Library

Radix Corydalis (Yanhusuo), with acrid and bitter flavors, warm in nature, and non-toxic. Enters the Lung and Spleen meridians, and also the Foot Jueyin Liver meridian. It regulates menstrual Qi stagnation and blood coagulation, stops postpartum blood vertigo, treats traumatic injuries, lower bleeding such as metrorrhagia and stranguria, sudden pain in the heart and abdomen, and distending pain in the small intestine; it can primarily treat all these conditions. As an assistant or guide herb within formulas for Qi and Blood, it may be used occasionally to show its strengths. For postpartum cases, it should also be used sparingly; this is not to say that because it is used within tonifying Qi or tonifying Blood formulas, it can be used freely in large doses.

Someone asked: Radix Corydalis is suitable for women, yet you say it should be used with caution. Why? Radix Corydalis is a herb that breaks Qi and breaks Blood. If there is no Qi stagnation and no Blood stasis, can using it ensure safety without harm? When used within tonifying Blood or tonifying Qi formulas, tonifying Blood cannot rescue the injury caused by breaking Blood, and tonifying Qi cannot rescue the damage caused by breaking Qi. Moreover, if there are no tonifying agents at all, how great would the damage be?

Curcumae Rhizoma (Yujin), with a bitter flavor and cold nature, is purely Yin in character. Non-toxic. Enters the Heart, Lung, and Liver meridians. It is an essential herb for treating blood disorders. It can also open up depression and unblock stagnant Qi, thus it is needed for treating depression (Yu Zheng), however, it should never be used lightly. Because its flavor and nature are cold and cooling, it damages the vital Qi of the Stomach; the depression may not be opened, but the Stomach Qi becomes weak first, which greatly deviates from the way of health preservation. Regarding breaking blood, stopping blood, and hemostasis, these are temporary expedient uses; once the disease is gone, one should stop, and one should not rely on it as a daily household medicine.

Someone asked: Curcumae Rhizoma resolves depression, so naturally it is not suitable for frequent use. But when added to tonifying formulas, can it be taken regularly? Curcumae Rhizoma's ability to resolve depression relies entirely on tonifying agents; without tonifying agents, the depression cannot be opened, and too much tonification causes the depression to become closed instead. Therefore, Curcumae Rhizoma can be used temporarily within tonification, but cannot be used long-term within tonification.

Someone asked: The "Collected Works of Fan Shihu" states: In Lingnan, there is harm from "cai sheng" (harvesting life/vitality), where through sorcery in food and drink, raw meat and fish enter the belly alive and cause death by bloating; Curcumae Rhizoma can detoxify and save lives. Is this true? This is a deceptive statement by Li Xuyan, the Attendant, and is not credible. "Cai sheng" refers to Gu poison (voodoo/gu). Curcumae Rhizoma is not a detoxifying herb, so how can it eliminate it?

Someone asked: Curcumae Rhizoma is an essential herb for treating blood disorders, yet Zhu Danxi has a saying that "treating blood [with it] leads to error." Why? Curcumae Rhizoma is a Qi-moving herb that enters the Blood aspect. Its treatment of various blood disorders is precisely because the upward movement of blood belongs to internal fire blazing. Curcumae Rhizoma can descend Qi, and thus the fire descends naturally. Furthermore, since its nature enters the Blood aspect, it can descend the fire qi, causing the blood to remain calm in the vessels and not move recklessly. Zhu Danxi's discussion applies only to cases of true Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, leading to hematemesis or hemoptysis, which are unrelated to rebellious Qi; in such cases, it should be contraindicated.