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(Mountain Grass) Greatly purges the excessive fire, heat pathogens, and evil qi from the Zang-Fu organs and bone marrow.

*Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* (Hu Huang Lian) (Specifically enters the Zang-Fu organs and bone marrow). It originates from Persia. In recent times, it is also found in Qinlong and Nanhai regions. Its aroma, flavor, and functions are similar to those of *Coptidis Rhizoma* (Huang Lian), hence the name "Lian" (connected/similar). However, this herb's nature specifically directs downwards, greatly reducing the excessive fire, heat pathogens, and evil qi lingering in the Zang-Fu organs and bone marrow. It can treat conditions such as bone marrow deficiency fever, five-palm heat, San Xiao (Three Wasting-Thirst diseases), five types of hemorrhoids, warm malaria, dysentery, and toxic sores. (*The Classic of Difficult Issues* states: "When heart heat transfers to the lung, it is called Ge Xiao [Diaphragm Thirst], characterized by thirst and excessive drinking; this is Upper Xiao, a lung-heat syndrome." It further states: "When the Two Yang meridians bind together leading to Xiao, it is characterized by excessive eating and easy hunger; this is Middle Xiao, a stomach-heat syndrome." And: "Thirst with frequent urination containing paste-like substances is Lower Xiao, a kidney-heat syndrome." Additionally, according to the classics, hemorrhoids arise from overeating causing meridians to loosen transversely and the intestines to become flaccid, forming hemorrhoids. It is also stated that disease of the Du Mai [Governing Vessel] causes hemorrhoids and fistulas. Furthermore, medical texts classify hemorrhoids into Pin Hemorrhoids, Mu Hemorrhoids, Mai Hemorrhoids, Chang Hemorrhoids, and Xue Hemorrhoids. All these result from damp-heat flowing downward, damaging the blood level, where there is no outlet for discharge, forcing the anus to swell and form hemorrhoids.) Therefore, it is used together with *Porcinus Pancreas* (Zhu Yi) to treat severe sores like Yantai Chuang [Kaposi's sarcoma or syphilitic ulcers]. Combined with *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Gan Jiang), it treats pediatric fruit accumulation. Combined with *Galli Hepatis et Gallbladae* (Ji Gan), it treats pediatric gan eye disease [malnutrition-related eye disorders]. Combined with *Mume Fructus* (Wu Mei), it treats pediatric bloody dysentery. Combined with *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma* (Gan Cao) and *Porcinus Pancreas*, it treats meicuang [syphilis]. It also treats taizheng [postpartum fever] in women. Its therapeutic efficacy is similar to but slightly different from *Coptidis Rhizoma*. However, for children with insufficient kidney essence and deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach, it must be strictly contraindicated. The authentic product has a black center and yellow exterior, and when broken, dust emerges like smoke. Its incompatibilities are the same as those of *Coptidis Rhizoma*.

(Mountain Grass) Treats long-standing latent heat pathogens in the lung to clear and transform them.

*Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* (Zhi Mu) (Specifically enters the Lung Meridian, concurrently entering the Kidney Meridian). Flavor is pungent, bitter, and slightly slippery. It can assist *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huang Bo) to treat heat pathogens in the Bladder. Edema and stranguria [difficulty in urination] in humans can belong to either blood-level or qi-level pathologies. When heat pathogens lie latent in the lung, failing to generate fluids, the Bladder loses its source of transformation, resulting in constipation and thirst. In such cases, one should clear the lung to promote diuresis. If heat binds in the Bladder, depleting true yin, leaving yang without the ability to transform, resulting in constipation without thirst, one should clear the Bladder to guide out dampness. *Phellodendri Cortex* has a purely cold nature and aroma. Although it can descend to remove damp-heat from the Bladder, if Lung Metal does not descend properly, the source of transformation lacks nourishment. How then can it ascend to reach the Lung and ensure the Qi level is fully肃降 (descending and purifying)? *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* is pungent and bitter, possessing floating properties within its sinking nature, and ascending qualities within its descending action. It can assist *Phellodendri Cortex* downward to drain kidney water, and simultaneously ascend to moisten the Lung and Heart. (Wang Ang stated: "*Phellodendri Cortex* enters the blood level of the two meridians; therefore, these two herbs must be used in conjunction.") This allows the Qi to clear and the Lung to descend, resolving damp-heat. Thus, ancients said: "*Phellodendri Cortex* without *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* is like a jellyfish without a shrimp," truly reflecting the principle that Metal and Water share the same source, and the mother-child relationship between them cannot be separated. (Xue Ji stated: "Stranguria can be caused by heat, dampness, or qi binding in the lower jiao. Treatment may involve clearing, drying, or ascending. There are also treatments involving 'separated two' and 'separated three' strategies. If the lung is not dry but only the bladder is hot, draining the bladder is the direct treatment. If the lung heat fails to generate water, clearing the lung is the 'separated two' treatment. If spleen dampness fails to transport, preventing fluids from ascending, thus the lung cannot generate water, drying the spleen and strengthening it is the 'separated three' treatment. To drain the bladder, use *Phellodendri Cortex* and *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*; to clear the lung, use *Plantaginis Semen* (Che Qian Zi) and *Poria* (Fu Ling); to dry the spleen, use *Atractylodis Rhizoma* (Bai Zhu/Cang Zhu).") Therefore, medical texts state that when used in the upper jiao, it clears the lung, stops thirst, relieves headache, moistens the lung and heart, resolves deficiency vexation, wheezing, cough, hematemesis, and epistaxis, and removes foul odor from the throat. When used in the middle jiao, it reduces stomach fire, calms xiao dan [wasting-thirst], and when used in the lower jiao, it promotes urination, moistens the large intestine, removes damp-heat from the bladder, liver, and kidneys, treats swelling and pain in the waist and legs, and manages lao zhai [consumption/tuberculosis] internal heat, yin fire, heat stranguria, metrorrhagia, and thirst. To claim it can tonify yin is a major error. (To tonify yin, *Rehmanniae Radix* (Di Huang) is primary.) Zhang Jingyue stated that this herb is extremely cold and heavy, lacking vital energy. It is suitable for clearing fire. (Detailed Explanation) But what benefit does it offer for tonifying yin? Its yin-nature is soft and compliant, appearing virtuous, yet like a petty person in court, it exploits the nation's primal qi, causing yin to shift imperceptibly. One must see the truth early and distinguish it clearly. Reading this serves as a warning against the reckless use of *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma* and *Phellodendri Cortex*. Processing with wine is beneficial: wine soaking guides the herb upward, while salt-water mixing guides it downward. Avoid iron.