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Question: Huangqi (Astragalus Root) is produced in Hanzhong, Ganshan, Shanxi, and north of the Great Wall. Is it reasonable to uniformly discuss it from the perspective of northern production?

Answer: Although it is not strictly limited to the north, its nature actually derives from the Yang Qi within Water in the North. Therefore, discussing it primarily from a northern perspective refers to those with superior Qi acquisition; thus, Huangqi produced north of the Great Wall is considered the best. Generally, Heaven's Yang Qi emerges from the Yellow Springs underground, rising to become clouds and mist, settling as rain and dew, and interacting in humans as respiration—it is merely the Qi within Water. Human Yang Qi originates from the Qi Sea in the Kidney and Bladder, travels upward along the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) oily membranes to reach the Lungs for respiration, and spreads to the skin and hair to become Wei Qi (Defensive Qi)—it is also merely the Qi within Water. In the Five Elements, Water is most prosperous in the North; therefore, Qi-tonifying medicines are best when produced in the North. Huangqi from Hanzhong and Gansu has solid roots with few pores and weak Qi; that from Shanxi is slightly loose with more internal channels for Qi flow, making it slightly looser. However, it still does not compare to that from north of the Great Wall, which is extremely loose due to larger channels for water-Qi flow, indicating stronger Qi. Huangqi roots extend several feet deep, drawing water from the Yellow Springs to nourish sprouts and leaves; Qi is Water, so drawing water is drawing Qi. Roots with large, loose pores draw abundant water-Qi, resulting in strong Qi and tonification capabilities. Human Qi is born in the Kidneys, travels from the Qi Sea up the oily membranes to the mouth and nose, similar to how Huangqi's Qi rises through loose pores to the sprouts. The loose pores of Huangqi symbolize the loose, water-conducting oily membranes in the human body, which is the Sanjiao; thus, Huangqi is considered a medicine of the Sanjiao oily membranes. Its ability to expand the interior and reach the exterior takes meaning from Huangqi's upward and outward passage through the oily membranes. Moreover, the purple-black outer skin of Huangqi represents the color between Water and Fire, formed because it embodies the Yang Qi within Water. The Ministerial Fire of the Sanjiao is the Yang within Water, named Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). The hollow center of Huangqi resembles the Sanjiao; by drawing spring water Qi to grow sprouts, it embodies Yang within Water, hence possessing the color between Water and Fire, making it an excellent medicine for the Sanjiao. Its fleshy texture is yellow and sweet; Earth's color is deep, and it obtains rich Earth Qi, so Huangqi greatly tonifies the Spleen. Modern people do not know that the network membranes in the body are the Sanjiao, nor that the oil on these membranes belongs to the Spleen, nor that membranes and oil are connected; how can they understand the principle of Huangqi tonifying Spleen Earth and reaching the Sanjiao? If one knows the network membranes are the Sanjiao and the oil belongs to Spleen Earth, one understands that Huangqi enters the Spleen Meridian and reaches the Sanjiao!

Question: Cinnamon Bark (Rougui) grows in the South, embodying the Fire of Earth Number Two, and entering the Blood aspect is certain. However, Zhang Zhongjing uses it in Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) to transform Qi, not Blood. How is this explained?

Answer: Blood cannot move without Qi, and Qi cannot attach without Blood; Qi and Blood are not截然 separated. Furthermore, its Qi-transforming property is Zhang Zhongjing's ingenious application, not the inherent nature of Rougui. Human Qi is born from the One Yang in the Kidneys, actually borrowing the Heavenly Yang inhaled through the nostrils, passing through the Heart system, guiding Heart Fire to descend and interact with the Kidneys, then steaming Kidney Water to transform Qi which ascends and exits via the mouth and nose. Shenqi Wan uses Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Shanyao (Chinese Yam), Mudanpi (Tree Peony Bark), and Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit) to generate Water, Fuling (Poria) and Zexie (Alisma) to promote urination, then Rougui to guide Heart Fire to descend into Water, and Fuzi (Aconite Root) to stimulate Kidney Yang to steam and activate Qi. Rougui transforms Qi in this manner; this is Zhang Zhongjing's skillful use of Rougui. It is not that Rougui inherently transforms Qi. If used alone or with blood-invigorating herbs, it mostly enters the Blood aspect and is not a Qi-aspect medicine. For example, Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) is red and pungent, entering the Heart and Liver Blood aspects. Yet Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) and Guiling Gancao Wuwei Tang all utilize it to enter the Bladder and transform Qi, not because Guizhi inherently transforms Qi. It is because Fuling and Zexie promote urination, guiding Guizhi into the Water to transform Water into Qi, similar to the principle of using Rougui in Shenqi Wan. One cannot simply say Guizhi transforms Qi. As for Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Tang treating Blood Bi (Blood Obstruction) and Danggui Sini Tang treating body pain, both utilize Guizhi to warm and unblock blood vessels, showing that Heart Fire generates Blood. Herbs embodying Fire Qi entering the Blood aspect is a fixed principle.

Question: The principles of entering the Qi aspect versus the Blood aspect are not easy to understand; please explain further.

Answer: Herbs embodying Heavenly Water Qi enter the Qi aspect; those embodying Earthly Fire Qi enter the Blood aspect. Qi originates from Heaven, Flavor from Earth. Strong Qi enters the Qi aspect; strong Flavor enters the Blood aspect. Those entering the Qi aspect travel to clear orifices; those entering the Blood aspect travel to turbid orifices. Take garlic: it has strong Qi, enters the Qi aspect, travels to clear orifices, causing blurred vision upwards and foul-smelling urine downwards. Take chili peppers: they have strong Flavor, enter the Blood aspect, travel to turbid orifices, causing oral ulcers upwards and burning pain in stool downwards. Observing these two confirms the distinction between entering Qi and Blood aspects. Generally, those born of Heavenly Water Qi enter the Qi aspect; Ginseng and Huangqi are the most prominent. Similarly, Zexie and Yiyiren (Coix Seed) grow in water and promote urination, yet differ. Yiyiren grows on stems, transforming Qi downward to guide Lung Yang to the lower body. Zexie grows from roots, transforming Qi upward to guide Kidney Yin to the upper body. Lily bulb flowers cover like heaven descending; Helianthus annuus (or rather Xuanfuhua/Inula Flower) grows with dew, originating from Heaven's clear Qi, so both enter the Qi aspect to astringe Lung Qi and direct it downward. Stalactite hangs down, resembling heavenly stone and having Metal constitution, thus governing the calming and descending of Lung Qi. Gecko lives in rocks, obtaining Metal and Water Qi, thus nourishing Lung Metal, with efficacy specialized in promoting urination; its ability to stop asthma is because when Water moves, Qi transforms, and without phlegm-fluid obstruction, asthma settles naturally. Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber) and Tiandong (Asparagus Tuber) embody Water Yin, both nourishing the Lung to clear the Qi aspect. Dragons are Yang entities within Water; the Dragon Bone used today is a stone product from Earth, not aquatic. However, since it takes dragon form, it actually originates from the Yang Qi of Tianyi Water. Having taken dragon form but not flying, it borrows stone substance and hides in Earth, embodying Heavenly Yang returning underground, thus able to submerge and store Kidney Qi and calm the Spirit, utilizing the meaning of submerging Yang Qi. Fuling (Poria) is the essence of pine flowing into roots, embodying Heavenly Yang returning to its home. Below ground lies Fuling; above the pine tip grows Fuling seedling, named Weixi Zhi. Fuling in earth naturally responds upward to the seedling; obtaining pine essence gives it Wood nature, capable of loosening Earth. Congealed Earth quality, pale taste and white color, efficacy focuses on渗利 (percolating and draining), capable of moving Water. Its Qi is not continuous, naturally responding upward to the seedling, thus transforming Qi upward to benefit Qi. Westerners rub pine resin to generate electricity, saying pine resin contains much electrical energy. Pine resin sinking into earth transforms into Fuling, containing electrical energy, its Qi responding upward to the seedling, like wires connecting. However, Westerners only name it Yang Qi. Pine resin embodies the essence of Yang, sinking into earth to become Fuling; Yang Qi emits, penetrating far, generating Weixi Zhi. If not vigorous Qi transformation, how could it be so? Human Qi is transformed from the One Yang in Water; Fuling, with its percolating quality, moves Water, while its Yang Qi assists transformation, making it a key medicine for transforming Qi and moving Water. All discussed above are born of Heavenly Water Yang, thus entering the Qi aspect. Others entering the Blood aspect must be born of Earthly Fire Flavor, such as Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) and Chuanxiong (Sichuan Lovage Rhizome). Human Blood is derived from juices taken from the Stomach, transformed into red by Heart Fire, becoming Blood. Once formed, it overflows into vessels, pivots in the Uterus, and is governed by the Liver. Thus, all Blood-aspect herbs obtain Earthly Fire flavor and enter the Liver Wood. Danggui is pungent and bitter, obtaining Earthly Fire flavor; its Qi is slightly warm, obtaining Wood nature, and its substance is oily and moist; obtaining Earth's dampness, it can transform juice; it assists Heart in generating Blood to circulate in the Liver. Bencao Bie Lu states: "Danggui is too pungent and warm; its blood-moving merit is sufficient, but blood-generating merit is insufficient." They do not know that human Blood is formed from Qi and juice in the Middle Jiao, ascending to the Lungs, entering the Heart, and being transformed by Heart Fire into red Blood. Western medicine says dietary juices go to the lungs, reach the jugular vein, turn red, and enter the heart atrium. Combining these views shows that receiving Heart Fire transformation leads to Blood formation—the "Heart generates Blood" mentioned in Neijing. Danggui's pungent, bitter, warm, and fierce Qi precisely facilitates Heart Fire transformation; its oiliness generates juice, its pungency and warmth assist Heart Fire transformation. Its function is specialized in generating Blood, unmatched by other herbs. Zhang Zhongjing's harmonizing Blood formulas peak with Wenjing Tang; his generating Blood formulas peak with Maigui Fumai Tang (Guizhi Fuzi Linggan Gancao Hongsheng Dazao Huangqi Shengdi Huang Danggui Tongcao Gemeng Longgu Maimendong Mashishi Tang, often abbreviated). Wenjing Tang is pungent, warm, descending, and draining, functioning like Chuanxiong. Maigui Fumai Tang is pungent, warm, moistening, and nourishing, functioning like Danggui. Knowing Heart Fire transforms fluid into Blood, one understands Maigui Fumai Tang generates Blood and Danggui is a blood-generating herb. Chuanxiong is even more pungent and bitter, embodying Wood and Fire natures fiercely, substance not soft/moist, nature specialized in coursing, thus specializing in moving Heart and Liver Blood. Bitter is the flavor of Fire; bitter combined with pungent yields warm nature and blood-generating merit. If only bitter without pungent, nature is cool and specializes in draining Blood. Honghua (Carthamus Flower) is red, entering Blood aspect; bitter flavor specializes in draining Blood. Flowers generally are light and ascending, moving outward; thus Honghua drains Blood in skin, muscles, and collaterals externally and superiorly. Danpi (Moutan Cortex) resembles Honghua in color and flavor, but root nature descends, differing from flowers; thus it governs internal and draining Blood in Middle and Lower Jiao. Peach blossom is red, kernel bitter, both obtaining Earthly Fire nature and flavor; kernels possess vital Qi, thus Taoren (Peach Kernel) can break Blood and generate Blood. Qiancao (Rubia Cordifolia) is red, bitter, with long roots, giving it heavy descending force, specializing in descending, draining, and moving Blood.

Question: If obtaining Fire flavor allows entry into Heart to clear Fire and drain Blood, the logic is known. But pungent items obtain Lung Metal flavor, yet also enter Blood aspect. Examples include Rougui, Guizhi, Zisuye (Perilla Leaf), and Jingjie (Schizonepeta). How is this explained?

Answer: Herbs obtaining Sour flavor acquire Metal's astringent nature; those obtaining Pungent flavor acquire Wood's warming nature. This follows the principle of Five Elements opposing and complementing each other. Heart Fire generating Blood relies heavily on Liver Wood generating Fire; this is the meaning of tonifying the mother when deficient, so warming Liver is warming Heart. Rougui is highly pungent, thus highly warm; although obtaining Metal flavor, it actually becomes Wood-Fire nature, thus governing Heart and Liver Blood aspect to assist Blood generation source. Cinnamon bark ascends especially well; Zhang Zhongjing uses Guizhi in Maigui Fumai Tang, taking its entry into Heart to assist Fire in generating Blood. Yuanzhi (Polygala Root) shares Guizhi's nature, but Guizhi extends in four directions, whereas Yuanzhi is a root body, very thin, only governing internal entry into Heart Meridian to dissipate stagnant Blood in Heart. Not only herbs with inherent Fire flavor enter Blood aspect; horses are Fire animals, so horse dung (Matong) can also descend Fire to move Blood. Zaoren (Ziziphus Seed) embodies Fire's red color, thus entering Heart to nourish Blood; overall, Blood is generated by Heart. Generally, those obtaining Earthly Fire nature and flavor enter Blood aspect.

Question: Shengdi (Rehmannia Root) is moist, containing water fluids; Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gel) is boiled with water, inherently Water Yin. Both generate Blood; why?

Answer: The Yin line in Li Trigram is Kan Water. Ejiao and Shengdi use Water to balance Fire, exactly filling Li with Kan. With this Yin juice, Heart Fire transforms it red, becoming Blood! This aligns with Neijing's principle: Middle Jiao takes juice, offers to Heart Fire, transforms red into Blood. Understanding Blood generation, one can deduce all Blood-aspect herbs.

Question: Geography differs North-South; produced herbs have Water/Fire and Blood/Qi distinctions, as you stated. What about East-West-Center? Are there no differences? Why not discuss them?

Answer: North-South Water-Fire are obvious distinctions. Moreover, Yin-Yang interplay means South receives North Qi, and North receives South Qi. East-West cycle, Center extends four ways; their Qi intermixes, so separation is unnecessary. However, some can be distinguished. Qingmengshi (Green Migmatite) and Lizhihe (Lychee Seed) embody Eastern Wood Qi. They may level Liver to move Phlegm or scatter Liver to resolve Depression. Those produced in the East fully obtain Wood Qi, so Guangdong-produced ones are best. Chuanbeimu (Fritillaria Cirrhosa), Sheng Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), Sangbaipi (Morus Bark) embody Western Metal Qi. They may benefit Lung to descend Phlegm or clear Metal to remove Heat. Those produced in the West fully obtain pure Metal Qi, so Western Sichuan-produced ones are best. Using eastward-growing plum roots or east-facing pomegranates obtains Wood Qi. Cebaiye (Platycladi Cacumen) points west; using western branches obtains Metal Qi. The Center possesses Four Qi of SE-NW, but also uniquely obtains Central Qi. Henan, located centrally, produces Dihuang (Rehmannia Root). People see Dihuang as black, not knowing raw Dihuang is originally yellow. Henan plains have thick soil and deep water; Dihuang obtains Central Damp Earth Qi, containing moistening Earth dampness. People only see steamed Dihuang as black, thinking it nourishes Kidney Yin, not knowing it actually nourishes Spleen Yin. Neijing says: Spleen is Yin among Yin. Dihuang returns Dampness to Spleen; sufficient Spleen Yin irrigates Liver and Kidneys naturally. Shanyao (Chinese Yam) is best from Henan; sweet taste with fluid, obtaining Earth Damp Qi, functions to tonify Spleen and Spleen Yin. Shanyao is white, obtaining Metal Qi within Earth, thus tonifying Spleen and benefiting Lung. Dihuang turns black, obtaining Water Qi within Earth, thus moistening Spleen and nourishing Kidney. Though produced in same place, different species/forms/colors lead to slight efficacy differences.