https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Welcome everyone to share your experiences with the medicine in the replies, to facilitate other students in searching and learning.
405. Yangqishi (阳起石)
Although it doesn’t have much flavor, it tastes quite good, similar to the texture when boiled with raw gypsum.
After drinking, you can clearly feel qi gathering in the lower abdomen; on one hand, it surges toward the ineffable, and on the other hand, it flows throughout the entire lower abdomen. The lower abdomen feels warm, the overall qi mechanism is somewhat agitated, slight sweating above the waist, with a mild sensation of heat—The formula of Wushisan (Five Stone Powder) has already been lost, but if it were to be recreated, I would vote for Yangqishi.
Effects: Warms the lower abdomen, promotes qi circulation and blood activation, assists yang.
406. Amethyst (紫石英)
Amethyst is still very beautiful. The water brewed from it has almost no taste; if you must say, it has a slight taste like mineral water. After drinking, there is a slight unusual sensation on the tip of the tongue, with a little numbness and astringency.
After drinking, the warm feeling concentrates deep in the lower abdomen. The energy gathering point is roughly the intersection vertically inward at the Guanyuan acupoint and the Conception Vessel, which is the location of the uterus. This is probably the source of the uterine warming effect. About 5 minutes later, there is a slight tingling sensation in the upper back and back of the neck. The overall qi mechanism at the front of the body sinks a little downward, bringing a slight feeling of qi deficiency and reluctance to speak. If one’s qi mechanism tends to rise excessively, it returns to balance.
Effects: Warms the lower abdomen, warms the uterus, unblocks the neck and nape, lowers qi and calms the mind.
413. White Peony Root (白芍)
The base has a bit of sweetness, the main flavor is bitter but not unpleasant, somewhat similar to the bitterness of ginsenoside in ginseng. On careful tasting, there is a slight sourness, and the aftertaste is sweet.
After drinking, the blood vessels, muscles, and smooth muscles of the internal organs (especially the digestive tract, liver, and uterus) in the front and middle parts of the body (before the spine) feel relaxed, the diameter slightly wider than before. The abdomen (the core conflict point is at the junction of the terminal ileum and ascending colon) has a slight bloating and mild pain, similar to the feeling of needing to have diarrhea, but very slight—White Peony Root supposedly has a range effect, unblocking wherever there is stagnation. The specific part just now is probably due to personal condition, where this particular area was somewhat blocked.
In the back part of the body (beyond the spine, that is the back area), the feeling is quite the opposite and hard to describe—the defensive qi on the surface is drawn inward into the muscle layer. Although the defensive line contracts, the energy becomes more refined, during which the back slightly breaks out in a layer of light sweat. This effect may be what Guizhi Decoction utilizes.
Clinically, for non-incarcerated inguinal hernia of the small intestine, White Peony 60g and Alisma (泽泻) 30g can be taken at once, then lying flat, naturally reducing the hernia, followed by manual manipulation of the intestines and peritoneum to avoid surgery (if the manipulation is done properly, even the medication step can be skipped, but sometimes the hernia area will have congestion and edema; in this case, medication is better, with reduced dose for pediatrics).
Within 2 hours after medication, urination increases significantly, possibly related to the relaxation of smooth muscles. White Peony both relaxes blood vessels and promotes diuresis; I like to call it the innate holy substance for lowering blood pressure—just kidding, it can’t compare with Western medicine’s symptomatic treatments. Using Du Zhong (Eucommia bark) to regulate the Ren and Du meridians, smoothing qi mechanisms with an empty heart and full abdomen approach is the kingly method.
Additionally, although White Peony’s clearing turbidity and anti-inflammatory power is less than that of Red Peony, it still has some effect, better than nothing.
Side effects: Slight sense of emptiness in the heart. The above effects (especially those in the front and middle parts of the body) likely draw a considerable amount of energy from the heart.
Effects: Harmonizes Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi), relaxes sinews and unblocks vessels, activates blood and resolves stasis, softens the liver, regulates the intestines, promotes diuresis.