Library

Xia Kugu Cao (Prunella vulgaris), with a bitter taste and warm temperature. The assertion that it is cold is erroneous. It enters the Lung, Spleen, and Heart meridians. It specializes in dissipating phlegm nodules and scrofula (lymphatic tuberculosis), and particularly unblocks Heart Qi, dispelling fire from the head and eyes, and reducing stagnation in the chest and diaphragm. People discard it and do not value it; who knows that it is an essential item in the medicine cabinet? When Lung Qi is obstructed by pathogenic factors, its clear descending function fails to operate, causing phlegm to knot between the chest and diaphragm without dispersing. If Xia Kugu Cao were used early on, decocted and taken with Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Powder), how could phlegm nodules arise? When Heart Fire flares upward, it causes swelling and pain in the head and eyes, while phlegm knots in the chest and diaphragm forming stagnation. If Xia Kugu Cao were used early on, combined with Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Lian Zi (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthis Radix), how could headache and eye swelling occur? This is because Xia Kugu Cao directly enters the Heart meridian to unblock its Qi, allowing Huang Qin, Lian Zi, and Tian Hua Fen to resolve the flaming-upward fire. Especially wonderful is that once Heart Fire is pacified, it guides the fire downward to generate Spleen Earth, thereby strengthening Spleen Qi and further eliminating phlegm; from where would scrofula arise? Ben Cao (Compendium of Materia Medica) only states that it breaks hardness of masses, eliminates alternating chills and fever, and expels damp bi-syndrome; this has not yet deeply understood Xia Kugu Cao.

One asks: Xia Kugu Cao, contemporary people also know to use it, but cannot put it into decoctions. Now wishing to use it, one does not know what the appropriate dosage should be?
Xia Kugu Cao is a Yin herb; Yin herbs should be used in large doses to achieve unexpected results, and should not be used in small doses waiting for changes.

Bai Bu (Stemonae Radix), with sweet and bitter tastes, slightly warm yet cold in nature, non-toxic. It specifically enters the Lung meridian, and also enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It stops cough and rebellious Qi due to Lung heat, treats bone-steaming associated with transmissive consumption (tuberculosis), and kills Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Washing clothes with it removes lice; boiling water to wash cattle and horses prevents lice from growing; burning it to smoke trees kills wood-boring insects; burning its ashes in households drives away midges and flies. This substance kills insects without depleting Qi and Blood, which is particularly beneficial to humans. However, its power is very slight, so using more is acceptable, but it is best used together with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma). Generally, start with one qian of Bai Bu, usable up to three or four qian, which benefits Lung, Stomach, and Spleen Qi while killing insects. If consumptive disease involves transmissive worms, it is excellent to combine it with Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex), Sha Shen (Adenophorae Radix seu Glehniae Radix), Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex), Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), and Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma).

One asks: Insect-killing medicines invariably deplete Qi and Blood, why is Bai Bu unique? Originally, Bai Bu is not a tonic; if not tonifying, it attacks. However, Bai Bu is not an attacking medicine, but a harmonizing medicine. Its nature also kills insects; it can enter inside the insects, and the insects do not know it can kill them. Insect-killing medicines must fight against the insects; Bai Bu not only does not fight, but makes the insects forget they are being killed, so how could there be depletion of Qi and Blood?
One doubts: How can insect-killing allow the insects to remain unaware? Because Bai Bu has a sweet taste, and the nature of insects likes sweetness. By catering to their preferences, they foolishly crave the sweet taste leading to their death. Thus, they eat without knowing. Only after consuming Bai Bu do the insects' intestines and stomachs turn into water; wanting to cause trouble but unable to, they die without knowing how they died.