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Chen Shiduo said: The so-called "Fire Treatment Method" refers to the treatment of excessive fire pathogens in the body. Fire syndromes are numerous, among which the fire syndrome of the Yangming channel is the most difficult to treat. Although previous discussions have been thorough, there remain unexplored aspects.

Once the method for treating Yangming stomach fire is mastered, the fire of the five zang organs and the six fu organs can be treated individually without difficulty. The Yangming channel belongs to Stomach Earth; how can it have fire? This fire actually originates from the Pericardium (Pericardium). The fire of the Pericardium is Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo). When Sovereign Fire (Heart Fire) loses its authority, the Pericardium takes advantage to assert itself, displaying a blazing and intense heat. At this time, one must use pungent-cool and severely cold herbs, administering them in large doses for unrestricted consumption. In this way, the fire subsides slightly with cold, and the heat pauses briefly with coolness. However, herbs that strengthen the Stomach must be added to achieve efficacy. The boiling of Stomach fire ultimately stems from insufficient Kidney Qi. To clear Stomach fire, one must tonify Stomach Earth; yet, merely tonifying Stomach Earth without removing phlegm caused by water-dampness is also ineffective. The prescription uses Gypsum (Shi Gao) 1 liang, or 2 liang, or 3 liang, depending on the severity of the fire; Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhi Mu) 3 qian, Ophiopogon Tuber (Mai Dong) 5 qian, Licorice Root (Gan Cao) 1 qian, Rice (Nuomi) 1 he, Bamboo Leaves (Zhu Ye) 100 leaves, Ginseng Root (Ren Shen) 3 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. This prescription is Ren Shen Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang (Ginseng, Bamboo Leaf, and Gypsum Decoction). For severe Stomach fire, only this decoction can pacify it. One must observe whether the patient exhibits extreme thirst with desire to drink water and profuse sweating like rain before daring to use it; otherwise, it should not be used lightly. Because thirst without sweating can present symptoms similar to this syndrome, differentiation is essential. This prescription consists purely of herbs that descend Stomach fire, thereby urgently rescuing the congenital Kidney Water. If this syndrome is not treated for a day, the Kidney Water will be boiled dry, leading to untreatable conditions. Therefore, such potent and aggressive drugs are used as a last resort. If there is no sweat but there is thirst, it clearly indicates excess Kidney Fire and insufficiency of Kidney Water; how could one reuse Gypsum Decoction to further injure the Kidney Water? Then what prescription should be used instead? Use Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shu Di Huang) 3 liang, Cornus Fruit (Shan Zhu Yu) 2 liang, Schisandra Berry (Bei Wu Wei Zi) 3 qian, Ophiopogon Tuber (Mai Dong) 2 liang, Scrophularia Root (Xuan Shen) 1 liang. This prescription treats conditions resembling Bai Hu Tang syndrome but is not for Stomach Fire heat. People should understand this distinction. As for Heart Fire, use Coptis Rhizome (Huang Lian); Liver Fire, use Gardenia Fruit (Zhi Zi); Lung Fire, use Scutellaria Root (Huang Qin). These were fully discussed previously and need not be repeated here.

Master Zhang said: I did not expect my prescription to be elucidated to this extent by the True Person; it is truly gratifying. However, I have more to say: Although Yangming fire originates from the Pericardium, it is actually formed by the overcoming action of Liver Wood. When Liver Wood is vigorous, fire resides within the wood; not only does Wood overcome Earth, but it also turns to assist the flames. The fire of Liver Wood is half Thunder Fire; once unleashed, it shakes the earth and thunders in the sky. Yangming, affected by Pericardium fire, boils vigorously, and further agitated by Liver Wood's Dragon-Thunder fire, how can it be restrained? Thus, mild cases manifest as extreme thirst, while severe cases result in mania. In treating this syndrome, I often increase the dosage of White Peony Root (Bai Shao) to several liang, but it has not been passed down, which is why the world has not discovered it. First, use Gypsum Decoction to remove fire, then add White Peony Root to pacify Liver Wood. Once Liver Wood is pacified, fire has no support, and naturally, Stomach fire stands isolated and unsupported. Add Ophiopogon Tuber to pacify Lung Metal qi, so that Metal is moistened by Water and does not need to draw fluids from Stomach Earth, allowing Stomach Earth to save itself. Moreover, there are Gypsum and Anemarrhena Rhizome to descend fire. This is why mania is stabilized and heat is eliminated. The prescription uses Gypsum 1 liang, Anemarrhena Rhizome 3 qian, Ophiopogon Tuber 1 liang, Pinellia Tuber (Ban Xia) 3 qian, Licorice Root 1 qian, Bamboo Leaves 100 pieces, Rice 1 he. Decoct first with four bowls of water, then add White Peony Root 2 liang and decoct together. (Commentary: Formulated Bai Hu Tang.) The brilliance of this prescription lies not in Gypsum and Anemarrhena Rhizome descending Stomach fire, but in White Peony Root pacifying Liver Wood, nourishing Wood qi so it does not overcome Earth, and preventing Wood stagnation from generating fire to assist Stomach fire. It is also brilliant because Ophiopogon Tuber clears Lung Metal, ensuring Metal contains Water, making it difficult for Stomach fire to blaze, and simultaneously restraining Liver Wood to prevent it from overcoming Earth.

Master Hua said: My prescription is different. Chuanyuan Gong specifically discusses Yangming, whereas I discuss fire in all channels. I transmit one prescription along with this. Gardenia Fruit 3 qian, White Peony Root 5 qian, Licorice Root 1 qian, Moutan Cortex (Dan Pi) 3 qian, Scrophularia Root 3 qian. Decoct with water and take orally. (Commentary: Xie Huo Sheng Shen Tang - Sacred Divine Fire-Draining Decoction.) For Heart Fire, add Coptis Rhizome 1 qian; for Lung Fire, add Scutellaria Root 1 qian; for Stomach Fire, add Gypsum 3 qian; for Kidney Fire, add Anemarrhena Rhizome 1 qian, Phellodendron Bark (Huang Bo) 1 qian; for Large Intestine Fire, add Sanguisorba Root (Di Yu) 1 qian; for Small Intestine Fire, add Ophiopogon Tuber 3 qian, Asparagus Tuber (Tian Dong) 3 qian; for Bladder Fire, add Alisma Rhizome (Ze Xie) 3 qian. Why treat the Liver channel exclusively when treating fire? Because Liver belongs to Wood, and Wood easily generates fire. Therefore, those who treat fire must first treat the Liver. Once Liver fire dissipates, fire in all other channels dissipates accordingly. Thus, adding one herb to drain fire can eliminate fire in all channels.