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Goji Berry (Lycii Fructus), sweet and bitter in taste, slightly warm in nature, non-toxic. Those from Gansu are of the best quality. It enters the Kidney and Liver meridians. It brightens the eyes and improves hearing, calms the spirit, resists cold and heat, prolongs life, replenishes essence and secures marrow, strengthens bones and sinews. It nourishes Yin without causing Yin deficiency, and often promotes Yang erection. Furthermore, it stops thirst (Xiao Ke), and especially tonifies consumptive injuries.

Digut皮的 (Lycii Cortex), which is the root of Goji Berry, has a very cold nature. It enters the Shaoyin Kidney meridian and the Hand-Shaoyang Sanjiao meridian. It resolves the steaming bone fever with sweating associated with transmissive corpse disease (consumptive infectious diseases like tuberculosis), treats wind-dampness and bi-syndrome without sweating on the exterior, removes pathogenic heat from the five zang organs, promotes urination through both large and small orifices, strengthens Yin and sinews, cools blood and bones. Although these two medicines originate from the same source, they differ in temperature (one warm, one cold) and therapeutic applications. Why? This is because Goji Berry grows by inheriting Qi of Yin and Yang. The part close to the earth obtains Yin Qi; the part close to the sky obtains Yang Qi. The part obtaining Yang Qi benefits Yang, and the part obtaining Yin Qi benefits Yin; what is there to doubt? However, Yang benefits Yin as well, while Yin does not benefit Yang. This is because Heaven can encompass Earth, but Earth cannot envelop Heaven. Therefore, Goji Berry benefits Yang while simultaneously benefiting Yin, whereas Digupi benefits Yin but cannot benefit Yang. Nevertheless, neither of these two substances serves as a Sovereign herb (Jun Yao); they act as assisting generals. Goji Berry assists Yang herbs to promote Yang, while Digupi assists Yin herbs to pacify Yin fire.

Some suspect that Goji Berry is particularly suitable for those with Yang deficiency because it can assist Yang. However, when I use a single dose of Goji Berry decocted in water, I never see Yang rise. Why? Perhaps because Goji Berry grows from Digupi, it benefits Yin rather than Yang. The response is: Promoting Yang varies by condition. For those with Yang deficiency but not severe depletion, taking Goji Berry generates Yang. The ancients said, "Traveling a thousand miles from home, do not take Goji Berry." This is precisely because such individuals have been away from sexual activity for a long time, so their Yang is not deficient. If they take Goji Berry, it will inevitably cause persistent erection without flaccidity, hence the warning. Otherwise, why warn travelers specifically instead of those at home? The intent is clear. Thus, if you take Goji Berry and Yang does not rise, it is because your Yang is extremely depleted. Goji Berry's potency is weak; how could it be effective?

Someone asks: Why does Digupi fail to treat steaming bone fever when used? The heat of steaming bone fever resides within the bone marrow, running very deep. When the heat is deep, cooling must also penetrate deeply; can light doses achieve results? It is necessary to use larger doses. People know that Digupi can reduce fever but do not know to use large amounts, so its efficacy is rarely seen. The response is: Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) also cool heat in the bones. Why discard them and advise using more Digupi? Because Digupi cannot be compared to Huangbai and Zhimu. Although Digupi enters the Kidney meridian, it does not cool the Kidney itself; it only enters the Kidney meridian to cool the bones. Cooling the Kidney necessarily drains the Kidney and damages the Stomach; cooling the bones, however, benefits the bones and generates marrow. Huangbai and Zhimu drain the Kidney and damage the Stomach, so they absolutely should not be used in large doses to seek efficacy. Digupi benefits the Kidney and generates marrow; it should not be used in small doses expecting success. To resolve symptoms of Yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity and steaming bone fever, when using Yin-nourishing herbs, add 15g to 30g of Digupi. Only then can it cool the marrow in the bones and remove heat from the Kidney.

Someone asks: Is 15g of Digupi sufficient? Adding up to 30g might be too much; perhaps it is not beneficial for those with Yin deficiency and internal heat? One does not realize that Digupi is not a severely cold herb, and its flavor is light and clear. If used in small doses, it cannot enter the bone marrow to cool the bones. Severely cold herbs may damage the Stomach, but mildly cold herbs are just enough to nourish the Stomach. When I say to use 30g, it is still an understatement. Since it benefits the Stomach, it naturally benefits Yin.