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Taste: Acrid, Cold. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Impotence (Yin Wei), severe injury to the sinews, pain in the penis, promotes urination, benefits Qi and strength, strengthens willpower. (Stir-fried with sheep fat.)

Chen Xiuyuan states: Yin Yang Huo (Epimedium) has a cold nature, inheriting the Qi of Tian Dong (Asparagus Root/Water element) to enter the Kidney meridian; its acrid taste and non-toxic property derive from the Metal flavor of the earth to enter the Lung meridian. As a herb for both Metal and Water organs, careful reading of the classic text reveals that its primary function is tonifying the Water organ (Kidney). "Yin" refers to the Zong Jin (Major Sinew); Zong Jin belongs to Liver Wood. When Liver Wood encounters scorching heat, it becomes flaccid; upon receiving the cold-natured Yin Yang Huo, it stands erect as if receiving sweet dew. "Jue Shang" refers to collaterals being severed and disconnected. The *Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: Collaterals are the pathways where Yin Essence and Yang Qi circulate. Yin Yang Huo, with its cold nature and acrid taste, possesses the Qi of Heaven and Water to circulate and reconnect severed collaterals. Pain in the penis arises when Fire is constrained within; Heat is cleared by Cold, and constraint is dispersed by Acridness, thus treating penile pain. Urination is governed by the Bladder but requires the Qi transformation of the San Jiao (Triple Burner) to be excreted. If San Jiao Fire is excessive, isolated Yang cannot transform fluids, resulting in short urine. For cases of urinary retention, the cold nature and acrid taste of Yin Yang Huo allow Metal and Water to mutually support each other, distributing Yin and Yang moisteningly. When Yang receives assistance from Yin to transform, urination becomes smooth. The Lung governs Qi, and the Kidney stores Zhi (Will). Mencius said: "Zhi is the commander of Qi." The benefit of moistening the Lung returns to tonifying the Kidney. The instruction to benefit Qi and strengthen Zhi can be understood through Mencius's teaching on cultivating "Gang Da" (Great Vigor). However, this principle is difficult to explain to contemporary physicians! Ye Tianshi stated: Yin Yang Huo soaked in wine treats hemiplegia due to wind-stroke and lower back pain due to fluid depletion.

Taste: Acrid, Warm. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Indications: Alternating chills and fever, rat-like scrofula (Shu Luo), sores/ulcers, breaks up stagnant Qi masses, expels blood stasis, removes damp-jaundice.

[Commentary] Jingjie (Schizonepeta) has a warm nature, inheriting Wood Qi to enter the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. Its acrid taste and non-toxic property derive from the Metal flavor to enter the Lung meridian. Its Qi effect surpasses its Taste effect, prioritizing Qi action; therefore, it primarily treats conditions related to Shaoyang Ministerial Fire and Jueyin Wind-Wood. Alternating chills and fever, rat-like scrofula, and sores are diseases of the Shaoyang stage; Jingjie’s acrid-warm nature disperses the constraint of Ministerial Fire, curing the disease. Food enters the Stomach, and essence is distributed to the Liver. If the Liver fails to distribute essence, Qi stagnates forming accumulations/masses. The Liver stores Blood, which circulates with Qi; if Liver Qi stagnates, Blood also stagnates forming stasis, which is a disease of the Jueyin stage. Jingjie’s acrid-warm nature unblocks Liver Wood Qi, curing the disease. It removes damp-jaundice because jaundice originates from Dampness. Jingjie is warm and acrid; Acrid enters the Lung to regulate water passages. Once water passages are unobstructed, damp-jaundice is eliminated. Modern practitioners stir-fry it until black, turning it into a drying agent that cannot unblock, losing its acrid flavor and dispersing ability, yet they claim it is a common postpartum remedy. This is extremely ignorant!