https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
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103. Hu Huanglian
Anything with the word Huanglian (Coptis) is rarely good news.
Huanglian belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, while Hu Huanglian belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. Why do they taste so similar?
Cold, very cold; after drinking it, you might feel chills.
Putting bitterness aside, Hu Huanglian actually has some sweetness, and still provides some tonic effects, mainly tonifying the middle burner. It can both support the digestive system and clear damp-heat inflammation in the digestive tract — but drinking too much will still damage the stomach, and those with sensitive throats might vomit after drinking it.
104. Da Huang (Rhubarb)
I mentioned earlier that some large tablet forms are left whole regardless of exceeding the 6g limit.
But I missed it at a glance, and Da Huang was still cut into smaller pieces for dispensing.
Actually, Da Huang is a very beautiful herb, with a scent somewhat like agarwood (although with slightly less creamy aroma than agarwood). Here’s a photo to comfort you.
The water brewed from it smells smoky. Smoking is traditionally used as a method for insect repellent and preservation, and is believed to also have liver tonifying, kidney strengthening, and Yang warming effects, but I think these effects are a bit exaggerated.
Putting the smoky taste aside, Da Huang’s flavor is mainly bitter and salty, with a little sweetness.
After drinking it, the qi and blood in your body noticeably move, your face starts to heat up, and your hands begin to swell. This sensation quickly spreads to your legs and feet. Your skin starts to itch mildly—first around the sternum, epigastrium, and near the Jùquè point, then on the back—but it’s just a slight itch, not allergic to the point of needing to scratch.
Effects: Moves Qi and activates blood. All of Da Huang’s effects are based on promoting Qi movement and blood circulation, including purging accumulation (due to its action on the intestines speeding up peristalsis), promoting urination and relieving jaundice (acting on the liver and gallbladder to promote bile flow), and clearing heat and detoxifying (acting on the blood vessels and tissues to facilitate metabolic waste elimination).
A national traditional medicine master once privately shared a secret formula using 15g of Da Huang to treat dark circles under the eyes, probably based on this principle (in actual practice, 30g of Bai Zhi can be added—this is a personal experience, not officially recognized).
105. Mang Xiao (Mirabilite)
Small sodium sulfate, fully taken.
Besides the salty taste, there is some nausea, and the taste is somewhat like swimming pool water.
It can be used as an emetic, but if you can hold back the vomiting, in 30-60 minutes you will witness a miracle.
The principle is quite simple: sulfate ions are not absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, increasing osmotic pressure in the intestines, making your “Mi Tian Gong” (a phonetic transcription used here to refer to stool) moister, thus promoting bowel movements.