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Shuqi (Rhizoma Dichroae), the tender shoot of Changshan (Radix Dichroae). The root of Changshan should not be used, but its tender shoots can be taken. It tastes bitter and is purely Yin in nature. It disperses disordered and rebellious Fire pathogens, breaks up abscesses, masses, and hard accumulations; eliminates痞结 (glomus) and coagulated stagnations; wards off Gu poison (parasitic disease) and Gui Zhu (ghostly afflictions); treats chronic malaria and regulates cough with counterflow Qi.

Someone asked: "Shuqi is merely the tender shoot of Changshan. Why did you discard Changshan and select its shoot?" The answer is that Changshan has a fierce nature and峻急 (rapid/forceful) efficacy. Although it produces quick results, it severely damages Yuan Qi (Original Qi). People often use Changshan to treat malaria; one dose may cure it, but the body becomes extremely debilitated, requiring half a year of recuperation before Yuan Qi is restored. If one is not careful, the disease may relapse suddenly, and avoiding death would be mere luck. Thus, it is clear that it should not be used lightly. Although Shuqi is the shoot of Changshan, it is not as fierce as the root. Since the shoot emerges in spring, its nature is light and ascending, benefiting from the generating Qi of spring. It disperses pathogens quickly without severely breaking Qi, allowing it to be used for attacking hardness without worrying about damaging the interior. This is why Changshan is discarded in favor of Shuqi.

Baitouweng (Radix Pulsatillae), tastes bitter, has a warm temperature, and its action can ascend or descend; it belongs to Yang within Yin. It is non-toxic. Some claim it tastes sweet and bitter with slight toxicity, which is incorrect. It primarily treats Wen Malaria (warm-type malaria), Yang Kuang (mania due to heat), alternating chills and fever; treats masses and accumulations; expels blood stasis; heals metal wounds (traumatic injuries); dispels wind and warms the waist; treats epistaxis and hernia swelling; and treats pain in all joints and bones. It is essential for treating Chi Du Li (dysentery with bloody discharge).

Someone asked: "Many people mistakenly believe Baitouweng is a bird's name, unaware that it is a herb in the Ben Cao materia medica." The Ben Cao records many effects for it, which are not entirely trustworthy. However, regarding diarrhea in Shanghan (Cold Damage) diseases, which is caused by Heat toxin, Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix), Lian Zi (Coptidis Rhizoma), and Zhi Zi (Gardeniae Fructus) are insufficient to resolve the toxin. One must use Baitouweng to transform Heat in the Large Intestine without damaging the Yin of the Spleen Qi, expelling stasis while preserving fluids, truly achieving miraculous results. If there is Stomach deficiency-cold with loss of appetite, or diarrhea with undigested food not caused by damp-heat toxins, it should be strictly contraindicated.

Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan), tastes pungent and bitter, has a slightly cold temperature, and belongs to slight Yang within Yin. It is non-toxic. It is cultivated into red and white varieties, but their nature and taste are identical. It enters the Kidney and Liver meridians, and also the Pericardium vessel. It cools bone-steaming heat, stops hematemesis, epistaxis, hematemesis, and hemoptysis; dissipates blood stasis; removes hard masses; calms the spirit; regulates menstruation effectively; stops convulsions; treats carbuncles and swellings; and promotes pus discharge while relieving pain. It serves as a minister, assistant, or courier herb, but cannot serve as the sovereign herb. Master Zhang Zhongjing included it in Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) to treat Emperor Wu of Han's Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst) syndrome. Xiao Ke is essentially a Heat syndrome. Adding Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) to treat fire with fire seems peculiar. This fire is actually Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire), not excess fire. Xiang Huo is deficient fire. Excess fire can be purged, but deficient fire must be tonified. Yang fire can be subdued by water, but Yin fire must be guided by fire. In Di Huang Tang (Rehmannia Decoction), although Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) and Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) are used to nourish Yin, if Gui Zhi and Fu Zi are not used to guide fire back to its source, the fire will not return to its origin, and thirst will not cease. However, once Gui Zi and Fu Zi are used to guide fire to the Lower Jiao, how can residual heat in the Upper Jiao be cleared instantly? I fear that although the Ming Men (Gate of Life) fire has returned to the Kidney palace, the Pericardium fire still burns in the Heart position. Residual heat will likely persist, and thirst will continue. Therefore, Mu Dan Pi is added to harmonize between the Heart, Liver, and Kidney, nourishing Kidney water and clearing Liver wood-fire, preventing Wood from assisting Pericardium fire. Mu Dan Pi also directly enters the Dan Zhong (Chest center) to cool heat there. With lower fire pacified and upper fire quieted, does the fiery dwelling not become a realm of coolness? This demonstrates the divine formulation skill of Master Zhang Zhongjing and the true merit of Mu Dan Pi.

Furthermore, in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), Mu Dan Pi holds another profound significance. The Kidney is only tonified, never purged. Using Shu Di Huang and Shan Yao to tonify the Kidney, why is Mu Dan Pi needed to nourish the marrow in the bones? If it were for purging fire, Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) is already present; if for strengthening the Spleen, Fu Ling (Poria) is used; if for astringing essence, Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus) is employed. Then what is the purpose of using Mu Dan Pi? It is to assist where the other five herbs fall short. Tonifying Yin herbs that are too cold prevent Yin generation; those too hot also prevent Yin generation. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is neither cold nor hot, relying entirely on Mu Dan Pi to harmonize among the Heart, Liver, Spleen, and Kidney. This keeps the bone marrow mild, allowing essence to be sealed in the Kidney, fire to be purged via the Bladder, and water-dampness to transform into urine. Lung Qi becomes clear and descending, Spleen Qi becomes robust, and Yin is further generated.

Someone asked: "Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex) treats bone-steaming with sweating, while Mu Dan Pi treats bone-steaming without sweating. This is a established view of predecessors. Why do you omit this discussion? Is Mu Dan Pi not for treating bone-steaming without sweating? This is precisely what I urgently wish to clarify." Actually, Di Gu Pi does treat bone-steaming without sweating, and Mu Dan Pi does treat bone-steaming with sweating. Li Dongyuan divided these two herbs based on sweating vs. non-sweating bone-steaming, but I do not know his basis. According to his theory, Mu Dan Pi is yang-like (male/unyielding), red in color, symbolizing the fire of Li Trigram (Yang within Yin), and capable of purging. It seems Mu Dan Pi is Yin within Yang, suitable for bone-steaming with sweating, not without. In summary, Mu Dan Pi is the supreme herb for bone-steaming and need not be distinguished by sweating status.

Someone asked: "Your exposition of Zhang Zhongjing's Ba Wei Wan was fascinating. Are there other insights?" I reply: Medicine has no end. Let me explore deeper based on previous discussions. Fire has upper and lower distinctions. Lower fire requires tonification to return; upper fire requires cooling to subside. Tonifying lower fire prevents upper flare-up; cooling upper fire prevents lower agitation. Although Mu Dan Pi nourishes Kidney Water but not Kidney Fire, seemingly unable to make lower fire return downward, it actually nourishes Kidney Water. Supplementing water controls excess fire. Once controlled, fire ceases to boil. Then, using Fu Zi and Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex) guides it to hide in the extreme Yin of the Kidney. Mu Dan Pi benefits the Heart by nourishing the Kidney, though it doesn't suppress Heart via Kidney. It nourishes Heart Qi deficiency, calming it. Then Fu Zi and Rou Gui guide it upward, allowing secret interaction with the extreme Yin of the Heart. This deepens our understanding.

Regarding Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, there is also subtle meaning. Does Mu Dan Pi in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan only cool bone marrow to generate Yin Water? Solitary Yin does not generate; solitary Yang does not grow. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan consists purely of Yin herbs. Without an herb containing slight Yang entering the group of Yin herbs, although water supports fire, it might please yin-deficient patients, solitary Yin without Yang can only control excess fire but cannot generate deficient water. Although Mu Dan Pi is a Yin herb entering the Kidney meridian, its nature carries slight Yang. In Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, it allows Yang Qi to penetrate Yin. Its nature is slightly cold, aiding Yin to generate water without stirring Yang to move fire. This is Zhang Zhongjing's original intent, which I have fully elucidated.

Someone asked: "Mu Dan Pi has slight Yang within Yin and enters a group of Yin herbs. Won't its Yang become even weaker? Other herbs also have Yang aspects, but Yin is heavy and Yang is slight." Consider Fu Ling, Ze Xie, and Shan Yao; when entering the group of Yin herbs, their Yang nature is forgotten. Only Mu Dan Pi, amidst Yin herbs, retains its Yang Qi unbroken. Smell Liu Wei Di Huang Wan; the aroma of Mu Dan Pi remains, proving its unique survival of slight Yang, not conquered by Yin. Mu Dan Pi preserves its slight Yang among Yin herbs and prevents the Yang Qi of Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Shan Zhu Yu, Shu Di Huang, and Shan Yao from scattering, accelerating Yin generation. Thus, its use in Di Huang Wan is intentional.

Someone asked: "Mu Dan Pi clears deficiency heat of bone-steaming, similar to Di Gu Pi. Yet you praise Di Gu Pi for bone-steaming but neglect Mu Dan Pi. Is there another intention?" The difference lies not in sweating vs. non-sweating. Mu Dan Pi clears Heat in the Bone Marrow; Di Gu Pi clears Heat in the Bone Blood. Outside the marrow, blood wraps the bone. Heat in the marrow consumes bone blood; heat in the blood scorches bone marrow. Therefore, both herbs must be used together for bone-steaming; one cannot simply assign Di Gu Pi to sweating cases and Mu Dan Pi to non-sweating cases. This theory, unheard of by predecessors, may astonish the world, but I learned it from my master, not fabricating it. Marrow contains blood, as seen in fractured bones where blood flows out with marrow. Di Gu Pi cools bone blood; Mu Dan Pi cools bone marrow. Few verify these words.