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Almond (Xingren), with a sweet and bitter taste and warm temperature, possesses the ability to ascend and descend, representing Yang within Yin. It has slight toxicity. It specifically enters the Foot-Taiyin Lung Meridian. It is a purgative agent that descends, eliminating Qi rebellion and wheezing in the chest, stopping coughs, dropping phlegm, moistening the Large Intestine, treating constipation due to Qi obstruction, expelling Bi syndrome (painful obstruction), and dissipating nodules. When ground into powder and inserted into the female vagina, it also treats itching and insect-infested ulcers. Although it shares the property of promoting Qi circulation and breaking blood stasis with Peach Kernel (Taoren), there are distinctions between them. Li Dongyuan distinguished Almond for treating Qi disorders and Peach Kernel for treating Blood disorders, which seems clear; however, he did not realize that Almond does treat Blood disorders, nor that Peach Kernel fails to treat Qi disorders. For instance, in cases of fecal impaction due to Qi obstruction, Peach Kernel can also open the blockage; in cases of Blood obstruction, Almond can also promote descent. Only when both True Yang and True Yin are severely deficient can neither substance achieve unblocking. The so-called True Yang and True Yin refer to the True Fire and True Water within the Kidney, not merely Qi and Blood. If True Fire declines, the Large Intestine becomes frozen cold, requiring Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) and Aconite Root (Fuzi) for warming. If True Water is exhausted, the Large Intestine becomes withered and dry, requiring Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudihuang) and Cornus Fruit (Shanzhuyu) for nourishment. How can the kernels of Peach and Almond provide moisture and facilitate descent? Especially when combined with Tangerine Peel (Chenpi), which disperses and consumes Qi and Blood.

One might ask: Almond promotes Qi but does not directly move Blood, yet you claim it can move Blood. Did the ancients recognize this? Alas! Does not Zhang Zhongjing’s use of Almond Decoction (Xingren Tang) demonstrate Almond’s ability to move Blood? By eliminating blood stasis within the process of promoting Qi circulation, it indeed achieves miraculous effects.

Quince (Mugua), with a sour taste and warm temperature, is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It can consolidate Qi collapse and harmonize Qi stagnation. It soothes the Stomach to nourish the Spleen, benefits the Lung to dispel Dampness, assists Gu Qi (Grain Qi), harmonizes Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, eliminates Cholera (Huoluan), stops muscle spasms (Zhuanjin), expels Hong Kong Foot (Jiaoxie, referring to Beriberi or gout-like conditions), and controls diarrhea. However, it can only serve as a Minister (Chen) or Assistant-Guide (Zuo-Shi) herb, never as a Sovereign (Jun) herb. It is a substance that enters the Liver to benefit tendons and nourishes Blood to protect vessels. It is most suitable to be administered together with Ginseng (Renshen) and Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome (Baizhu), and used concurrently with Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudihuang). Raw Quince can be used to ward off pathogenic factors.

Some doubt whether Quince can serve as a Sovereign herb, citing its miraculous efficacy in treating Cholera with muscle spasms. They fail to realize that Quince is not a Sovereign herb. In treating Cholera, Elsholtzia Herb (Xiangru) is indispensable to reverse the rebellious Qi; Quince merely assists Xiangru in restoring tendon function but cannot assist Xiangru in recovering Qi. Furthermore, without the support of Ginseng and Atractylodes, the reversed Qi cannot be rapidly smoothed by Xiangru alone. Who claims that Quince is a Sovereign herb?

One might ask: Quince promotes Qi, thus enabling it to reverse rebellious Qi. Yet there are instances where Quince fails to stabilize rebellion. Is it because Quince cannot promote Qi? I reply: Quince does promote Qi; the failure lies in improper application. Without a Sovereign herb to lead, Quince’s Qi-promoting action yields no success. This is because Quince is suitable for promoting Qi within the context of tonification, but unsuitable for promoting Qi within the context of dispersion.