典藏书目

Historical texts indicate that Jingjie (Schizonepetae Herba) was heavily relied upon for treating wind-induced stiffness of the head and neck, various forms of hemiplegia with facial paralysis and lockjaw, as well as hematemesis, epistaxis, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. This reflects its primary domain, which is fundamentally centered on "wind within the blood." Its ability to disperse wind within the blood implies regulating qi circulation within the blood vessels; thus, Zhang Yuansu (Hanghai) referred to it as a qi-moving herb for the Liver Meridian. However, the qi of the Liver Meridian inevitably involves the Shaoyang Meridian; the "scrofula" (lymph node tuberculosis) governed by this meridian is essentially a Shaoyang disease.

Jingjie disperses wind within the blood and is the premier emergency herb for postpartum blood syncope. Its aromatic and warm nature is also sufficient to treat scrofula, sores, and scabies, but these effects are achieved through promoting blood vessel patency and removing stasis.

Some argue that Jingjie possesses both warming and ascending properties along with cooling and descending ones, or vice versa. Ultimately, its warming nature outweighs its cooling nature, and its qi is somewhat turbid. When used for exterior cold-wind patterns, it is appropriate only when accompanied by blood-level involvement manifesting as dizziness and blurred vision. *Yonglei Lianfang* treats wind-heat headache with Jingjie combined with Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao) in equal parts, powdered and taken with tea, demonstrating an ingenious formulation method.

Bohe (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba), according to *Tang Bencao*, treats sudden wind and cold damage by inducing sweating; *Shixing Bencao* states it treats headache from yin-yang toxic cold damage; Su Song and Wang Haogu also assert it treats wind-cold. Other authorities, however, claim it treats wind-heat. Which view should be adopted? Historical formulas predominantly use Bohe for wind-heat patterns, rarely for wind-cold. Decocted and drunk, it effectively removes wind-heat from the high peak (head) and skin, as described by Zhang Jiegu. Its aroma and flavor are pungent and cool, unlike the warmth of Jingjie; therefore, its definitive indication should be wind-heat.

Zou interpreted "sudden wind cold damage" as northern wind in summer, suggesting injury by northern cold during summer months. This aligns somewhat with Bohe's therapeutic profile. However, Zou exclusively adhered to this theory, neglecting wind-heat, and based his reasoning on the root's resistance to cold and the sprout's resistance to heat, which is overly rigid. The reason the sprout resists heat is precisely because the root resists cold. Resisting heat indicates that its pungent-cool Metal Qi is sufficient to counteract the summer sun. This can be understood by comparing it with Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), which grows in areas where snow does not accumulate in winter. Zou further claimed Bohe induces chills and weeping, equating it with Jingjie and Moslae Herba (Xiangru). One must ask: what kind of herb is Xiangru to be compared equally with Bohe?

Bohe is most effective for wind-heat stagnation in the head, eyes, muscle, and surface. With proper combination, it can also treat interior heat in the Upper and Middle Jiao. Formulas such as Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder) and Longnao Jisu Wan (Borneol Chicken Mint Pill) clear stomach, gallbladder, and kidney heat, arguably exceeding standard dosage boundaries. Xiaoyao San combined with roasted ginger transforms cooling wind into warming wind to treat bone-steaming consumptive fever. Those with rigid views might be startled and terrified by such applications.