"Rice is neutral in nature and sweet in taste. It tonifies the middle, boosts qi, strengthens the spleen and stomach, benefits essence, strengthens the will, harmonizes the five organs, unblocks blood vessels, sharpens hearing and vision, stops irritability, thirst, and diarrhea. Rice with the germ and aleurone layer contains 90% of the essential nutrients the human body needs, and these nutrients are very balanced. So, it is the best staple food for us Chinese people."
Seeing the disbelief in the eyes of the students below, Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "Also, the green vegetables we eat daily lower blood lipids, relieve constipation, detoxify, and reduce swelling. Winter melon clears heat, relieves summer heat, protects the kidneys, promotes urination, lowers fat, and helps with weight loss. Fish meat lowers blood sugar, protects the heart, and prevents cancer. Even pork, which many people say makes you fat if eaten too much, has the effects of tonifying the kidneys, nourishing blood, nourishing yin, and moistening dryness.
Look, actually, the natural things you eat every day, as long as they are not synthetic, have various nutritional components. But you must pay attention when eating. Some things cannot be eaten with others for a short time. For example, if you eat crab, do not eat persimmons. So, if the crab season comes and you want to eat all the crabs yourself, you can give persimmons to others first. If they eat persimmons, they cannot eat crab. Eating them together causes poisoning and may lead to gallstones."
Zhu Yanyi paused, then continued, "Alright, the last point about the Seven Emotions is 'Opposite.'
So-called 'Opposite' means that using two drugs together produces severe toxic side effects. For example, Licorice opposes Kansui, Jing Daji, Sargassum, and Yuanhua. Aconite opposes Fritillaria, Trichosanthes, Pinellia, Ampelopsis, and Bletilla. Veratrum opposes Ginseng, Glehnia, Salvia, Scrophularia, Asarum, and Peony. This is what is known as the 'Eighteen Incompatibilities.'
There is a proverb in the Compendium of Materia Medica: 'The Materia Medica clearly states the Eighteen Incompatibilities; Pinellia, Trichosanthes, Fritillaria, Ampelopsis, and Bletilla attack Aconite; Sargassum, Daji, Kansui, and Yuanhua fight Licorice; All Ginsengs, Asarum, and Peony betray Veratrum.'
The first sentence means the Materia Medica clearly points out the compatibility taboos of eighteen drugs. The second sentence refers to Pinellia, Trichosanthes, Fritillaria, Ampelopsis, and Bletilla opposing Aconite. The third sentence mentions that Sargassum, Daji, Kansui, and Yuanhua do not get along with Licorice. The fourth sentence means that all Ginsengs, Asarum, Red Peony, and White Peony are incompatible with Veratrum."
Speaking here, Zhu Yanyi added, "I can mention here that besides the Eighteen Incompatibilities, there is also the 'Nineteen Antagonisms.'
There is a proverb here that you can also remember: 'Sulfur is the essence of fire; Mirabilite fights it upon sight. Mercury must not meet Arsenic; Wolfbane fears Natrium Plumbi. Croton is fierce and supreme; it clashes with Ipomoea. Clove must not meet Curcuma; Nitre is hard to combine with Rhizoma Sparganii. Sichuan Aconite and Tibetan Aconite clash with Rhinoceros Horn; Ginseng fears Trogopterus Dung. Cinnamon is good at regulating cold qi; if it meets Red Ochre, they deceive each other. Generally, look at compatibility and antagonism when preparing; do not rely on roasting, frying, or baking together.'
Simply put, Sulfur antagonizes Mirabilite, Mercury antagonizes Arsenic, Wolfbane antagonizes Natrium Plumbi, Croton antagonizes Ipomoea, Clove antagonizes Curcuma, Sichuan Aconite and Tibetan Aconite antagonize Rhinoceros Horn, Nitre antagonizes Rhizoma Sparganii, Cinnamon antagonizes Red Ochre, and Ginseng antagonizes Trogopterus Dung.
I have detailed materials on these. If you need them, I will leave the materials with the Principal. You can ask the Principal for copies."
Zhu Yanyi said as she spoke, "The Seven Emotions compatibility includes the laws of Chinese herbal properties. Of course, what I said today is only a few short types of drugs. There are so many Chinese medicinal materials. What effects they have, what efficacy they possess, which herbs they harmonize with, and which herbs they kill or worsen—these all need to be researched and studied by you students here.
Sometimes, even if I say it, you may not remember it. But when you look it up yourselves, you will discover the mysteries within.
Traditional Chinese Medicine can be quite boring to some extent, but those who like it will find that as they learn, there is a lot of flavor inside. I hope one day someone among you will come to tell me, 'Little Divine Doctor, I found a certain herb. It can be paired with what herb, and what role does it play in clinical practice?' Then, my lecture on the Seven Emotions today will not have been in vain."
Zhu Yanyi put the chalk into the chalk box nearby. "Actually, that is all the main content for today's class. If you have any questions about this class, you can ask me."
"Little Divine Doctor, is there a relationship between food medicine and medicinal diet?" one student stood up and asked.
Zhu Yanyi laughed upon hearing this. "You said food medicine. If medicinal food is given to people to eat until they are full, isn't that a diet? Since it is a diet, it is naturally a medicinal diet."
She then added, "Speaking of medicinal diet, everyone remember this point: we actually use it often in our daily lives. For example, adding some minced garlic when stir-frying water spinach makes it taste better. When making chicken soup, adding fennel, star anise, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices removes the fishy smell and makes it comfortable to drink. Actually, these are all types of daily medicinal diets."
"Does that mean we Chinese people eat medicinal diet every day?" a classmate asked with a smile.
"Smart. Yes, actually, you are taking medicinal diet every day. That is truly not wrong. Otherwise, why do our Western friends, when they come to China and eat our food, not want to leave? It is mainly because our food is not only delicious but also promotes health," Zhu Yanyi said with a smile.
"Little Divine Doctor, what are the herbs used in 'Single Action'? Can you give us an example?" someone continued to ask.
"Single Action is just a method of using medicine. What kind of illness requires what kind of method. For example, raw Adzuki beans seem ordinary, and you can't see much, but they can be used as a single-action drug to treat postpartum depression. The Qianjin Yifang mentions: 'Single Action Raw Adzuki Bean Powder treats postpartum heart distress. Adzuki beans. One ingredient, crushed and sieved into powder, taken with flowing eastward water, one square inch dose. If not cured, take again after a short while, and it will be cured.' This shows that how to use single-action drugs depends on the illness, not the drug," Zhu Yanyi explained patiently.
Just as she was speaking, the bell rang. "Alright, this class ends here. Thank you all for coming."
"Thank you, Little Divine Doctor." All the students present thanked Zhu Yanyi.
Zhu Yanyi left the lecture hall with a smile and went to the Principal's practice chamber with the Principal.
"Little Divine Doctor, today's class was wonderful." The Principal had to admit that Zhu Yanyi's lecture was truly wonderful. Although it was only a short hour, in that hour, both beginners of Traditional Chinese Medicine and students who had studied for several years could absorb the content.
The matter of Chinese medicine compatibility seems simple, but only those who have become Chinese medicine doctors truly value it. Ordinary students do not pay much attention to these. Zhu Yanyi chose this as the first class to make them understand that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, not even a single blade of grass can be ignored.
"The Principal flatters me. I am just conveying some knowledge I know from the perspective of a Chinese medicine doctor. I hope all Chinese medicine doctors do not ignore any detail."