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Peony Root Bark (Mudanpi)
Taste: Pungent, Bitter. Nature: Cold. Category: Slightly Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. Grows abundantly in Hanzhong and Ba Commandery. The flowers exhibit exceptional varieties and colors. Wealthy individuals emulate the praise of ancient sages, regarding its appreciation as a precious activity of the contemporary era. For medicinal use, only the root bark is harvested. Peonies cultivated in gardens with double petals have roots with dispersed Qi and weak efficacy; those growing in valleys with single petals possess complete root nature and potent spiritual efficacy. Red peony root bark specializes in invigorating blood and resolving stasis, while white peony root bark兼具 tonifying effects. When preparing decoctions, this distinction must not be overlooked. Currently, people often substitute it with Platycodon root bark (Jiegengpi) or mix it with Acanthopanax root bark (Wujiapi). This deviation is extremely erroneous, so selection should be meticulous. It enters the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian. Avoid garlic and scallions; fear Dodder seed (Tusiren). It clears bone-steaming fever without leaving remnants, and is essential for stopping hematemesis and epistaxis. It eliminates hard masses and blood stasis retained in the intestines and stomach, disperses cold and hot blood qi attacks occurring postpartum. It also governs insufficiency of spirit and mind, and regulates irregular menstruation. It treats wind epilepsy, stabilizes convulsions, and stops fright; it heals carbuncles and swellings, discharges pus, and relieves pain.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: "Mu" and "Pin" are terms denoting male and female from heaven and earth; "Mu" is the head among all flowers. Flowers represent Yin forming substance, leaves represent Yang generating life. Red color corresponds to Li (Fire). Cortex Mori Radicis (Digupi) treats bone-steaming with sweating, whereas Peony Root Bark (Mudanpi) treats bone-steaming without sweating. This observation likely stems from such distinctions. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* further states that the Foot Shaoyin meridian relates to the Kidney, and insufficiency of willpower (Zhi) relates to the Foot Shaoyin meridian. Zhang Zhongjing's usage in Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia Decoction (Ba Wei Wan) does not primarily focus on this aspect?

Great and Small Thistle (Da Xiao Ji)
Taste: Sweet, Bitter. Nature: Warm. Some say Cool. Non-toxic. Although two distinct types, their taste and nature are similar. They grow everywhere in fields and countryside. Those produced in Beiping (modern Shuntian) have superior efficacy. The name "Jimen" (Thistle Gate) derives from thistle, which can serve as evidence. For medicinal use, the root must be harvested. Great Thistle grows over three to four chi tall, with leaves mostly green, spiny, and wrinkled. Flowers resemble hairpins, red like red indigo, hence northerners call it "Thousand-Needle Grass." It rapidly breaks blood stasis and miraculously reduces swelling. Hematemesis, epistaxis, expectoration, and spitting are immediately removed; leakage and metrorrhagia stop instantly. It removes venom from spider and scorpion bites, and soothes severe pain from sudden abscesses. Crush and squeeze half a bowl of thick juice, mixed with child's urine or pure wine for oral administration. Small Thistle grows about one chi high, flowers similar as above, but leaves differ slightly, having spines but not wrinkled. It only manages blood diseases, not external surgeries.