Fu Zi (Aconite) is the tuberous root of the perennial herb Wu Tou (Aconitum) from the Ranunculaceae family.The main root of Wu Tou resembles a crow’s head, hence its name. Most cultivated varieties are found in Sichuan, known as Chuan Wu, while wild varieties are called Cao Wu.Cao Wu prefers to grow in shady areas on hillsides, often found in clusters along moist, shaded riverbanks.Sichuan is located in the southwest, associated with the Kun (坤) hexagram, characterized by heavy earth energy, pure yin without yang, nurturing all things. A hint of true yang emerges from it, represented by Cao Wu. Therefore, Wu Tou and Fu Zi from Sichuan are considered the best, as their growing environment is rich in earth energy, moist and cold, harmonizing water and soil, allowing true yang to flourish, a marvel of nature.
In early spring, when the ice and snow have not yet melted, the first to break through the ice is the bud of Cao Wu. Its vitality is so robust that it remains unafraid of the cold and harsh conditions. This is the manifestation of true yang energy from heaven and earth; without the nurturing of thick earth and true cold, this true yang energy cannot be sustained. The ability of Fu Zi to break through yin and emerge as yang stems from this.Artificially cultivated Fu Zi primarily comes from Jiangyou in Sichuan. It is often grown from wild Cao Wu seeds, transplanted before the winter solstice, and harvested around the summer solstice of the following year. It begins to grow in pure yin conditions and matures in pure yang conditions, embodying the life force of heaven and earth. Growing in a purely yin environment, its energy is purely yang and untainted, thus it can penetrate walls and barriers, dispersing without obstruction, breaking through all cold and stagnant conditions.The Wu Tou plant resembles Ai Cao (Mugwort), both having a single upright stem with fragmented leaves. Its energy flows smoothly, moving both upward and downward, allowing it to disperse throughout the body.
Cao Wu grows taller and sturdier, with purple flowers at the top of the stem; the deeper the purple, the stronger the medicinal properties, indicating a higher concentration of vitality.Fu Zi is the tuberous root harvested in the same year, shaped like an inverted cone, resembling a fetus in the womb, with its vitality strong and head pointing downward. Thus, the energy of Fu Zi is purely yang and dynamic, unobstructed and fearless, circulating through the twelve meridians, all within a moment’s thought.In the Zhong Jing (Zhang Zhongjing) formula Si Ni Tang (Four Reversal Decoction), Fu Zi is used to treat critical conditions where the pulse is weak and about to cease, indicating heavy yin and the threat of extinguishing yang. At such times, only the pure yang and fearless nature of Fu Zi can break through yin and restore yang, reviving life in moments of crisis, truly a life-saving herb.Regrettably, later generations, lacking knowledge, view the pure yang nature of Fu Zi as highly toxic, using substances like Dan Ba (Bitter Apricot) to process it, transforming the fearless true yang of heaven and earth into a toxic substance that is difficult to use, rendering Fu Zi ineffective. Is this not a folly?
Therefore, the use of Fu Zi should only involve the sun-dried or properly processed dry products; all other methods are absurd and ineffective.
Fu Zi is primarily a life-saving emergency remedy, not for daily health maintenance. It should be used only when indicated, to revive life in an instant. Using it without indication will severely disperse the body’s yang energy, leading to a disruption of energy flow, causing numbness and palpitations. The pure yang of heaven and earth cannot endure this, which is the true toxic power.
Fu Zi is pure and dynamic, embodying the true yang of heaven and earth, inherently non-toxic. Improper processing can render it toxic, and inappropriate use can lead to toxicity; this is not the fault of Fu Zi.
Human hearts are often burdened with attachments; without Fu Zi, there is no fearless heart, thus no courage to face the world without fear. The power of pure yang resides within the heart, not a gift from Fu Zi. As the Heart Sutra states, without attachments, there is no fear.
【Guiding Expert】
