https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Everyone is welcome to share their experiences with the medicine in the replies, making it easier for other students to search and learn.
126. Xungufeng (Seeking Bone Wind)
A very familiar taste, a composite flavor of mulberry leaf + senna leaf + angelica root.
When brewed and drunk, it rapidly generates a restless energy rising above the chest and diaphragm, steaming up the head and face, reaching the chest, back, and upper limbs. The effect on the lower limbs is slower, gradually penetrating to the waist and legs after about 15 minutes — but the range of effect tends to be superficial, mainly at the muscle level, with some slight contact with the bones and joints.
The strength comes quickly and leaves quickly; after the effect fades, the originally warm areas instead feel empty, damp, and cold.
Efficacy: Expels wind, cold, and dampness; warms and unblocks the meridians (no tonic power on its own, needs to be combined with other herbs for actual treatment).
127. You Song Jie (Pinus Sylvestris Bud)
Smells and tastes very similar, quite heady. While drinking, one might hear the creaking sound of an erhu playing in their mind (those who don’t play the erhu might not understand why, haha).
The area of effect is noticeably deeper than Xungufeng, penetrating cold, wind, and dampness from the bones and joints to the outside, also has some tonic effect, evenly reaching both upper and lower limbs.
Downside: It has some irritation to the stomach, and after the effect fades, there is a return of cold—this is a direct manifestation of the saying “extreme cold generates heat, extreme heat generates cold.”
133. Lulutong (Liquidambar)
After brewing, it becomes rough and hard to chew, with little distinct flavor. I would call it a hard waxberry.
The brewed water has a slight oily film floating on the surface; it’s unknown whether this is the same component as the legendary liquidambar resin.
The overall taste is still acceptable. Like You Song Jie just described, it has a stimulating effect, but much weaker.
Its effects concentrate more below the waist, acting quickly on the lower limbs (within 5 seconds), slower on the upper limbs (about 2 minutes), without obvious heat sensation, but locally one can feel “water flow” (actually tissue fluid containing gas) and “wind” (actually gas) passing through, moistening the blocked meridians (meridians are tissue gaps, i.e., the “emptiness” within the body) and tissues (tissues refer to all physical structures, including free water).
About five minutes later, the body parts may feel slightly itchy, which should mean the medicine’s effect is passing; gently scratching helps the body adapt to the newly moistened state. Meanwhile, the bladder rapidly accumulates fluid, roughly when the body’s internal “qi and water” are pushed to the outer sides of the limbs, accelerating the drainage of “waste water” from the outer limb areas toward the bladder.
Side effects: increased excitability of the limbs, slight emptiness inside (viscera and dantian).
The lower abdomen and chest have a mild tingling sensation, which should indeed promote uterine circulation and lactation—this requires official confirmation from female practitioners.
Efficacy: Unblocks meridians, promotes water metabolism, induces menstruation and lactation.