Library

[Bai Shaoyao (White Peony Root)]
Taste: sour, bitter. Nature: slightly cold, slightly toxic. Meridian tropism: Liver meridian. Indications: Mainly treats liver injury caused by anger, accumulations and masses in the chest and abdomen, blood stasis between the waist and umbilicus, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dysentery; eye diseases, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis; regulates menstruation and calms the fetus. Chi Shaoyao (Red Peony Root) specifically breaks blood stasis, promotes urination, clears heat, and brightens the eyes. Guiding herbs: Lei Wan (Omphalia Lapponica), Wu Yao (Linderae Radix), Moyao (Myrrha). Contraindications: Avoid Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis); incompatible with Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas), Xiaosu (likely referring to a mineral salt or specific herb as per text); antagonistic to Lifulu (Veratrum nigrum).

Commentary: Bai Shaoyao enters the Liver via its sour taste, thus it can drain fire from within the water (Kidney/Liver yin context). Conditions injured by anger will all heal upon taking it. Accumulations and abdominal pain are diseases of the Spleen, yet often arise when Wood qi is hyperactive and over-controls Earth, presenting an image similar to Wood controlling Earth. The Classics state: "In treating disease, one must seek the root." Treating via the Liver now addresses precisely this root. Eye diseases and various women's disorders are all blood-related pathologies; by subduing Liver pathogens, blood naturally regenerates, and the illness subsides. Hence, Siwu Tang (Four Substance Decoction) uses it, also because women tend to have Qi deficiency and Blood weakness. To merely praise its blood-nourishing effect while forgetting its true usage—is this acceptable? For postpartum women, use with discretion, lest its sour-cold nature damage the vital generating Qi. For Blood deficiency, roast before use; for abdominal pain and dysentery, stir-fry before use.

Lei Gong states: After harvesting, dry in the sun, scrape off the coarse skin with a bamboo knife, mix with honey water, steam from Si hour (09:00-11:00) to Wei hour (13:00-15:00), then dry and use.

[Sheng Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix)]
Taste: sweet, bitter. Nature: cold, non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung meridians. Actions: Cools irritability and heat of Heart fire; drains damp-heat of Spleen earth; stops nasal bleeding and heat in the Lung meridian; clears blood-heat of Liver wood. Contraindications: Avoid contact with iron vessels. Guiding herb: Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix). Synergies: Effective with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber) and wine. Antagonisms: Incompatible with Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus); adverse reaction with Wuyi (Allophylus cobbe seed), Laifu (Raphani Fructus), and their seeds.

Commentary: Sheng Dihchang is always a blood-cooling agent, entering the four meridians to clear various heats. It is especially a crucial medicine for the elderly with dried-up fluids causing obstruction, women with metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, and postpartum cases where blood attacks the heart. Adding two or three fen in splea-strengthening formulas ensures the Spleen remains free from pathogens. Contraindicated in cases of Blood deficiency with cold.

[Shu Dihuang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix)]
Taste: sweet, bitter. Nature: warm, non-toxic. Meridian tropism: Heart, Liver, Kidney meridians. Actions: Invigorates Qi movement in blood, fills and seals marrow; nourishes Kidney water, tonifies True Yin. Indications: Pain in calves and thighs after Shanghan (Cold Damage); unbearable pain in the umbilical and abdominal region after childbirth. Benefits ears and eyes, darkens hair, treats Five Exhaustions and Seven Injuries, calms the Hun and Po. Its guiding, contraindicated, adverse, and antagonistic properties are the same as Sheng Dihuang. Its nature is particularly cloying and obstructive; soak in ginger wine before use.

Commentary: Shu Dihuang is a blood-tonifying agent. Since the Heart and Liver store and generate blood, it enters these organs. Its color is black, and its nature is heavy, turbid, and Yin-dominant. The meridians necessarily benefit from it, and conditions such as exhaustion injuries and palpitations due to fright can be cured.

Lei Gong states: After harvesting Sheng Dihuang, remove the white skin, steam in a willow-wood steamer placed on a porcelain pot, spread out to let the vapor dissipate, mix with wine, steam again, then take out and dry. Do not allow contact with copper or iron, as this causes Kidney depletion, premature whitening of hair, damages Ying (Nutrient) Qi in men, and Wei (Defensive) Qi in women.