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If used raw, Fuzi (Prepared Aconiti Lateralis Radix) has a fierce and erratic nature and is toxic. If processed and cooked, it becomes mild in quality and non-toxic. Those weighing over one tael, three taels, or four qian, which are round at the base with a flat top and lack extra angular projections on the sides, qualify as "Fuzi". Its nature is primarily sinking and tonifying, targeting the True Fire of the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Those weighing less than one tael, or those that are pointed, skewed, have two navel-like depressions, or possess multiple angles, are all called "Chuanwu" (Sichuan Aconite Root). Chuanwu's nature is to dispel wind and drive out cold, moving and dispersing through the meridians, which cannot be compared to the warming and tonifying effects of cooked Fuzi.

If Fuzi is processed with ginger juice and used together with Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger), it constitutes the Jiangfu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction), which is a crucial medicine for driving off invading cold from the Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians (Foot Three Yin), as well as from the interior and exterior, meridians, and zang-fu organs. For treating the collapse of True Yang, one should use Fuzi processed with tongbian (child's urine), using Renshen (Ginseng Root) as the sovereign herb. In such cases, Fuzi processed with ginger juice must not be mixed in.

Generally speaking, Ganjiang, Rougui (Cinnamon Bark), and Fuzi are all strongly hot herbs. However, Ganjiang possesses a pungent nature and primarily promotes dispersion; Rougui is sweet and pungent, capable of ascending and descending; whereas cooked Fuzi is heavy in quality and sinking in nature, primarily directing downwards. This is their difference. If Yang collapses and Ganjiang is mistakenly used, it will cause further loss of Yang. Why is this so? Xue Lizhai said: My elder brother had a robust and imposing physique, produced excessive phlegm-saliva, had a surging and forceful pulse, and was particularly intolerant of labor. Upon exposure to wind, he would feel dizzy and nearly faint, his mouth and tongue would become dry and crack, sometimes turning red and ulcerating. He mistakenly consumed a small amount of ginger and garlic, worsening his mouth ulcers. Later, he took Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) with approximately one qian of Fuzi added, after which he recovered. After stopping medication for over a month, all symptoms recurred. This indicates that the deficient fire of the Mingmen failed to return to its source. Based on this, although both ginger and Fuzi are termed hot medicines, how can they be used interchangeably?

Yu Bo stated: Fuzi possesses a heroic and vigorous quality, having the merit of breaking through gates and seizing doors. It can guide Qi-tonifying herbs to circulate through the Twelve Meridians to recover scattered Yuan Yang; guide Blood-nourishing herbs into the Blood level to nourish insufficient True Yin; guide dispersing herbs to open the couli (pores) to expel wind-cold at the exterior; and guide warming herbs to reach the Lower Jiao to remove internal cold-dampness.

Wu Shou stated: Fuzi is a key herb for treating Yin syndromes. Whenever Cold Damage transmits to the Three Yin meridians, or in cases of Cold damage with Yin involvement, even if the body is very hot but the pulse is deep, it must be used. If there are cold extremities, abdominal pain, a deep and fine pulse, or even cyanotic lips and retracted scrotum, it must be used urgently. Fuzi has the power to retreat Yin and restore Yang, bringing the dying back to life. In recent times, people often hesitate to use Fuzi for Yin-type Cold Damage due to suspicion, waiting until Yin is extreme and Yang is exhausted before using it, which is already too late. Moreover, in Cold Damage with Yin involvement, both interior and exterior are Yin, indicating a sudden decline of Yang. One must urgently use Renshen to strengthen the pulses and benefit the source, assisted by Fuzi to warm the meridians and disperse cold. Without this method, what else could save them?

Wang Haogu examined the original formulas and stated: When using Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) or Fuzi, it is advisable to take them cold. This is called "treating heat with cold" (using hot herbs administered cold). Because Yin-cold is below and deficient Yang floats upward. If treated with cold herbs, Yin qi will increase and the disease worsen. If treated with hot herbs, they may be rejected and not absorbed. By administering hot medicinal decoctions as cold drinks, after swallowing, the cold nature dissipates, and the hot nature activates, causing the disease to heal. This does not violate the condition's appearance but achieves great benefit; this is the way of counter-treatment.

In the past, Zhang Zhongjing treated cold hernia with internal binding using honey-fried Wutou (Aconite Root); the *Jin Xiao Fang* treated throat bi (sore throat/swelling) using honey-fried Fuzi held in the mouth to swallow the juice; Zhu Danxi treated hernia qi using Wutou and Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit), all employing the method of "treating heat with cold."

Li Dongyuan treated the nephew of Hanlin Feng for Yin-excess blocking Yang Cold Damage, presenting with red eyes, irritability, thirst with desire to drink, and a rapid pulse beating seven or eight times per breath but scattering upon pressure. He prescribed Jiangfu Tang with added Renshen, administering half a jin (approx. 500g), after which the patient sweated and recovered. This was truly a divine miracle.

Examining past records: The Prince Duchang of Jing Prefecture was thin and cold, with no other illness. He drank Fuzi decoction daily and chewed sulfur, continuing this for several years. Zhang Baihu of Qizhou Garrison took Luzhrou (Deer Antler) and Fuzi throughout his life, remaining healthier than usual until over eighty years old. Song Dynasty's Zhang Gao's *Yi Shuo* records that Prefect Zhao, indulgent in wine and sex, boiled Ganjiang and Shufu (Processed Fuzi) daily, swallowing one hundred pills of Jin Ye Dan (Golden Liquid Pill), only then maintaining a good appetite; otherwise, he was weak and unsupported. He lived to ninety. Others who took one pill suffered harm. These individuals had biased organ constitutions; taking these herbs benefited them without harm, and cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

I believe these herbs are suitable only for those with Yin-predominant constitutions. If used mistakenly by those with Yang-predominant constitutions, disaster strikes quickly. Whenever using Guizhi or Fuzi, one must use Renshen as the sovereign herb, with a small adjunct of Gancao (Licorice Root) or Dazao (Jujube), rendering them non-toxic. Zhang Zhongjing's Bawei Wan was also designed for those with insufficient Yin-fire; thus, those with Yang-excess and false cold should not use it recklessly.

Guizhi is sweet, pungent, and greatly hot; it can disseminate and guide various herbs, unblock blood vessels, stop sweating when present, and induce sweating when absent. Guizhi primarily ascends and disperses; Rougui primarily descends and tonifies, dispelling wind and regulating cold, calming irritability and relieving thirst. Together with Fuzi, it tonifies the True Fire of the Mingmen, specifically benefiting the mother of the Spleen and Stomach (Kidney). It is also effective in promoting urination and unblocking strangury, stopping collapse, breaking blood stasis, and its functions cannot be fully elaborated. It also treats throat bi with loss of voice, Yang-deficient bleeding, internally supporting carbuncles and sores, nine types of heart pain, hypochondriac pain, malaria, Ben Tun (rushing pig/qi), hernia qi, benefiting the lungs and suppressing liver, cold phlegm, cholera, wheezing, and distension.

Li Shizhen stated: Mahuang (Ephedra Herb) permeates the skin and hair, specializing in inducing sweating to disperse cold pathogens, because the Lung governs skin and hair, and pungent flavors enter the Lung. Guizhi penetrates Ying and Wei levels, thus resolving the muscle layer to eliminate wind pathogens, because the Spleen governs Ying, the Lung governs Wei, sweet flavors enter the Spleen, and pungent flavors enter the Lung. Rougui descends and benefits the source of fire. This is what Li Dongyuan referred to as "The Kidney dislikes dryness; urgently eat pungent substances to moisten it," opening the couli, producing essence fluids, and unblocking Qi.

Another record from *Yi Yu Lu* states: Someone suffered from red, swollen, and painful eyes, spleen deficiency preventing eating, and an increasingly strong Liver pulse. By doubling the amount of Rougui in mild and neutral herbs, it suppressed the Liver and benefited the Spleen, achieving two goals with one treatment. The Classic says "Wood withers with Cinnamon," referring to this. Therefore, Rougui can also treat cold, heat, deficiency, excess, interior, exterior, upper, and lower conditions. As long as the combination is appropriate, it yields immediate results.

I privately consider that Guizhi and Fuzi are generals who break through gates and seize doors; only skilled masters dare to use them lightly. However, Xue Lizhai frequently used these to treat insufficient True Fire and false heat from deficient Yang, achieving remarkable effects repeatedly, which ordinary physicians cannot match. Generally, Xue Lizhai's treatment method focuses on returning to the Mingmen; Li Dongyuan focuses exclusively on the Spleen and Stomach; Liu Wansu and Zhu Danxi focus exclusively on Ministerial Fire and Damp-Heat; Zhang Zihe focuses exclusively on attacking pathogens; Jiezhai Yinjun focuses exclusively on attacking phlegm and draining fire; Zhang Zhongjing focuses exclusively on external contraction. Treatment methods have their specialties; physicians must understand them comprehensively. To treat Mingmen disorders, use Xue Lizhai's method; to treat Spleen/Stomach disorders, use Li Dongyuan's method; to clear damp-heat, use Liu and Zhu's methods; to practice attack, use Zhang Zihe's method; to eliminate solid phlegm, use the Two Wangs' methods. Regarding Cold Damage, although following Changsha (Zhang Zhongjing), the treatment of the Three Yin meridians often uses Renshen, Baizhu, Danggui, and Fuzi, mostly to rescue the interior, thus not being exclusively focused on external contraction. If one utilizes the strengths of various schools without being limited by them, keeping the initiative oneself and adapting laws to the patient, utilizing the skills of many while drawing knowledge from one, this is the ideal state. Mr. Xue Lizhai, moreover, synthesized the greatness of all schools, revealed what predecessors had not, and enlightened future generations.

Alas, contemporary physicians view Guizhi and Fuzi as snakes and scorpions, failing to use them when indicated, ultimately leading to fatal errors. This is partly because Zhu Danxi claimed no one highlighted the dangers of Fuzi, causing people to stick to established theories and miss opportunities. Nevertheless, if used inappropriately, even Renshen can cause harm; why single out Guizhi and Fuzi? *Yi Xue Gang Mu* states: Huangqi (Astragalus Root) assists the fire of the Triple Burner; Renshen tonifies the Yang of all meridians; Baizhu (Atractylodes Rhizome) grows the Qi of the five Zang organs. These three are superior herbs; it depends on human comprehension to avoid misusing their Qi properties. I therefore add: Guizhi and Fuzi can rescue the collapse of Yin and Yang.