturally the application under the fingers will be direct and straightforward. Then, by carefully reading the newly annotated *Bencao*, comprehending the meridians and adapting to circumstances, one can attain spiritual efficacy; by adhering to constants and knowing changes, one can reach the sagehood. In that case, what dead person could not be reborn, and what critical patient could not be restored to health?