Library

(Mountain Herbs) Enter the Pericardium and Liver meridians, cool blood, and resolve toxicity.

**Lithospermi Radix (Zicao)** (Specifically enters the Pericardium and Liver meridians). Sweet and salty in flavor, cold in nature. Purple in color and smooth in texture. It specifically enters the Blood aspect of the Jueyin meridian to cool blood. When blood is cooled, the nine orifices become unobstructed, and urination and defecation become free. Therefore, for conditions where heat-toxity in the blood causes blockage, manifesting as acute pain in the heart and abdomen, persistent edema, five types of jaundice, tinea, malignant sores, and measles with excessive blood-heat and toxin causing constipation of urine and stool, this herb should be used in treatment. This allows the blood to be cooled by its cold nature, descended by its salty taste, unblocked by its smoothness, and entered into the blood by its purple color. Once the blood is cooled and toxins eliminated, urination and defecation are thereby resolved! (*Huoyou Shu* states: Zicao is cold in nature; it can be used for children with solid Spleen conditions, but may cause diarrhea if used for those with deficient Spleens.) However, people nowadays mistakenly regard it as a drug for dispersing and releasing exterior pathogens, using it indiscriminately regardless of whether there is toxic blockage, which severely deviates from the true meaning of medication. It is contraindicated for patients with diarrhea. Harvesting should prioritize the tender shoots; use after wine washing. (Removing the head and roots of Zicao, *Shennong Bencao Jing* claims it can tonify the middle and boost Qi, which seems inconsistent.)

(Wetland Herbs) Enter the Liver and Kidney meridians, and cool blood.

**Ecliptae Herba (Hanliancao)** (Specifically enters the Liver and Kidney meridians). Also known as Licang Cao or Jinling Cao mentioned in texts. Sweet and sour in flavor, neutral in nature, black in color. Its efficacy specifically targets the Liver and Kidney. It is an essential agent for stopping bleeding and cooling blood. Thus, when decocted into a paste for bloody dysentery, the bleeding stops immediately. Its white juice applied to hair turns white hair black. For burns with redness, application reduces the redness. For loose teeth, rubbing with it stabilizes them. Combined with **Ilicis Fructus (Dongqingzi)**, it forms the formula **Erzhi Wan**, used to tonify the Liver and Kidneys. However, its nature is yin-cold; although good at cooling blood, it does not benefit the Spleen and Stomach. (*Bencao Jing Shuluo* notes: If not processed and taken together with ginger juice and pepper red for warming, it will inevitably cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. The seedlings resemble *Inulae Flos (Xuanfuhua)*, the fruits resemble lotus pods, exuding juice upon breaking that turns black shortly after. Boiling into a paste is effective.)

(Fragrant Herbs) Drain heat from Liver blood.

**Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishao)** (Specifically enters the Liver meridian). Its indications are roughly similar to **Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao)**. However, Baishao has the power to astringe Yin and nourish Ying (Nutrient) Qi, whereas Chishao only has the intent to disperse pathogens and move blood stasis. Baishao can drain Wood (Liver) within Earth (Spleen), while Chishao can activate stagnation within the blood. Therefore, for abdominal pain, hard accumulations, blood masses, hernias, bi-syndrome, amenorrhea, and red eyes caused by accumulated heat, using this herb can cool blood and drive out stasis. (Cheng Wuji stated: Baishao tonifies while Chishao drains; Baishao gathers while Chishao disperses. Sour flavors gather, sweet flavors moderate, so combining sour and sweet is used to tonify Yin-blood, regulate rebellious Qi, and remove Lung dryness.) This is vastly different from Baishao, which primarily tonifies without draining! Miao Zhizhong (Daming) claimed both red and white Paeonia roots tonify, which is inaccurate; Ri Huazi claimed Red Paeonia tonifies Qi and White Paeonia treats blood, which is even more inaccurate. This must be understood. Regarding the claim that it is contraindicated postpartum, one must also examine the pulse and symptoms, and determine the excess or deficiency of the zang organs. One cannot adhere rigidly to this rule. (If the zang organ's Yang pulse and symptoms are all excess, it is not contraindicated even postpartum; if the zang organ's Yin pulse and symptoms are all deficiency, it should not be used recklessly even prenatally. In treating diseases, understanding the excess and deficiency of pulses and symptoms is correct.) It clashes with **Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas)** and **Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu)**; fears **Bieja (Trionycis Carapax)** and **Cirsii Herba (Xiaoji)**; is incompatible with **Veratri Rhizoma (Lilu)**.