04 The Middle and Peaceful Way

The origins of traditional herbal medicine date back to a time even earlier than the establishment of China (Zhong-guo). Historical records indicate that while the nation of China originated during the Han Dynasty, the term “Chinese medicine” (Zhong-yi) appeared in the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine) during the Warring States Period, long before the Han Dynasty. Therefore, Chinese medicine is not named for the Chinese people but for other reasons.

Chinese medicine is called Zhong-yi because it believes humans are born with the full energy of heaven and earth, unlike other animals. For example, cold-blooded animals like snakes and warmer animals like dogs or cows do not possess this balance. Humans, however, have a neutral temperature, akin to the average temperature of the four seasons. Maintaining this neutral and peaceful state is key to health.

When a person deviates from this middle state, exposure to cold or heat can lead to illness. Herbal practitioners treat this by “warming the cold and cooling the heat,” using hot medicine for cold conditions and cool medicine for hot conditions to restore balance and health.

The Ziyin School and the Huoshen School, however, focus on extremes—either too hot or too cold—without considering the fundamental principle of neutrality and balance in herbal medicine. Therefore, patients taking medicines from these schools need to supplement with treatments that strengthen the spleen and stomach to neutralize the effects and protect these organs.

The Core of Huang Yuanyu’s Medicine Concept

Huang Yuanyu emphasized “cultivating the middle earth, supporting yang, and suppressing yin.”

Regardless of the disease, practitioners must focus on this middle ground, especially for chronic conditions, which require gradual adjustment rather than strong medicine. Achieving a neutral and peaceful state involves balancing yin and yang, allowing the vital yuanqi to move like the rising and setting sun.

Traditional herbal medicine states:

The greatest treasure of the sky is only a red sun.
The greatest treasure of man is only this true yang.

The true yang is the vital yuanqi, essential to the human body, just as the sun is to the earth. All life grows by the sun, and human health depends on the regularity of the vital yuanqi. When yuanqi and blood are sufficient and balanced, the body remains healthy.

05 Contribution from Huang Yuanyu

Huang Yuanyu’s greatest contribution was discovering a shortcut to achieving this balanced state: focusing on the spleen and stomach. These organs are the central hub of the vital yuanqi circle, so his treatment principle is “cultivating the middle earth, supporting yang, and suppressing yin.”

Revitalizing the spleen and stomach helps the vital yuanqi flow smoothly, improving overall health. Strengthening these organs is fundamental to maintaining health and curing diseases. The Wu-xing-jian-pi-san, with its simple ingredients, supports the spleen and stomach, providing basic maintenance to strengthen the foundation and improve physical condition.

For quick results, practitioners can incorporate methods from the Ziyin or Huoshen Schools. However, prescriptions for common chronic diseases often come from the Ziyin School, so it’s crucial to combine them with treatments that strengthen the spleen, nourish the stomach, and warm the body. This approach ensures stable, long-term health without damaging the spleen and stomach.

06 Brief Summary

Traditional herbal medicine encompasses many schools of thought, each with its core theory and treatment methods. Practitioners must choose the best approach for maintaining balance throughout life to ensure health.

As practitioners of life cultivation, we choose to follow the Zunjing School of Thoughts in our cultivation of health.

07 What is Next

In the next issue, we will discuss diseases related to the human urinary system and various ways to regulate and protect it.

For more on Huang Yuanyu’s herbal medical theories and their applications in health revitalization, stay tuned for the next episode.

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