典藏书目

Treats conditions of Kidney Essence deficiency, with deficient fire flaring upward, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, bone heat and aching pain, heel pain, dysuria or urinary incontinence, spermatorrhea and nocturnal emission, water metabolism disorder transforming into phlegm, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, blood loss, Xiao Ke (Wasting and Thirsting syndrome), dizziness and vertigo, deafness, loose teeth, and a Chi pulse that is deficient and large.

Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmanniae Radix) 8 liang, Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus) 4 liang, Bai Fu Ling (Poria) 3 liang, Gan Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 4 liang, Mu Dan Pi (Moutan Cortex) 3 liang, Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) 3 liang. The above six herbs are ground into fine powder, mixed with refined honey to make pills, sized like tung tree seeds, taken on an empty stomach with light salt water.

[Collected Notes] Ke Qin said: Kidney deficiency fails to store essence, causing the Fire of the Kan Palace (Mingmen Fire) to lose its attachment and act recklessly. Downward, it fails to nourish the Liver Wood's ascending and generating function; upward, it severs the source of generation for Lung Metal. Di Huang possesses a sweet and cold nature; when processed into Shu Di Huang, its flavor becomes rich. This follows the principle of "nourishing deficiency with flavor," used to greatly nourish Kidney Yin, fill essence and supplement marrow, and strengthen the master of True Water. Ze Xie is used as an envoy herb. Some people dislike its draining effect on the Kidney and remove it, not realizing that one Yin and one Yang constitute the Way of Heaven and Earth; one opening and one closing constitute the mechanism of motion and stillness. Essence belongs to Gui Water, which is Yin Water, static and non-flowing, constituting the substance of the Kidney. Urine belongs to Ren Water, which is Yang Water, moving and non-abiding, constituting the function of the Kidney. Therefore, the Kidney governs the five fluids. If Yin Water does not remain, True Water is insufficient; if Yang Water does not flow, pathogenic water overflows. Thus, Jun Yao (Chief Herb) Di Huang is used to seal and store the root, while assisting Ze Xie to unblock stagnation in the water pathways. However, if Kidney deficiency is not treated by tonifying its mother (Spleen Earth) or guiding its upper source (Lung Qi), the function of sealing and storing cannot be consolidated. Shan Yao is cool and tonifying, used to cultivate the upper source of Gui Water. Fu Ling is bland and permeating, used to guide the upper source of Ren Water. Added with the sour and warm nature of Zhu Yu, it helps to restrain Shaoyang Ministerial Fire and nourish the fluid of Jueyin Liver. Dan Pi is acrid and cold, clearing Shaoyin Heart Fire, thereby supporting Shaoyang Qi. Nourishing the source of transformation and supporting the breath of life allows Tian Gui to reside in its place. Strengthening Water to control Fire is merely one aspect.

[Commentary] Among the Five Elements, each has only one, except for Fire, which has two: Jun Fire (Monarch Fire) and Xiang Fire (Ministerial Fire). Jun Fire is the Fire of the Heart Meridian, governing the Fire of the whole body. Xiang Fire is the Fire within the Kidney, disseminating the Fire of the whole body. If Jun Fire lacks Xiang Fire, it cannot disseminate the various Fires to support the foundation of life. If Xiang Fire lacks Jun Fire, it cannot govern the various Fires to prevent disasters from reckless action. Therefore, Li Gao proposed the theory of internal injury due to fatigue, where Fire attacks the Earth position. For excess Heart Fire, he used herbs like Zhusha Anshen Wan to raise Yang Qi and drain Yin Fire, but did not address Heart Fire deficiency, as predecessors had already provided formulas like Guipi Tang and Yangxin Tang. Zhu Zhenheng proposed the theory that Yang is often in excess and Yin is often insufficient. For excess Kidney Fire, he used herbs like Buyin Wan and Butian Dazao Wan, but did not address Kidney Fire deficiency, as predecessors had already provided formulas like Shenqi Wan and Guifu Dihuang Wan. By adding Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) and Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) to this formula, it becomes Guifu Dihuang Wan, treating weak Chi pulses, insufficient Ministerial Fire, emaciation, and shortness of breath. This corresponds to Wang Bing's statement: "Tonify the origin of Fire to eliminate Yin shadows." By adding Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), it becomes Zhibai Dihuang Wan, treating vigorous Chi pulses, Yin deficiency with Fire agitation, afternoon fever, and bone weakness. This corresponds to Wang Bing's statement: "Strengthen the master of Water to control the sunlight." The Classic states: "When Yin is balanced and Yang is secure, spirit and vitality are regulated." If Yin and Yang are imbalanced, diseases arise. The Kidney takes the image of Kan, a vessel where Yang is hidden within Yin. Not only when Yin is excessive and Yang is deficient does Yang fear Yin and dare not attach itself; even when Yin is deficient and Yang is excessive, Yin cannot hide Yang, leaving Yang without support. Although both are termed "Fire returning to its origin," the resulting diseases differ. Therefore, in Kidney-tonifying herbs, adding Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) and Fuzi strengthens Yang to overcome Yin, so that Yang has no fear and naturally returns to its origin. Adding Zhimu and Huangbai nourishes Yin and secures Yang, so that Yang has a reservoir and naturally returns to storage. People only know to use Guizhi and Fuzi to guide Fire back to its origin, unaware that Zhimu and Huangbai balance Yin and secure Yang. The world is misled by this, so Zhu Zhenheng specifically established the theory of nourishing Yin to refute the error of using Fire to assist Fire. Those who fail to understand its purport slander him, which is truly lamentable.