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Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix, Raw) is sweet and greatly cold in nature. It cools blood and clears heat. It is suitable only for excess-heat syndromes. Therefore, Li Dongyuan stated that this medicine is greatly cold and should be used with discretion, lest it damage Stomach Qi. For symptoms of deficient fire and false heat, where True Yin is withered and dried up, Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix, Prepared) should be used as the sovereign drug (Jun Yao). This is because the original nature of Rehmannia is pasty and deeply cold. After undergoing nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying, when the fire and time are sufficient, its cold quality naturally dissipates. It changes from initially cold and slippery to now warm and moist; from initially mixed bitter and sweet to now purely sweet without bitterness. Its fragrance awakens the nose, and its sweetness moves the Spleen. The Spleen likes sweetness and dislikes bitterness; Shu Di Huang is sweet in taste. The Spleen likes fragrance and dislikes foulness; Shu Di Huang is fragrant in odor. The Spleen likes dryness and dislikes dampness; Shu Di Huang has a dry aroma yet is sweet and moist in substance. The Spleen likes warmth and dislikes cold; Shu Di Huang is warm and neutral in nature, not comparable to those that are excessively cold or hot. The Spleen likes tonification and dislikes purgation; Shu Di Huang exerts a tonifying effect without losing the mean. It possesses five virtues; why boast of the nine-fold refining? The use of this material differs from beginning to end, showing that the transformations in the furnace have their own subtle principles. However, the key to processing is: large Rehmannia roots must be steamed and sun-dried more than ten times. When split open, if there is black oil like jade inside, and the smell and taste are sweet and fragrant, it can be used. Do not rigidly adhere to the number nine. It is also not necessary to moisten with wine before steaming, because wine, after steaming and drying, becomes sour and vinegar-like, which is not good. When ready for use, first cut it into pieces the size of beans one night prior, moisten with wine. Early next morning, steam slightly for a short while to make the two substances blend evenly. The wine aroma remains, and the medicinal aroma increases, facilitating harmony with the Stomach and easier transportation and transformation. This is the subtle meaning of Lei Xiao's processing methods, which cannot be overlooked. Today, physicians, for convenience, boil it in wine for days and use it immediately. This greatly deviates from ancient methods, damaging Middle Qi and causing obstruction in the chest as a complication. Is this the fault of the medicine? As for merchants who do not select copper or iron vessels, boiling the herbs for sale, this not only damages the Stomach but also depletes Kidney Qi. These people only know how to seek profit; would they wish to harm people? Users should beware of this.

The aforementioned medicines (referring to digestive aids) generally have the functions of digesting grains and overcoming food stagnation, resolving blockage and promoting stagnation, reducing distension and guiding away fullness. They are effective only when there is old accumulation causing illness, Yuan Qi is not depleted, and pathogenic Qi is excessive. If Spleen Qi has been deficient for a long time, making it difficult to transport and transform food and drink, using them rashly will only bring disaster. Blindly taking them by mistake will only lead to failure. For example, injury from rice food is resolved by Gu Ya (Oryzae Fructus Germinatus); injury from wheat/noodle food is resolved by Mai Ya (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) and Shen Qu (Massa Medicata Fermentata); injury from meat food is resolved by Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus) and Shan Zha (Crataegi Fructus); injury from fruit food is resolved by Qing Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) and Guan Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex). For injuries in the Upper Jiao, Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus) is the main herb; for injuries in the Middle and Lower Jiao, Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) is the main herb. For pain due to stagnant Qi, Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Wu Yao (Linderae Radix), and Da Fu Pi (Arecae Pericarpium) are the main herbs. All of these treat excess syndromes characterized by physical pathology and surplus. Today's physicians, regardless of whether Yuan Qi is deficient or excess, and regardless of whether there is stagnation, indiscriminately regard Mai Ya, Shan Zha, Shen Qu, and Hou Po as spleen-tonifying substances. This habit has become common, leading to reckless administration, secretly depleting True Yuan, and leaving significant harm. How could they know that old accumulation retained in the middle, and food injury treated by using these drugs to attack accumulation and promote stagnation, thereby restoring normal diet, is falsely called "tonifying the Spleen"? In fact, these drugs cannot tonify the Spleen. Therefore, Li Dongyuan said that Hou Po drains stagnant Qi when present, but drains Yuan Qi when absent. He also stated that Zhi Qiao and Zhi Shi have the power to push down walls and overturn battlements. Li Chen also said that Mai Ya and Shan Zha are good at depleting Kidney Qi, and Shen Qu can induce abortion and break blood stasis, so they should not be taken lightly. The earnest warnings of these sages—how can one remain obstinate and refuse to return? Furthermore, when treating various food-stagnation syndromes, Li Chen always used Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) and Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) as the foundation, assisting with attacking substances such as Shen Qu, Mai Ya, Shan Zha, and Hou Po. Thus, tonification and purgation are performed together, ensuring no detriment to the Spleen Earth. This is also the subtle intent behind Zhang Yuansu's creation of Zhi Zhu Wan (Immature Bitter Orange and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pill). Generally, for bloating, fullness, and swelling, if the syndrome is excess, the aforementioned medicines are appropriate. If it is deficiency-type fullness and deficiency-type distension, without directly tonifying the Spleen's origin with Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), and Fu Ling (Poria), no effect can be achieved. This is what the *Nei Jing* refers to as "treating obstruction with obstruction" (Se Yin Se Yong).