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Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian, 黄连): Bitter in taste, cold in nature, non-toxic, enters the Heart Meridian. It primarily treats hyperactive Heart Fire (excessive heat in the heart), sudden onset of eye diseases, redness and swelling of sores and ulcers, bloody stool and dysentery, epigastric fullness and diarrhea, childhood malnutrition fever (Gan syndrome with heat), elimination of oral ulcers, palpitations and irritability, and epidemic febrile diseases. It is guided by Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩), Os Draconis et Ossis Mamillae (Longgu, 龙骨), Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao, 连翘), and Talcum (Huashi, 滑石). It is incompatible with Chrysanthemi Flos (Juhua, 菊花), Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua, 芫花), Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen, 玄参), Dictamni Cortex (Bai Xian Pi, 白鲜皮), and Bombyx Batryticatus (Bai Jiang Can, 白僵蚕); it fears Adenophorae Radix (Kuan Dong Hua, 款冬花). It resolves the toxicity of Bryoniae Radix (Badou, 巴豆) and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata (Wutou, 乌头). Pork and cold water are contraindicated.

Commentary: Coptidis Rhizoma is bitter and drains Heart Fire; it is indispensable for treating various diseases caused by Heart Fire. Although dysentery and diarrhea often belong to the Spleen Meridian, they fundamentally arise because Fire fails to generate Earth (Fire not generating Earth). Moreover, the Heart and Small Intestine are exteriorly-interiorly related; when Heart Fire is drained, urination becomes smooth, and the intestines and stomach naturally become moistened. It is contraindicated for those who suffer from diarrhea due to cold. Furthermore, it should not be used for patients with chronic illness, Qi deficiency, or weak Heart Fire.

Lei Gong stated: When preparing Coptidis Rhizoma, wipe off the root hairs with a cloth, then soak it in fermented grain water for two days and nights (two Fu periods). Drain it, and dry it by baking over willow wood fire. If one consumes this herb, accumulating ten taels, pork must be avoided; if consumed for three years, pork must never be eaten for life.

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang, 大黄): Bitter in taste, greatly cold in nature, non-toxic, enters the Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, Heart, and Liver meridians. Its nature is sinking rather than floating, its action is moving rather than retaining. It breaks the stagnation of Earth Qi without causing obstruction, pacifies chaos and brings peace, hence named "General" (Jiangjun). It also treats carbuncles, sores, sudden onset of eye diseases and dysentery, blood closure and fire stagnation, pushing out the old and generating the new. Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin, 黄芩) serves as the guiding herb; there are no incompatibilities. The variety with brocade patterns (Jinwen) is superior.

Commentary: That Rhei Radix et Rhizoma enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians is well understood by people. However, its entry into the Heart and Liver meridians is often overlooked. In ancient times, Zhang Zhongjing's Bailao Wan and Shuchong Wan both used Rhei Radix et Rhizoma to regulate labor injuries accompanied by hematemesis and epistaxis, implying profound and subtle intent. Generally, when turbid Yin does not descend, clear Yang cannot ascend; this is the way of Heaven. When stasis blood is not expelled, new blood cannot be generated; this is the way of the human body. Prolonged steaming heat causes stasis blood to stagnate in the collaterals; only by using Rhei Radix et Rhizoma to expel it can the Liver and Spleen become unobstructed, pushing out the stale to generate the new. Nowadays, in treating consumption/labor injury, many use yin-nourishing methods. Frequent administration yields no effect, leading to sitting and waiting for death. Alas! Is medical art limited to this? As for carbuncles, eye diseases, and dysentery, all are caused by heat and stasis, thus they are treated together. It is strictly contraindicated in Taiyang disease with weak pulse and in cases where wind-cold pathogen has not yet resolved.

Lei Gong stated: When preparing Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, slice it finely. Select pieces with internal textures resembling water swirls and brocade patterns that are dense and heavy. Cut into small pieces, steam them from Si hour to Wei hour, sun-dry, then drain. Steam again with water collected in the twelfth lunar month (La water) from Wei hour to Hai hour. Repeat this steaming process seven times, sun-drying each time. After the seventh drying, drain again, steam once more with thin honey water for one Fu period (one day and night). At this point, the Rhei Radix et Rhizoma resembles black paste. Sun-dry it for use; this is the optimal method.