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Xinzhou Aristolochia Manshuriensis (Madouling)
Chuzhou Aristolochia Manshuriensis (Madouling)

Taste: bitter. Nature: cold. Category: Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. Grows in valleys and mountains, especially abundant in the wild. Vines climb trees to grow; fruits resemble bells with five lobes. Remove the membranous pericarp and take the flat seeds inside. For medicinal use, stir-fry lightly until dry for best results. Burn the smoke to fumigate hemorrhoids and sores; decoct in water to forcefully resolve phlegm accumulation causing wheezing and shortness of breath. Clears lung heat to stop cough, clears lung qi and tonifies deficiency. The root is named Qingmuxiang (Aristolochia Root), which is also a qi-regulating herb.

Chuzhou Qingmuxiang (Aristolochia Root)
Guangzhou Costus Root (Muxiang)

Taste: sweet, bitter. Nature: warm. Taste is denser than aroma; nature is descending, belonging to Yang within Yin. Non-toxic. Originates from foreign lands, arriving via Fujian and Guangdong. Shape resembles dried bones; taste is bitter and sticky to teeth. When using it, avoid fire or direct sunlight. When preparing pills and powders, dry them under the sun; when decocting, add the powder to hot soup just before taking. It cannot tonify weak or deficient qi, but can unblock distension and obstruction of qi. Miraculously harmonizes stomach qi; most swiftly moves liver qi. Scatters stagnant qi in the upper chest and diaphragm; breaks accumulated qi in the middle and lower jiao. Drives out nine types of heart pain; expels chronic cold qi. As an assistant or guide drug, its functions vary. Combined with Areca Seed (Binglang) to break qi; combined with Ginger and Tangerine Peel (Jiangju) to harmonize the stomach. Stops cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, regurgitation and reverse flow; eliminates masses and lumps, abdominal distension and pain. Calms the fetus and strengthens the spleen; eliminates carbuncles and disperses toxins. Combined with Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian) to treat acute dysentery; fire-roasted to consolidate the large intestine. Expels epidemic pestilence pathogens; guards against miasma from fog and dew. Yi Lao stated: This is a general formula for regulating all types of qi; it should not be taken for a long time.

(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: Wang Haizang cited *Shennong Bencao Jing* stating: "Mainly treats weak and insufficient qi." *Yaoxing Lun* states: "Calms the fetus and strengthens the spleen," both indicating tonification. *Yanyi* states: "Drains chest and abdominal obstruction and chronic cold qi." *Rihuaizi* states: "Eliminates masses and lumps," both indicating purgation/breaking. Yi Lao generally regarded it as a qi-regulating agent, neither specifying tonification nor breaking. Why do these theories differ? It is likely that when used as an assistant to tonifying drugs, it acts as a tonic; when used as an assistant to purgative drugs, it acts as a purgative. Hence this statement.