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[Wood from Heart] Guiding Phlegm-Dampness in the Heart

Fushen (Poria with Hostwood) (specifically enters the Heart meridian). Its efficacy is no different from Fuling (Poria). However, Fushen grows embracing the heartwood, whereas Fuling does not grow from an embrace of the heart. Therefore, Fuling can enter the Spleen and Kidney, while Fushen primarily enters the Heart meridian. Medical texts state that taking this herb opens the orifices, enhances intelligence, calms the Hun (Soul, stored in the Liver), and stabilizes the Po (Corporeal Soul, stored in the Lungs). This is none other than its ability to enter the Heart and guide out phlegm-dampness. Thus, it facilitates the communication between the Heart and the Kidney. (Detailed Explanation) Xinmu (Heartwood) is known in books as Huangsongjie (Yellow Pine Joint). It is bitter in taste and warm in nature. It can treat various tendon spasms, hemiplegia with deviation, cardiac pulling pain, and forgetfulness. (Wang Ang stated: In the formula, use one liang of Xinmu and one qian of Xurong (Olibanum), stir-fry in a stone mortar, and grind into powder, named Songjie San. Take two qian each time, washed down with Mugua (Chaenomeles) decoction. It treats all kinds of tendon spasms and pain. Because Xurong can extend tendons, and Mugua can soothe tendons.) This also embodies the intention of entering the Blood level to渗湿 (leach out dampness). Select those Fuling that have a central wood core. (Wang Ang stated: Because it embraces the heart, it can treat Heart diseases.) Use after removing the skin and the central wood core.

[Fish] Promoting Urination and Reducing Edema

Liyu (Common Carp) (specifically enters the Spleen meridian). Its flavor is sweet and neutral. Common carp often leaps down from rapid currents, indicating that the carp itself possesses the merit of governing water. Moreover, the sweet flavor enters the Spleen. Therefore, medical texts record that it can direct Qi downward and promote urination. For any condition caused by internal retention of Water-Qi, manifesting as cough with rebellious Qi, jaundice, edema, or Hongjiao (Gouty Arthritis/Foot Rot), taking this fish can eliminate these symptoms. Hejian (Liu Wansu) said: The carp's ability to govern water is due to the mutual resonance of its Qi. (Similar to Yu the Great's method of controlling floods.) Therefore, *Waitai Miyao* uses one sheng of Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean), adds two sheng of water, boils until slightly more than three sheng remains, filters out the dregs, and takes it all at once to induce diuresis. Once urination is promoted, the illness is cured. It is also effective for treating edema in pregnant women. However, the carp inherits the initial generation of Yin-Yang Qi within the Six Yin categories (thus belonging to Yang within Yin). Therefore, excessive consumption can stir Wind and generate Heat. Burning carp scales to ash while retaining their properties can treat postpartum blood stasis. Burning carp bones to ash can treat fishbone impaction in the throat.

Xieshi (Draining Dampness) differs from Shenshi (Leaching Dampness). Shenshi is used when dampness accumulation is slight; only sweet, neutral, light, and bland herbs are used to allow water to seep slowly, like water infiltrating soil, gradually excreting without being abrupt. Xieshi is used when dampness accumulation is heavy; herbs must be sweet and bland to promote urination, and salty and cold to purge, so that dampness resolves along with Heat. Hence it is called Xieshi. However, draining methods must distinguish the Zang-Fu organs. If dampness is in the Lung and not excreted, herbs such as Yiyiren (Coix Seed), Heiqianniu (Black Morning Glory Seed), Cheqianzi (Plantago Seed), Huangqin (Scutellaria Root), and Baiwei (Cichorii Radix) should be used. But Yiyiren treats edema, damp-bi, hernia, and hot strangury; Heiqianniu treats Hongjiao swelling and fullness, constipation of both bowels and bladder; Huangqin treats strangury, intestinal abscess, and alternating chills and fever; Cheqianzi treats Liver-Lung damp-heat to guide Bladder water pathogenic factors; Baiwei treats strangury, bi-syndrome soreness and pain, body heat, and limb fullness. These are their differences! If dampness is in the Spleen-Stomach and not drained, herbs such as Mugua (Chaenomeles), Baixianpi (Dictamni Cortex), Diqianchong (Earthworm), Baifan (Alumen), and Hanshuishi (Calcitum) should be used. But Mugua treats Huoluan diarrhea with tendon cramping and damp-heat imbalance; Baixianpi treats closure of orifices, urinary retention, and genital swelling; Diqianchong treats latent heat and Gui Zhu (ghostly infections), extreme heat toxins; Baifan has sour-astringent and emetic properties, driving out heat and foam; Hanshuishi clears heat and promotes urination. These are their distinctions. If dampness in the Spleen-Stomach is not cleared, herbs such as Bianxu (Polygonum Aviculare Herb), Yichen (Artemisiae Capillaris Herba), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), and Cilaopi (likely referring to a bark, possibly *Prunus* or similar, contextually treated here) should be used. But Bianxu and Kushen remove damp-heat and kill parasites; Yichen removes damp-heat in the Stomach causing jaundice; Cilaopi treats dysphagia and regurgitation. These are their differences. If dampness in the Heart is not transformed, herbs such as Dengcao (Junci Medulla), Mutong (Akebia Caulis), Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma), Lianqiao (Forsythiae Fructus), Zhenzhu (Margarita), and Kulianzi (Meliae Semen) should be used. But Dengcao treats five types of strangury with latent heat; Huanglian treats excess heat with damp steaming; Mutong treats Heart heat and urinary retention; Lianqiao treats carbuncles and toxic heat with strangury; Zhenzhu treats floating Shen (Spirit) and unresolving water distension; Kulianzi treats heat depression with mania, hernia masses, and gu poison. These are their respective domains. If damp-closure in the Small Intestine presents with strangury, urinary retention, and penile pain, Haijinsha (Lygodii Spora) is used to clear it. If urinary retention and abdominal swelling occur, Chixiaodou (Adzuki Bean) is used to promote urination. For pregnancy edema, Chifuling (Red Poria) is used to guide water. If Bladder damp-closure presents with edema and wind-swelling, Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) is used to drain water. If summer-heat dampness is internally closed, Zhuling (Polyporus) is used to ventilate. If frequent urination occurs, Difuzi (Kochiae Fructus) is used to open. If water accumulation causes irritability and thirst, Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) is used to treat it. If excess heat is blazing, Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) is used to purge. If summer-heat dampness leads to profuse urination, Huashi (Talcum) is used to separate. Others: If the Kidney has pathogenic dampness manifesting as blood stasis and urinary retention, Hupo (Amber) and Haishi (Floating Quartz) are suitable. If symptoms show water-Qi edema, Haige (Concha Meretricis) is suitable. If symptoms show hemorrhoids, fistulas, strangury, and thirst, Wen Ge (Concha Cycladis) is suitable! That Hanshuishi and Kushen can enter the Kidney to remove dampness is evident. If the Liver has pathogenic dampness manifesting as fright epilepsy and epidemic malaria, Longdan (Gentianae Radix) is suitable. If symptoms show internal invasion of wind-dampness and painful urinary retention, Bibi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma) is suitable! That Lianqiao, Zhenzhu, and Hupo can enter the Liver to remove dampness can be inferred. All these belong to Xieshi (draining dampness) agents. As for water surging like waves, filling ditches and overflowing rivers, there are other methods applicable, which need not be detailed here.