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Qinghao (Artemisiae Annuae Herba), with a bitter taste and cold nature, is non-toxic. It enters the Stomach, Liver, Heart, and Kidney meridians. It specializes in resolving bone-steaming consumptive fever (a type of deficiency heat feeling as if emanating from the deep marrow), and is particularly effective in draining fire from summerheat. It cures wind-induced pruritus, stops deficiency-related irritability and night sweats, opens the appetite, alleviates heart pain, brightens the eyes, expels evil influences, and nourishes Spleen Qi. This herb is excellent. Since Qinghao drains fire and heat without consuming Qi and Blood, when used to assist herbs that tonify Qi and Blood, it achieves remarkable results. It can serve as a Sovereign (Jun), Minister (Chen), Assistant (Zuo), or Guide (Shi) herb, making it suitable for all situations. However, it must be used in large doses. Because its texture is light and its nature兼具 yin-nourishing properties, using a small dose renders it ineffective. The human body most dislikes excessive fire; fire-draining medications often inevitably damage Yin. Medications that drain fire without damaging Yin are originally few in number; how can Qinghao be placed in a position of uselessness? The human body relies on Yin and Yang. Excessive fire prevents Yin from growing and Yang from flourishing. If Yin and Yang fail to grow, they will inevitably fail to interact, leading to disease. If one does not level the fire but merely tonifies Yang, the fire becomes more excessive and Yang becomes even stronger. If one does not level the fire but merely tonifies Yin, the fluids dry up and Yin becomes even weaker. Therefore, whether tonifying Yin or Yang, leveling the fire is always the primary task. However, fire should be nurtured rather than forcibly leveled. If fire is too excessive, Yin and Yang cannot grow; if it is too deficient, Yin and Yang also fail to grow. One must embed tonification within leveling, so that Yang becomes secure and Yin becomes peaceful. Qinghao levels fire and replenishes water (Yin); this is why both Yin and Yang benefit from it.

Someone asks: "It is true that Qinghao dispels summerheat, but I have not seen it dispel deficiency heat. Why did you first mention its foul odor, implying that it scatters Qi due to this smell?" This person does not understand Qinghao. Qinghao grows beside paths exposed to intense heat, enduring the steaming summers, yet its color remains verdant green, indicating it absorbs abundant extreme Yin Qi. Moreover, odors enter the Kidney; Qinghao is undoubtedly a Yin-nourishing herb. How can one doubt its ability to dispel deficiency heat? Yang herbs tonify Yang, and Yin herbs tonify Yin. Since Qinghao possesses extreme Yin Qi, it is clearly not a Yang herb. To claim that it cannot dispel deficiency fire, given that it is not a Yang herb, is something I do not believe.

Someone suspects that Qinghao is extremely cheap, yet you praise it as miraculous, truly saying that magic emerges from rot. But has Qinghao ever been rotten? Calling Qinghao foul-smelling is a derogatory remark. I once walked through fields and often encountered a scent that approached people. Though invisible, knowing the scent came from Qinghao, I realized Qinghao's aroma is fragrant, not foul. Furthermore, its scent repels flies and lice. Wherever Qinghao is placed on a desk, flies do not gather. Flies pursue decay; their avoidance of Qinghao proves it is not decaying. It is a pity that it grows in dense clusters and is numerous, causing people to despise it. If it were a fresh produce item, I wonder how much people would cherish it. Qinghao indeed possesses great tonifying power; it is regrettable to despise it because of a perceived foul odor.

Someone asks: "Qinghao dispels ministerial fire very quickly. Why did predecessors not use it, while you extol its efficacy? Did you test it yourself before claiming this?" I reply: Predecessors already stated that Qinghao dispels bone-steaming consumptive fever. How could one not use it? Why must I test it before believing Qinghao dispels ministerial fire and fire within the bones? However, it not only dispels fire in the bones but also drains fire in the skin and muscles. Therefore, it is most suitable for those with Yin deficiency who have contracted pathogenic factors.

Someone asks: "For patients with Yin deficiency and hyperactive fire, using Shashen (Glehniae Radix) and Digupi (Lycii Cortex) is the correct method. Now, since you say Qinghao dispels ministerial fire, should we use only Qinghao and omit Shashen and Digupi?" I reply: This is incorrect. Qinghao is best used jointly with Shashen and Digupi, which makes draining ministerial fire more rapid. Qinghao can guide fire from the bones to the skin surface, whereas Shashen and Digupi can only cool fire within the bones but cannot vent it outward.