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[Mountain Herbs] Diffuse Lung Cold and Clear Lung Heat

Ginseng bears the name "Shangdang" because it specifically enters the Lung Meridian. This is likely due to the fact that during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, in the Shangdang region, someone noticed abnormal ginseng growth about one *li* away from their residence. Upon excavation, the ginseng obtained resembled a human body. Furthermore, ginseng from Shangdang has roots that are quite slender and long, with rootlets hanging down over one *chi* (approx. 33 cm) or branching into ten parts. Its price was equal to silver. Ginseng from Liaodong, Goryeo, and Baekje could not compare to it. Li Shizhen stated that Shangdang is Luzhou. The local people considered ginseng a detriment to the region and ceased harvesting it. What is used today is all Liaoshen (Liaoning Ginseng). From this, we know that among various ginsengs, only Shangdang ginseng is the finest. Since Shangdang ginseng can no longer be harvested, how can there be such a thing as "Dangshen" (Codonopsis)? Recently, due to the high price of Liaoshen, those in society who seek novelty and rare items have forged substitutes using seedlings from the Taihang Mountains in Shanxi, along with Saposhnikovia Root (*Fangfeng*) and Platycodon Root (*Jiegeng*). These have successively circulated mixed together. How could they know that different types of ginseng have different properties? *Saposhnikovia Root* and *Platycodon Root* belong to substances that disperse exterior wind-cold and damage Qi, whereas Ginseng is sweet and warm, belonging to substances that tonify Lung Qi and boost Yuan Qi. Even examining the newly emerged "Dangshen" from the Taihang Mountains in Shanxi, Zhang Lu stated that it is sweet and neutral, clears the Lung, and is not equivalent to true Dangshen, yet it does possess tonifying effects. Today's practitioners, seeing only the high price of Ginseng, use these substitutes for Ginseng, which is indeed vastly divergent! Moreover, I have seen cases of deficiency where urgent strong tonification by Ginseng was needed to save a life on the verge of collapse, but physicians rashly substituted Dangshen, resulting in the patient's death. They also allowed wealthy families to drink it daily as tea, causing the Lungs to be depleted and diseases to grow secretly. These are all harms caused by misuse. People are merely accustomed to it without scrutiny. I record this here as a warning against the reckless use of Dangshen by crude physicians.

[Meaty/Spicy Substances] Release the Exterior, Dispel Cold, and Stop Vomiting

Fresh Ginger (*Shengjiang*) [specifically enters the Lung Meridian]. Its flavor is pungent and penetrating, moving rather than stabilizing. Although books list many indications, they generally boil down to releasing the exterior and dispelling cold, opening stagnation and dispersing Qi, repelling evil, and eliminating pathogens. (The essence of Ginger's nature and meaning can be summarized in one phrase.) It is said that it can be used for headache due to Cold Damage (*Shanghan*) and nasal congestion due to Wind Strike (*Shangfeng*) because it possesses the power to diffuse and unblock Lung Qi. (Pungency primarily disperses.) It must be used for coughing, counterflow Qi, and hiccups/vomiting because it embodies the principle of lifting and dispersing stagnation. (Sun Simiao said, "Ginger is the holy medicine for vomiters." Because pungency disperses, and vomiting is caused by rebellious Qi that fails to scatter, this drug moves Yang and disperses Qi.) Some ask: Fresh Ginger is pungent and warm, entering the Lung; why is it said to enter the Stomach Gate? Answer: The common notion that the area below the heart is the Stomach Gate is incorrect. Below the pharynx lies the passage for solid food and the connection to the Stomach; this is the Stomach Gate. It travels alongside the Lung connection, thus it can enter the Lung and open the Stomach Gate.) It must be used for water-dampness diarrhea and blood bi (*Xuebi*) because it possesses the power to drive out Yin, move Yang, remove dampness, and guide discharge. (For Blood Bi blocking the heart, use five *liang* of Fresh Ginger, eight *sheng* of water, decoct and take.) Other uses include rubbing frozen ears. (Pungency disperses cold.) Treating fox odor. (Frequently rub with Ginger juice; its strength can dispel cold and repel filth.) Resolving various toxins. (It can resolve toxins from Pinellia Rhizome (*Banxia*), Arisaema Rhizome (*Nanxing*), mushrooms, wild birds, etc.) All of these stem from its diffusing power to eliminate pathogens. (Li Shizhen said: "Ginger is pungent but not 'meaty' (stimulating); it removes evil and repels filth. Whether eaten raw or cooked, with vinegar, sauce, lees, salt, or honey preserves, it is suitable. It can be a vegetable, a condiment, a fruit, or a medicine; its benefits are extensive.") Pungency enters the Lung. When Lung Qi is prosperous, the Qi of the whole body becomes available for our use. The Original Qi of the Middle Jiao becomes sufficient and abundant, and the functions of receiving and transporting of the Spleen and Stomach become strong and active, leaving no room for pathogenic factors! For sudden onset conditions such as Wind Stroke, Summerheat Stroke, Qi Stagnation, Poisoning, Alcohol Intoxication, Food Syncope, Phlegm Syncope, Corpse Syncope, Cold Syncope, Cholera, fainting, and all acute sudden illnesses, encountering them will surely lead to rescue. (Suitable formulas for acute illnesses: Fang Guangxin said, "For all sudden acute conditions, administering Ginger juice with child's urine can provide immediate relief. Ginger opens phlegm and directs Qi downward, while child's urine descends Fire.") Chewing ginger early in the morning prevents invasion by mist and dew. (Ginger removes dampness.) And it can repel foul odors and evil influences from mountain miasma through its righteous spirit. It is truly a divine and sacred substance among medicines. However, those with accumulated heat affecting the eyes, and those with hemorrhoids caused by heat, must strictly avoid it. (Li Shizhen said: "Long-term consumption of ginger leads to accumulated heat affecting the eyes. Those with hemorrhoids who eat much ginger combined with alcohol find symptoms flare up quickly. Those with abscesses and sores who eat much ginger develop malignant flesh. These were points not mentioned by predecessors.") As for texts stating that night belongs to closure and ginger should not be eaten, autumn belongs to gathering and ginger should not be eaten, and that pregnant women eating ginger causes children to have deformed fingers—although these theories are based on seasonal timing and sympathetic magic of object categories, they should not be rigidly adhered to. Ginger peel is pungent and cool, harmonizes the Spleen, promotes urination, and reduces swelling. Using the peel follows the principle of treating the skin with skin. *Qinpi* (Cortex Fraxini) serves as an assistant herb. It is incompatible with *Scutellariae Radix* (*Huangqin*), *Phellodendri Cortex* (*Huangbai*), and *Nyctibiis Faeces* (*Yemingsha*). (According to *Xianggan Zhi*, placing cicada slough in a jar of pickled ginger makes even old ginger fiberless; this suggests that material natures can subdue each other!)