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Cnidium Fruit (Shechuangzi), with a bitter and acrid taste, neutral qi nature, and non-toxic. It treats swelling, pain, and itching of the vaginal orifice; warms the uterus; cures dampness and itching of the male scrotum; promotes firm erection of the penis; consolidates excessive genital sweating; eliminates epilepsy; soothes sores and ulcers; benefits joint mobility; primarily addresses pain in the lower back, knees, and hips; dispels numbness and stiffness in the hands and feet; treats postpartum uterine prolapse that fails to retract; and addresses female infertility. Long-term consumption is particularly suitable, yielding remarkable efficacy. It can be applied both internally and externally, with external application being especially effective. When preparing pills and powders, combining it with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata (Shudi), and Corni Fructus (Shanzhuyu) is truly beneficial. However, it is suitable only for individuals with Yin-cold and absence of fire. For those with Yin-deficiency and hyperactive fire, its use is inappropriate.

Someone asked: "External application of Cnidium Fruit is indeed excellent, but internal treatment may not match the external." In fact, there is no difference in efficacy between internal and external treatments using Cnidium Fruit. Regarding its internal therapeutic effects, for impotence and failure to erect, one may use 30g of Cnidium Fruit and 30g of Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shudi), decocted together. The erectile function immediately improves, allowing for sustained performance, significantly differing from the usual state. Is this not proof of its superior internal efficacy? When formulated into pills and powders, it provides lasting strength. Thus, using Cnidium Fruit in both decoction and pill forms yields excellent results. One cannot claim that while external application is good, internal application is poor.

Someone asked: "Besides Prepared Rehmannia Root, what other herbs are best combined with Cnidium Fruit?" The answer is: Combining Cnidium Fruit with Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), each at 30g, produces a miraculous effect in promoting yang, surpassing the use of Prepared Rehmannia Root. By extension, Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui) can be combined; Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu) can be combined; Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong) can be combined; and Cuscutae Semen (Tusizi) can be combined. Whether to strengthen the spleen, calm the mind, or nourish blood depends on how skillfully the practitioner utilizes them. How could there be no room for extraordinary efficacy?

Some suspect that Cnidium Fruit is an herb for external use only and question whether claiming internal efficacy is reckless, fearing liability if it leads to fatal errors. The response is: Cnidium Fruit is indeed suitable for internal treatment. The world restricts it to external use, thereby obscuring its internal therapeutic merits. I highlight its uniqueness not out of a desire for novelty, but to clarify its true value.

Gentianae Radix (Longdancao), with a bitter and astringent taste and cold qi nature, belongs to Yin and is non-toxic. Its primary function is to promote urination and eliminate dampness, and to treat jaundice. Claims regarding its ability to treat eye diseases, stop dysentery, reduce fever, and resolve swelling are merely extended applications. However, this herb is overly draining and diuretic, inevitably consuming Qi and damaging Blood. As water leaves, Blood also leaves; as dampness dissipates, Qi also dissipates. For early-stage damp-heat jaundice, its urgent use is necessary. For chronic damp-heat jaundice, however, its use must be cautious. It should not be relied upon entirely as a divine elixir for diuresis or a spiritual medicine for eliminating dampness and bi-syndrome.

It is said that Gentianae Radix is particularly effective for damp-heat. Since jaundice is a disease of damp-heat, why does Gentianae Radix often fail to cure jaundice? Jaundice is not solely caused by damp-heat; there are cases of yellow disease without heat. While Gentianae Radix clears damp-heat, it cannot clear dampness that is not accompanied by heat.

Some doubt that although Gentianae Radix is a key herb for clearing damp-heat due to its bitter-cold nature, and that treating jaundice requires its use, excessive consumption damages the Stomach. If jaundice is not fully resolved, the Yuan Qi (Primary Qi) may already be depleted. The response is: Treating damp-heat differs greatly from treating deficient fire. Damp-heat involves heat binding in the Bladder, whereas deficient fire involves fire flaring in the Kidney. If heat binds in the Bladder, without the bitter-cold action of Gentianae Radix, the bladder heat cannot drain downward. If dampness flows to the limbs and fire flares in the Kidney, using the bitter-cold properties of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Zhimu) and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) prevents kidney fire from descending, causing cold to remain in the Spleen and Stomach. I criticize the misuse of Huangbai and Zhimu. For any strongly cold herb, regardless of its therapeutic benefit, I advise against its use. Would this not be like stopping eating because of choking? Therefore, for treating jaundice, I teach people to use Gentianae Radix urgently, not slowly.

Someone asks: "Why is Gentianae Radix effective for some jaundice cases but ineffective for others? You stated it treats damp-heat jaundice specifically. Even when the case is clearly damp-heat, it sometimes fails. I do not understand why." The distinction between damp and heat has long been recognized. When damp-heat enters the Liver, the heat is easily dispersed. When damp-heat enters the Gallbladder, the dampness is difficult to eliminate. Generally, damp-heat pathogens exit through the Bladder. The Gallbladder governs infiltration rather than excretion. The Bladder can only drain dampness that has already exited the Gallbladder, not the damp-heat that has entered it. Therefore, efficacy is seen quickly when the pathogen is in the Liver, but outcomes are difficult to achieve when it is in the Gallbladder.

Someone asks: "If Gentianae Radix cannot drain damp-heat from the Gallbladder, what herb should be used to achieve success?" The answer is: To drain damp-heat, I have never seen a substitute for Gentianae Radix. However, using it exclusively is insufficient to cure the disease. One must combine it with Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) to soothe the Qi stagnation in the Gallbladder, allowing the damp-heat pathogen to still exude outwardly. This transforms a difficult outcome into an easy one. In such cases, Gentianae Radix need not be used in large doses.

Some suspect that Gentianae Radix drains dampness from heat, but wonder if it can also drain dampness from cold. The response is: Modern practitioners often use Gentianae Radix indiscriminately for all water retention syndromes, ignoring the distinction between cold and heat. Gentianae Radix can drain both damp-heat and damp-cold. However, its effect on damp-heat is rapid, while its effect on damp-cold is slow. Rapid action removes dampness without injuring Yuan Qi. Slow action inevitably injures Yuan Qi. Rapid efficacy means Gentianae Radix need not be used in large amounts; slow efficacy necessitates prolonged use. Therefore, Gentianae Radix is suitable for draining damp-heat, but not for damp-cold.