https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Welcome everyone to share your experiences with the medicine in the replies, making it easier for other students to search and learn.
61. Dandelion
For this kind of dried herb, I usually don’t chew it directly because it’s too dry hahahahaha. But if some students chew it bite by bite, they will definitely gain different benefits~
Steeping it in water produces a mellow taste, not too bitter, with a bit of sweetness, but the aftertaste is somewhat unpleasant. The effects are very obvious on the head, face, and neck area, gradually spreading to the stomach meridian, exerting its effect of promoting diuresis, clearing turbidity, detoxifying, and dispersing nodules.
The principle of dispersing nodules is very simple: when the righteous Qi reaches a certain part, it simultaneously exerts nourishing softness and a spreading action, so the nodules open up. The underlying treatment principle for various nodules in different parts is like this.
(Stage conclusion, might be somewhat superficial, if anyone has different opinions, welcome to provide feedback)
62. Violetflower Ground Violet (Mazus)
It has a more mellow taste than dandelion, no, it’s closer to thick and rich. It seems less bitter than dandelion, but because it’s too thick and rich, it actually irritates the throat.
Besides bitterness, it has sour and astringent tastes, and lacks sweetness.
Confirmed functions: Clearing heat, detoxifying, and moistening, mainly acting on the liver and gallbladder areas. Clinically, I use it to treat liver and gallbladder diseases, but rarely use it just for clearing heat and detoxifying.
64. Paris polyphylla (Chonglou)
Did not chew it directly, only after steeping in water. The powderiness and mucilage make it feel similar to Arisaema and Bletilla. The taste is initially sweet, then gradually turns sour, then irritates the throat (feels like not from a certain flavor but some kind of released irritant component).
Steeping it in water, it smells like fried chicken soaked in water (as I previously described Yuzhu this way), but both the smell and taste are lighter than Yuzhu water—however! After the third sip, the throat discomfort returns.
Feels like there is a bad ingredient in Paris polyphylla; without it, it might taste quite good.
It is not simply a heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine but also has tonic and unblocking effects. It mainly acts on the liver meridian, with a particularly noticeable effect on the reproductive system, and also affects the spleen meridian to some extent (20%). After 10 minutes of ingestion, it starts producing “pseudo-Qi” in the middle burner—a effect similar to Qi but actually isn’t true Qi. It can be understood as carbon dioxide that the body cannot utilize, but when this Qi inflates, it can serve as a kind of “false base Qi,” which has effects on symptoms of insufficient central Qi such as hiccups and spasms.
Confirmed functions: Tonifying and unblocking the liver meridian, clearing heat and detoxifying, treating distension and pain in the liver and spleen meridian pathways, as well as the positive side of “pseudo-Qi.”
Side effects: Pseudo-Qi can cause increased blood pressure, dizziness, head fullness, and has certain kidney and gastrointestinal toxicity. After the medicine’s effect wears off, the central Qi becomes even more deficient, causing irritability.
Usage advice: Do not exceed 15 grams. After drinking, about 30 minutes later, drink a bowl of soy milk to continue supporting the “pseudo-Qi” and compensate for side effects.