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Bai Cao Shuang (Soot) is the soot-like smoke found on the forehead of the stove and in the smoke furnace. Its texture is light and fine. It is also known as Zao Tu Mo (Soot from the Chimney). Fu Qi Mo (Soot from the Cauldron Navel), also known as Fu Yue Zhong Mo, is another name for it, commonly referred to as Gu Di Mo (Bottom-of-the-Pot Soot).

It tastes pungent and has a warm temperature. These two substances, along with the dust hanging upside down from beams, are all formed by the condensation of smoke. However, their physical qualities differ in being light and void versus heavy and solid. The heavier ones enter the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner) and Lower Jiao (Lower Burner), while the lighter ones enter the regions of the Heart and Lung. (Li Shizhen)

It stops bleeding from various parts above and below. It treats women's metrorrhagia (sudden heavy uterine bleeding), leukorrhea, and various diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth. It addresses Yang toxicity mania in Shanghan (Cold Damage) syndrome. Jaundice. Malaria and dysentery. Yige (Dysphagia/Obstruction of the esophagus). All kinds of sores on the throat, mouth, and tongue. It digests food stagnation. (Used in formulas for the lower jiao)

Medical texts record its use for treating hematemesis (vomiting blood), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and hematochezia (blood in stool). Blood accumulation. Dietary injury. As well as dysentery caused by food stagnation. It also treats abdominal pain caused by food stagnation. Fecal impaction. Glossitis and pharyngitis. Sore throat and peritonsillar abscess.

For hemoptysis, take one slice of fresh ginger, dip it in Bai Cao Shuang, and hold it in the mouth to swallow. If the taste of the powder fades, spit it out and dip again. When the ginger loses its flavor, spit it out and replace it. After hematemesis stops, decoct Bai Cao Shuang together with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) and other herbs for oral administration.

For intestinal wind bleeding, mix Xiang Fu (Cyperi Rhizoma) powder with Bai Cao Shuang, and administer with rice water. Add a small amount of She Xiang (Musk), which yields particularly rapid results.

For metrorrhagia, use 2 qian of Bai Cao Shuang, mixed evenly with Dog Bile. Divide into two doses, taken with Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) wine.

For threatened miscarriage with bleeding, or if the fetus has died, use 2 qian of Bai Cao Shuang, 1 qian of Brown Ash (Zong Hui), and 5 qian of Fu Long Gan (Dragon's House Earth/Potash). Grind into fine powder. Take 1-2 qian per dose, mixed with white water, wine, and Tong Bian (Child's Urine) for oral administration.

For dystocia (malpositioned birth), transverse lie, thin fetus syndrome, as well as deficiency-induced menstrual irregularities, metrorrhagia, etc., mix equal parts of Bai Cao Shuang and Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) into powder. Take 2 qian per dose, mixed with a little Tong Bian and Vinegar, dissolved in hot water for oral administration.

If the tongue swells like a pig bladder, suddenly becomes hard, and causes suffocation leading to death within moments, use the powder of bottom-of-the-pot soot. Mix with vinegar to form a thick paste and apply to the upper and lower surfaces of the tongue. It will subside in a short time. If blood is first pricked and drained, followed by application, the effect is even better.

If there is a lump in the throat preventing the intake of water and food, mix Bai Cao Shuang with honey to make pills the size of an Indian chestnut. Dissolve one pill in newly drawn cold water and instill it orally. For severe cases, no more than two pills are needed.

For muscle spasms moving into the abdomen, take 1 qian of bottom-of-the-pot soot powder mixed with wine.

For cholera with vomiting and diarrhea, use 5 fen of bottom-of-the-pot coal and 5 fen of soot from the stove forehead. Add one cup of boiling water, stir vigorously thousands of times, cover with a bowl, and give 1-2 sips orally to stop symptoms immediately.

[Discussion] Water belongs to the color black, and the refined essence transformed by fire still returns to black, implying a meaning of returning to its origin. Therefore, ancient sages often used Bai Cao Shuang and Fu Di Mo to treat various blood disorders. This is because blood originally transforms from water, and the ability of water to transform into blood is accomplished by True Fire. Diseases affecting blood occur when True Water is insufficient and Evil Fire is excessive. This herb treats blood disorders by utilizing the principle of transforming from water to blood, and then returning from blood to water. Thus, it can heal blood diseases caused by fire. Furthermore, for any bleeding condition, applying it externally stops the bleeding immediately. Even if the bleeding is not caused by fire, it can be treated. This is fundamentally due to the primordial energy of the harmonious transformation of Water and Fire, further drawing upon the qi of their mutual transformation. It is originally not used merely for astringency to stop bleeding; rather, through the qi of Water and Fire transformation, it utilizes the wondrous effect of their metamorphosis. It can even be used to tonify deficiency. Therefore, it is neither cold nor hot, achieving efficacy through its primary action. It grasps the pivot to turn the mechanism. Investigating the various conditions it treats, all follow this principle. Those who understand will realize this naturally, without clinging to the theory of "treating fire with fire" or heavenly principles. (Referring to following treatment.)

Used to apply to metal wounds, generating flesh and stopping bleeding. However, do not include it in topical wound powders, as its black pigment penetrates the flesh like a tattoo and cannot be removed. (Chen Shigong)