Library

The heart (Zang organ) crafts formulas with meticulous design to seek pleasure in intimate relations, causing others to lose their natural lifespan, which is truly heartbreaking. I specifically transmit this formula to save them. Since fire is excessive and kidney water is insufficient, Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) and Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) are used to greatly tonify kidney water. Fearing that Shu Di Huang and Mai Dong are insufficient to extinguish the raging fire, Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root) and Gan Ju (Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower) are added to calm the inflammation in the stomach. To purge fire using yin-nourishing herbs ensures that fire subsides without damaging righteous qi. Since fire ascends, if not guided downward, kidney water cannot ascend to nourish it, and fire may continue to rise; therefore, Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root), with its moistening and descending nature, is added to make fire descend rather than ascend. Since kidney water has been depleted for a long time, the supplemented water is only sufficient for the kidney's own use; how can surplus essence be distributed to nourish the liver wood? Thus, Bai Shao (White Peony Root) is assisted to moisten the liver, so that liver wood becomes balanced and no longer needs to draw from kidney water, allowing qi to return to its origin palace without leaking downward or dispersing outward. However, since fire has burned for a long time, fire toxin will form. Although current fire is controlled by water, how can previous fire toxins disappear immediately? Therefore, Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower) is added to eliminate toxins while further nourishing yin; this eliminates fire toxin without damaging yin qi. Furthermore, yang fire cannot be digested in the formless realm by non-yin substances, so a small amount of Huang Bo (Phellodendron Bark) is used to subdue it. Although Huang Bo is a great cold herb, when placed in a formula that greatly tonifies yin water, it instead resolves fire toxin and guides water-tonifying herbs directly into the deepest yin to drain deficient yang fire. Except for Huang Bo, which should not be used in large doses, all other herbs must be used in large quantities to sufficiently replenish water deficiency and drain fire excess; otherwise, the blazing fire will be incurable. The way to rescue a fire requires no delay; only torrential rain can stop the widespread flames. Moreover, since fire has risen, water entering the stomach is like sweet dew quenching thirst; brewing and drinking large amounts fully satisfies the desire, and there is no need to worry about intolerance due to volume.

This condition treated with Ding Kuang Tang (Calm Madness Decoction) also yields miraculous effects.
Shu Di Huang (3 liang), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome, 1 liang), Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Spike, 5 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose results in cure.

Eyes are red and swollen, mouth and tongue are completely ulcerated, throat is slightly painful, and both hypochondria are distended. People assume this is due to hyperactive liver fire, but who would guess it is actually hyperactive kidney fire? Eyes belong to the liver, and the hypochondria are also the domain of the liver; clearly, it appears to be liver fire, yet why call it kidney fire? This is known from the pain and ulceration of the throat and mouth/tongue. Although the mouth and tongue belong to the heart, and the throat belongs to the lung, seemingly unrelated to the kidney, why is it collectively named kidney fire? It is unknown that kidney fire is "Dragon and Thunder Fire." Thunder fire rushes from earth to heaven; similarly, kidney fire rises from below to above. Entering the hypochondria causes distension; entering the throat causes pain; entering the mouth and tongue causes ulceration; entering the eyes causes swelling. Fire has no fixed location; disease arises where fire arrives. Now that all four areas are affected, it indicates intense kidney fire. Generally, fire in each meridian stays in one place and cannot simultaneously affect the mouth/tongue, throat, eyes, and hypochondria. Thus, treatment cannot focus on just one meridian. However, since meridians cannot be treated separately, the kidney meridian can indeed be treated specifically; treating kidney fire dissipates fire in all meridians. Use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) with modifications.
Shu Di Huang (1 liang), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam, 5 qian), Fu Ling (Poria, 3 qian), Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex, 5 qian), Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizome, 3 qian), Shan Zhu Yu (Cornus Fruit, 4 qian), Mai Dong (1 liang), Bai Shao (1 liang).
Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, hypochondriac distension resolves; after two doses, eye redness and swelling heal; after three doses, throat pain ceases; after four doses, mouth and tongue ulcers recover.

Liu Wei Tang originally consists purely of herbs that tonify true water; when water is sufficient, fire naturally subsides. Additionally, Bai Shao soothes the liver to pacify wood, and Mai Dong nourishes the lung to benefit metal. Metal generates water, so water does not need to generate liver wood, making water easier to suffice and fire easier to pacify. Dragon and Thunder fire is essentially deficient fire. Deficient fire lies dormant upon contact with water; why purge fire to provoke its anger? Some ask: Why use Liu Wei Fang without adjusting dosages according to progression? The answer is: When medicine matches the disease, even assistant/herald herbs can be used in larger doses; when the disease resists the medicine, even sovereign herbs should be reduced. Slight differences in weight and quantity need no concern.

This condition treated with Zhi Fei Tang (Stop Boiling Decoction) is also excellent.
Shu Di Huang (3 liang), Mai Dong (2 liang), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii, 1 liang). Decoct in water and take orally.

Chills and fever come and go intermittently, occurring four or five times a day as usual. During heat episodes, restlessness is unbearable; during chills, trembling cannot cease. People believe cold pathogen resides between yin and yang, but who knows it is actually heat-fire within the heart and kidney? Kidney and heart normally overcome and interact with each other. If they overcome but do not interact, chills and fever will occur irregularly. Heart prefers cold and dislikes heat; kidney prefers heat and dislikes cold. Heat, though preferred by kidney, is disliked by heart; cold, though preferred by heart, is disliked by kidney. Kidney dislikes cold, fearing cold qi invading, thus avoiding interaction with heart; heart dislikes kidney heat, fearing hot qi invading, thus refusing interaction with kidney. However, kidney dislikes cold yet also dislikes lack of downward interaction, desiring to interact with heart but heart refuses, leading to heat harassing heart; heart dislikes kidney heat yet desires upward interaction, but kidney refuses, leading to cold invading kidney. Mutual harassment leads to timing of chills and fever based on their intensity. Heart and kidney should always interact; irregular occurrence is due to interaction causing flare-ups and non-interaction causing cessation, which is not strange. Only the unbearable restlessness during heat and uncontrollable trembling during chills hold secret meanings. Heat arrival signifies kidney qi rising. Though heart dislikes heat, the heart center is cold, so restlessness should not occur; why does it happen? Cold causes severe heart qi deficiency; deficiency fears kidney qi attack, causing fear-induced restlessness, not heat-induced. Cold arrival signifies heart qi descending. Though kidney dislikes cold, the kidney center is hot, so trembling should not occur; why does it happen? Heat causes severe kidney water depletion; depletion fears heart qi takeover, causing stingy trembling, not cold-induced. Therefore, to prevent heart restlessness, one must prevent cold; to prevent kidney trembling, one must prevent heat. Use Jie Wei Tang (Resolve Siege Decoction):
Ren Shen (Ginseng Root, 5 qian), Shu Di Huang (1 liang), Shan Zhu Yu (5 qian), Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis Root, 1 liang), Fu Shen (Poria with Hostwood, 5 qian), Sheng Zao Ren (Raw Ziziphus Seed, 5 qian), Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root, 1 qian), Bai Shao (1 liang), Yuan Zhi (Polygala Root, 2 qian), Ban Xia (Pinellia Tuber, 2 qian), Xuan Shen (3 qian), Chang Pu (Acorus Rhizome, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. After two doses, chills/fever reduce by half, and restlessness/trembling halve; take two more doses, previous symptoms resolve instantly; take two more doses, recurrence stops.

This formula treats heart, liver, and kidney simultaneously. For heart-kidney interaction, liver wood is needed as an intermediary to distribute incoming/outgoing chills/fever and stop mutual restlessness/trembling for efficacy. Although the formula clears kidney heat and dispels heart cold, without smooth liver qi, regulation fails. Hence, Chai Hu and Bai Shao are added to strongly soothe liver depression. Just as grandparents remain close, parents naturally feel joyful, preventing extreme heat-restlessness and cold-trembling separation.

This condition treated with Xuan Jing Tang (Xuan Shen and Schizonepeta Decoction) is also effective.
Xuan Shen (2 liang), Jing Jie (3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

Extreme heat causes sweating only on a patch over the heart, profuse as rain, while limbs and other parts have no sweat. People assume extreme heart heat, but who knows it is extreme small intestine heat? Small intestine is below spleen/stomach; how can fire invade heart to cause sweating? Small intestine and heart are exterior-interior pairs; small intestine heat implies heart heat. However, heart lacks fluid and relies on kidney water to nourish itself. If sweat originated from heart, it would be like heavy rain, causing collapse of yang through sweating, turning to ash instantly, yet spirit remains housed without madness. Clearly, it is small intestine heat where water does not descend but flows upward. Small intestine water prefers descending; why not exit via yin organs but instead via orifices before the heart? Due to exterior-interior connection, heart heats due to small intestine; small intestine raises water to save heart, but heart has no entry orifice, so water exits via skin pores outside the heart. Treatment need not target heart but should target small intestine; promoting urination disperses fire qi, returning water to source and stopping sweat from exiting heart area. Use Fan Han Hua Shui Tang (Return Sweat Transform Water Decoction):
Fu Ling (1 liang), Zhu Ling (Polyporus, 3 qian), Liu Ji Nu (Vaccinium Bracteatum Stem, 3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose stops sweat; no further doses needed.

Fu Ling and Zhu Ling are diuretic herbs; adding Liu Ji Nu stops sweat and promotes urination rapidly. Together with Fu Ling and Zhu Ling, they move directly from heart to bladder, exiting via yin organs. Rapid water loss causes rapid fire loss, eliminating need to purge fire and damage zang-fu.

This condition treated with Ling Lian Tang (Poria and Coptis Decoction) is also miraculous.
Fu Ling (2 liang), Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome, 1 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

Mouth and tongue are red and swollen, unable to speak, and stomach feels extremely hungry and thirsty. People assume stomach fire ascending. However, stomach fire should not be moved; once moved, its flame rises uncontrollably, potentially causing yang collapse through sweating or mania/madness, not merely mild mouth/tongue swelling and speechlessness. Thus, this is pericardium fire, not stomach fire. Tongue is the sprout of heart and orifice of pericardium. Without pericardium fire, clear qi ascends, throat/tongue are calm, speech is loud. When pericardium fire moves, throat/tongue lose control. Pericardium fire is ministerial fire, prone to mischief. Like a powerful minister seeking authority, he starts with messengers; here, ministerial fire moves wildly, causing mouth/tongue swelling inevitably. Like a friend humiliated by a servant, silence seeks tolerance; without bribes, servant demands aren't met, explaining hunger/thirst. Treatment clears pericardium fire without purging stomach earth; purging stomach weakens earth, causing pericardium fire to generate more stomach fire. Use Qing Huo An Wei Tang (Clear Fire Pacify Stomach Decoction):
Mai Dong (1 liang), Shi Hu (Dendrobium Stem, 3 qian), Dan Shen (Salvia Root, 3 qian), Sheng Di (Rehmannia Root, 3 qian), Chao Zao Ren (Fried Ziziphus Seed, 5 qian), Zhu Ye (Bamboo Leaf, 100 pieces). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose restores speech; two doses reduce swelling; three doses resolve stomach hunger/thirst.

This formula entirely clears pericardium fire without draining heart qi; once pericardium fire rests, stomach qi naturally calms.

This condition treated with Xuan Dan Mai Dong Tang (Xuan Shen, Dan Shen, and Mai Dong Decoction) is also effective.
Xuan Shen, Dan Shen, Mai Dong (1 liang each). Decoct in water and take orally.

Heat syndrome causes body pores to feel like piercing needles, with pain inside and outside joints. Cold water application provides slight relief. People think fire originates from skin, but who knows it is fire depressed in zang-fu, wanting to exit but unable to? Fire nature tends to blaze upward and exit sideways through skin, which is inappropriate. Internal fire is strong, yang qi is vigorous; fire wants to escape externally, but skin is firm. Depressed fire, frustrated, gathers courage to attack skin, trying to break out. Pores cannot open suddenly; fire returns internally, causing pain. Cold water application helps slightly because it moisturizes skin, forgetting water controls fire. Pain relief is not due to external water scattering fire. Treatment should first purge spleen/stomach fire; remaining fire will purge itself. Use Gong Huo Tang (Attack Fire Decoction):
Da Huang (Rhubarb Root, 3 qian), Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum, 5 qian), Chao Zhi Zi (Fried Gardenia Fruit, 3 qian), Dang Gui (1 liang), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark, 1 qian), Gan Cao (Licorice Root, 1 qian), Chai Hu (1 qian), Bai Shao (3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose purges fire; two doses remove pain.

This formula directly purges spleen/stomach fire without damaging spleen/stomach qi, and soothes liver wood depression, making fire easier to消. This is the key to treating fire; why clear every fu and treat every zang separately?

This condition treated with Xuan Yang San (Promote Yang Powder) is also good.
Chai Hu (1 qian), Jing Jie (2 qian), Dang Gui (1 liang), Mai Dong (1 liang), Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root, 3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.

Some feel heart burning like fire, sensing fire rising, then entering small intestine meridian, urging urination, leading to involuntary urine loss, followed by stool discharge. People think heart fire descends, but who knows it is heart and pericardium fire acting up? Pericardium fire acts as deputy for sovereign fire. Sovereign fire strong means ministerial fire calm; sovereign fire weak means ministerial fire moves. Sometimes sovereign fire is strong yet ministerial fire also moves. Sovereign and ministerial fire cannot move together; they are incompatible. Seeing sovereign fire strong, ministerial fire dares not usurp power, yielding downward movement. Sovereign fire, having nowhere to vent, transfers heat to small intestine (exterior-interior pair). Ministerial fire assists sovereign fire downward, entering small intestine then large intestine, causing simultaneous urinary and fecal incontinence. Treatment stabilizes both fires, extinguishing flame. Use Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) with modifications:
Shu Di Huang (1 liang), Chuan Xiong (Ligusticum Rhizome, 2 qian), Dang Gui (1 liang), Bai Shao (5 qian), Huang Lian (2 qian), Xuan Shen (1 liang), Huang Bo (1 qian), Che Qian Zi (Plantago Seed, 2 qian). Decoct in water and take orally. Two doses bring slight relief; four doses result in full recovery.

Si Wu Tang is a divine blood-tonifying agent. Fire movement stems from blood dryness; tonifying blood prevents zang-fu dehydration, cooling blood prevents floating fire harm. Huang Lian enters heart to clear sovereign fire; Huang Bo enters pericardium to clear ministerial fire. Adding Che Qian promotes urination, guiding both fires to bladder for excretion via water transformation, avoiding meridian disruption.

This condition treated with Er Di Tang (Two Rehmannies Decoction) is also good.
Sheng Di, Shu Di, Dang Gui (1 liang each), Ren Shen (3 qian), Huang Lian (1 qian), Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark, 5 fen). Decoct in water and take orally.

After severe anger, whole body joints ache, chest/abdomen distend, eyes close tightly, extremities turn cold, fingernails turn blue-black. People assume yin-pattern cold damage, but who knows it is heat-fire disease? Yin patterns mimic yang, yang patterns mimic yin; distinction is crucial. This is a yang pattern mimicking yin. Blue-black nails are yin exterior signs. Cold extremities seem extreme cold, but extreme internal heat manifests as external cold, appearing cold but not being cold. Unresolved anger injures liver; liver qi becomes urgent, liver lobes expand. Anger makes liver qi more urgent and lobes more expanded, boiling blood and raising fire, unstoppable. Liver governs sinews; fire causes sinew contraction and pain. Fire wants to burn externally, but phlegm knots internally; phlegm-fire struggle leaves dampness无处 to scatter, moving dampness to four extremities. Nails are remnants of sinews, hence blue-black color. Extremities are cold, but chest/abdomen are intensely hot. Treatment pacifies liver qi and disperses internal heat, resolving external cold signs. Use Ping Gan Shu Jin Tang (Pacify Liver Soothe Sinew Decoction):
Chai Hu (1 qian), Bai Shao (1 liang), Niu Xi, Sheng Di, Dan Pi, Chao Zhi Zi (3 qian each), Dang Gui (5 qian), Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel, 1 qian), Gan Cao (1 qian), Shen Qu (Medicated Leaven, 5 fen), Qin Jiao (Gentiana Macrophylla Root, 1 qian), Wu Yao (Lindera Root, 1 qian), Fang Feng (Saposhnikovia Root, 3 fen). Decoct in water and take orally. One dose opens eyes; two doses stop pain; three doses remove distension; four doses resolve all symptoms.

Herbs in this formula enter liver meridian to resolve anger. Anger resolved, fire calms; fire calmed, sinews relax, a necessary principle. People seeing such symptoms often lack confidence, afraid to use these herbs, leading to death due to yin/yang confusion. However, I have another method: Offer water to test. Drinking without vomiting indicates yang pattern; vomiting immediately indicates yin pattern. If drinking without vomiting, using this formula causes no error.

This condition treated with Xi Nu Tang (Calm Anger Decoction) is also effective.
Bai Shao (3 liang), Chai Hu (2 qian), Dan Pi (5 qian), Chao Zhi Zi (3 qian), Tian Hua Fen (3 qian). Decoct in water and take orally.