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Vinegar, with a sour taste and cold nature, possesses warm qi and is non-toxic. It enters the Stomach and Large Intestine meridians, and particularly acts upon the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin (足厥阴肝经). It disperses water qi, eliminates pathogenic toxins, resolves carbuncles and swellings, astringes throat ulcers, expels qi pain in the epigastrium along with hard accumulations and masses, treats postpartum blood fainting, and manages traumatic injuries from metal weapons.

Note: Vinegar is essential in food, but rarely used in herbal medicine. However, there are times when its use is indispensable, and its functions must be understood. Therefore, it is recorded for reference.

One may ask: Rice vinegar can be used in medicine; can non-rice vinegar also be used? Vinegar must be brewed from rice to acquire warm qi; otherwise, its taste becomes excessively sour. Upon entering the Liver, it fails to astringe properly and instead causes contraction and涩滞 (stagnation) in the sinews. Thus, for medicinal use, rice vinegar must be selected. In cases of hematemesis (vomiting blood), bleeding from limbs or umbilicus, or bleeding from pores, boil two sheng (a traditional unit of volume) of vinegar, pour it into a basin, and soak the soles of both feet. Bleeding will stop shortly. For this purpose, specific rice vinegar is not required; any common rice vinegar suffices, precisely because of its excessive sourness, which facilitates astringency and promotes tranquility.

Seeds of Abutilon theophrasti (Dong Kui Zi), with a sweet taste and cold qi, possess a slippery and lubricating nature, and are non-toxic. They primarily treat cold and heat disorders of the five zang and six fu organs, emaciation, and five types of strangury (Liang syndrome 五癃). They promote urination and treat breast engorgement with internal obstruction in women. Long-term consumption strengthens bones and nourishes muscles. Although Dong Kui Zi is not considered a premium herb, it is an essential item in the medicine cabinet because it facilitates smooth delivery. In cases of breech presentation or transverse lie, or fetal death in utero, it is necessary to rely on its lubricating properties.

One may ask: Dong Kui Zi has not shown miraculous effects in treating difficult labor; why do you single it out for praise? I reply: The efficacy of Dong Kui Zi in difficult labor depends on its proper application. When breech presentation or transverse lie occurs, such as one foot descending while the other does not, or one arm extending while the other remains retracted, where the birth canal opens but the fetal head is not yet aligned, one should not immediately use oak branches to dilate the cervix. If sharp needles are used, the fetus may already be dead; due to severe pain and loss of sensation, mere puncturing is of no benefit. If Dong Kui Zi is not used to assist the smooth passage of the fetus, how can one rescue the critical situation within moments? However, if Dong Kui Zi is used alone, without adding herbs such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 人参), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui, 当归), and Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong, 川芎) to tonify qi and blood and generate fluids, the fetal membranes may become dry. Only by combining these measures can the natural process be facilitated, turning danger into safety.