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Sedum (Suxie)

Bitter in taste, neutral in nature. Non-toxic. Grows spreading on the ground in spring, found everywhere along roads. The seedlings resemble Dianthus superbus (Qumai), and the roots look like Artemisia capillaris (Penghao). Leaves are slender, with a taste similar to bamboo leaves; stems are reddish, resembling hairpins. Flowers bloom between nodes, pale greenish-yellow. Harvested in May, dried in shade for medicinal use. Primarily treats oozing scabies, sores, hemorrhoids; manages eye pain caused by Danchi (mineral pill) toxicity. Expels roundworms in children; treats vaginal erosion in women.

Kushen from Chengde Army
Kushen from Qinzhou

Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Sinking in action, purely Yin. Non-toxic. Grows spontaneously in fields, valleys, and mountains. Roots are harvested, sun-dried, and extremely bitter when chewed. Incompatible with Veratrum nigrum (Lilu); adverse interaction with Fritillaria cirrhosa (Beimu) and Cuscuta chinensis (Tusizi). Best paired with Scrophularia ningpoensis (Xuanshen); suitable only for pill formulation (not for decoctions or powders). Treats intestinal wind bleeding and severe heat-dysentery with scraping pain; manages critical cases of warm disease with delirium, heart dryness, chest binding, and impending death. Effective for dispelling wind in cases of erysipelas with eyebrow loss; effective for draining water in jaundice with enuresis. Clears generalized pruritus and rashes; stops acute cardiac pain. Eliminates carbuncles and swellings, kills scabies mites. Breaks up masses and accumulations, dissipates stagnant Qi. Nourishes Liver Qi, brightens eyes, stops tearing; benefits Kidney essence, relieves thirst, generates fluids. Opens the nine orifices, unblocks bowels, calms the Five Zang organs, stabilizes willpower. Seeds form pods, harvestable in October. Also brightens eyes and lightens the body, but efficacy is confirmed only with long-term use.

Qianniuzi (Pharbitidis Semen)

Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Toxic. Found everywhere regardless of region. In mid-spring, vines sprout and climb walls and fences; flowers bloom in autumn (similar to Ipomoea nil, blue-green, opening at sunrise, closing at sunset). Fruits form white, spherical capsules. Leaves emerge from branches with three pointed angles; seeds inside also have three ridges. Harvested in September, sun-dried, available in black and white varieties. Black seeds act quickly via Water element; white seeds act slowly via Metal element. Stir-fried, ground, and decocted, using the finest powder. Removes stagnation and urgent Qi obstruction; highly effective for Pi accumulation and Gu toxicity. Relieves difficulty in urination and defecation; extremely effective for lower limb edema and fullness.

Annotation by Mo: Dongyuan stated that Pharbitidis Semen is not mentioned in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*, but appears in *Mingyi Biezhu*, stating it is bitter and cold, capable of draining dampness and promoting urination, treating chancre and gout. According to this, both its flavor/nature and indications are incorrect. In alchemical preparations, small doses move the bowels, large doses cause watery diarrhea; thus, it is a Qi-draining herb. Tasting it reveals a pungent, spicy flavor that intensifies upon prolonged chewing, clearly Pungent rather than Bitter/Cold as claimed. Where does the "bitter and cold" description come from? Pharbitidis Semen can drain damp-heat from Qi level, but cannot drain damp-heat from Blood level. Since dampness tends to settle in the Lower Jiao, which governs Blood, dampness in the Blood level requires bitter-cold herbs. Zhang Zhongjing treated seven types of dampness with urinary difficulty without using Pharbitidis Semen, not because he didn't know its diuretic effect, but because the root of dampness lies in the Lower Jiao (Blood level Qi disorder), and pungent Qi-moving herbs would wrongly drain Upper Jiao Taiyin Lung Qi. Even Zhang Zhongjing dared not use it lightly; why do modern physicians use it indiscriminately without distinguishing Blood and Qi? Dampness is a variant of water, having physical form. If the Lungs are first affected by dampness, it may be appropriate. However, today, regardless of whether dampness exists, if there is food stagnation, desire to move bowels, heat syndrome, or for daily digestion aid, it is used universally. Is this not an error? One must realize that Pharbitidis Semen drains Qi more severely than other pungent herbs. Mr. Zhang Wenyi once said: "Do not become addicted to Pharbitidis Semen, as it depletes Yuan Qi." I initially doubted how one could be addicted to medicine, but later observed many patients with alcohol/food-induced abdominal masses who took Shenxiong Wan containing Pharbitidis Semen. Initial relief was followed by recurrence of mass; repeated use provided temporary relief, confirming that long-term addiction secretly damages Yuan Qi without awareness. Treatment should focus on strengthening Spleen and Stomach to generate Yuan Qi, allowing natural digestion. This is the optimal approach. Classics state: "Pungent drains Qi; those with Lung Qi disease should not consume much pungency." Moreover, dietary excess and fatigue damage the Stomach. When Stomach Qi fails to descend, Heart Fire invades. Stomach receiving Fire pathogen is called "Heat Middle." *Maijing* states: "Spleen and Stomach govern Blood; diseases arising here require clearing Fire, moistening dryness, breaking bad blood, and draining Stomach damp-heat within the Blood level." If Stomach Heat flares upward affecting Lungs, use Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin) bitter-cold to clear Fire, Angelica sinensis (Danggui) pungent-warm to resolve Blood stasis, and Persicae Semen (Taoren) pungent-sweet/oily to break bad blood and moisten bowels. Yet, these should not be used exclusively; they must be combined with Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi), Ginseng (Renshen), and Licorice (Gancao)—sweet-warm/sweet-cold herbs that tonify Yuan Qi and drain Deficient Fire. Why? Upper Jiao Yuan Qi is already weak, fluids insufficient, mouth/tongue dry. Using pungent-hot Pharbitidis Semen would further drain weakened Qi and fluids, promote urination, exacerbate Deficient Fire, leading to death (severe) or premature death (mild). Truly pitiable! Pharbitidis Semen arises from Southern Fire-Heat transformation. Draining Qi due to Blood Heat is a significant error! It is only suitable when dampness predominates, Qi fails to transform, causing urinary/fecal obstruction; then dampness clears, Qi circulates freely. This aligns with "Five Zang organs balance each other against pathogens." Classics state: "When one Zang is imbalanced, balance it with its controlling element." Fire controls Metal and drains Lungs—this is the principle. In Qian's Xiehuang San, Fangfeng is used double the dose of other herbs because its pungent-warm nature drains the Son of Metal (Fire) within Earth, preventing Mother (Metal) from being assisted. Classics state: "Pathogens coming from the Son are Excess Pathogens," meaning "Son makes Mother Excess," so we use the controlling element to balance. *Hui'an Yulu* notes: "Eating ginger in autumn shortens lifespan." Classics only say "Pungent drains Qi," but Hui'an warns deeply against it. Why? Eating ginger at Autumn Equinox drains Qi, hence prohibited. Ginger is allowed in summer because Heat is flourishing; sweating disperses Heat. Ginger induces sweating to vent Heat. If ginger has such restrictions, how much more so Pharbitidis Semen! Thus, pungent substances have times when they should be avoided, just as Pharbitidis Semen should not be used indiscriminately.