元参，味苦、咸，气微寒，无毒。忌铜器，犯人噎喉丧目。入肺、肾、胃三经。强阴益
精，
补肾明目。治伤寒身热支满，忽忽如不知人；疗温疟寒热往来，洒洒时常发颤；除女人产乳
余疾，祛男子骨蒸传尸，逐肠风血瘕坚症；散头下痰核痈肿。乃枢机之剂，领诸气上下，肃
清而不致浊，治空中氤氲之气，散无根浮游之火，惟此为最。前人之论如此，近有轻之不用
，即用之，不敢多。岂知元参乃君药，实可恃之夺命以救人者乎。夫天下尤难治者，火症也
。火症之中，尤难降者，无如胃、肾之二火。肾火沸腾，乃龙雷之火也，其势尤烈，以苦寒
折之，反致增焰，焚林劈木，每在阴寒大雨之时，夏日炎氛之间，一遇凉风白露，龙雷收藏
矣。故以苦寒直治，不若以微寒从治。元参正微寒之品，而又善散浮游之火，治之正复相宜
，
若胃火之起，势若燎原，不尽不止，往往热气腾天，火星口出，登高而歌，弃衣而走，
见水
而入。苟不以辛凉大寒之药救之，乃发狂亡阳，立时身丧，此非急用白虎汤不可。然石膏过
寒，多服损胃，虽一时救急，不可以善后。元参治空中氤氲之气，泻火正其所长。石膏之后
，即续之以元参，则阳火自平，而阴火又长，何至有亡阳之惧乎，此又治胃之所必需也。但
勺水难以救焚，反致至焰。若胃火乃阳火也，必多用元参，然后可以遏其势；而肾火乃阴火
也，亦必多用元参，然后可以息其炽。况元参原是君药，多用始易成功，少用反致偾事，不
妨自一两用至五、六两，以出奇制胜。倘畏首畏尾，不敢多用，听其死亡而不救，冀免于无
过难矣。吾愿行医者，闻吾言而重用元参，以治胃、肾之二火可乎。
或问元参以退胃、肾之火，既不损胃，又且滋阴，但必须多用，不妨一两以用至五六两，
毋
乃太多，恐脾胃难于承受，万一变生饱闷、不欲饮食之症奈何？噫！免过虑矣。夫胃、肾之
火
上腾者，由于下之无水也。火旺之极，乃水亏之极，水不亏，乃火不旺。天地之道，阴阳之
道，阴阳所以相根，人身之中，水火原以相召，有水以制火，乃火安平，下焦断不沸越于上
焦也。故火不得水乃已，一得水乃相安，敛戢甚神且速也。然乃火之腾空，正望水不可得，
惟恐水之细微，不足以解其燥烈之炎氛，岂有得滂沱及厌恶作祟之理。是以入于胃而胃苏，
入于脾而脾乐，况胃、肾二火炎上，各经之水皆烁，水即滂沱，尚恐分润之不足，何至有触
留于补，胃艰于承受，致生饱闷不欲食之症哉？此必无之事，可放胆用之。而吾犹以为少耳
，更当佐之以麦冬，益之以生地、甘菊，庶几同群共济，有露足之快也。
或疑元参退浮游之火，退上焦之虚火，非退下焦之虚火。吾子盛称其功，得无错认肾中
之火
上
游耶？非错也。夫浮游之火，正下焦之火，非上焦之火。凡火在上焦者，盛易消；火在下焦
者，炎难息。元参解下焦之火，故非多用，不能成功。盖上焦之火，肺火也、心火也。肺火
用黄芩，心火用黄连，不易之法也。肺火虽盛，黄芩用二钱，无不清凉；心火虽烈，黄连用
三钱，无不消灭。正以上焦之火，原易炎上，又易解故也。若下焦之火，非出之于肝木，即
出之于肾水。肝、肾之火，皆龙雷之火也，忽然上腾，忽然下降，其浮游无定之状，实予人
难以捉摸，非大用元参，乃水不足济火，其焚林劈木之威，有不可言者矣。人见用元参不能
降火，谁知是少用元参，不能以益水耶。总之，实火可泻，而虚火可补。泻实火，可少用寒
凉，而泻虚火，必须多用滋润，此元参退肾、肝之虚火，断宜多用，以定浮游，切戒少用，
以增其酷烈也。
或疑元参退浮游之火，火退又用何药，便浮游之火不再浮游，抑仍用元参为善后之策乎？
夫
元参可以退一时之火，安能退久远之火。火性炎上，非水不足以济一时之急；火性又善藏，
非水不足以救万火之炎。用元参以降火，随用肉桂以安火，大用元参，而少用肉桂，或佐之
以纯补真阴之药，自然火得水以相制，火得水而潜藏，又何至再为浮游哉。
或疑元参用之于肉桂之中，恐寒热之未宜，此乃未知阴阳之妙矣。夫阴阳之道，彼此相
根，
无阴，乃阳从何生；无阳，乃阴从何长。元参得肉桂，乃阴易生；肉桂得元参，乃阳又易长
。惟阳长而后阴消，阴消于下，而火不腾于上矣。二味合用，正阴阳之妙用也。
或疑阴阳平而后无病，今用元参、肉桂，一多一少，吾恐轻重不同，阴阳不得其平也。
夫阴
阳之不平也，久矣。诚观天地，无不阴多于阳，群阴之中，得一阳而安，倘阳多于阴，乃成
酷烈世界矣。人一身之中，五脏六腑，无非火气，然非水气之溺满，乃又成焦 腹体矣。所
以，补阴之药不可不多，而补阳之药不可不少。盖阴旺，则火旺可以制火；若阳旺，则乃火
旺，必至烁水矣。用元参滋补，必宜多。肉桂益阳，必宜少。二味一多一少，似乎阴阳之不
得其平，谁知阴多于阳，正阴阳两得其平哉。
或疑元参降火，又要知母、黄柏之流亚也，先生戒知母、黄柏之不宜轻用，又劝人治浮
游之
火者，多用元参，何其自相皆谬乎。非谬也。元参微寒，非大寒。大寒之地，草木不生，微
寒之地，草木更茂。所以弃知母、黄柏，而用元参、地骨也。况元参、地骨微寒之中，又有
滋补之味，异于黄柏、知母甚远，乌可同类而并论哉。
或疑寒凉既有损于脾胃，而微寒之药岂无损哉。夫治病去其甚者，未可一概尽去。吾患
黄柏
、知母过寒凉，非尽谓寒凉之不可用也。故倘知母、黄柏尚称其功，以示可用，岂元参、地
骨微寒之药，而反去之乎。况元参、地骨治虚火之内热上游，实有殊功，余又何可不亟为表
扬，以劝世之必用哉。
或问元参微寒，何以能泻浮游之火耶？盖火分虚、实，实火宜大寒之品，以降其炎腾之
势；
虚火宜微寒之味，以引其归敛之途。元参泻中有补，治虚火实宜，浮游之火，正虚火也，故
亟需之耳。
或问玄参何宜于肾？曰∶肾水虚，则寒而湿，宜用温以补之。肾火虚，则热而燥，宜用凉以
补之。故玄参一味，特为肾脏君药也。
玄参，味道苦、咸，性质微寒，没有毒性。忌用铜器煎煮，否则会损伤咽喉导致吞咽困难，损害视力。归入肺、肾、胃三经。能增强阴气、补益精髓，补肾并明目。治疗伤寒引起的身体发热、胸胁胀满，神情恍惚如同不知人事；治疗温疟引起的寒热往来，时常洒洒然颤抖；消除妇女产后余留的病症，祛除男子骨蒸劳热及传尸痨病，驱逐肠风血瘕等坚硬积聚之症；消散头部下方的痰核、痈肿。它是调节气机枢轴的药剂，统领诸气上下运行，肃清而不致浑浊，治疗空中氤氲之气，消散无根浮游之火，唯有此药最为适宜。前人的论述如此，近来有人轻视它而不用，即使使用，也不敢多用。哪里知道玄参是君药，确实是能够凭借它挽救生命以救人的药物啊。天下特别难以治疗的，是火证。火证之中，特别难以降伏的，没有比胃火、肾火更甚的了。肾火沸腾，这是龙雷之火，其势头尤其猛烈，如果用苦寒的药去折服它，反而会导致火势增加，像焚烧树林劈开木头一样，往往在阴冷大雨之时，或夏日炎热氛围之间，一旦遇到凉风和白露，龙雷之火就会潜藏收藏。所以用苦寒药直接治疗，不如用微寒药顺从病势治疗。玄参正是微寒性质的药材，而且善于消散浮游之火，治疗它正相适宜。至于胃火的兴起，势头若燎原大火，不烧尽不止，往往热气腾腾上天，火星从口鼻喷出，登高唱歌，脱衣奔跑，见到水就跳进去。如果不立即用辛凉大寒的药物来救治，就会发狂亡阳，立刻丧命，这非急用白虎汤不可。然而石膏过于寒凉，多服会损伤胃气，虽然能一时救急，但不能作为善后调理。玄参治疗空中氤氲之气，泻火正是它的长处。在石膏之后，紧接着使用玄参，那么阳火自然平息，而阴火又得以生长，怎么会有亡阳的恐惧呢？这又是治疗胃火所必需的。但是，一勺水难以扑灭大火，反而可能导致火势更旺。如果胃火是阳火，必须多用玄参，然后才能遏制其势头；而肾火是阴火，也必须多用玄参，然后才能熄灭其炽烈。况且玄参原本是君药，多用才容易成功，少用反而导致坏事，不妨从一两用到五、六两，以出奇制胜。如果畏首畏尾，不敢多用，听任病人死亡而不救治，希望以此避免过错，那太难了。我希望行医的人，听到我的话而重用玄参，用来治疗胃、肾二火，可以吗？
有人问：玄参用来退却胃、肾之火，既不损伤胃气，又能滋阴，但必须多用，不妨从一两用到五六两，是不是太多了，恐怕脾胃难以承受，万一产生饱闷、不想饮食的症状怎么办？唉！这是多余的忧虑。胃、肾之火上腾，是由于下部无水。火旺到了极点，就是水亏到了极点，水不亏损，火就不旺盛。天地的道理，阴阳的道理，阴阳互相根本，人身之中，水火原本互相召唤，有水来制约火，火才能安平，下焦绝对不会沸越于上焦。所以火得不到水就会停止，一得到水就相安无事，收敛得非常神奇迅速。然而当火腾空而起时，正盼望水而不可得，只担心水的细微，不足以解除其燥烈的炎氛，哪里有得到滂沱大雨反而厌恶作祟的道理。所以进入胃中胃就苏醒，进入脾中脾就快乐，何况胃、肾二火炎上，各经的水都被灼干，即使是滂沱大雨，还担心分润不足，怎么会有滞留于补益，胃难以承受，导致产生饱闷不想吃的症状呢？这一定是不会发生的事，可以放心大胆地使用。而我仍然认为用得少了，更应当辅助以麦冬，增加生地、甘菊，差不多就像同群共济，有露水滋润的快感。
有人怀疑玄参退却浮游之火，退却上焦的虚火，不是退却下焦的虚火。您极力称赞它的功效，难道不是错认了肾中的火上炎吗？不是错认。所谓浮游之火，正是下焦的火，不是上焦的火。凡是火在上焦的，旺盛容易消除；火在下焦的，炎盛难以平息。玄参解下焦的火，所以不多用，不能成功。因为上焦的火，是肺火、心火。肺火用黄芩，心火用黄连，是不变的法则。肺火虽然旺盛，黄芩用二钱，没有不清凉的；心火虽然猛烈，黄连用三钱，没有不消灭的。正是因为上焦的火，原本容易炎上，又容易解除的缘故。如果下焦的火，不是出于肝木，就是出于肾水。肝、肾的火，都是龙雷之火，忽然上腾，忽然下降，这种浮游不定的状态，实在让人难以捉摸，如果不大量使用玄参，那是水不足以来济助火，那种焚烧树林劈开木头的威力，是有不可言说的。人们看到使用玄参不能降火，谁知道是因为少用玄参，不能以益水呢？总之，实火可以泻，而虚火可以补。泻实火，可以少用寒凉药，而泻虚火，必须多用滋润药，这是玄参退却肾、肝虚火，断宜多用，以安定浮游之火，切忌少用，以增加其酷烈。
有人怀疑玄参退却浮游之火，火退后又用什么药，使浮游之火不再浮游，还是继续用玄参作为善后的策略吗？玄参可以退却一时的火，怎么能退却久远的火。火性炎上，没有水不足以济助一时的紧急；火性又善于潜藏，没有水不足以救万火之炎。用玄参以降火，随即用肉桂以安火，大量使用玄参，而少量使用肉桂，或者辅以纯补真阴的药物，自然火得到水来相互制约，火得到水而潜藏，又怎么会再为浮游呢？
有人怀疑玄参用在肉桂之中，恐怕寒热不宜，这是不知道阴阳的奥妙。阴阳的道理，彼此互相根本，没有阴，阳从哪里生发；没有阳，阴从哪里生长。玄参得到肉桂，阴就容易生发；肉桂得到玄参，阳就容易生长。只有阳长之后阴消，阴消于下，火就不腾于上了。这两味药合用，正是阴阳的妙用。
有人怀疑阴阳平和之后就没有病，现在用玄参、肉桂，一多一少，我担心轻重不同，阴阳不得其平。阴阳的不平衡，已经很久了。诚然观察天地，没有不是阴多于阳的，在群阴之中，得到一个阳而安定，倘若阳多于阴，那就成为酷烈的世界了。人一身之中，五脏六腑，无非是火气，如果不是水气充满，那就成为焦枯的躯体了。所以，补阴的药不可以不多，而补阳的药不可以不少。因为阴旺，则火旺可以用来制火；如果阳旺，那就是火旺，必定会灼烧水了。用玄参滋补，必须宜多。肉桂益阳，必须宜少。这两味药一多一少，似乎阴阳不得其平，谁知阴多于阳，正是阴阳两者都得到其平呢？
有人怀疑玄参降火，又要知母、黄柏这类药物，先生告诫知母、黄柏不宜轻用，又劝人治疗浮游之火多用玄参，为什么自相矛盾呢？不是矛盾。玄参微寒，不是大寒。大寒的地方，草木不生；微寒的地方，草木更茂盛。所以弃用知母、黄柏，而用玄参、地骨皮。况且玄参、地骨皮在微寒之中，又有滋补的味道，与黄柏、知母相差很远，怎么可以同类而并论呢？
有人怀疑寒凉既然损伤脾胃，微寒的药难道不损伤吗？治病去除严重的病因，不可以一概全部去除。我担忧黄柏、知母过寒凉，并不是说寒凉药完全不可用。所以如果知母、黄柏还能称职，显示可用，难道玄参、地骨皮微寒的药，反而要去除吗？况且玄参、地骨皮治疗虚火内热上炎，确实有特殊功效，我又怎能不急于表扬，以劝告世人必须使用呢？
有人问玄参微寒，为什么能泻浮游之火呢？大概火分虚、实，实火适宜大寒之品，以降低其炎腾之势；虚火适宜微寒之味，以引导其归敛的途径。玄参泻中有补，治疗虚火适宜，浮游之火，正是虚火，所以急需它罢了。
有人问玄参为什么适宜于肾？回答说：肾水虚，则寒而湿，适宜用温药来补之。肾火虚，则热而燥，适宜用凉药来补之。所以玄参一味药，特为肾脏的君药。
Scrophulariae Radix (Xuanshen, 玄参), with a bitter and salty taste, and a slightly cold nature, is non-toxic. It should not be decocted in copper vessels, as doing so may damage the throat causing dysphagia and impair vision. It enters the Lung, Kidney, and Stomach meridians. It strengthens Yin, benefits essence, tonifies the Kidney, and improves vision. It treats body heat and chest/hypochondriac fullness caused by Shanghan (Cold Damage) syndrome, accompanied by a trance-like state resembling unconsciousness; it treats alternating chills and fever with frequent shivering caused by Wen Nue (Warm Malaria); it eliminates residual diseases after childbirth in women; it dispels bone-steaming consumption and infectious tuberculosis in men; it drives out intestinal wind and blood stasis manifesting as hard masses; and it dissipates phlegm nodules and carbuncles/swellings below the head. It is an agent that regulates the pivot mechanism, directing Qi up and down, clearing turbidity without causing cloudiness, treating the misty Qi in the void, and dispersing rootless floating fire; no other herb is more suitable for this. This was the view of predecessors. Recently, some have despised it and do not use it, or if used, dare not use large doses. How could they know that Scrophulariae Radix is a sovereign drug, truly capable of saving lives? The most difficult conditions to treat under heaven are Fire syndromes. Among Fire syndromes, the most difficult to subdue are the Fire of the Stomach and the Fire of the Kidney. When Kidney Fire boils, it is Dragon-Lei Fire (Fire of the Dragon and Thunder), which is particularly fierce. Using bitter-cold herbs to suppress it may actually increase the flame, burning forests and splitting wood. This often occurs during cold rainy times or in the intense heat of summer; once cool winds and white dew appear, the Dragon-Lei Fire hides and stores itself. Therefore, directly treating with bitter-cold herbs is inferior to treating with slightly cold herbs following the disease's trend. Scrophulariae Radix is precisely such a slightly cold herb, and it excels at dispersing floating fire, making it perfectly suited for treatment. As for the rise of Stomach Fire, its momentum is like a prairie fire, unceasing until consumed, often with rising hot air, sparks from the mouth/nose, singing while climbing high, running naked, and jumping into water. If one does not immediately rescue with pungent-cool and greatly cold herbs, madness and collapse of Yang will occur, leading to immediate death; this requires the urgent use of Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction). However, Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is overly cold, and excessive use damages the Stomach Qi. Although it can save emergencies temporarily, it cannot be used for follow-up care. Scrophulariae Radix treats misty Qi in the void, and its strength lies in purging fire. Following Gypsum Fibrosum, continuing with Scrophulariae Radix allows Yang Fire to naturally subside while Yin Fire grows, avoiding the fear of Yang collapse. This is essential for treating Stomach Fire. But a spoonful of water cannot extinguish a great fire; it may even intensify it. If Stomach Fire is Yang Fire, Scrophulariae Radix must be used in large doses to curb its momentum; and since Kidney Fire is Yin Fire, it also requires large doses of Scrophulariae Radix to extinguish its intensity. Moreover, as Scrophulariae Radix is originally a sovereign drug, large doses facilitate success, while small doses may cause failure. One might as well use from 1 liang to 5-6 liang to achieve victory through surprise. If one is timid and dares not use large doses, allowing patients to die without rescue, hoping to avoid blame, this is extremely difficult. I hope practitioners, hearing my words, will heavily rely on Scrophulariae Radix to treat the Fire of the Stomach and Kidney, is this not feasible?
Someone asked: Scrophulariae Radix retreats the Fire of the Stomach and Kidney, neither damaging the Stomach nor failing to nourish Yin, but it must be used in large doses, from 1 liang to 5-6 liang. Is this too much? Could the Spleen and Stomach find it hard to bear? What if symptoms of fullness, oppression, and loss of appetite arise? Alas! This is unnecessary worry. The rising of Stomach and Kidney Fire is due to the lack of Water below. Extreme Fire prosperity indicates extreme Water deficiency; if Water is not deficient, Fire is not prosperous. The way of Heaven and Earth is the Way of Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang root each other. In the human body, Water and Fire summon each other. With Water to control Fire, Fire remains peaceful, and Lower Jiao (Lower Burner) absolutely does not boil over into Upper Jiao (Upper Burner). Thus, Fire ceases when it lacks Water, and becomes peaceful upon obtaining Water, retracting swiftly and miraculously. However, when Fire rises into the sky, it desperately seeks Water, fearing that slight amounts of Water are insufficient to resolve its arid and fierce heat atmosphere. There is no logic where abundant rain causes disgust or harm. Therefore, entering the Stomach revives it, entering the Spleen pleases it. Furthermore, when Stomach and Kidney Fire flare upwards, Water in all meridians is scorched. Even with torrential rain, one might still fear insufficient distribution. How could there be stagnation in tonification, difficulty for the Stomach to bear, leading to fullness and anorexia? This is impossible. Use it boldly. Yet I still consider the dose small. It is better to assist with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), add Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Ganju (Chrysanthemi Flos), so that they help each other, bringing the joy of sufficient dew.
Some suspect that Scrophulariae Radix retreats floating fire and empty fire in the Upper Jiao, but not empty fire in the Lower Jiao. You praise its efficacy highly; is this not a misidentification of Kidney Fire ascending? It is not a mistake. Floating fire is indeed Lower Jiao Fire, not Upper Jiao Fire. Fire in the Upper Jiao is easy to eliminate when prosperous; Fire in the Lower Jiao is hard to extinguish when blazing. Scrophulariae Radix resolves Lower Jiao Fire, hence it requires large doses to succeed. Upper Jiao Fire consists of Lung Fire and Heart Fire. For Lung Fire, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) is used; for Heart Fire, Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) is used. This is an unchangeable method. Even if Lung Fire is strong, 2 qian of Huangqin clears it; even if Heart Fire is fierce, 3 qian of Huanglian eliminates it. This is because Upper Jiao Fire tends to flare upwards and is easily resolved. If Lower Jiao Fire originates from Liver Wood or Kidney Water, both Liver and Kidney Fires are Dragon-Lei Fires. They suddenly ascend and suddenly descend, their floating and不定 (uncertain) nature being hard to grasp. Without large doses of Scrophulariae Radix, the insufficiency of Water to support Fire leads to indescribable destructive power. People see that Scrophulariae Radix fails to lower fire, unaware that it is because the dose is too small to benefit Water. In summary, Excess Fire can be purged, while Deficient Fire can be tonified. To purge Excess Fire, small doses of cold herbs suffice; to purge Deficient Fire, large doses of moistening herbs are necessary. Thus, Scrophulariae Radix to retreat Liver and Kidney Deficient Fire must be used in large doses to stabilize floating fire. Small doses are strictly forbidden as they increase ferocity.
Some suspect that after Scrophulariae Radix retreats floating fire, what medicine should be used to prevent recurrence? Should Scrophulariae Radix continue to be used for follow-up? Scrophulariae Radix can retreat temporary fire, but not long-standing fire. Fire nature flares upward; without Water, it cannot meet temporary urgency. Fire nature also loves to hide; without Water, it cannot save from myriad fires' blaze. Use Scrophulariae Radix to lower fire, then immediately use Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) to calm fire. Use large doses of Scrophulariae Radix and small doses of Rougui, or assist with pure True Yin tonics. Naturally, Fire is controlled by Water, and Fire hides in Water, preventing further floating.
Some suspect that using Scrophulariae Radix with Rougui may be unsuitable due to cold and heat conflicts. This shows ignorance of the subtleties of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang root each other; without Yin, how can Yang arise? Without Yang, how can Yin grow? Scrophulariae Radix with Rougui facilitates Yin generation; Rougui with Scrophulariae Radix facilitates Yang growth. Only after Yang grows does Yin diminish; Yin diminishing below prevents Fire from flaming above. The combination of these two herbs embodies the wonderful application of Yin and Yang.
Some suspect that after Yin and Yang are balanced, there is no disease. Now using Scrophulariae Radix and Rougui, one in large dose and one in small, I fear imbalance due to differing weights. Yin-Yang imbalance has existed for a long time. Observing Heaven and Earth, Yin always exceeds Yang. Among many Yins, one Yang brings peace; if Yang exceeded Yin, the world would be cruel and fierce. In the human body, Zang-Fu organs are full of Fire Qi. Without ample Water Qi, the body would become scorched. Therefore, Yin-tonifying herbs should not be few, while Yang-tonifying herbs should not be many. When Yin prospers, Fire can control Fire; if Yang prospers, Fire burns Water. Scrophulariae Radix for tonification should be used in large doses. Rougui for benefiting Yang should be used in small doses. These two, one large and one small, seem imbalanced, yet Yin exceeding Yang achieves balance for both Yin and Yang.
Some suspect that Scrophulariae Radix lowers fire, similar to Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) and Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex). You warn against lightly using Zhimu and Huangbai, yet advise heavy use of Scrophulariae Radix for floating fire. Is this contradictory? It is not. Scrophulariae Radix is slightly cold, not greatly cold. In greatly cold places, plants do not grow; in slightly cold places, plants flourish. Hence, discard Zhimu and Huangbai, and use Scrophulariae Radix and Digupi (Lycii Cortex). Moreover, Scrophulariae Radix and Digupi possess tonifying qualities within their slight coldness, far different from Huangbai and Zhimu. How can they be equated?
Some suspect that since cold herbs damage Spleen and Stomach, do not slightly cold herbs also cause damage? Treating disease involves removing severe pathogens, but not necessarily eliminating all cold herbs entirely. My concern is that Zhimu and Huangbai are overly cold; I do not say cold herbs are unusable. If Zhimu and Huangbai are effective and usable, why discard Scrophulariae Radix and Digupi, which are only slightly cold? Furthermore, Scrophulariae Radix and Digupi have special merits in treating internal heat from Deficient Fire ascending. Why should I not hasten to praise them and urge their use?
Someone asks: Scrophulariae Radix is slightly cold; why can it purge floating fire? Fire is divided into Excess and Deficient. Excess Fire suits greatly cold herbs to reduce its blazing momentum; Deficient Fire suits slightly cold flavors to guide it towards retraction. Scrophulariae Radix purges while tonifying, making it suitable for Deficient Fire. Floating fire is indeed Deficient Fire, hence it is urgently needed.
Someone asks: Why is Xuanshen suitable for the Kidney? Answer: When Kidney Water is deficient, it becomes cold and damp, requiring warm herbs to tonify. When Kidney Fire is deficient, it becomes hot and dry, requiring cool herbs to tonify. Thus, Xuanshen alone serves as the sovereign herb for the Kidney organ.