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Even with exquisite food and miraculous medicines, their transformation and transportation must rely on the Spleen and Stomach. The Spleen and Stomach are one Zang organ and one Fu organ, both belonging to Earth in the Five Elements. The *Book of Changes* states: "The virtue of Kun Yuan is supreme; Earth is the mother of all things."

The *Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion* (*Huangdi Neijing*) says: "When fluids enter the Stomach, their essence floats and overflows, moving upward to be transmitted to the Spleen; the Spleen scatters the essence, sending it upward to return to the Lung; (the Lung) regulates the water passages, transmitting them downward to the Bladder. Water essence distributes in all directions, and the five meridians run in parallel, conforming to the four seasons, five Zang organs, and Yin-Yang, establishing this as the normal physiological pattern." Each of the five Zang organs receives these essences, transforming them into Jing (Essence) and Blood, distributing them through the collaterals, and irrigating the entire body. All of this relies on the Spleen and Stomach to receive and digest grains. Therefore, the Spleen is called the "Official of the Granary," and the Stomach is called the "Sea of Water and Grain." The Stomach governs reception, and the Spleen governs transformation and transportation. If the Stomach is disharmonious, there is no appetite; if the Spleen is disharmonious, food cannot be digested. Consequently, Qi and Blood, Body Fluids, bones and muscles, and Zang-Fu organs will all lose nourishment, and various diseases will arise. Although Stomach Qi is often in excess and Spleen Qi is often deficient, the Spleen is particularly important. Thus, ancient sages said: "To treat various diseases, prioritize strengthening the Spleen; to regulate the whole body, focus on regulating the Spleen." Historically, tonifying deficiency has always emphasized the Kidney Meridian, but Li Dongyuan alone stated: "Tonifying the Spleen is superior to tonifying the Kidney." Causes of Spleen injury include irregular diet, improper regulation of cold and warmth, excessive thinking, and extreme physical fatigue of the limbs. The Spleen possesses the quiet and yielding virtue of Kun (Earth), yet has the vigorous function of Qian (Heaven). When vigorous, one can eat well and the body is strong; when injured, appetite decreases and muscles emaciate. Therefore, regulating diet and labor nurtures the Spleen; maintaining a joyful heart, calming anger, cherishing Qi, and reducing desires nurture the other four Zang organs. Nurturing the four Zang organs also assists the Spleen. Through mutual generation and restriction among mother and child elements, they support each other in a cycle. Understanding this means one has grasped more than half of the principles of health preservation.

According to the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (*Divine Farmer's Materia Medica*): Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) is bitter and cold, non-toxic. It primarily harmonizes the middle Jiao, transforms food stagnation, breaks up accumulations, eliminates phlegm, unblocks the passage of water and grain, clears heat accumulation in the intestines and stomach, pushes out the old to bring forth the new, and harmonizes the five Zang organs. Regarding Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas): It is acrid, bitter, and cold. It primarily treats long-standing heat from accumulations in the five Zang organs, breaks up retained blood stasis, resolves phlegm-solid obstructions in the abdomen, unblocks the meridians, and promotes urination and defecation. Since ancient times, it has been commonly used to treat residual heat syndromes in Shanghan (Cold Damage Disease). Li Dongyuan wrote in his fu poem: "Dahuang quells chaos and brings peace, hence its name 'General'." If Shanghan heat pathogen transmits to the Yangming channel proper, or if Yang pathogen enters Yin channels, or in cases of Yang toxicity with extreme fire, using it can restore life instantly; withholding it leads to death within days. For those unable to distinguish clearly by pulse diagnosis, tongue color can be used for verification. If the tongue is dry with coating, lips are cracked, and there is thirst, use Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) first, heavily utilizing Yanguangshi (Gypsum Fibrosum) from Qiantang (ground into powder). If urine is scanty and dark red, stool is constipated, there is high fever and extreme thirst, aversion to cold is absent while fear of heat exists, restlessness involves tossing hands and feet, removing clothes and blankets, and diarrhea produces foul black watery stool, this is called Xiere Zili (Self-diarrhea accompanying heat); hardness and pain inside the umbilicus indicate dry feces in the intestines, at which point Dahuang can be used. If there is extreme thirst, red eyes, yellow tongue coating, and irritability, Mangxiao can be used. If the tongue coating is black like thorns, the dosage of Mangxiao and Dahuang can be doubled. If the tongue is dry, even with white coating, but diarrhea produces clear water, without high fever, with cold extremities, and a deep, fine pulse, this is called Xiehan Zili (Self-diarrhea accompanying cold); Mangxiao and Dahuang must not be used. If the tongue coating is black and slippery, this is called Zangjie (Zang Obstruction); cases where Yang syndrome transforms into Yin syndrome must not use these drugs. In early dysentery, or after many days if stagnation remains unclear, with tenesmus and urgency, only Dahuang can effectively unblock. For severe headache, red and swollen eyes, etc., only Jiuzhu Dahuang (Wine-processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) can resolve it. For excess syndromes where cooling herbs fail, small doses can be used; the key lies in stopping once the disease is addressed. Misuse harms the body; failure to use when indicated kills. How can one fear it like poison and refuse to use it altogether? Modern physicians cater to patients, avoiding Dahuang for fear of damaging Stomach Qi becoming a topic of criticism. Patients respect their cautious "Kingly Way" approach. Repeatedly, when heat pathogen is extremely intense, they stand by idly watching patients die. Alas, how painful! I have seen children with variola (smallpox) who died of gastric perforation through the chest and back due to lack of Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) for extreme thirst. I have seen patients with severe dysentery heat die because their Shenxu acupoint area became hollow and dried up due to lack of Dahuang. Many deaths result from failing to use Mangxiao and Dahuang. If a skilled physician diagnoses accurately, using these agents can revive the dying. Famous doctors of past dynasties frequently included them in prescriptions. Cases achieving miraculous results with Mangxiao and Dahuang today are too numerous to list; I shall cite one example.

Appendix: Mr. Tiangu, younger brother of Observer Shen from Yanguan, went to Nanjing for imperial examinations. He and Liu Qiyuan, a selected Gongsheng student, contracted dysentery on the same day. Shen Yihong recalled that he immediately used Dahuang upon initial contraction, recovering after one dose. Liu consulted a doctor who refused to use Dahuang. Shen urgently informed him; the doctor prescribed only 1 qian of Shu Dahuang Wan (Prepared Dahuang Pill), adding Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), neglecting to purge and unblock. Ultimately, the condition proved fatal. Furthermore, Shigao is a divine medicine for Shanghan and similar syndromes, yet some doctors absolutely refuse to use it. What a pity!