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Ecliptae Herba (Hanliancao, 旱莲草), also known as Li Chang. It tastes sweet and sour, has a neutral nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin. It can darken beard and hair, stop bloody dysentery, and treat fire-toxin sores. Although it can darken beard and hair, if not administered simultaneously with Kidney-tonifying herbs, rapid efficacy is rarely observed. When decocted into a paste for dyeing beard and hair, it must be combined with Galla Chinensis (Beizi, 倍子) and Alum (Mingfan, 明矾) to achieve optimal results. People often desire to turn white hair black but do not know the correct method, hence no wonder they see no effect. Premature whitening of beard and hair, although caused by dryness of Kidney Water, is also due to emptiness of the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) and Du Mai (Governing Vessel). The Ren Mai and Du Mai connect upwards to the area between the lips and mouth, and downwards into the interior of the waist and umbilicus. In cases where there is Kidney deficiency but the Ren Mai and Du Mai are not yet empty, elderly people may have white hair but black beards. In middle-aged individuals whose hair has not yet turned white but whose beards turn white first, this indicates emptiness of the Ren Mai and Du Mai. To make already white beard and hair turn black again, one must tonify the Ren Mai and Du Mai, and additionally tonify the Kidney. However, there are few herbs specifically for tonifying the Ren Mai and Du Mai; therefore, it is still appropriate to tonify the Kidney to generate Qi in the Ren Mai and Du Mai. Since the Ren Mai and Du Mai originally connect with the Kidney, tonifying the Kidney causes Qi in the Ren Mai and Du Mai to arise naturally. Ecliptae Herba can only enter the Kidney Meridian and cannot enter the Ren Mai and Du Mai; how then can it reach upwards to the lips and mouth? Thus, it must be administered together with Kidney-tonifying herbs to be effective.

Some doubt that because Ecliptae Herba enters the Kidney, it can change hair color. Now, since it cannot enter the Ren Mai and Du Mai, how can it change hair color? Nevertheless, herbs for changing hair color still rely primarily on Ecliptae Herba. The statement that it enters the Kidney is correct; the statement that it enters the Ren Mai and Du Mai is incorrect. You ask why it enters the Kidney but not the Ren Mai and Du Mai? The fact that Ecliptae Herba does not unblock the Ren Mai and Du Mai is not a personal opinion; I truly heard this instruction from Heavenly Master Qi. He stated that Ecliptae Herba has a cold nature, whereas the Ren Mai and Du Mai prefer warmth and dislike cold. Therefore, it can reduce Fire in the Kidney to resolve its scorched and dried state, but it cannot warm the essence of the Ren Mai and Du Mai to nourish their moisture.

Junci Medulla (Dengxincao, 灯心草) tastes pungent and sweet, has a cold nature, and is non-toxic. It enters the Heart Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, Small Intestine Meridian of Hand-Taiyang, and Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang. It unblocks the Yin orifices, promotes urination, eliminates strangury resulting from urinary retention (Longbi), and dissipates edema caused by water-dampness stagnation. This substance is used primarily as a guiding herb (Yin Jing Yao) rather than as an assistant or envoy herb.

Someone asks: "Since Dengxincao can clear Heart Heat, why do you not mention this?" Dengxincao can unblock the Heart Meridian and guide heat into the Small Intestine Meridian. The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interiorly related. Once the water pathways are unblocked, there is no suffering from urinary obstruction. Since the Small Intestine is unblocked and free-flowing, the Heat in the Heart follows downward, entering the Bladder, and exits through the anterior yin. In reality, Junci Medulla cannot directly clear Heat from the Heart.