典藏书目

Dai Zhe Shi (Hematite), with a bitter and sweet taste, is cold in nature and non-toxic. It enters the Shaoyang Sanjiao (Triple Burner) and Jueyin Liver meridians. It treats women's red and white leukorrhea, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (irregular uterine bleeding), as well as dystocia with retained placenta; it cures pediatric malnutrition (Gan disease), diarrhea, dysentery, convulsions, epilepsy, hematuria, enuresis, and infantile convulsions, taking effect upon entering the abdomen. The classics state: "Timidity is caused by fright." Fright causes Qi to float; heavy sedatives are used to stabilize it. Dai Zhe Shi, being heavy, stabilizes deficient rebellious Qi. Pregnant women should avoid taking it, as it may cause miscarriage. This herb possesses the power to reverse heaven and earth; it must be kept in the medicine cabinet for emergencies and should never be neglected.

Although Dai Zhe Shi can reverse rebellious Qi, it cannot succeed without the assistance of Xuan Fu Hua (Inula Flower). Therefore, these two herbs are best used together.

One might ask: Since Dai Zhe Shi is heavy and stabilizes rebellion, how can it reverse rebellion? The answer is: Dai Zhe Shi itself does not reverse rebellion; rather, it is Xuan Fu Hua that truly reverses it. Then, if reversing rebellion only requires Xuan Fu Hua, why use Dai Zhe Shi? One must understand that although Xuan Fu Hua can stop rebellion, it cannot stabilize Qi. Using Xuan Fu Hua to reverse the rebellious Qi, and then using Dai Zhe Shi to stabilize it, ensures that the reversed Qi does not become rebellious again.

Hua Shi (Talcum), with a sweet taste, is extremely cold in nature, heavy in texture, descending and Yin in properties, and non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian. It benefits the nine orifices and promotes frequent generation of body fluids. It circulates through the Six Fu organs, preventing obstruction by accumulated stagnation. It expels blood stasis, relieves irritability and thirst, separates water pathways to solidify the Large Intestine, descends upper Qi, and clears fire, achieving remarkable results. This herb specializes in lubrication and unblocking. For any accumulation of fire in the Bladder, this herb is indispensable for its removal. Thus, in summer, when heatstroke causes thirst, this herb must be used to resolve it, making Hua Shi seem like a miraculous drug for quenching thirst. However, Hua Shi is not an antithirst drug; it relies on its ability to benefit the Bladder and eliminate damp-heat. When damp-heat accumulates in the Bladder, fire inevitably rises causing thirst. By draining damp-heat, fire is resolved along with the dampness, and the Qi transformation of the Bladder functions naturally. Once the Bladder's Qi transformation proceeds, Lung Qi becomes clear and肃 (solemn/clear), generating Yin instead of fire, and body fluids naturally moisten. This is why Hua Shi stops thirst by promoting urination. However, thirst syndromes vary: some are due to internal fire, others to external fire. Thirst from heatstroke is caused by external fire and dampness stagnating in the Bladder. Thirst from Yin deficiency is caused by internally generated fire and dampness flowing into the Bladder. If one also uses Hua Shi to drain damp-heat in Yin deficiency cases, the dampness will not be removed, but dryness and heat will increase. External fire can be purged, but internal fire requires tonification; one should not indiscriminately use Hua Shi to lightly drain dampness. Otherwise, excessive draining leads to further deficiency, violating the taboo of "making deficiency more deficient," which must be handled with caution.

Some doubt that since Hua Shi acts swiftly and Gan Cao (Licorice Root) acts slowly, their combination in powder form balances speed and slowness, seemingly making fire-purging miraculous and heat-clearing easy. Yet sometimes purging fire increases fire, and clearing heat intensifies heat. Why? Tian Shui San (Heavenly Water Powder) and Liu Yi San (Six-to-One Powder) are essentially the same formula. However, this formula can only purge already burning fire, not fire before it erupts; it can clear flourishing heat, not residual heat. Since Hua Shi is a tangible substance, how can it purge intangible fire? Since Hua Shi is very heavy, how can it clear light heat? Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Some wonder why Hua Shi, despite its diuretic nature, is used in Shanghan (Cold Damage) febrile diseases to resolve pathogens. This is because Hua Shi acts rapidly, most effectively expelling pathogens downward via the Bladder. To prevent it from acting too swiftly, Gan Cao is added to moderate its action, allowing slightly slower pathogen expulsion, ensuring complete elimination of pathogens via urine, where water removal leads to fire removal.

Another question arises: Since Tian Shui San expels pathogens rapidly, why does it remove Upper Jiao pathogens slowly? The answer is: Hua Shi descends and does not ascend. Even with the moderating effect of Gan Cao, it can only linger slightly in the Middle Jiao, not in the Upper Jiao. Since it cannot stay in the Upper Jiao, it cannot expel pathogens there.

Yet another question: If Hua Shi promotes urination, shouldn't it quickly expel Bladder pathogens? Why does it sometimes cause distension and urgency when treating Bladder pathogens? The answer is: This occurs in Lower Jiao deficient heat, where the Bladder lacks fluid but strong diuresis is forced. If the Bladder contains fluid, Hua Shi can be used appropriately; forcing diuresis when there is no fluid is like demanding clothes from the naked or food from the starving, leading to extreme distress. Hua Shi can only purge pathogenic water associated with excess fire, not pathogenic water associated with deficient fire.