Temper Fire

The Kidneys are the “root and foundation of the twelve meridians” (Classic of Difficulties, chapter 8, 2nd century A.D.). All the possibilities of birth, development and maturation are contained within its domain. They “enable the ten thousand things to accomplish their beginning and end in a perfect way” (Chen Chun, 1159-1223 A.D.). In their root, “all form and phenomena are hidden and stored” (Chu Xi, 1130-1200 A.D.). The Kidneys rule “hibernation” (Su Wen, chapter 9), “store the Essence (Jing)” (chapter 4) and “rule Water” (chapter 1). It is the “strong official out of which comes ingenuity and versatility” (Su Wen, chapter 8), “Wisdom is its spirit” (Chen Chun) and “the Will (Zhi) is stored there” (Su Wen, chapter 23). Finally, the philosopher Chu Hsi says: “all the activities can show their real features only if supported by the quietude of its Water.”

The Kidneys contain the primary polarity of life. According to China’s earliest dictionary, Shuo wen jiezi (c. 100 A.D.), the original character for Will (Zhi) referred to an unfolding sprout containing all the potential for future activities and events. The basis for this potential is the Kidney’s primordial Essence (Jing), wherein lies the “prenatal Yin and Yang” (Li Zhong-Zi, 1637 A.D.). One of the most common patterns of disharmony is for the Yin aspect of this polarity to be diminished and weakened, thereby causing the Yang aspect to lose its grounding and become an ungovernable Fire (deficient Fire – Xu huo). The quietude, responsiveness, gentle unfoldment and reflective potential of life (its Yin qualities) then become shaken, agitated and unsettled. To address this common pattern, Wu Kun (1551-1620 A.D.), in the Ming Dynasty, crafted a famous herbal formula which we have named Temper Fire. Dr. Wu designed it “to nourish and replenish the Yin and conquer the dragon and thunder of unrelieved Fire that arises when the Yin is scorched.”

PHYSICAL INDICATIONS

Temper Fire is suited for signs of Heat, redness, swelling and stagnation. Dr. Wu summarizes, the physical indications for this formula are as follows: the “Kidneys are overworked, with occasional back stiffness and difficulty in bending, occasional urinary difficulty, dripping urine, genital Dampness and occasional dark yellow urine.” Commonly, this formula is used for occasional urinary discomfort that arises from deficiency, having Heat manifesting as occasional ulcerations or pimples. Zhang Jie-Bin says that the formula is especially suitable in these cases when there is a combination of deficient Yin and Lower Burner Damp Heat (Complete Works of Jing-Yue, chapter 51, 1624 A.D.).

Because of the connection between the Kidneys and sexual intercourse (Ling Shu, chapter 66), the formula is also used for sexual energy that is awkward, abrupt or parched (e.g. premature or ejaculation, dry vagina or discomfort during intercourse).

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL INDICATIONS

A deficient Kidney Yin pattern with Fire signs is usually noticeable when life’s movement is erratic. Activity develops easily (even too easily), but it does not sustain or stay focused by the Yin. Assertion is not balanced by stability and firmness. Because the Kidneys are sometimes thought to be especially related to fear (Su Wen, chapter 23), this pattern can be characterized by easily generated desires, thoughts or activities that, on reflection or confrontation, generate fear which causes retreat or collapse. Structure topples in the face of the unknown.

The Will (Zhi) is stored in the Kidney and needs to be controlled, according to the classics. China’s oldest book says that a “bound Will” is one aspect of life that “allows grace and compliance

. . . and harmony in the Tao” (Su Wen, chapter 1). When the Yin aspect of the Will does not root its Yang complement, this potential grace is lost. Temper Fire can be a first step, at least on an herbal level, to soothe a chafing and impatient Will.

Chen Chun (1159-1223 A.D.) said that “Wisdom is firmness in Heaven and winter in time. When it manifests, all things return to their roots and their destiny, well settled in their collection and preservation. When, in Wisdom, the right and wrong of the ten thousand things can be seen with absolutely no possibility of alteration, that is the principle of firmness” (Master of Bei-Xi’s Explanation of Terms, volume 8). Whenever the Kidney’s Yin is exhausted and its reflective quality destabilized, its Yang decisive quality can become uncontrolled, producing self-consuming inwardness, self-deprecation, fault-finding, frequent emotional changes, rapid intellectual changes, erratic behavior and an unsettled sense of self. Only when the Wisdom and Will’s Yin and Yang are in harmony can a person, to use the words of Liu Zi-Hui (1101-1147 A.D.): “. . . dig into the darkness of his self to bring forth the pure light of mature wisdom.”

Generally speaking, Temper Fire is appropriate if the Yin of the Kidneys is insufficient and the person has Fire signs affecting any Kidney function. This formula helps to nourish, sustain and control the fundamental necessities and possibilities of life that are rooted in the Kidney’s Water, Essence (Jing), Will and Wisdom. Temper Fire helps restore firmness to the Yin and control an overly dynamic Yang.

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT

Temper Fire (Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan) was originally crafted by Wu Kun in his Verified Formulas (section 3, chapter 18) in 1584 A.D. He called it “Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill with Phellodendron and Anemarrhena.” Zhang Jie-Bin, in his Complete Works of Jing-Yue (1624 A.D., volume 51), called it the “Nourish Yin Eight Flavor Pill.” Qin Jing-Ming renamed the formula “Anemarrhena Phellodendron Rehmannia Pill” in 1706 A.D.. Other scholars chose slightly different names, but Dr. Qin’s name was adopted in the Golden Mirror in 1742 A.D. and is the most commonly used name in China today. We continued this tradition of name changes by calling it Temper Fire. Temper Fire actually goes back much further than Wu Kun in the Ming Dynasty. The  “Six Flavor Rehmannia” formula, which is the basis of the pill, was developed by Qian Yi in his Formulary of Patterns, in 1114 A.D. This formula is actually a modification of Zhang Zhong-Jing’s famous Han Dynasty “Golden Chest Kidney Qi Pill,” which is described in the Quiet Contemplative formula.

Temper Fire has another historical antecedent. Wu Kun’s original description of the physical patterns suitable for this formula is actually a direct quote from Chao Yuan-Fang’s description of “Kidney exhaustion” (Shen Lao).

ABOUT THE HERBS

Prepared Rehmannia root is the main ingredient of the “Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill” (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan), which also contains the next five herbs listed below. In Zhang De-Yu’s Rectification of the Materia Medica (c. 1832 A.D.), Rehmannia is portrayed this way: “Yin deficiency with a scattered Spirit must have Rehmannia’s concentration (Shou) so it can gather (Ju); deficient Yin with ascending Fire needs Rehmannia’s heaviness so it can descend; deficient Yin with agitation needs Rehmannia’s tranquility (Jing) so it can be quiescent (Zhen); deficient Yin with urgency needs Rehmannia’s sweetness so it can be recuperative (Huan).” Wu Kun, the originator of Temper Fire, says it “affects the Yin within Yin.” It is sweet and slightly warm, and enters the Liver, Kidney and Heart meridians.

Asiatic cornelian cherry is an important herb to tonify and stabilize the Kidneys and contain the vital fluids. It supports healthy lower backs, ears, eyes, reproductive system and calms the Spirit (Shen). The Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians (c. 500 A.D.) says it “makes the five Yin organs (Wu zang) peaceful.” Wu Kun also says it provides “a Yin within Yin” presence. It is sour and slightly warm, and in modern times is said to enter the Liver and Kidney meridians.

Chinese yam rhizome is said, in the Rectification of the Materia Medica, to “benefit the Essence (Jing), firm the Kidneys and address the hundred damaged deficiencies, the five exhaustions and seven injuries.” The great commentator, Zhang Xi-Chun (1860-1933 A.D.), thought that Chinese yam rhizome’s ability to “strengthen the Will and nurture the Spirit” was an important aspect of its potency. It is sweet and neutral, and enters the Spleen, Lung and Kidney meridians.

Asian water plantain rhizome “leaches out Dampness, causing Heat to follow along and addresses occasional dizziness,” according to Li Shi-Zhen (1518-1593 A.D.). is also an indispensable herb for supporting healthy urination (Lin bing) and Kidney Fire excess. It is sweet, bland and cold, and enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians.

Tree peony root bark has the action of addressing the “hidden Fire in the Blood and expelling the Heat of irritability,” as described by Li Shi-Zhen (1518-1593 A.D.). It is acrid, bitter and cool, and enters the Heart, Liver and Kidney meridians.

Poria is a main herb for eliminating Dampness and strengthening the Middle Burner. The Materia Medica (c. 600 A.D.) emphasizes that it also “opens the Mind (Xin) and benefits Wisdom (Zhi).” It is sweet and neutral in temperature, and enters the Spleen, Stomach, Heart, Lung and Kidney meridians.

Anemarrhena rhizome “drains rootless Kidney Fire, addresses occasional sweating ‘Steaming Bone Syndrome’ (Gu zheng), stops the Heat of deficient exhaustion (Xu lao) and nourishes and transforms the origin of Yin,” according to Li Dong-Yuan (1180-1221 A.D.) in his Rules for the Usage of Formulas (c. 1220 A.D.). This is an important cold, clarifying and stabilizing herb for the Kidney meridian. It is bitter and cold, and enters the Lung, Stomach and Kidney meridians.

Phellodendron bark is explained in Meeting the Original Classic (1695 A.D.) as “addressing Yin Fire that ascends upwards . . . and Lower Burner Fire . . . (as well as) Damp Heat.” It drains Fire and Damp Heat in the Kidney meridian. Phellodendron bark and Anemarrhena rhizome together are responsible for moving the basis of the Temper Fire formula (“Six Flavor Rehmannia”) in a very different direction from Quiet Contemplative, which also uses “Six Flavor Rehmannia” as its central formula. It is bitter and cold, and enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians.