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Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) has a pungent and hot nature. Its primary function is dispersal, and it is particularly effective in inducing sweating. It is suitable only for cases of true cold damage contracted during the three winter months, presenting with Taiyang syndrome symptoms and a floating, tight pulse. It may also be temporarily used for asthma excess syndromes treated by San'ao Tang. However, if used in other months where the pulse is not floating and tight, it may inevitably lead to complications such as macules and jaundice. In severe cases, for patients with external collapse of True Yang or pure heat without sweat, misapplication will certainly result in death.

Shanqi (Drynariae Rhizoma / *Note: Context suggests a hemostatic herb like Sanqi/Panax notoginseng or similar, but literal translation of Shanqi often refers to Drynaria or specific regional herbs; given "hemostasis" context, likely referring to a potent hemostatic agent. However, strictly following text "Shanqi", I will use Shanqi*). In recent times, it has originated from Danzhou and other places in southwestern Guangdong. It is primarily used to treat military metal wounds, continuous metrorrhagia in women, and sudden hematemesis or blood loss in men, provided that the True Yuan has not yet been depleted. Its use yields extremely miraculous effects, achieving results within moments. If used for blood loss due to deficiency consumption, where Yin and Yang are exhausted, one should seek the root cause and treat the foundation, guiding blood back to its vessels. Misusing this drug, due to its drying and劫 (depleting) nature causing obstruction, will instead breed disaster. I specifically cite a few examples. In the autumn of Bingzi year, upon returning from Shu, I saw my nephew's wife, who was the daughter of Duke Chen Qujiang. Suffering from deficiency consumption and hemoptysis, she was treated with this drug and died within less than a month. Additionally, in my case records, my society friend Zheng Qihua Jilang and scholar Chen Zizhen both suffered from hemoptysis due to Heart and Kidney deficiency. They also used this drug, resulting in intestinal obstruction and death after ten days. Should we not be vigilant?

All mineral and metallic substances have a fierce and rash nature. If the patient's Yuan Qi is undamaged and the stomach and intestines are robust, temporary use is harmless according to the indications in Bencao. However, if the stomach and intestines are weak and the blood and fluids are dry, their use will likewise breed harm. I often see arrogant physicians treating illnesses of nobles, frequently abusing Pearl and Amber, claiming them to be supreme treasures. This often leaves significant hidden dangers.

These few drugs are only suitable for initial wind-phlegm stagnation in the chest and diaphragm, coma, and sudden infection by evil qi. If used by those with deficient Zang-Fu Qi, it will cause immediate leakage and dispersion of True Yang, leading to death. In treating diseases, distinguishing between new/old, excess/deficiency is extremely crucial.

Linglingxiang (Agastaches Herba), Hulusiba (Trichosanthis Fructus / *Note: Hulusiba usually refers to Trigonella foenum-graecum/Fenugreek in some contexts or Astragalus, but here likely Fenugreek given kidney/warmth context*), Shechuangzi (Cnidii Fructus), Liangjiang (Galangae Rhizoma), Gansong (Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma), Xinyi (Magnoliae Flos), Hujiao (Piperis Longi Fructus), Suhewan (Suhewan). All the above are pungent, drying, spicy, and aromatic substances with dispersing and draining properties. Generally, Pungency leads to dispersal, and Aroma is drying. They are only suitable for Cold-Dampness stagnation in the Spleen and Stomach meridians, causing poor appetite or fullness and obstruction. If the disease arises from the decline of True Zang Qi, manifesting as deficiency distension or deficiency痞 (fullness), one should use Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Gushibu (Drynariae Rhizoma), and Roukou (Myristicae Semen) to warm and tonify the True Yang of the Right Kidney, diligently cultivating the Mother Qi (Spleen Earth), so that there might be assistance. The aforementioned drugs would then be inappropriate. Lizhai stated: Du Xian Meng Youya suffered from shortness of breath and phlegm-induced dizziness. After taking pungent-aromatic agents, his phlegm increased and he experienced urinary incontinence. His Chi pulses at both wrists were floating and large, but empty upon deep pressure. I considered this to be Kidney deficiency failing to grasp Qi and return it to its source, exacerbated by the drying-aromatic drugs. He recovered after taking three doses of Bawei Wan formula. Generally, when treating the Spleen and Kidney, where the Mother-Child relationship and Root-Branch aspects differ significantly, one must distinguish them carefully. As for Hulusiba and Shechuangzi, although they are Kidney herbs, they possess drying and spicy biased properties, which may deplete True Water and assist Deficient Yang; thus, they must be prohibited. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang frequently used these drugs along with Dazhi Que Dan and others, refining them into Yima Wan. He indulged in lust within the palace, acting immorally, ultimately leading to exile and nearly destroying the state. Even an emperor could be so affected; how much more should those with families take warning?