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Motherwort (Yimucao), with a pungent and sweet taste, is slightly warm in nature and non-toxic. It can be used both before and after childbirth; it is most effective for expelling dead fetuses, promoting blood circulation to remove stasis and generating new blood, and also facilitates lactation. Its name "Motherwort" implies profound benefits for women. However, without the assistance of Danggui (Angelica Sinensis), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), Renshen (Ginseng), and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), using it as a single herb cannot achieve optimal results. Predecessors stated that it causes no stagnation before childbirth and no deficiency after childbirth, meaning it has tonifying properties within its blood-moving action. Yet, Motherwort is essentially not a tonic; it can only assist tonic herbs to achieve therapeutic effects, so it should not be used in large doses. Generally, when included in various tonic prescriptions, three qian (approx. 9-10g) is the standard dose, which can be further reduced, but absolutely should not be increased beyond this.

One might ask: Since Motherwort is named for benefiting mothers, it should logically benefit postpartum women. Why do people use it before childbirth, claiming it treats postpartum conditions, and why do childless women indiscriminately take it? How does this justify the name "Motherwort"? The answer is: Motherwort actually benefits not only postpartum women. All women, whether pregnant or not, can benefit from it. This is because Motherwort treats gynecological diseases in seventy percent of cases, while treating postpartum diseases accounts for less than thirty percent. Childless women may use it in larger doses, whereas women who have given birth should use it sparingly.

Some doubt: Motherwort has been praised since ancient times, why do you alone criticize it? I say that stating Motherwort achieves results by assisting tonic herbs precisely highlights its miraculous nature. How can this be considered criticism?

Some doubt: Ancient texts claim Motherwort works effectively when used alone, yet you insist it requires tonic assistance. Why? It is unknown that using Motherwort alone yields fewer and slower results compared to using it alongside tonics.

Duanxu (Dipsacus Asperoides), with a pungent taste and slightly warm nature, is non-toxic. It excels at reconnecting bones and tendons, allowing broken parts to heal, hence its name. It also regulates blood vessels, is highly effective for treating fractures and trauma, manages blood disorders, secures essence to prevent seminal emission (including nocturnal emissions), and warms the uterus. Its tonifying effect outweighs its connecting effect, but it must not be used in large quantities. Because Duanxu is warm in nature, excessive use generates heat, leading to blazing fire. Used in small amounts, it is warm but not hot, allowing Kidney Water (Jin Shui) to gradually regenerate. This illustrates yin arising from yang. Other materia medica claim it cures breast abscesses, scrofula, intestinal wind, and hemorrhoids. Can a warm-natured herb truly cure heat-related diseases? Such claims are likely untrustworthy. [Commentary: Indeed untrustworthy.]

One asks: Duanxu connects bones and tendons; why does it fail when used alone but succeed when combined with blood-generating and blood-invigorating herbs? The answer lies in Duanxu's uniqueness. A break cannot heal unless the "dead" tissue revives. When bones and tendons break, the blood within them first dies. Duanxu can only reconnect the structural break, not regenerate the blood. When used within formulas that generate and invigorate blood, the "dead" blood is revived, and the broken bones naturally reconnect. [Commentary: Only by invigorating blood can bones be set; only by tonifying deficiency can breaks be healed. This is an indisputable principle.] Thus, there is no reason to doubt its inefficacy when used alone versus its high efficacy when combined.

Some doubt: Duanxu should not be used with tonic herbs for fear of hindering their effects. Alas! Only tonification allows for connection; without tonification, how can connection occur?

Some doubt: If Duanxu connects bones via tonification, then all tonic herbs should connect bones. The answer is: Tonification alone cannot achieve connection. Only when Duanxu connects bones within a tonifying context does tonification embody the meaning of "generation," and generation embodies the merit of "connection."