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(Li [Tribulus terrestris] 1.5 qian, decocted in water and taken orally. After taking it for four consecutive doses, the eye pain naturally subsides; after another four doses, the aversion to light and preference for darkness also disappear.)

Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) is used to nourish blood, specifically replenishing the blood within the Liver. By nourishing the Liver, the Gallbladder is included as well. Moreover, Siwu Tang particularly enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. When the Heart receives it, it becomes moistened and does not assist the fire of the Gallbladder; when the Kidney receives it, it becomes lubricated and does not steal the qi of the Gallbladder. With no risk of dryness in the Heart, Liver, and Kidney, how could the Gallbladder be dry alone? Thus, taking this formula achieves its effect.

This condition can also be effectively treated with Ganfeng Danjing Tang (Ganfeng Danching Decoction).
Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 1 liang, Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae) 5 fen, Jingjie (Herba Schizonepetae) 5 fen, Ganjuhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) 5 qian. Decoct in water and take orally.

Some people have eyes that do not hurt, but their pupils gradually become smaller, accompanied by a dry mouth and bitter taste. People assume this is due to excessive Heart Fire, but who would know it is actually dryness of the Pericardium (Xinbao)? The vessels of the eyes connect to the five Zang organs, not just the Pericardium meridian. The brilliance of the pupil stems from the light of the Heart and Kidney; the light of the Heart and Kidney originates from their essence. However, the essence of the Heart must receive the essence of the Kidney, which intersects with the Pericardium, before the essence of the Heart and Kidney can ascend to the eyes. This is because the Heart Monarch (Heart) acts in non-action (Wuwei), while the Pericardium acts in action (Youwei). Therefore, the Pericardium belongs to Fire and relies entirely on the nourishment of Kidney Water. If Kidney Qi does not intersect with the Pericardium, i.e., the Pericardium does not intersect with the Heart, Fire without Water to balance it means the Pericardium consists solely of Fire Qi. Extremely dry, how can it internally moisten the Heart and externally moisten the eyes?
Thus, the constriction and smallness of the pupil are all due to the lack of water in the Pericardium, stemming from the dryness of Kidney Water. To tonify the Kidney to nourish the Pericardium, how can one delay?
The formula used is Jiutong Tang (Jiutong Decoction):
Shudi (Prepared Rhizoma Rehmanniae) 1 liang, Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 5 qian, Ganjuhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) 3 qian, Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae) 1 liang, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) 5 fen, Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 1 liang, Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 5 qian, Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 3 qian, Danpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 5 qian. Decoct in water and take orally.

This formula employs the method of treating the Liver and Kidney simultaneously. Since there is no water in the Pericardium, instead of directly treating the Pericardium, we nourish the Liver and Kidney because the Liver is the mother of the Pericardium. The Liver draws resources from the exterior to greatly benefit its "son" organ (the Pericardium); this approach is convenient and logically sound. Will not the tense, constricted state transform into a relaxed, expanded appearance?

This condition can also be effectively treated with Jünu Yin (Chrysanthemum and Ligustrum Drink).
Nvzhenzi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi) 1 liang, Ganjuhua (Flos Chrysanthemi) 5 qian, Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 5 qian. Decoct in water and take orally.

Some people experience constipation after autumn, unable to defecate. This is dryness injuring Lung Metal, causing the Large Intestine to also become dry, not due to Fire in the Large Intestine. Since the Lung and Large Intestine are interior-exterior partners, if the Lung is dry, the Large Intestine cannot remain moist alone. Furthermore, the opening and closing of the Large Intestine are governed by Kidney Qi. When Kidney Qi is sufficient, the Large Intestine has fluids; when Kidney Qi is depleted, the Large Intestine lacks luster. The non-dryness of the Large Intestine fully depends on the assistance of Kidney Water. However, Kidney Water cannot generate itself; Lung Metal is the mother of the Kidney. If the Lung is moist, it easily generates water; if the Lung is weak, it struggles to generate water. If Kidney Water has no source, saving the Kidney is urgent enough, let alone attending to the Large Intestine. The treatment method is to tonify the Lung and Kidney, and the Large Intestine will naturally become moist. The formula used is Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) with modifications.
Shudi (Prepared Rhizoma Rehmanniae) 1 liang, Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 3 qian, Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 4 qian, Fuling (Poria) 3 qian, Danpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 3 qian, Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 3 qian, Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 1 liang, Bei Wuwei (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) 1 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. After taking it for four consecutive doses, bowel movement will naturally resume.

Strictly avoid using Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) and Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) to purge accumulation. This disease is fundamentally a Yin-injuring condition; adding drugs that plunder Yin will severely injure Yin further, inevitably transforming into Yang Constipation (Yang Jie), causing abdominal pain. Despite myriad attempts to guide the stool out, if it cannot be expelled, is this not even more dangerous? Why not greatly tonify the Yin of the Lung and Kidney, allowing sufficient Yin to naturally resolve Yang?

This condition can also be effectively treated with Donggui Tang (Donggui Decoction).
Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) (2 liang each). Decoct in water and take orally.

Some people experience urinary retention between summer and autumn, with no drops passing. People assume this is Heat Stagnation in the Bladder, but who would know it is Dryness in the Lung causing Dryness in the Bladder? The patency of the Bladder depends on sufficient Kidney Qi and sufficient Lung Qi. The Bladder and Kidney are interior-exterior partners, while the Lung is the upper source of water passages. When these two meridians are sufficient, water has a source and flow; when they are deficient, water stagnates. Moreover, extreme dryness depletes the clear descending function and reduces the transformative Qi. The Bladder is purely dry and parched; from where can the fine stream be guided? This urinary retention is truly due to a lack of water to transform. The treatment should not merely moisten the Bladder, but urgently moisten the Lung; furthermore, one should not merely moisten the Lung, but greatly tonify the Kidney. When Kidney Water is sufficient, the Bladder naturally becomes abundant; why worry about dryness and stagnation? The formula used is Qijie Shengyin Tang (Qijie Shengyin Decoction):
Shudi (Prepared Rhizoma Rehmanniae) 1 liang, Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 5 qian, Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis) 3 qian, Yiren (Semen Coicis) 5 qian, Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 5 qian, Yizhiren (Semen Alpiniae Oxyphyllae) 1 qian, Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) 1 fen, Shashen (Radix Glehniae seu Adenophorae) 3 qian, Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 4 qian. Decoct in water and take orally.

This formula tonifies the Kidney while still tonifying the Lung, to nourish the source of water generation. It uses unblocking methods within tonification so that when water is tonified, it does not suffer from stagnation; thus, water flows freely, maximizing the benefits of tonification. Yi Zhiren is added to prevent enuresis, and Rougui is added to guide the path. Abundant water naturally flows straight to the Bladder; the dry becomes moist, and the blocked becomes unblocked.

This condition can also be effectively treated with Baigui Shengmai Tang (Baigui Shengmai Decoction).
Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 1 liang, Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri) 3 qian, Shengdi (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Recens) 5 qian, Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) 3 fen. Decoct in water and take orally.

Some people suffer from Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst) and drink water, sometimes feeling extremely thirsty, sometimes mildly thirsty. People assume this is boiling Heart and Kidney Fire, but who would know it is Dryness of San Jiao Qi? Xiao Ke is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao, but essentially, it is all excessive Fire in the San Jiao. When Fire moves in the Lower Jiao, the Fire in the Upper and Middle Jiao follows suit, causing severe thirst. When Fire subsides in the Lower Jiao, the Fire in the Middle and Upper Jiao wanders uncertainly, causing mild thirst. The San Jiao shares one Fire; why should it all obey the commands of the Lower Jiao? The Fire of the Lower Jiao, once ignited, is unstoppable. Therefore, the Fire of the Lower Jiao should be calm rather than active, yet it is prone to movement and hard to calm. It requires Water from the Kidney to control it: when the Kidney is robust, Water is calm; when the Kidney is deficient, Water moves. How many people in the world have robust Kidneys? There are many cases of Kidney Water deficiency requiring supplementation. How can deficient Water control Fire? Active Fire scorches and dries San Jiao Qi, making the San Jiao even drier. It inevitably looks outward for water rescue to rapidly stop the great thirst. To relieve the thirst of the San Jiao, what method other than tonifying Kidney Water exists? The formula used is Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) with modifications.
Shudi (Prepared Rhizoma Rehmanniae) 2 liang, Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 1 liang, Fuling (Poria) 5 qian, Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae) 5 qian, Danpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) 1 liang, Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis) 5 qian, Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 1 liang, Bei Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) 2 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. After ten doses, thirst lessens; after twenty doses, thirst resolves; after thirty doses, full recovery occurs.

Liuwei Dihuang Wan treats the Kidney; adding Maidong and Wuweizi treats the Lung. This is not merely to clear Lung Metal Fire. Tonifying the Lung aids the source of Kidney Water; when the Lung is robust, the Kidney gains vitality. Robust Kidney Water is sufficient to control Lower Jiao Fire; if Lower Jiao Fire does not move, how can Upper and Middle Jiao Fire flare up?

This condition is also excellently treated with Erdan Tang (Erdan Decoction).
Danpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis), Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae) (5 qian each), Fuling (Poria), Baiziren (Semen Platycladi) (3 qian each). Decoct in water and take orally.

After a major illness, some people find their Small Intestine narrowed, unable to pass urine, with severe distension threatening death. People assume it is Fire in the Small Intestine, but who would know it is Dryness of the Small Intestine? The opening and closing of the Small Intestine are not controlled by the Small Intestine itself. Half depends on the Bladder, half on Kidney Qi. Thus, blockage in the Small Intestine lies entirely in the closure of the Bladder, and closure of the Bladder results from the closure of Kidney Qi. When Kidney Water is exhausted and the Bladder is withered, the Small Intestine also becomes dry and blocked. The treatment must greatly tonify Water in the Kidney, and tonifying Water must include tonifying Lung Metal Qi, because the Qi transformation of the Bladder requires the clear descending command of Lung Metal to execute. When Lung Qi is robust, water flows; then, assisting with diuretic herbs allows Kidney Qi to open and the Small Intestine to open. The formula used is Zhiben Xiaoshui Tang (Zhiben Xiaoshui Decoction):
Shudi (Prepared Rhizoma Rehmanniae) 2 liang, Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni) 1 liang, Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 1 liang, Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis) 5 qian, Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis) 2 qian, Fuling (Poria) 5 qian, Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) 3 qian, Liu Jinu (Herba Lysimachiae) 3 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. After one dose, water flows; after two doses, the intestine relaxes, and urine pours forth.

This formula does not directly treat the Small Intestine but focuses on the Lung and Kidney. If the Lung and Kidney are not dry, the dryness of the Small Intestine naturally moistens.

This condition can also be effectively treated with Guangze Tang (Guangze Decoction).
Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 2 liang, Shengdi (Rhizoma Rehmanniae Recens) 1 liang, Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis), Liu Jinu (Herba Lysimachiae) (3 qian each). Decoct in water and take orally.