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The stems and spikes of Jingjie (Schizonepetae Spica) taste pungent and slightly bitter. The qi nature is warm, while the substance nature is slightly cool. Both qi and flavor are thin, possessing a floating and ascending property. It is a herb entering the Liver meridian's Qi level, capable of searching out and dispersing Liver Qi. It primarily treats aversion to wind and thief-wind (pathogenic winds), deviation of the mouth and eye, spasm of tendons in hands and feet, or generalized numbness. It unifies the blood vessels, removes damp-bi, dissipates accumulated Qi, and transmits insufficient Qi from the five Zang organs. It also treats Blood-Lao (a condition caused by chronic illness leading to blood deficiency and heat), and fullness due to stagnation of wind-qi. (This indicates blood deficiency with excessive heat). It addresses emaciation and pain in the back and spine, spontaneous sweating, and vexatious pain in bones and sinews. (This indicates Yin deficiency of the Liver and Kidney, where blood fails to nourish the bones and sinews). It searches out Liver Qi, disperses wind-heat, clears the head and eyes, treats vertigo, dizziness, and eye diseases, benefits the throat, and is a key herb for hematemesis, epistaxis, lower GI bleeding, bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia, uterine bleeding, women's blood-wind disease, and postpartum wind-stroke. It reduces carbuncles and swellings, and treats alternating chills and fever as well as scrofula. Formulary texts use it for nasal disorders, convulsions, mania, epilepsy, phlegm-fluids, cough, vomiting, constipation and stranguria, podagra, rectal prolapse, and Liver-heat generating wind, hence its name "Blood-Wind". In cases of consumptive disease where long-term illness leads to blood deficiency, amenorrhea, and persistent fever (due to wind pathogen invasion), it dispels wind pathogens, disperses stasis, breaks Qi accumulation, and eliminates toxin sores. Generally, the Jueyin Wind-Wood governs blood, and Ministerial Fire resides within it; thus, it is a crucial herb for wind diseases, blood diseases, and sores. (Li Shizhen stated): For any unilateral facial paralysis with deviation of the mouth and eye, use one jin of Jingjie and one jin of Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), grind them together in a mortar until paste-like, squeeze the juice through raw silk, boil into an extract in porcelain, filter off one-third of the dregs, dry the remaining two-thirds to powder, mix with the extract to make pills the size of wu-tzu seeds. Take thirty pills each time with warm water, morning and evening. Avoid wind-inducing foods. For wind-stroke with locked jaw, take Jingjie spike powder with wine, two qian, for immediate recovery, named Jingjie San. For postpartum wind-stroke with locked jaw, convulsions resembling opisthotonos, syncope with limb stiffness, or unconsciousness, lightly roast Jingjie spikes, grind to fine powder. Stir-fry Douchi Huangjuan (Sojae Semen Praeparatum), pour wine over it, remove the beans, take the clear liquid to mix with three to five qian of the powder, including dregs. Mild cases recover after one dose; severe cases after two or three doses. Mixing with child's urine is also effective. Generally, severe postpartum vertigo causes sweating and loose pores, making one susceptible to wind-stroke. This is often due to anger injuring the Liver, sorrow causing internal Qi stagnation, or exposure to wind during childbirth. Immediate administration of this medicine is required. The above formulas also treat all types of hemorrhage and spasms after sweating. Add Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) in equal parts to Zhimi formula, decoct in water and take. If there is locked jaw, pry open teeth to administer; if unable to swallow, insufflate into the nose for miraculous effect. For postpartum coma and confusion (caused by fever after anger), use half raw Jingjie spikes and half roasted on new tiles to powder, take one to two qian with child's urine. For opisthotonos, take with Doulin Jiu (Soybean Wine) or decoct the powder with child's urine for excellent results. Opisthotonos is a critical postpartum syndrome, for which Jingjie is the essential herb. Note: Taking Jingjie with wine expands Yin to reach Yang; taking it with child's urine enriches Yin to harmonize Yang. Although both transform wind, the methods differ. For postpartum wind-deficiency and blood-deficiency vertigo/fainting, use one liang three qian of Jingjie spikes and five qian of Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) peeled and stir-fried, powder, take three qian with water. If panting, add Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) peeled and stir-fried, and Zhi Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Preparata) three qian each. For postpartum dysentery, burn four or five spikes of Jingjie in a cup until carbonized (avoid oil/fire), add a little She Xiang (Moschus), and take with a small amount of boiling water. Though mild, this herb cures major illnesses and should not be neglected. For profuse bleeding from mouth and nose due to excess alcohol and sexual activity, take two qian of Jingjie powder with Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) decoction; two doses cure. For continuous metrorrhagia, burn Jingjie spikes on a sesame oil lamp until charred, take two qian mixed with child's urine. For all head and eye disorders, Blood-Lao wind-headache, vertigo, and dizziness, take three qian of Jingjie spike powder with wine for miraculous results.

[Discussion] Jingjie sows seeds in February, grows through summer, and flowers/fruits in August. (Efficacy focuses on the spikes). The *Shennong Ben Cao Jing* states it is pungent and warm, implying that its pungency fully constitutes its warming and ascending nature. Li Chan states its nature is slightly cool because "nature" governs "qi and flavor." This herb is first pungent then bitter; pungency prevails while bitterness is slight. Within the pungent and bitter qualities, there is a cooling aspect, utilizing bitterness to achieve its cooling and descending nature. Based on warm Qi and pungent Flavor, it aligns with the ascending energy of Spring Wood. Thus, it can penetrate Yin, allowing Yang to emerge through Yin. (Therefore, it unifies blood vessels, breaks Qi accumulation, transmits deficient Qi of the Zang organs, removes damp-bi, and descends blood stasis; this layer represents Yang ascending while Yin follows to become smooth.) When Yang emerges through Yin, wind is treated, and blood is harmonized. Furthermore, combining its pungent flavor with its cool nature aligns with the cooling descent of Autumn Metal. Thus, it can harmonize Yang, allowing Yin to flow prior to Yang. (Therefore, it searches out Liver Qi, treats Blood-Lao, resolves wind-Qi fullness, back/spine pain, and bone/sinew vexation, and treats male podagra; this layer represents Yin descending while Yang follows to harmonize blood.) When Yin flows before Yang, blood is enriched, and wind is calmed. Analyzing its nature and flavor, it seems entirely Metal-like, akin to Heaven Qi guiding Earth Qi. It can ascend to reach stagnant Yin on earth, and descend to transform hyperactive Yang in heaven. Thus, although not exclusively warming/ascending, if assisted properly with ascending/dispersing methods, whether the cause is external wind-cold obstructing Yang, or internal seven emotions causing blood stasis obstructing Yang (Liver Qi transforming into wind), this herb can expand Yin to reach it. Although not exclusively cooling/descending, if assisted properly with clearing/descending methods, whether the cause is internal Liver-heat causing Yang rebellion (excess Liver Qi leads to Yang excess and blood heat; prolonged heat leads to blood deficiency and Blood-Lao wind, requiring cooling/descending treatment), or external six evils causing blood heat rebelling against Yang (Liver Qi flooding into wind), this herb can enrich Yin to harmonize it. Since both Wind and Blood organs belong to the Liver, Jingjie's essence specifically targets the Liver, making it a key herb for blood. Blood requires ascending; herbs that ascend and descend simultaneously achieve complete function. (This herb fully acquires Metal Qi; its warming ascent precedes its cooling descent, returning to its origin.) Moreover, excess Qi becomes Fire. The Classics state: Yang diseases originate in blood. Hence, Li Shizhen noted its efficacy in treating hematemesis, epistaxis, and other bleeding disorders and hemorrhoids. (Jingjie treats rebellious blood, especially excelling in downward action). Additionally, Jingjie's action ascends more than descends, particularly affecting the head and eyes; it cannot be denied as a wind-dispersing agent. However, it differs from common wind agents used by contemporary physicians. The Wind-Wood Qi in the human body ascends from below; it is Shaoyang within Yin, belonging to Earth Qi. Like Heaven Qi descending to interact with Earth, if Yang lacks Yin and exists only as solitary Yang, how can it interact with Yin to achieve balance? Jingjie embodies Yang containing Minor Yin. Governing Heaven Qi above, it meets Earth Qi seeking to reach Heaven, facilitating its flow without letting ascending Yang re-stagnate in Yin. Furthermore, Yin within Yang combines with Earth Qi generated by Primordial Yang to interact, preventing Yang from reaching Heaven without return and separating from Yin. (The Classics say: Yang exiting Yin causes anger; is this not Liver dysfunction?) To claim this herb merely disperses wind, without understanding its subtle ability to calm wind, is ignorance. Understanding this principle reveals that treating wind-stroke Yang hyperactivity (Xijiao Fangfeng Tang), headache clearing upper fire (Qingshang Xiehuo Tang), dizziness removing wind-heat, and mania clearing Heart-heat, do not merely assist flavors to clear wind-heat, but follow the principle of returning Yang to Yin. Treating wind-stroke guiding Yang stagnation (Zhuifeng Rusheng San), headache/eye pain dispersing blood stasis (Shangqing San), head-wind scalp flakes clearing Qi obstruction (Renshen Xiaofeng San), and wind-epilepsy transforming Yin stagnation/reaching Yang obstruction, do not merely assist flavors to disperse wind-Yang, but follow the principle of penetrating Yin from Yang. Treating wind-stroke tonifying essence/blood/reaching Yuan Yang/resolving Yang stagnation (Buguzhi Wan), headache benefiting Liver Qi/harmonizing Yin to resolve Yang eliminating wind-toxin (Da Zhuifeng San), and convulsions nourishing Yin/harmonizing Yang eliminating wind stagnation, using Jingjie centrally does not aim to disperse wind, but utilizes the complete method of penetrating Yin from Yang and transforming Yang from Yin. Merely adhering to superficial wind-dispersal theories, consider why a single dose of Jingjie works miraculously for postpartum blood-deficiency wind syndromes. (Wind herbs are usually drying and deplete Yin; Jingjie uniquely succeeds in postpartum, hemorrhage, and post-sweat wind syndromes because its moist ascent contains cooling descent—transforming Yin to Yang, i.e., Yang returning to Yin—possessing the wonder of Yin-Yang mutual transformation, making wind treatment divine). Why is it particularly close to Large Intestine blood diseases? Wind and dry-heat share the same Qi (Yang). Only this herb penetrates Yin from Yang and transforms Yang from Yin, making it suitable for both heat and cold (e.g., Jinfeicao San assisting Mahuang for cold cough; Xuanfuhua Tang assisting Mahuang and Wuweizi for postpartum cold cough). Since it suits Yin and Yang equally, why does it treat upper symptoms most frequently, while lower symptoms like podagra are rare? Jingjie is a refined agent of Heaven Qi. The Classics state: If cloud/mist is impure, White Dew does not descend. Pure cloud/mist is Heaven Yang combining with Earth Yin, fermenting and changing to extreme subtlety, providing a basis for blood generation, like White Dew descending. (Qi at Danzhong is like cloud/mist, meaning Danzhong Qi desires transformation. Blood generates from Yin within Yang, refines via Heaven Qi clouds/mist, gathers at Danzhong Blood Meeting, receives cooling descent, and returns to the Sea of Blood.) Thus, Qi condensing upward as pure cloud/mist explains the difference in treating upper versus lower regions. In summary, this herb specializes in the Liver, wondrously using Yin-Yang transformation to resolve accumulation. Only through Yin-Yang mutual transformation is wind treatment divine. (Thus, Qinglong San uses Jingjie as sovereign for wind transmission, abdominal stasis, yellow eyes, blocked wind Qi, heat-center thirst). It should not be viewed merely as a wind-dispersing herb alongside other wind agents.

Yin deficiency with flaming fire causing red face and subsequent headache.

[Processing] Aged material is superior. Remove stems, use only spikes. Light stir-frying reduces pungency. For stopping bleeding, must be charred black.