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Di Li Fen (Dioscorea esculenta powder), also known as Di Lu (Water Chestnut) or Wu Yu, is prepared by slicing the rhizome and drying it for medicinal use. It is most effective in resolving masses and accumulations; when used in combination with Bie Jia (Tartar Testudinis), its efficacy is optimal, without depleting the body's True Qi (Zhen Qi). Contemporary practitioners are largely unaware of this, which is why I have brought it to light. There are cultivated and wild varieties of Di Lu; for medicinal purposes, the wild variety is preferred. However, if wild ones are unavailable, select the best cultivated specimens, slice them, and dry them with the skin on. This not only resolves masses and accumulations but also dispels miasma (Zhang Qi).

One might ask: People in the Wu and Yue regions enjoy eating Water Chestnuts, yet they suffer from masses and accumulations more than others. Does this not suggest that Water Chestnut is not a drug for attacking and resolving? Furthermore, its sweet taste suggests it should possess tonifying properties. The truth is that when used alone, Water Chestnut consumes Kidney Qi, offering draining action without tonification. However, when administered together with Bie Jia (Tartar Testudinis), Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), and Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus), it can strengthen the Spleen, remove accumulations, and achieve both tonification and attack. Therefore, consuming it alone yields no benefit, whereas using it in combination proves advantageous.

Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) has a bitter flavor and a slightly cold nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Heart and Spleen meridians. It specializes in regulating the collaterals, relieving soreness and pain in bones and tendons, generating new blood, eliminating stasis, expelling dead fetus, stabilizing living fetus, breaking up accumulations and hard masses, stopping metrorrhagia and leukorrhea. It strengthens weak legs affected by bi-syndrome and reduces redness and swelling of the eyes. It repels malevolent spirits, nourishes righteousness while dispelling evil, and is effective in treating borborygmus. It serves only as an assistant (Zuo Shi) herb, not as a sovereign or minister herb. Depending on how it is used, it can tonify or attack; it is an indispensable item in the medicine cabinet. Its efficacy is particularly prominent before and after childbirth: generally, the dosage may be increased prenatally, while it should be used sparingly postnatally to ensure success and minimize failure.

One might ask: Dan Shen is commonly used by everyone, and you praise it highly; I fear it causes considerable damage to the Stomach and Spleen. Why does your view change mine so profoundly? Although I praise Dan Shen, I first stated it serves only as an assistant herb, and secondly warned that excessive use postpartum leads to failure. Is this not a cautionary statement? Using it when appropriate is not teaching people to use it when inappropriate.

Bai Wei (Cynanchi Atrati Radix) has a bitter and salty flavor, and a neutral to very cold nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Heart and Spleen meridians. It primarily treats wind-stroke with fever and abdominal fullness, and mental confusion or loss of consciousness. It manages warm malaria characterized by alternating chills and fever, body aches, and periodic attacks. It drives away madness and malevolent influences, and removes symptoms of internal injury with dribbling discharge. It promotes the flow of Qi, benefits Essence, promotes urination, and leaches out dampness. This is an essential assistant herb, not a sovereign or minister herb. When used, it must be combined with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Fu Ling (Poria), Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), and Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma) to be effective. However, the dosage should not exceed two qian, as its extreme cold nature damages the Stomach.

One might ask: Bai Wei dispels evil and calms the spirit, benefiting righteous Qi; what harm is there in using it in large doses? Pathogenic diseases often involve heat; Bai Wei uses its cold nature to resolve heat and dispel evil, rather than tonifying righteousness and eliminating evil. As a substance of extreme cold, excessive use damages the Stomach, hence the warning.

One might ask: Are these the only functions of Bai Wei? Bai Wei’s functions extend beyond this; notably, it is excellent at killing parasites. When incorporated into formulas that nourish Yin, it kills the worms of tuberculosis (Lao Zhai). When included in formulas that strengthen the Spleen and open the appetite, it kills tapeworms (Cun Bai Hui Chong). Burning it repels flies and eliminates lice; applying it with wine cures scabies and promotes the healing of sores.