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(The substances with dense qi and flavor belong to Yang within Yang. When the qi and flavor are dense, they generate heat; their nature is pungent, sweet, warm, and hot.)

Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig): The qi is hot, the flavor is sweet and pungent, slightly toxic. It belongs to Yang within Yang and has a floating nature. Zhang Zhongjing used Guizhi in the *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage) for inducing sweating to treat cold damage. "Guizhi" refers to the twigs of the cinnamon tree, not the trunk. Its light and thin texture allows it to disperse. There is now another type called Liugui (Willow Cinnamon), which consists of tender, small cinnamon twigs, particularly suitable for treating diseases of the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). [Li Dongyuan] stated: Substances with thin qi are Guizhi; those with dense qi are Rougui (Cinnamon Bark). Thin qi leads to dispersal; Guizhi ascends to release the exterior. Dense qi generates heat; Rougui descends to tonify the Kidney. This follows the natural law of heaven and earth favoring what is close to them. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: Guizhi enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian; Guixin (Cinnamon Heart) enters the Blood aspect of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian; Rougui enters the Blood aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridians. Fine and thin parts are branches; tender parts are branches; dense fatty parts are bark; old parts, after removing the outer bark and inner layer, with the middle part remaining, are called Guixin. [Kou Zongshi] quoted the *Suwen*: "Pungent and sweet disperse and are Yang." Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing's Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) for treating exterior deficiency in cold damage must use this herb, conforming to the meaning of "sweet to disperse." In materia medica, two types of cinnamon, Mugui (Male Cinnamon) and Jungui (Fungal Cinnamon), are not used because their properties are merely warm and cannot treat cold-damage diseases. However, the *Shennong Bencao Jing* only mentions Gui (Cinnamon), while Zhang Zhongjing mentions Guizhi, taking the bark from the twigs. [Zhu Zhenheng] Someone asked: Materia medica states that cinnamon can stop vexation and induce sweating. Yet Zhang Zhongjing uses Guizhi Tang in several places where sweating is required for cold damage, but also says those without sweat should not take Guizhi, and those who sweat excessively should not be made to sweat again. If Guizhi is used, does it not cause further sweating? For those with excessive sweating, Guizhi Gancao Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction) is used, which seems to use Guizhi to stop sweating. Do these dual uses align with the principles of materia medica? The answer is: Materia medica states that cinnamon is pungent, sweet, and greatly hot, capable of guiding all medicines, unblocking blood vessels, stopping vexation, and inducing sweating. This harmonizes the blood, and sweat emerges naturally. Zhang Zhongjing said: In Taiyang Wind Strike, if Yin is weak, sweat occurs spontaneously; Wei Qi is solid and Ying Qi is weak, causing fever and sweating. He also said: In Taiyang disease, fever and sweating indicate weak Ying and strong Wei; when Yin is deficient, Yang inevitably combines with it. Thus, Guizhi is used to induce sweating. This harmonizes Ying Qi, so Wei Qi becomes harmonious, leaving no room for wind pathogens, leading to spontaneous sweating and resolution. It is not that Guizhi opens the pores to force sweat out. Using Guizhi for excessive sweating harmonizes Ying and Wei, allowing pathogens to exit with sweat, thus stopping sweating naturally; it does not close the sweat pores. Ignorant people do not understand the meanings of inducing and stopping sweat; they use Guizhi even for cold damage patients without sweat, which is a great error. The term "induce sweating" in Guizhi Tang should be understood as "allowing sweat to emerge naturally," unlike Mahuang (Ephedra) which forcibly opens the pores. Treating deficient sweating requires understanding this principle inversely. [Cheng Wuji] stated: Guizhi is originally for resolving the muscle layer. If Taiyang Wind Strike causes tight pores, solid pathogenic factors in Ying and Wei, and congealed body fluids, resulting in a floating-tight pulse, fever, and no sweat, this formula must not be used. It is only suitable for cases where the skin is loose, there is spontaneous sweating, a floating-slow pulse, and wind pathogens affecting Wei Qi. Treatment should focus on dispersion, primarily using pungent and sweet flavors. Guizhi is pungent and hot, serving as the Sovereign herb; Shaoyao (Peony Root) as the Minister; Gancao (Licorice Root) as the Assistant. To counteract excess wind, one uses pungent and bitter flavors, soothes with sweet, and astringes with sour. Ginger and Jujube serve as Envoys; their pungent and sweet nature disperses, while also promoting the circulation of Spleen and Stomach fluids to harmonize Ying and Wei, rather than focusing solely on dispersion. Therefore, Mahuang Tang does not use ginger and jujube, as it focuses entirely on inducing sweating without needing to circulate fluids first. [Wang Haogu] stated: Because Guizhi's qi and flavor are both light, it ascends and disperses at the exterior. For internal cold, Rougui (Cinnamon Bark) tonifies Yang; for external cold, Liugui (Willow Cinnamon) is used. Guizhi is pungent and hot, dispersing channel cold and guiding Yang Qi. If Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) is deficient, pungent-moistening herbs are used to disperse cold and treat Bentun (Running Piglet). According to classics, if Guizhi enters the throat, those with excess Yang will die; it is forbidden in spring and summer. Guizhi moves blood, so it is forbidden for those with blood heat. Wood dies by Guizhi, so it is forbidden for those with Liver deficiency. [Processing] The toxicity of cinnamon lies in its bark, so it must be peeled in prescriptions.

Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root): The qi is hot, the flavor is pungent, highly toxic. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Greatly pungent and hot, dense qi and thin flavor, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to Yin within Yang. It floats and sinks, reaching everywhere, serving as a guiding herb for various meridians. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: It is an agent entering the Hand-Shaoyin Pericardium, Sanjiao (Triple Burner), and Mingmen (Gate of Life) meridians. Its nature is active and unyielding, unlike Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) which is upright and stationary. [Zhao Sizhen] stated: Shufu (Prepared Aconite) paired with Mahuang provides tonification within dispersion, as seen in Zhang Zhongjing's Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction) and Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Licorice Decoction). Shengfu (Raw Aconite) paired with Ganjiang provides dispersion within tonification, as seen in Zhang Zhongjing's Ganjiang Fuzi Tang (Dried Ginger and Aconite Decoction) and Tongmai Sini Tang (Pulse-Reviving Counter-Yang Decoction). [Li Shizhen] stated: All medicines containing Wu Tou (Aconite Mother Root) and Fu Zi should be taken cold. This is "treating heat with cold" (Hot Disease Treated with Cold Method). Generally, when Yin-cold is below and Deficient-Yang floats above, treating with cold herbs exacerbates Yin and worsens the disease. Treating with hot herbs causes rejection. By cooling the hot medicine before ingestion, once the coldness dissipates in the throat, the heat property activates, curing the disease without violating its nature, achieving great benefit. This is the subtlety of contrary treatment. Previously, Zhang Zhongjing treated cold hernia with honey-fried Wu Tou; the *Jinxiu Fang* treated throat bi with honey-roasted Fu Zi held in the mouth; Zhu Danxi treated hernia with Wu Tou and Gardenia, all employing "treating heat with cold." Dong Yuan treated Vice-Hanlin Feng's nephew's Yin-excess blocking Yang cold damage, presenting with red face and eyes, thirst, rapid pulse (7-8 beats per breath) that scatters upon pressure. He administered Jiang Fu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction) plus Ginseng, half a jin, resulting in sweating and recovery. This is a divine miracle. [Wu Kun] stated: Fu Zi is the essential herb for Yin syndromes. Whenever cold damage transmits to the Three Yin meridians or involves cold damaging Yin, even if the body is very hot but the pulse is deep, it must be used. Or if there are cold limbs, abdominal pain, deep-thin pulse, cyanotic lips, and retracted testicles, it must be used urgently. It has the power to drive out Yin and restore Yang, bringing back the dead to life. In recent times, practitioners hesitate to use Fu Zi for Yin-type cold damage due to uncertainty, waiting until Yin is exhausted and Yang is depleted, which is too late. Moreover, in cold damage involving Yin, both interior and exterior Yang and Qi suddenly decline; urgent use of Renshen (Ginseng Root) to strengthen the pulse and tonify Yuan Qi, assisted by Fu Zi to warm channels and dispel cold, is necessary. Without this, how can one save the patient? [Yu Tun] stated: Fu Zi possesses a heroic quality and the spirit of breaking through gates and defeating generals. It can guide Qi-tonifying herbs through the Twelve Meridians to recover scattered Yuan Yang; guide Blood-tonifying herbs into the Blood aspect to nourish insufficient True Yin; guide Dispersing herbs to open pores and expel wind-cold at the exterior; guide Warm herbs to the Lower Jiao to remove interior cold-dampness. In Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill), Gui and Fu are used for their great pungency to moisten Kidney dryness. Danxi claimed it removes stagnation in Rehmannia; Haizang claimed it tonifies Mingmen Fire, but neither is correct. Soak in child's urine, wrap in wet paper, bake in ash fire until fragrant like taro, peel, remove umbilical scar, slice, and use.

Ganjiang (Dried Ginger): The temperature is warm, the flavor is pungent, non-toxic. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Thin qi and dense flavor, semi-floating and semi-sinking, capable of ascending and descending, belonging to Yin within Yang. Greatly pungent and hot, belonging to Yang within Yang. Its functions are fourfold: 1. Unblocks the Heart and assists Yang; 2. Removes deep-seated cold in organs; 3. Expels cold from all channels; 4. Treats abdominal pain caused by cold invasion. When there is no Yang in the Kidneys and pulse energy is about to cease, Heifu Zi (Black Aconite) is used as a guide, decocted in water, named Jiang Fu Tang. It also treats Middle Jiao cold pathogens; when cold excess prevails, it is dispersed with pungency. It can also tonify the Lower Jiao, hence used in Sini Tang (Counter-Yang Decoction). Ganjiang is originally pungent; processed, it becomes slightly bitter, thus stable and immobile, making it suitable for treating interior cold, unlike Fu Zi which moves without stopping. Lizhong Tang uses it for its ability to restore Yang. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Raw Ganjiang is pungent; processed is bitter, belonging to Yang. Raw disperses cold pathogens; processed removes stomach cold and stabilizes the center. Excessive use depletes Yuan Qi. Pungency disperses, which is why "flaming fire consumes Qi." It must be moderated with raw Gancao (Licorice Root). Pungent-hot disperses interior cold; combined with Wuweizi (Schisandra Berry) to warm the Lungs; combined with Renshen to warm the Stomach. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: Ganjiang is a Qi-class herb for the Heart and Spleen meridians, thus tonifying Heart Qi deficiency. Some say Ganjiang is pungent-hot yet described as tonifying the Spleen. Why does Lizhong Tang describe it as draining rather than tonifying? Because pungent-hot dries dampness and drains cold-damp pathogens from the Spleen, not healthy Qi. White, clean, and solid ones are good; processing is recommended.

Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger): The temperature is slightly warm, the flavor is pungent, dense qi and flavor, floating and ascending, belonging to Yang, non-toxic. [Cheng Wuji] stated: Ginger and Jujube have pungent-sweet flavors, specifically circulating Spleen fluids to harmonize Ying and Wei, not solely for dispersion in formulas. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Shengjiang has four uses: 1. Detoxifies Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome) and Houpo (Magnolia Bark); 2. Disperses wind-cold; 3. Combined with Jujube, pungent-warm tonifies Spleen-Stomach Yuan Qi, warms the center, and removes dampness; 4. Combined with Shaoyao, warms channels and disperses cold. Sun Simiao said Ginger is the sage medicine for vomiting. Pungency disperses; vomiting is due to stagnant Qi, and this herb moves Yang to scatter Qi. Someone asked: Shengjiang is pungent-warm and enters the Lung, why is it said to enter the Stomach opening? Answer: Popular belief locates the Stomach opening below the heart, which is incorrect. Below the pharynx, receiving solid food and connecting to the Stomach system, is the Stomach opening. It travels with the Lung system, thus entering the Lung and opening the Stomach. People say not eating ginger at night closes Qi. Answer: Ginger is pungent-warm and promotes development; at night, Qi naturally converges. Promoting development at night violates Heaven's Way. However, for patients, this rule does not apply. Shengjiang powder is less hot than Ganjiang and less moist than Shengjiang. Dried Shengjiang can replace Ganjiang because it is not overly acrid. Folk saying: Eat radish at bedtime and ginger when getting up. Ginger opens the appetite; radish aids digestion. Use peeled ginger for heat; use unpeeled for cold.

Wuzhuyu (Evodia Fruit): The temperature is warm, the flavor is pungent, slightly toxic. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: Pungent-bitter-hot, dense qi and flavor, Yin within Yang, semi-floating and semi-sinking. Enters the Blood aspect of the Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian, and the Qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridians. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Its uses are three: removes adverse Qi and fullness in the chest, stops abdominal pain from cold invasion, resolves alcohol retention, and acts as an envoy for Bai Doukou (Cardamom Seed). [Li Dongyuan] stated: Treats cold in the throat causing obstruction in the chest. Classics state dysphagia and inability to swallow food lead to vomiting, wide-open mouth, staring eyes, cold pathogen knotting, Qi unable to move up or down. If untreated, it causes interior cold, abdominal distension, diarrhea. One should use the pungent-hot Wuzhuyu to drain adverse Qi; it works miraculously, and no other herb can replace it. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: Wei Mai (Defense Vessel) pathology involves adverse Qi and interior tension, best treated with this. Green color corresponds to Zhen and Kun, so Zhang Zhongjing's Wuzhuyu Tang (Evodia Decoction) and Danggui Sini Tang (Angelica Sinensis Decoction for Cold Extremities) treat Jueyin diseases and warm the Spleen-Stomach using this. Wash in soup to remove bitterness, sun-dry, and crush.

Shuzhuo (Sichuan Pepper): The temperature is warm, the flavor is pungent, toxic. Treats evil Qi, warms the center, removes cold-bi, strengthens teeth, brightens eyes, benefits the Five Zang Organs. [Dai Yuanli] stated: When patients vomit and cannot retain medicine, there are likely roundworms in the diaphragm. Roundworms move when smelling medicine, causing the medicine to be expelled while worms remain. Adding ten fried Chuanjiao (Sichuan Pepper) grains to emetic medicine is effective. Roundworms bow their heads upon seeing pepper. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing's use of Shuzhuo in Wumei Wan (Mume Pill) for treating蛔厥 (Roundworm Convulsion) follows this logic. Scholar Xu stated: Generally, when Kidney Qi rebels upward, Chuanjiao must guide it back to its channel for peace. Remove eyes and closed-mouth peppers, fry to remove moisture, rub finely by hand.

Badou (Croton Seed): The temperature is warm, the flavor is pungent, highly toxic. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Thin qi and dense flavor, heavy weight and sinking, belonging to Yin. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Hot nature, pungent flavor, highly toxic, floating, Yang within Yang. [Li Dongyuan] stated: It is a general who breaks through gates; do not use lightly. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: For urgent treatment, it acts as a purgative for food and water pathways; use raw, peeled, cored, and oil-free. For slow treatment, it acts as a breaker of hardness and grinder of accumulations; fry until smoke disappears and turns purple-black. It can unblock the intestines or stop diarrhea, a secret unknown to the world. Zhang Zhongjing used it in Beijian Wan (Emergency Aid Pill) for various diseases and sudden fright.

Houpo (Magnolia Bark): The temperature is warm, the flavor is bitter and pungent, non-toxic, dense qi and flavor, heavy, turbid, and slightly sinking, Yang within Yin. [Li Dongyuan] stated: Capable of ascending and descending, removes abdominal distension. Even if weak patients have distension, use with caution; this applies to cold distension. Used alongside greatly hot herbs, it is a divine medicine for scattering knots. Misuse depletes Yuan Qi; must be prohibited. [Zhu Zhenheng] stated: Materia medica says Houpo treats wind-stroke, cold damage headache, warms the center, tonifies Qi, eliminates phlegm, directs Qi downward, thickens intestines, and removes abdominal fullness. Does it truly drain Qi? Does it truly tonify Qi? When combined with Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Dahuang (Rhubarb Root), it drains excess fullness, which is eliminating phlegm and directing Qi downward. When combined with Chenpi (Tangerine Peel) and Cangzhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), it removes damp-fullness, which is warming the center and tonifying Qi. Combined with releasing herbs, it treats cold damage headache; combined with diarrhea-stopping herbs, it thickens the intestines. Generally, its nature is bitter-warm. Bitter drains; warm tonifies. Thus, Cheng Shi said: The bitterness of Houpo drains abdominal fullness; since it directs Qi downward, it drains excess fullness. Warmth tonifies Qi, thus dispersing damp-fullness. Peel, chop, soak in ginger juice until permeated, stir-fry slightly, and sieve evenly.