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Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba), with pungent and bitter flavors, is warm in nature. It floats and ascends, belonging to Yang, and is non-toxic. It can guide blood back to the meridians, clear fire from the head and eyes, unblock blood vessels, expel pathogenic factors, resolve stasis, dispel damp-bi, break up accumulations, and dissipate sores. It is effective in treating postpartum syncope due to blood deficiency and stiffness caused by wind-stroke. However, when combined with herbs that regulate the Blood level, it helps blood return to its proper channels, preventing reckless bleeding; if combined with herbs that regulate the Qi level, it may instead cause the dispersion of Qi. Jingjie has an ascending nature, similar to Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma). While Chaihu and Shengma, when added to tonifying Qi formulas, can lift clear Yang, Jingjie cannot do so because, although it ascends, its nature is floating and unstable. Tonifying Yang herbs particularly dislike instability. When blood is stagnant, Jingjie's floating nature facilitates flow, allowing it to guide blood back to the channels. Qi is prone to dispersion; Jingjie's lack of stability would further exacerbate this. If Qi moves excessively, it disperses; thus, Jingjie should not be used in tonifying Qi formulas.

One asked: "Jingjie guides medicinal action into the meridians very quickly in the Blood level but slowly in the Qi level. This was stated by predecessors, but you have not elaborated on it. Please explain." The response was: "Jingjie is fundamentally a Yang herb, not a Yin herb. When Yang enters Yin, movement is fast; when Yang enters Yang, movement is slow. Qi belongs to Yang, and Blood belongs to Yin. Blood moves slowly, while Qi moves quickly. Jingjie appears fast in the Blood level because Blood moves slowly, making Jingjie seem fast by comparison. Jingjie appears slow in the Qi level because Qi moves quickly, making Jingjie seem slow by comparison. It is not that Jingjie moves very fast in the Blood level and exclusively slow in the Qi level."

One asked: "Does Jingjie sometimes fail to guide blood back to the meridians?" The response was: "When Jingjie is stir-fried until black, it guides blood back to the meridians; when used raw, it guides Qi back to the meridians. Guiding blood back benefits the Blood, preventing reckless movement. Guiding Qi back benefits the Qi, preventing excessive agitation. If Qi agitates excessively, Blood cannot remain calm. Therefore, Jingjie must be stir-fried until black for treatment, ensuring all actions return to the proper channels."

One asked: "Can Jingjie enter the Kidney meridian? How can Jingjie enter the Kidney?" The response was: "Although it can enter the Kidney when added to Kidney-tonifying formulas, it must be stir-fried until pure black, as the Kidney corresponds to the color black, allowing entry through similarity of color. Jingjie does not inherently need to be guided into the Kidney meridian. The Kidney is only suited for tonification, not purgation. Although the Kidney can be affected by pathogens, there are few wind-dispelling herbs suitable for the Kidney. Rather than using herbs like Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix) or Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) to attack pathogens in the Kidney, it is better to use stir-fried black Jingjie. It disperses pathogens without excessively depleting healthy Qi, which is more appropriate."