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[Heaven's Door Winter from Yanzhou] \pj31.bmp\r
[Heaven's Door Winter from Wenzhou] \pj32.bmp\r

Bitter, sweet, neutral in nature, extremely cold. Thin qi and strong flavor, sinking, yin, yin within yang. Non-toxic. Grows in valleys, roots harvested in summer and autumn. (Steamed until soft, peeled, core removed, dried in sun, then chopped for immediate use. (If left chopped for too long, mold may grow, turning it dark and dull.) ) Feared by Zengqing, avoid carp. If poisoned by accidental ingestion, use Spirodela (Floating Duckweed) to detoxify. Compatible with Fubei (Fritillaria Bulb) and Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), enters Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Treats wind-damp bi syndrome, tonifies deficiency and damage from overwork. Kills three parasites, removes latent corpses, strengthens bone marrow; moistens five zang organs, beautifies complexion, nourishes skin. Relieves thirst, eliminates irritability, resolves phlegm, stops cough. Protects lung qi from heat disturbance, unblocks kidney qi to eliminate hot strangury. Stops bleeding due to reckless flow, moistens intestines to relieve dry constipation. Decocted with Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Qishi (Astragalus Root), it is a divine formula for stabilizing deficiency asthma; boiled with ginger and honey into paste, (Three bowls of natural juice of Tianmendong, one bowl of honey, half bowl of ginger juice, mixed evenly and boiled into paste.) it is a drastic agent for breaking stubborn phlegm and masses. Taken alone as powder mixed with wine, taken over time, it benefits qi and prolongs life. Also suitable for treating lung abscess and lung萎 (lung atrophy). This is because bitterness drains stagnant blood, sweetness supports original qi, and cold clears lung heat; these three are the merits of Tianmendong. Suitable for those with deficiency-heat, strictly contraindicated for those with deficiency-cold, because it only drains and does not consolidate.

[Wheat's Door Winter from Suizhou] \pj33.bmp\r
[Wheat's Door Winter from Mozhou] \pj34.bmp\r

Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral in nature, slightly cold. Descending, slight yin within yang. Non-toxic. Grows on wide, flat embankments where soil is fertile. Leaves resemble sedge, long and elegant; roots like wheat grains linked in pearls, hence named Maidong (Wheat's Door Winter). Feared by Kushen (Sophora Root), Qingmu (Cinnabar?), and wood ear mushroom; detested by Kuxin (Stemona Root), Kuhu (Bitter Melon), and Kuandonghua (Adenophora Flower). Removing the core prevents irritability; selecting plump roots ensures rapid efficacy. Compatible with Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) and Cheqiancao (Plantago Seed/Herb), enters Hand Taiyin and Hand Shaoyin meridians. Treats latent fire pathogen in lungs, and lung abscess with purulent, foul-smelling sputum; tonifies heart deficiency and damage, and regulates erratic heart blood flow. Benefits essence, strengthens yin, dispels irritability, relieves thirst. Dissolves qi stagnation in chest and abdomen, resolves fullness from overeating. Beautifies complexion, nourishes skin, stops vomiting, cures weakness and shortness of breath. (Pronounced cu.) Removes subcostal fullness, dissipates deficiency heat and external pathogens. When meridions are dry and lactation fails, it serves as a guiding drug; when lung dryness causes continuous coughing, it should be used as the sovereign drug. Decocted together with Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit) and Renshen (Ginseng Root), it is called Shengmai San (Generate Pulse Powder). The seeds specifically tonify original qi; when used together with Dihuang (Rehmannia Root), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), and Humaoren (Hemp Seed), they moisten meridians, benefit blood, restore pulse, and unblock the heart. Note: Benjing primarily treats spleen and stomach organs, while later practitioners focus on lung and heart meridians. Long-term use lightens the body, prevents hunger, and delays aging.
(Mo) Note: Both Tianmendong and Maidong enter Hand Taiyin meridian, dispel irritability, relieve thirst, stop cough, and resolve phlegm. Their functions seem similar, but actually have different emphases.
Maidong also traverses Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian, often clearing heart fire and descending flames, preventing the lung from being attacked by evil pathogens, thus stopping cough immediately; Tianmendong also traverses Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridian, frequently nourishing kidney and assisting yuan qi, allowing the lung to receive its mother qi, thus resolving phlegm remarkably. Phlegm is formed by congealed fluids, and the kidney governs fluids; when dryness prevails, fluids congeal; when moisture abounds, fluids transform. Tianmendong is a moistening agent that also traverses the kidney meridian. Even if fluids congeal, it can resolve them. Although both Maidong and Tianmendong are moistening agents, their meridian pathways differ. Therefore, for upper cough, it cannot surpass Maidong; for lower phlegm resolution, it must yield to Tianmendong. Ancient sages also said: The branch of phlegm lies in the spleen, the root of phlegm lies in the kidney. Also said: Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) can only treat the branch of phlegm, not the root. From this perspective, Tianmendong can only treat the root of phlegm, not the branch. Not only is it different from Maidong, but also distinct from Banxia.