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(Manscao) Clears the Lung, promotes lactation, and promotes urination.
Tongcao (specifically enters the Lung and Stomach meridians). Flavor is sweet and bland. Nature is light and color is white. Resembles Junci Medulla (Dengxincao). (Shizhen says: It has fine pores, open at both ends, hence named Tongcao, which is what is now called Mutong. The current Tongcao is actually the ancient Tongduomu. Song says: The "Tong" used in ancient prescriptions is all Mutong as it exists today. Tongduomu is rarely used.) Its efficacy is similar to entering the Lung meridian, guiding heat downward, promoting urination, relieving strangury, and treating edema. (Gao says: Tongcao drains Lung heat and promotes urination; its sweet and neutral nature moderates Yin blood. It shares the same function as Dengxincao and should be used raw.) However, Dengxincao is small in substance and cold in nature, thus also descending Heart fire. This herb, on the other hand, additionally enters the Stomach meridian, unblocks Qi ascending upward and promoting lactation downward, which is its difference. (Shizhen says: Tongcao is white in color and cold in nature, sparse and bland in flavor, and light in substance.) Moreover, this herb is large in Qi yet light in substance, with extremely strong渗湿 (seeping out dampness) and bland-draining properties. It can ascend and descend. It can enter the Lung to clear heat, and also ascend to unblock the Stomach. Dongyuan used this to treat five types of edema and urinary retention. Is it not taking advantage of the cold nature to descend and the bland flavor to ascend? Zhongjing used this combined with Danggui, Shaoyao, Guizhi, Xixin, Dazao, and Gancao, named Danggui Sini Tang, to treat Cold Damage pathogen invading the Jueyin meridian. Is it not taking advantage of Tongcao to unblock Ying and Wei? However, pregnant women should not take it.

(Manscao) Eliminates water, removes dampness, and especially resolves Yamei chancroid toxins.
Tufuling (specifically enters the Stomach and Liver meridians, additionally enters the Kidney and Intestine meridians). Flavor is sweet, bland, and nature is neutral. Efficacy is equal to Bibi. Treatment can remove dampness, eliminate water, separate the clear from the turbid. However, this herb especially resolves Yamei chancroid toxins. Generally, Yamei chancroid arises mostly from mountain miasma steaming, interacting with obscene damp-heat pathogens. (Shizhen says: Yamei chancroid is not recorded in ancient prescriptions, nor were there patients with this disease. It recently arose in the Lingbiao region and spread to all directions. Probably because the wind and soil in Lingbiao are low, humid, hot, and steaming with miasma, diet consists of spicy and hot foods, and sexual conduct is licentious. Damp-heat pathogens accumulate deeply, manifesting as toxic sores, leading to mutual contagion, spreading from south to north, covering the whole empire. However, these are diseases of those engaging in licentious acts.) Symptoms mostly belong to the Yangming (Stomach) and Jueyin (Liver) meridians, while involving other meridians. This is because Ministerial Fire resides in Jueyin, and muscles belong to Yangming. If involving Shaoyin and Taiyin, it erupts in the throat; if involving Taiyang and Shaoyang, it erupts in the two corners (angles of the mouth/eyes). If using Qingfen (Calomel) or other drastic agents, toxin qi窜入 (crawls into) the meridians, collaterals, sinews, and bones, unable to exit, transforming into sinew and bone contraction and stiffness, erupting as knotting pain, thus becoming a stubborn disease. (Shizhen says: Shuiyin [Mercury] has a nature that moves without staying. Added with Yanfan (Salt and Alum), it is sublimated into Qingfen and Yinzhu. Its nature is dry and fierce, good at driving out phlegm-saliva. Saliva is the fluid of the Spleen. When this substance enters the Stomach, Qi returns to Yang and recovers, so saliva is robbed, rises with fire, and exits from the throat, cheeks, and teeth gaps. Thus the sore dries up, atrophies, and heals. If taken in excess, or used improperly, then toxin qi crawls into the meridians, collaterals, sinews, and bones, unable to exit. Once phlegm-saliva is gone, blood and essence are exhausted, sinews and bones lose their nourishment, Ying and Wei do not follow, sinews and bones contract and hurt, erupting as carbuncles, sores, fistulas. Over time, insects grow, becoming tinea, skin cracking on hands and feet, thus becoming a stubborn disease.) One must use one liang of this herb. Externally, use Jinyinhua, Fangfeng, Mutong, Mugua, Baixianpi each 5 fen, Zaojiazi 4 fen, Renshen and Danggui each 7 fen. Take three doses daily. (Shizhen says: Using this herb strengthens the Spleen and Stomach, removes wind-dampness. When Spleen and Stomach are healthy, Ying and Wei are harmonious; when wind-dampness is removed, sinews and bones are flexible, so most symptoms heal. Also says: This formula is named Soufeng Jiedu Tang. For those with deep infection from Qingfen, it takes over a month; for shallow cases, half a month suffices.) Avoid tea, alcohol, meat, noodles, salt, and vinegar. Abstain from sexual activity for one hundred days. Drink Tufuling decoction when thirsty. It takes half a month to heal. Taking advantage of clearing damp-heat and resolving turbid Yin. White ones are good. Avoid tea.