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Question: The nature of Wood is dispersing, why does its flavor turn sour and govern astringency?

Answer: This is also a principle of opposition and mutual completion, reflecting the interaction between Metal and Wood. Any substance that acquires the flavor of Wood also acquires the nature of Metal; therefore, sour flavors generally govern astringency. *Schisandrae Fructus* (Schisandra Berry) treats cough with rebellious Qi ascending. Qi originates from the lower abdomen, specifically the uterus (*Baogong*) and Qi Sea (*Qihai*), travels upward along the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) into the Lung. The uterus is governed by the Liver. If Liver Cold occurs, Qi from the uterus and Chong Mai carries fluid retention upward to attack the Lung, causing cough and wheezing. If Liver Heat occurs, Qi from the uterus and Chong Mai carries Fire upward to attack the Lung, also causing cough and wheezing. *Schisandrae Fructus*, being sour, astringes Liver Wood, preventing Liver Qi from rebelling upward. Thus, both Water and Fire are prevented from causing disease by ascending rebellion. This demonstrates that sour flavor enters the Liver and acquires the astringent nature of Metal, hence this efficacy. *Schisandrae Fructus* is slightly sour and moist in texture; its fruit is large and hollow, resembling the hollow emptiness of the Lung. It grows among leaves, and its nature is light and floating, so its function specializes in astringing Lung Qi and generating fluids. *Schisandrae Fructus* astringes the Liver to indirectly astringe the Lung because its nature and flavor are more sinking. *Galla Chinensis* (Chinese Gall) specializes in astringing the Lung because its nature and flavor are slightly floating. *Papaveris Pericarpium* (Poppy Shell) can also astringe the Lung; its sourness is not strong, and its hollow sac with partitions resembles the Lung and diaphragm. Therefore, its astringent property does not pervade the Liver but enters the Lung to astringe rebellious Qi and stop diarrhea/dysentery. *Paeoniae Radix Alba* (White Peony Root) is the last flower of spring; its root is slightly sour, so it mainly astringes Liver Wood, descends Fire, and promotes blood circulation. *Corni Fructus* (Cornelian Cherry Fruit) is sour and moist, so it specifically enters the Liver to nourish Yin and Blood. *Mume Fructus* (Smoked Plum) is extremely sour; it can astringe Liver Wood, dissolve roundworms, and remove polyps. All these follow the principle of "Wood overcoming Earth" and "using sourness for astringency." Observing that the sourness of *Crataegi Fructus* (Hawthorn Fruit) can resolve meat stagnation, we know that the sourness of *Mume Fructus* can dissolve roundworms and polyps; the logic is the same.

Question: All sour flavors can generate fluids. How is this explained?

Answer: Fluids (*Jin*) are generated by the Kidney and dispersed by the Liver. Wood can drain Water; this is the offspring organ stimulating the mother organ's Qi. Sour flavor stimulates Liver Qi, causing fluids to disperse.

Question: Sourness governs astringency, yet extremely sour substances can induce vomiting. Why?

Answer: Pungency governs ascending and dispersing, but extremely pungent substances govern warming and descending. Sourness governs astringency, but extremely sour substances govern forcing vomiting. When things reach their extreme, they reverse; what goes up to the extreme comes down, and what goes down to the extreme comes up. Observing that Zhang Zhongjing’s *Xiao Chaihu Tang* (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) and *Da Chaihu Tang* (Major Bupleurum Decoction) treat vomiting due to Liver Fire, and *Wuzhuyu Tang* (Evodia Decoction) treats vomiting due to Liver Cold, we know that all vomiting must involve the ascending Qi of Liver Wood to occur. Therefore, inducing vomiting requires guiding Liver Qi upward. *Er Fan* (Two Alum minerals) are extremely sour, turning astringent. Sourness gathers and draws fluids; astringency blocks and stops flow. When Liver Qi becomes too urgent and rebels upward, vomiting occurs. Furthermore, *Calcar Cupri Sulfatis* (Blue Vitriol/Chalcanthite) forms in copper ores, possessing the sour flavor of Wood but acquiring the astringent nature of Metal. When Metal’s nature is slow, it calms Wood Qi and directs it downward; when Metal’s nature is rapid, it blocks Wood Qi and forces upward vomiting. This is the constant and variable principle of Metal and Wood, which can be studied in detail. Thus I say: Those who acquire the flavor of Wood acquire the nature of Metal. Only the nature of Earth does not change through Yin-Yang interchange. One must investigate flavors and drugs carefully.

Question: Based on the above discussion, Salty flavor acquires the flavor of Water and should obtain the nature of Fire. Why do *Inulae Flos* (Inula Flower), being salty and moist, descend phlegm-fire? Why does *Alismatis Rhizoma* (Alisma Rhizome), being salty and moist, promote damp-heat drainage? Why do *Sargassum* (Kelp) and *Hijiki* (Seaweed), being salty, clear Liver Fire? Why do *Natrii Sulfas* (Mirabilite) and *Calcitum Rubrum* (Red Halite), being salty, purge Spleen Fire? They all acquire the salty flavor and possess the fundamental nature of Water, yet never seem to acquire the nature of Fire?

Answer: Substances with mild flavors do not deviate from their fundamental nature; substances with extreme flavors necessarily change their fundamental nature. For example, slightly bitter herbs may warm Heart Fire, but strongly bitter herbs become cold. Similarly, slightly salty herbs inherit the cold-water Qi, but strongly salty herbs transform into heat. Li (Fire trigram) contains Yin; Kan (Water trigram) contains Yang; this is a fixed principle. Regarding *Inulae Flos*, its flavor is slightly salty, flowers are yellow, and it grows with dew. It acquires much Metal Qi and little Water Qi, thus moistening and benefiting Lung Metal. It cannot be considered purely salty. *Sargassum* and *Hijiki* grow in water, have a slightly salty flavor but grass-like texture, inheriting Water-Wood Qi. *Calcitum Rubrum* acquires much Stone nature; although salty, it is not intense. Moreover, the mountains producing this stone generate water, flowing as springs, indicating this stone purely possesses Water nature, thus clearing heat. *Natrii Sulfas* has a heavy salty flavor but not to the extreme, so it retains the cold-water nature, greatly purging fire, belonging to the fundamental nature of salty water, not the transformed nature of extreme saltiness. However, *Saltpeter* (Fire Saltpeter) has an even stronger salty flavor and transforms into Fire nature, hence it can burn; this is Fire within Water. Excessive table salt causes immediate thirst, verifying that salt moves blood and generates heat. Westerners refine salt into "Salt Essence" and further refine salinity into "Salinity Essence." Stored separately with glass between them, breaking the glass causes an explosion. Western water mines use this method. Since Salt Essence can ignite, we know salty flavor contains internal fiery nature. However, the Fire in Water is the Fire of the Gate of Life (*Mingmen*). Slightly salty substances guide Fire downward, as seen in the aforementioned herbs. Strongly salty substances assist Fire in ascending. *Saltpeter* and Salt Essence are examples. In Sichuan, raising male pigs requires feeding them salt to mate frequently with females; this verifies assisting the Fire of the Gate of Life to boost Yang. *Cistanches Herba* (Cistanche) initially resembles horse semen, tastes salty entering the Kidney, thus warming the Kidney and strengthening Yin. It assists Yang within the Kidney and benefits the Fire of the Gate of Life. Processing it into *Urea Crystallinum* (Autumn Stone) for nourishing Yin and treating impotence ignores that its strong salty flavor only assists the Fire of the Gate of Life to erect the penis,无异 (no different from) feeding salt to male pigs. This strengthens Yang rather than nourishing Yin. Hence, those taking Autumn Stone often suffer Yin depletion and consumption diseases, failing to understand the meaning of strong saltiness assisting fire. Although child’s urine naturally nourishes Yin, processing it into Autumn Stone involves severe refining, so it cannot be treated as child’s urine anymore. Essentially, acquiring the flavor of Water but possessing the nature of Fire completes the meaning of "Yang within Kan."

Question: The properties of Cold, Hot, Warm, and Neutral drugs have been classified under the Five Elements and Five Zang Organs above. The natures of Cold, Hot, Warm, and Neutral have been detailed, so no need to repeat. However, regarding drugs divided by upper/lower and exterior/interior, there are differences in ascending/descending and floating/sinking. May I ask about this?

Answer: This originates from the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth. Originating from Yang, Qi is primary, moving upward and outward, thus ascending and floating, reaching the Upper Jiao. Originating from Yin, Flavor is primary, moving inward and downward, thus descending and sinking, reaching the interior and Lower Jiao. Qi stems from Heaven; Flavor forms from Earth. The *Neijing* states: Heaven feeds humans with Five Qi, Earth feeds humans with Five Flavors. Heaven naturally favors the upper; Earth naturally favors the lower. Thus, the principles of ascending/descending and floating/sinking are revealed.

Question: *Menthae Haplocalycis Herba* (Peppermint), *Magnoliae Flos* (Magnolia Bud), *Ephedrae Herba* (Ephedra), *Cinnamomi Ramulus* (Cinnamon Twig), *Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens* (Fresh Ginger), *Allii Fistulosi Bulbus* (Scallion White), *Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix* (Notopterygium), *Angelicae Pubescentis Radix* (Du Huo), *Puerariae Lobatae Radix* (Kudzu Root), *Bupleuri Radix* (Bupleurum), *Pulsatillae Radix* (Pulsatilla), *Cimicifugae Rhizoma* (Cimicifuga), *Perillae Folium* (Perilla Leaf), *Schizonepetae Herba* (Schizonepeta), *Angelicae Dahuricae Radix* (Dahurian Angelica), *Calamina* (Calamine), *Lapis Pumex* (Pumice), *Chrysanthemi Flos* (Chrysanthemum), *Forsythiae Fructus* (Forsythia), *Lonicerae Japonicae Flos* (Honeysuckle), *Xanthii Fructus* (Xanthium), *Artemisiae Annuae Herba* (Mugwort), *Viticis Fructus* (Vitex Fruit) are all floating and ascending agents, yet their applications differ. Why?

Answer: These are Qi-level drugs, differentiated further by shape and flavor. *Menthae Haplocalycis Herba* and *Magnoliae Flos* share a pungent flavor and light-clear Qi, but differ in shape. Peppermint grows in fine clumps, not just single stems, allowing it to disperse in all directions and ascend to the vertex due to its light-yang Qi. Magnolia Bud grows at tree tips with sharp, upward-pointing flowers; pungent and rising, it specifically reaches upward, dispersing Wind-Cold from the brain and nasal cavities. *Ephedrae Herba*, though having a single straight stem, grows in clumps like peppermint, allowing it to ascend and disperse externally. Peppermint acquires Heaven’s light-yang Qi and its pungent flavor (Earth’s flavor), thus entering the Blood level. *Ephedrae Herba* has a hollow stem reaching straight up with little flavor, purely acquiring Heaven’s light-yang Qi, thus specializing in the Qi level, transforming from Yin to Yang, and penetrating the skin/hair of the whole body. *Cinnamomi Ramulus* and *Ephedrae Herba* are both ascending/dispersing, but their Qi and Flavor differ. Branches extend in four directions with light-yang Qi. Since Cinnamon Twig has a pungent flavor (Earth’s flavor), it enters the Blood level, dispersing Wind-Cold in blood vessels and muscles. Observing Zhang Zhongjing’s *Ma Huang Tang* (Ephedra Decoction) releasing the skin/hair and *Gui Zhi Tang* (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) resolving the muscles reveals the distinction between Blood and Qi levels. Fresh Ginger has ascending/dispersing Qi but also descends Qi to stop vomiting because its flavor is stronger, and being a root in Earth, it inherits Earth-Fire flavor returning to the root, thus descending Qi and stopping vomiting. Though it ascends/disperses, it differs from the pure ascending of Ephedra and Cinnamon; thus, *Xiao Chaihu Tang* and *Erchen Tang* use it to stop vomiting. Scallion White’s root grows in soil, but leaves are hollow and stems straight; Qi exceeds Flavor, drawing Yellow Spring Qi from underground to the shoots, specializing in ascending/dispersing and opening Lung orifices. Zhang Zhongjing’s *Baitong Tang* uses it to transmit Yang Qi upward, utilizing the underground Qi rising to shoots to connect Sun Taiyang Water-Yang to the vertex. *Notopterygium*, *Du Huo*, and *Puerariae Lobatae Radix* have deep roots, drawing groundwater to shoots. Their shoots are very long, resembling the Sun Taiyang channel transmitting Yang Qi from Bladder water to meridians to protect the body; thus, they enter the Sun Taiyang channel. Notopterygium and Du Huo have stronger pungent/spicy flavors, so they disperse but can injure Blood. Puerariae Lobatae Radix has milder flavor, so its dispersing nature is light and does not injure Blood; its deep root draws water up, thus also raising fluids. *Bupleuri Radix* and *Pulsatillae Radix* both have single straight stems and fragrant flowers, capable of ascending and dispersing stagnation. Pulsatilla treats tenesmus in dysentery by ascending and dispersing stagnation. Bupleurum treats chest fullness/rebellion where Sun Taiyang Qi sinks in the chest and cannot exit, causing fullness. Bupleurum penetrates this, also following the principle of ascending/dispersing stagnation. Differences: Pulsatilla sways without wind, stands still with wind; white with hairs (hairs receive Wind Qi); harvested in autumn (Metal-Wood interaction); thus it extinguishes Wind. It transmits Wind Wood Qi from Lung Metal, preventing Wood from insulting Earth, thus lifting tenesmus and stopping dysentery. Bupleurum is green, single straight stem, born in Spring, harvested in Summer, acquiring Water-Wood Qi from Central Earth to reach Wood-Fire Qi, preventing insult to Lung, thus penetrating chest stagnation. Zhang Zhongjing’s use of Bupleurum for Shaoyang is profound. Shaoyang is Yang within Water, emerging from San Jiao to navigate Cou Li (interstices), residing in Gallbladder to transform food/water. San Jiao membranes must be patent, and Liver/Gallbladder Wood-Fire must be clear/harmonious for Water-Yang to reach outside. Bupleurum stems are hollow/puffy with white pith conducting Qi, resembling San Jiao membranes. Membranes have textures connecting to skin/muscles/bones, named Cou Li. When Shaoyang Wood-Fire stagnates in Cou Li, causing chills/fever, Bupleurum reaches it because its hollow/puffy stem resembles Cou Li, transmitting Yang Qi, and its clear-bitter flavor clears San Jiao Fire. Thus, Bupleurum treats Gallbladder using bitterness; treats San Jiao using hollow/puffy straight stems; treats Taiyang by unblocking San Jiao pathways to transmit Qi (indirect treatment). True Bupleurum has a single straight stem, green color, leaves growing like bamboo leaves, small yellow flowers. Recent substitutes resemble roots, pungent-warm, releasing exterior, not true Bupleurum nature. Do not use Bupleurum from Zitong, Sichuan (cheap, not widely used); confusion arises from texts mentioning Soft, Red, Silver Bupleurum, substituting fake for real, losing Zhongjing’s drug nature. Tragic! Tragic! *Cimicifugae Rhizoma* (Cimicifuga) is sweet, ascending Spleen/Stomach Qi. Its ascending mechanism involves pores in the root drawing water up to shoots, hence ascending nature. However, it lacks dispersing nature because it is a root (specializes in ascending), unlike Bupleurum which is shoot/leaf (has dispersing nature). Perilla is similar. *Schizonepetae Herba* is red, disperses Blood level, branches droop/leaves separate, so it disperses more than ascends. *Angelicae Dahuricae Radix* is pungent-aromatic, white, enters Lung, combined with Yangming root nature ascending, thus ascending/dispersing Wind-Cold from Lung and Yangming. Observing *Angelicae Pubescentis Radix* is black, enters Taiyang/ShaoYin; *Angelicae Dahuricae Radix* is white, enters Lung/Yangming. This reflects Metal/Water differing qualities returning to their categories; both ascend/disperse but treat differently. *Lonicerae Japonicae Flos*, *Forsythiae Fructus*, Chrysanthemum are clear-flavored and light-textured, thus ascending clear Qi, clearing Heat in Upper Jiao/head/eyes. Lacking pungent dispersing Qi, they do not primarily disperse. *Artemisiae Annuae Herba* and Xanthium are not pungent-dispersing but can disperse based on shape/Qi. Mugwort branches/leaves disperse in all directions, bitter flavor, thus dispersing Fire. Xanthium is light with spines, thus dispersing Wind. Anything with spines/hairs feels Wind Qi, thus dispersing Wind. *Viticis Fructus* has strong Qi and light texture, thus dispersing Wind in head/eyes. *Calamina* and *Lapis Pumex* are light-floating, but being stones, they are floating within sinking, thus cannot reach the vertex, only dispersing Phlegm-Fire knots in Lung/Stomach. Distinguishing drug floating/sinking treats disease floating/sinking; this is the meaning of exterior/interior and ascending/descending.

Question: *Bencao* states: Ascending drugs processed with salt descend; descending drugs processed with wine ascend. Wine is derived from five grains, why is its nature purely ascending?

Answer: Qi stems from Heaven, governing ascent. Wine is a product of Qi transformation, rich in ascending properties. Distilling Baijiu (white liquor) uses tubes to capture Qi, condensing it in the pot into wine. Wine is essentially ascending Qi mixed with water. Yang within Water naturally ascends. Western science extracts oxygen from water, which rises and supports combustion. Accumulated Yang rises. Water is Kan trigram with Yang line in middle; thus Qi emerges from Water and ascends. The clear Yang Qi of space is filled by Yang from Water. Brewing wine uses yeast to promote Yang, boiling with fire to transform Yin to Yang, causing Qi to rise, forming wine. It is entirely ascending Yang Qi, thus governing ascent. Rice wine uses yeast to ferment glutinous rice, heating and rotting it; wine emerges, rice becomes lees. This is still Qi transformation, belonging to Yang, governing ascent. However, rice wine differs from Baijiu. Baijiu is drawn from tubes, purely clear Qi; rice wine brews in vats, retaining turbid juice. Thus, rice wine is stronger flavored, enters Blood level, lingers in nature, generates Phlegm-Dampness. Baijiu has stronger Qi, acts solely on Qi level, does not linger, does not generate Phlegm-Dampness. Same ascending nature but one clear, one turbid, leading to floating/sinking differences. Therefore, studying pharmacology requires careful attention.