https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Everyone is welcome to share their experiences with the medicine in the replies to facilitate other students’ search and learning.
358. Antelope Horn
The taste at the entrance is between purple placentome (Ziheche) and Xianghui; then gradually a fishy taste emerges. Overall, it is not unpleasant.
After ingestion, the heart area clearly feels locked by a certain energy; it neither tonifies nor purges, just locks it in the current state. At the same time, on the other side: a large amount of lung qi is drawn to both livers, the depth of breathing becomes shallower, even a bit short of breath. The liver is slightly full; part returns to the Dantian, part re-enters the blood, pumped throughout the body. Lung qi is slowly replenished during this process, gradually returning to normal after about 30 minutes. During the effect of antelope horn, there is a distinct cool sensation above the diaphragm.
Effects: Stabilizes the heart (can be used for emergency life support), softens the liver and nourishes blood, cools the blood and stops bleeding.
360. Pearl
Although it feels like chewing sand, there is a clear cooling sensation, between mint and borneol; it adds some flavoring on the basis of the sandiness, making it more acceptable.
Orally mainly used to calm the heart and soothe the spirit; externally it has wider applications, but I have not tried personally, so will not elaborate.
361. Hook Vine (Gou Teng)
The taste is somewhat like a mild version of Clematis root (Weilingxian), like green tea with a bit of vinegar, quite pleasant.
After drinking, nasal passages noticeably open, qi above the diaphragm gathers towards both livers and Dantian; essence and qi become more concentrated, preventing dispersion.
Effects: Softens the liver and calms wind, relieves tidal fever (referring to the “Neijing” tidal fever, not the periodic fever named later), clears nasal passages.
362. Gastrodia (Tian Ma)
Human taste receptors, besides sour, bitter, sweet, and salty, also perceive fishy (controversial) and umami flavors. Gastrodia is one of the few terrestrial plants that carry umami taste, also with sour, salty, and a slight sweetness; it is not hard to drink.
After drinking, on one hand, the qi on both sides of the body travels along the liver and gallbladder meridians to the top of the head and temples; on the other hand, the qi and blood in the head gather towards the midline, then descend to the torso via the right lung and right liver (also passing slightly by the right kidney), finally returning to the Dantian. This supports the qi on both sides of the body to travel to the head—forming an orderly circulation of qi and blood, causing a pleasant tingling sensation on both sides of the body, similar to ASMR.
Effects: Dispels wind and unblocks the collaterals (mainly targeting head, face, and liver/gallbladder meridians), softens the liver, nourishes essence and blood.