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The Second Fuyang Forum Submission Du Houyi1, He Jiayu2

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Last summer, after investigating the black processing of Aconite Lateral Root in Jiangyou, Sichuan, the author wrote "Aconite Lateral Root for Longevity and Health Preservation, Beware of the Trap in Processing of Materia Medica—On the Poor Processing of Aconite Lateral Root," which was published in the Chinese medicine "Treating Disease Before Its Onset" and the First Fuyang Forum Proceedings (December 2007, Nanning). The article was enthusiastically shared by Chinese medicine practitioners and reposted on over a thousand websites, generating significant response and impact.

This year, after participating in earthquake relief efforts in Beichuan, the author returned to the disaster-stricken Jiangyou in July to investigate Aconite Lateral Root processing factories. The findings revealed that the black processing of Aconite Lateral Root remains severe, with the rampant use of toxic chemical processing becoming a norm. The products, which appear bright, hard, salty, and heavy, are sold at low prices, while internally toxic processed slices flood the market, distributed nationwide and overseas. Alas, the earthquake disaster has already caused us immense grief, and now the Aconite Lateral Root crisis adds to our sorrow, bringing tears to our eyes. How tragic!

During the era of Zhongjing, besides using raw Aconite Lateral Root, processed Aconite Lateral Root was also commonly used. The ancient method of processing Aconite Lateral Root was far more complex and less efficient than sun-drying or roasting raw Aconite Lateral Root. Why did Zhongjing insist on using it? What was the hidden rationale?

This year, the author focused on researching two ancient processing methods that were once prevalent in Jiangyou but are now nearly obsolete: the ash-roasting method and the sand-frying method. The author attempted to develop a new method to replicate ancient processed Aconite Lateral Root. After successful production, clinical trials were conducted, achieving breakthroughs, which the author is pleased to share with fellow practitioners.

[Keywords] Poor Processing of Aconite Lateral Root, Ancient Processing of Materia Medica, Aconite Lateral Root, New Method for Processing Aconite Lateral Root

I. Revisiting the Types and Methods of Black Processing of Aconite Lateral Root

1.1 Weight-Increasing Processing Methods

1.1.1 Gallbladder Injection and Excessive Gallbladder Soaking Methods

The ancient method involves soaking the aconite lateral root in bile for one week, with a ratio of raw aconite lateral root to bile less than 2:1, aiming to preserve, store, solidify, and prevent dispersion, laying a good foundation for subsequent processing steps, during which the bile components are thoroughly washed away. Nowadays, black processing involves soaking in bile for more than half a month, sometimes even 1 to 2 months, with bile added in batches exceeding a 2:1 ratio. The ancient method uses well water or river water to wash away the bile more than five times, until the sliced aconite slightly floats on the water surface and some starch just begins to dissolve, then the bile washing stops (almost no bile remains). In the subsequent processing steps, no bile or salt is added, resulting in light and crisp slices that slightly float on water and shatter upon hitting the ground. These slices can be preserved for a year without absorbing water, softening, or deteriorating. In contrast, black processing only washes the bile 1 to 2 times, not using river water, and simply replaces a pool of bile water with a pool of fresh water, soaking for one day counts as one wash. Very few conscientious processors wash the bile three times, and almost none wash the bile after slicing. In recent years, many processors even pour bile during the final steaming process, placing a lot of bile on the top layer of the steamer. When heated, the bile dissolves and flows into the steamer, soaking into the slices, resulting in slices with extremely high bile content, which are transparent, good-looking, hard, heavy, salty, bitter, and strongly absorbent. These slices soften within about a week in the air due to excessive water absorption. Processors add bile to increase weight and make more money. Such bile-soaked slices can produce 1 jin of processed slices (black shun slices, prepared common monkshood daughter root, white slices, yellow slices, etc.) from 2 to 3 jin of raw aconite lateral root, whereas the ancient method requires 5 to 6 jin of raw aconite lateral root to produce 1 jin of processed slices. If edges are trimmed and large slices are selected, it should take 7 to 8 jin to produce 1 jin, costing 60 to 70 yuan per jin. In contrast, black processing costs only 20 to 30 yuan per jin. Imagine: bile-soaked or bile-heavy slices contain excessive negative substances, can they still support yang? Not only can they not support yang, but they can only support yin. No wonder many renowned yang-supporting experts have pointed out that modern processed aconite seems to lack the efficacy of supporting yang, and the effectiveness in yang-supporting formulas may only come from ginger and cinnamon! How sad, Zhongjing in heaven would surely be furious at the drug merchants for harming the country and its people!

1.1.2 Salt Aconite Lateral Root Over-Salting Weight Gain Method

The ancient method of producing Salt Aconite Lateral Root involves repeatedly soaking raw Aconite Lateral Root in brine and salt, i.e., soaking—drying—soaking—drying... in countless cycles, gradually increasing the drying time to allow the salt in the center of the Aconite Lateral Root to seep out, forming a thin layer of salt frost on the outside. This way, 1 jin of Aconite Lateral Root can produce 1.2 jin of Salt Aconite Lateral Root. However, black processing involves prolonged and large-scale soaking in brine, manually adding salt during drying (using low-cost industrial salt, while the packaging claims it is edible salt), resulting in artificially heavy salt crystals on the surface of the Aconite Lateral Root, not the naturally formed salt frost. This method is both heavier and more visually appealing. Thus, 1 jin of raw Aconite Lateral Root can produce 1.6 to 2 jin of Salt Aconite Lateral Root. Many large pharmaceutical companies in Taiwan and mainland China purchase this industrial salt-excessive Salt Aconite Lateral Root for further processing or incorporation into formulas and Chinese patent drugs.

1.2 Peeling Processing Method

1.2.1 Industrial Reductant Peeling and Whitening Method

The ancient peeling method involves manually peeling each Aconite Lateral Root with a bamboo knife, thoroughly removing the skin from all uneven areas, with each person processing 70 to 80 jin per day. Due to the high labor intensity, the labor cost has increased from 0.3 yuan per jin to 0.8 yuan per jin in recent years, yet few are willing to do it. Some processors use machines for peeling, but it is not thorough; concave areas cannot be peeled, and convex and bud areas are completely removed, resulting in significant losses. After slicing, some residual skin marks remain. Both methods increase production costs or result in weight loss of Aconite Lateral Root. To make more profit, black processing methods borrowed from black hotpot and black steamed bun techniques have emerged. Aconite Lateral Root is boiled in industrial caustic soda, and sodium hydrosulfite (a strong carcinogen and reductant) is added. Stirred with a rusted iron fistula disease shovel, after about 15 minutes, industrial hydrogen peroxide is added, producing a large amount of dirty foam and thick smoke. To reduce the foam, a small amount of defoamer is sprinkled, immediately dispersing the smoke. The peeled, white, semi-transparent toxic Aconite Lateral Root is then removed, with all concave and convex areas thoroughly cleaned, no weight loss, and enhanced whiteness and appearance, achieving multiple benefits at the cost of harming countless people. If a processing plant or pharmaceutical factory does not increase its workforce by seventy or eighty manual peelers during production, yet its processed Aconite Lateral Root or Aconite slices have thoroughly peeled concave areas, there might be an issue. Jiangyou masters have already brought this technique to Shaanxi Hanzhong, Yunnan, Liangshan, and Guandong. Based on my collection of peeled Aconite Lateral Root from Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hong Kong, almost all are this type of toxic Aconite Lateral Root, including those gift-grade processed Aconite Lateral Root (mixed with processed Big Aconite Root) priced at thousands of yuan per jin, and even the Aconite slices from a certain Beijing pharmacy.

1.2.2 Sulfurization or Other Chemical Methods

Before the sodium hydrosulfite peeling method emerged, caustic soda boiling followed by industrial sulfur or hydrogen peroxide was commonly used, with slightly slower peeling speed and lesser toxicity. As the technology of adding toxins to other foods and dairy products upgrades, due to cross-influence, the technology of adding toxins to Aconite Lateral Root may also upgrade under the temptation of money. We must remain vigilant and expose such practices at any time.

1.3 Dyeing Processing Method

1.3.1 Yellow Aconite Slice Dyeing Method

The ancient method involves boiling and soaking Aconite slices with Turmeric, Carthamus, Dried Ginger, etc., partially cooking them to color, then drying them in the shade, steaming thoroughly, and sun-drying. The slices are light yellow, brittle, but not very transparent, showing slightly star-shaped yellow veins under strong light. The black processing method involves peeling and slicing the Aconite Lateral Root, then thoroughly boiling it with lemon yellow. In recent years, tender meat yellow (an industrial dye, a strong carcinogen) has been used for thorough dyeing. Such dyed and poisoned Aconite slices are very attractive, tender, transparent, naturally beautiful in color, do not fade within a year, and have obvious veins, easily deceiving novice medical practitioners into thinking they have obtained top-quality goods.

1.3.2 White Aconite Slice Dyeing and Whitening Method

The ancient method of producing white aconite slices involves manually peeling the Aconite Lateral Root after removing the bile, slicing it, and then steaming it in a steamer to extract the oil from the Aconite Lateral Root, which means steaming until it is cooked and becomes semi-transparent. After steaming, it is first dried in the shade and then sun-dried to become the finished product. Its color is light, yellowish-white, slightly translucent with visible fibers, crisp in texture, similar to the color and transparency of homemade crystal sugar. However, black processing uses heavily bile-poisoned Aconite Lateral Root, which is sliced and then placed in a steamer. Bile is poured over the top of the steamer, and after steaming, it is poured into a roasting pool and whitened by fumigation with sulfur. Its transparency and whiteness exceed those of standard white slices.

1.3.3 Black Aconite Processing Method

The ancient method involves boiling black soybean, Liquorice Root, Dried Ginger, and brown sugar. The black processing selects inferior Aconite Lateral Root (small pieces, foreign Aconite Lateral Root, rotten Aconite Lateral Root, with large teeth and many spines, etc.), slices them after adding bile, and then boils them with industrial carbon. Due to the reaction between bile and carbon, the cross-section of the Aconite Lateral Root becomes translucent and smooth, resembling glass, hence it is also called glass Aconite. If exposed to air for too long, it absorbs too much moisture and softens, causing its shape to disappear.

1.3.4 Sulfur Fumigation Whitening Method

Jiangyou and other places in China mostly use sulfur fumigation to whiten Aconite slices, such as gift-packaged sliced Aconite, roasted Aconite, roasted Aconite Lateral Root, and Liangshan roasted Aconite Lateral Root. Other whitened Chinese medicinal materials are also treated similarly without exception.

Many practitioners believe that using unprocessed raw Aconite slices should be safe. However, they still cannot escape the "toxic web." The most insidious part is that raw Aconite slices and blocks are also fumigated with sulfur. After cutting raw Aconite Lateral Root with a knife or machine, the cut surface's juice (alkaloids) reacts with air or iron molecules, producing a layer of reddish-black or gray-black substance, which is unattractive. Additionally, raw Aconite slices are not peeled, and after drying, the thick black skin makes them unsellable. Therefore, almost all raw Aconite slices are routinely washed and fumigated with sulfur, resulting in a white, smooth cut surface and lightened skin, making them sellable. However, many effective components are washed away, and they remain toxic. In summary, the black processing methods of Aconite Lateral Root are endless, with processors blinded by greed, devoid of conscience, and unashamedly claiming, "No bile, no weight; no sulfur, no whiteness; no poison, no brightness" (the poison refers to toxic substances like sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate and tender meat yellow).

1.4 Common Features of Modern Aconite Lateral Root Processing: 'Using bile-soaked Aconite Lateral Root as secondary raw material to produce various Aconite slices!'

After harvesting muddy Aconite Lateral Root, fresh Aconite Lateral Root is immediately soaked in bile for a week to preserve it. Then, according to market demands, it is processed into white Aconite slices, yellow Aconite slices, black Aconite slices, black Shun slices, salted Aconite Lateral Root, prepared common monkshood daughter root, sliced Aconite, and roasted Aconite. If producers have moral standards and conscience, and do not add extra bile or use chemical toxins, their products can be considered (conscience Aconite slices)! Sichuan Aconite processors and pharmaceutical factories are not unaware of standardized production requirements but find them costly and unprofitable, hence unwilling to produce. As for the true (ancient bile-free roasted Aconite), it is almost extinct!

In fact, a Japanese pharmaceutical company produces so-called premium Aconite slices in Tianjin, with only medium quality but less bile and no mouth-melting industrial toxins. They sell for 300 yuan per jin, and many people buy them, showing that good Aconite Lateral Root still has its admirers and potential.

2. The Return and Hope of Ancient Aconite Lateral Root Processing

2.1 Re-evaluation of Using Bile or Salt for Preservation

The ancients used bile (bittern) to soak Aconite Lateral Root, intending to preserve and solidify it during the Summer Solstice (10th solar term) when thousands of dan of Aconite Lateral Root matured simultaneously. If not harvested immediately, they would rot. After being unearthed, Aconite Lateral Root decays very quickly. The process of sun-drying raw Aconite Lateral Root cannot handle so much Aconite at once, hence the need for a method to preserve and solidify it to extend storage time, preparing for the next processing step. Given the material and economic conditions at the time, the best choice was relatively cheap and easily available bile, not necessarily from a medicinal property perspective. Some scholars believe that bile, being a yin substance, balances the fire nature of Aconite Lateral Root to achieve yin-yang balance. However, we believe this should be re-evaluated from a historical and objective perspective.

Since ancient times, monkshood has been inexpensive, while salt has been a valuable commodity, strictly regulated by the government. In fact, both monkshood and salt have the effect of preserving Aconite Lateral Root. Soaking and solidifying Aconite Lateral Root with salt not only removes its toxicity but also prevents injury to its fiery nature. Moreover, it has the function of guiding the medicine to the kidneys, which is beneficial for supporting yang and subduing fire!

Due to the material conditions in ancient times, using salt to process Aconite Lateral Root was too precious and expensive, so they had to switch to Danba. This was a choice that the ancients had to make from the perspective of economic and material conditions, a move of helplessness. Now, with the significant increase in salt production and its low price, which is only slightly more than twice the price of Danba, the economic and material conditions have matured. It is time to switch to sea salt for soaking and processing Aconite Lateral Root, allowing the yang nature of Aconite Lateral Root to remain intact and elevating it to the yang within yang, the fire within fire. The Fire God School of Chinese medicine uses Aconite Lateral Root precisely for its fiery nature to support the righteous and expel the evil. If it is processed into a neutral or yin toxic substance using a yin toxic material (Danba), what is the point? It is now time to return to the ancient and true methods; the yin toxic Danba should give way to salt, which enters the kidneys and is non-toxic.

2.2 Re-understanding of Zhang Zhongjing's use of raw Aconite Lateral Root and ancient processing methods

Although there are many types of modern processed Aconite Lateral Root, in essence, apart from raw Aconite Lateral Root, they are all produced by the water-fire combined processing method, resulting in Danba Aconite Lateral Root. Based on our two years of field research in Jiangyou and personal practice of various ancient and modern processing techniques of materia medica, the efficacy and processing significance of the Aconite Lateral Root produced by the above methods are far from the ancient proper processing methods of Aconite Lateral Root!

Modern people process Aconite Lateral Root for safety and preservation. As for its impact on the medicinal properties of Aconite Lateral Root, books often only describe it as using raw Aconite Lateral Root for restoring yang to save from collapse, and using processed Aconite Lateral Root for tonifying fire and assisting yang.

If this is the case, then the difference between raw and processed Aconite Lateral Root lies only in the intensity and strength of the medicinal power. After personally attempting to reproduce ancient techniques, we deeply feel that this explanation does not hold, because the ancient methods of sand roasting and soil wrapping are actually much more labor-intensive than producing raw Aconite Lateral Root, and the yield is very low. It is not like the modern Danba soaking process, which can be an effective method to solve the extremely short preservation period of fresh Aconite Lateral Root. At the same time, the production cost of ancient processed Aconite Lateral Root is very high. For example, the processing cost of soil-wrapped Aconite Lateral Root is about six times that of the standard Danba processing, and the failure rate is very high! Therefore, it cannot be a measure taken to mitigate the intense nature of Aconite Lateral Root! Since simply reducing the dosage of raw Aconite Lateral Root or long decoction before taking can also achieve the effect of mitigating the medicinal properties of Aconite Lateral Root, why would Zhang Zhongjing specify the use of ancient processed Aconite Lateral Root, which is costly, requires a large dosage, and cannot be mass-produced? It is evident that Zhang Zhongjing used processed Aconite Lateral Root because it has special medicinal properties that raw Aconite Lateral Root cannot replace! Moreover, according to modern chemical concepts, one of the advantages of the water-fire combined processing method is that it helps convert Aconite Mother Root alkaloids into less toxic Aconite Mother Root amines. If thoroughly heated and hydrolyzed for three hours, the product can be safely consumed in large quantities without causing numbness or Aconite Lateral Root transformation reactions.

However, in Zhang Zhongjing's Cold-Damage Disease Theory, the Cold-Extremities Decoction, if decocted according to the Han dynasty's weights and measures, involves about 65-100g of raw Aconite Lateral Root and ginger, boiled in 600ml of water to leave 240ml of decoction. Even with slow fire decoction, the time is only about half an hour to forty-five minutes, and the conversion of Aconite Mother Root alkaloids is obviously incomplete, with noticeable numbness after taking. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing's original intention should have been to adjust the remaining concentration of Aconite Mother Root alkaloids after decoction to a level that would cause the patient to experience a dizzying reaction, which is the optimal treatment point of Zhang Zhongjing's Cold-Extremities Decoction.

Therefore, whether the modern processing of Aconite Lateral Root, which thoroughly converts Aconite Mother Root alkaloids, is suitable for all pattern types of patients is debatable. In terms of ancient processing methods, the heating time of the soil-wrapped Aconite Lateral Root roasting method exceeds a day, and the conversion of Aconite Mother Root alkaloids is certainly thorough. The conversion rate of Aconite Mother Root alkaloids in the sand roasting method is controllable, which might be one of the reasons why the two ancient processing methods have coexisted independently for a long time.

Secondly, the ancient processing of Aconite Lateral Root, whether by soil wrapping or sand roasting, is a fire-earth combined processing method, meaning that in the traditional processing of materia medica, there is (earth energy) involved!

We know that the selection of materials and the processing of materia medica in traditional Chinese medicine emphasize the recognition or attribution of a (medicinal potential) inherent in the drugs, independent of their effective chemical components. For example, Cinnamon Twig and Cassia Bark share the same effective components, but the growth and development of Cinnamon Twig is upward and outward, while the development of Cassia Bark, from a botanical observation, is downward with a purgative tendency, also covering the tree core. Therefore, their medicinal potentials act on the human body differently: the former is for dispersing and unblocking, while the latter can return fire to its origin. Another example is Aconite Mother Root and Aconite Lateral Root, Dried Ginger and Fresh Ginger Rhizome, Ginseng and Ginseng Leaf, etc., all well-known examples of the same medicine with different potentials. As for the regulation of the rise and fall, opening and closing of medicinal potentials by Wuwei, or the use of river water, Ganlan water, and Shaodang powder by the medical sage Zhongjing, which take their meaning and qi, these are even more familiar to peers and will not be discussed in detail here.

We introduced in last year's article*: 'Jiangyou's geography belongs to Kun Earth, and its Aconite Lateral Root most captures the principle of fire hidden within earth, hence its unparalleled efficacy in supporting yang. However, because it is related to the principle of qi, Jiangyou Aconite Lateral Root must grow from (the birth of yang) until the Summer Solstice (10th solar term) for its medicinal properties to be fully developed. Once past the Summer Solstice (10th solar term), it can no longer be preserved.' Therefore, the use of earth in the fire-earth combination method has a special (hidden fire) significance for the processing of Aconite Lateral Root, which cannot necessarily be replaced by simple heating methods or water-fire combination methods!

Given the importance ancient people placed on the potency of medicine, we believe: in ancient materia medica processing methods, sand frying emphasizes enhancing the Aconite Lateral Root's efficacy in supporting yang and drying dampness, while also having the implication of hidden fire. The ash-earth wrapping method emphasizes enhancing (hidden fire) or (treating yin for yang) properties, and raw Aconite Lateral Root has more active medicinal properties, emphasizing the spleen-purging effect mentioned in the Auxiliary Prescriptions!

The common applications of Aconite Lateral Root in modern prescriptions are as follows:

1. tonifying fire and assisting yang, 2. stimulating yang qi, 3. dispelling cold-dampness evils, 4. counteracting yin turbidity repelling yang, 5. restoring yang to save from collapse, 6. treating yin for yang, 7. hidden fire to consolidate the foundation.

Therefore, corresponding to the three ancient materia medica processing methods, the selection of Aconite Lateral Root can be considered as:

1. For yin turbidity repelling yang or tumor treatment, raw Aconite Lateral Root should be the main choice, followed by sand-fried, and periodically supplemented with earth-wrapped.
2. For tonifying fire and assisting yang, sand-fried Aconite Lateral Root should be the main choice, raw Aconite Lateral Root is not necessarily more potent! In fact, many colleagues who have tried raw Aconite Lateral Root have reported not feeling warmth after consumption, but instead feeling cold in their hands. If the prescription lacks other warming medicines, even the warmth in the abdomen is not obvious. In other words, raw Aconite Lateral Root has a pungent and sweet taste, and its main pungent taste appears after a while, analogously, its efficacy may largely lie in expelling deeply hidden zang-fu organ cold-dampness turbidity. After expelling interior cold dampness turbidity, yang qi converges, thus warming is achieved, hence the Auxiliary Prescriptions refer to Cold-Extremities Decoction as Spleen-Purging Decoction.
3. For hidden fire to consolidate the foundation, earth-wrapped Aconite Lateral Root should be the main choice, sand-fried can also be used, because the form and function of earth-wrapped Jiangyou Aconite Lateral Root best fit the concept of (fire hidden within earth).
4. For treating yin for yang, sand-fried Aconite Lateral Root or earth-wrapped Aconite Lateral Root can be used, depending on whether the required medicinal potency is more inward and mild tonification, or more warming and unblocking.
5. For stimulating yang qi, the choice of Aconite Lateral Root should be based on a comprehensive analysis of pulse and complexion, with the main syndrome being excessive dampness, excessive cold, or essence depletion.
6. If dispelling evils and tonifying fire and assisting yang are to be done simultaneously, raw and sand-fried Aconite Lateral Root should be used together.

Some colleagues believe that the characteristic of fire-earth processed Aconite Lateral Root is to remove its fierceness and only take its mild and mellow medicinal power, but this is not entirely true: a circle of fierce fire, sealed within earth, although called hidden fire, is actually like a bomb, without the shell's pressure, it cannot achieve its earth-shaking power, the same is true for human essence, after being sealed, it can transform from quantitative to qualitative change, transforming qi to protect life.

We once invited colleagues who are particularly sensitive to the physical sensations of medicines to evaluate various Aconite Lateral Roots: they described earth-wrapped Aconite Lateral Root as a burst of energy that wants to explode but doesn't, new method sand-fried Aconite Lateral Root as a burst of yang fire, raw Aconite Lateral Root as active but not too heavy in fire nature. As for the standardized processed Aconite Lateral Root, which is generally considered a good product for tonifying fire and assisting yang, it was surprisingly evaluated as a cooling product! Believe it?

(The views in this article are only our own, and we hope to get more clinical case validations in the near future. We preliminarily present them here for internal reference by attending physicians.)

III. Exploration of Producing Processed Aconite Lateral Root without Bitter Salt

In summary, excellent Aconite Lateral Root processing, non-toxicity, high effective components, and compliance with traditional materia medica processing requirements are all important. The three ancient methods basically meet these three points, but they cannot solve the freshness preservation problem of mud Aconite Lateral Root, and the cost is too high.

This year, we experimented with preserving and solidifying Aconite Lateral Root using a salt-soaking method first, followed by various sand-frying and soil-roasting processing techniques for materia medica. During the trials, the scrap rate reached nearly one-third of the fresh aconite purchased! Finally, we obtained the key process of a feasible (modern retro processing method for prepared aconite), effectively addressing the unfavorable factors of the ancient method in terms of preservation and high cost!

Among them, the process of earth-roasting is more complex, requiring extremely high technical details. Therefore, we focus here on introducing the modern retro sand-frying processing method, which is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement, with low product loss rate, non-toxic, safer to use than raw Aconite Lateral Root, almost no loss of active ingredients, controllable alkaloid conversion rate of Aconite Mother Root, and in the sense of processing of materia medica, it also has the characteristics of 1. assisting the yang of Aconite Lateral Root, 2. containing the meaning of subduing fire, 3. causing the product to bubble (this is a unique appearance of processed Big Aconite Root products, with the meaning of qi transformation), 4. salt processing to guide the medicine into the kidneys, and 5. the product being red in color, belonging to fire and also entering the heart... and other characteristics, making it very worthy of promotion!

We experimented with soaking one thousand jin of fresh Aconite Lateral Root in brine (iodine-free edible salt) for one week, then desalting for two days, not peeling, directly hand-slicing, and drying for later use (temporarily called salt-raw slices, later improved to a new process without desalting). We also experimented with one thousand jin of fresh Aconite Lateral Root, not peeled, directly hand-sliced, and dried into raw slices for later use. Using raw Liquorice Root, Dried Ginger, Carthamus, and grass ash in proportion to boil, filter out the medicinal juice, and after the medicinal juice stops boiling, add salt-raw slices or raw slices, simmer for about a quarter of an hour, wait until the raw slices absorb most of the water and are half-cooked, then remove, dry to 80%, and sand-fry with a stove until fragrant and bubbling (control of time and temperature is very important), we temporarily call this method the "Inhalation and Non-destructive Processing Method of Aconite Lateral Root Slices".

The clinical advantages of the products made by this method are very significant: first, there is no loss, maximizing the retention of alkaloids in Aconite Lateral Root. It is estimated that the total amount should be more than double the standard production of processed Aconite Lateral Root we reported last year, in other words, it can exceed some overly desalted (Aconite Lateral Root residue) on the market by five to ten times. Thus, doctors can avoid prescribing hundreds of grams of Aconite Lateral Root per day, and patients, because the weight of Aconite Lateral Root in the prescription is greatly reduced, can save on the total cost of medicine after using high-quality Aconite Lateral Root. Second, the process of alkaloid hydrolysis of Aconite Mother Root to Aconite Mother Root amine is controllable (generally suitable at about half), retaining part of the Aconite Mother Root alkaloid inside, to follow the original intention of Zhang Zhongjing's medication. Third, it does not mix with negative and toxic substances (such as Danba, etc.), maintaining the purity of Aconite Lateral Root's yang-supporting and qi-transforming characteristics. Fourth, the "fierceness" of Aconite Lateral Root is somewhat reduced, allowing both doctors and patients to use it with confidence. Fifth, naturally absorbing the medicinal juice, respectively enhancing the effects of dredging meridians, subduing fire, and causing bubbling...

The clinical use of this product has generally received good feedback, with its beautiful appearance, lasting fire nature, powerful after-effects, significant subduing yang, excellent taste, and better safety than raw slices, not requiring long decoction, and can be directly powdered for medicinal use, with a wide range of applications.

Aconite Lateral Root is the top of the ten great Chinese medicinals for thousands of years, the main force for supporting yang, an indispensable and irreplaceable important Chinese medicinal. The ancients used it as a good medicine, saving countless lives, while today's people use it as a poison, harming countless people, only because today's morality is not as good as the past, not the fault of Aconite Lateral Root itself. True Chinese medicine is the elite of the Chinese nation, and its moral bottom line should be higher than ordinary people. We believe that the majority of Chinese medicine practitioners can unite, prioritize the people's livelihood, value life, jointly resist restriction and generation of toxic Aconite Lateral Root and inferior processed products, restore the innocence of Aconite Lateral Root, save patients in distress, completely change the current situation of Aconite Lateral Root, let more Chinese medicine elites become famous doctors of Aconite Lateral Root, let conscientious Aconite Lateral Root enter the Chinese medicine community, and go global. The Fire God School sincerely joins hands with the majority of Chinese medicine practitioners to pour the affection of Aconite Lateral Root, endow the soul of supporting yang, and restore the good world of Chinese medicine.