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[Kushen]
Taste: Bitter; Nature: Cold.
Indications: Primarily treats Qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen. Bitter taste enters the Heart (Heart) to dissipate Qi constrained by heat. Treats Zheng Jia Ji Ju (masses and accumulations); extreme bitterness can drain excess. Treats Jaundice (Huang Dan); cold nature removes stagnant heat. Treats residual dribbling of urine (Niao You Yu Li); since the Heart communicates with the Small Intestine (Xiao Chang), clearing Heart Fire allows the stagnant Qi in the Small Intestine to flow freely. Drains water retention; once the Small Intestine is unobstructed, water is eliminated. Removes carbuncles and swellings; all sores and ulcers belong to Heart Fire, and when Heart Fire is cleared, carbuncles and swellings naturally subside. Tonifies the Middle Jiao (Zhong Jiao); as stated in the *Neijing* (Inner Canon): "The Spleen (Pi) dislikes dampness, urgently consume bitter substances to dry it," which is the principle here. Brightens the eyes and stops tearing; cold clears Liver Fire, and bitterness eliminates Liver dampness.

This section explains efficacy based on taste. Bitter enters the Heart, and cold dispels fire; thus, Kushen specifically treats Fire in the Heart channel, with functions similar to Huanglian. However, Huanglian seems to remove Fire from the Heart organ more, while Kushen seems to remove Fire from the Heart fu-organ (Small Intestine) more. This is because Huanglian's aroma and flavor are pure, whereas Kushen's are turbid.

[Danggui]
Taste: Sweet; Nature: Warm.
Indications: Primarily treats coughing and rebellious Qi, moistening Lung Qi. Treats Wen Nue (warm malaria) with alternating chills and fever, and the shivering sensation in the skin; these are diseases where Wind-Cold resides in the Blood level. Treats women with metrorrhagia (Lou Xia) and infertility (Jue Zi); these are diseases of deficient Ying Blood. Treats various malignant sores and ulcers, and metal wounds (Jin Chuang); these are diseases caused by Ying Blood fire stagnation or injury. Decoct and drink. Decoction allows the medicinal power to reach everywhere and circulate through the meridians.

Note: Blood flows within the meridians without stopping. Therefore, herbs that move or tonify blood are mostly used in decoctions, rarely in pills or powders. Thus, ancient physicians treated diseases not only with careful prescription formulation but also with steadfast methods. Danggui is pungent, aromatic, and moistening. Aromaticity travels to the Spleen, and moistening tonifies Blood; thus, it can penetrate into the realm of Ying Qi in the Middle Jiao, becoming a supreme herb for tonifying Ying. Danggui is an essential herb for blood disorders, yet the *Benjing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) contains no mention of its ability to tonify or nourish blood. Why? Because Qi is formless and can be generated rapidly, while Blood is substantial and difficult to grow quickly. Any substance that opens blockages, smooths Qi, harmonizes Yin, clears fire, directs rebellious Qi downward, generates fluids, expels wind, benefits orifices, or possesses any moistening and harmonizing properties, can cause Yin Qi to flow smoothly, preventing hyperactive Yang from causing harm; this is precisely how Blood is generated. Danggui is pungent, aromatic, warm, and moist, possessing several of these virtues, making it a key product for nourishing Blood. It records only the effect of filling the blood; the fact that blood receives nourishment is self-evident. Such matters should be understood by contemplating the entire classic.