213. Earthworms have a cooling nature; they are effective in treating typhoid and epidemic fevers accompanied by delirium and high fever, producing immediate relief upon administration.

214. Spider venom is cold in nature; fox hernia causes localized pain; apply to snake or viper bites; use as a poultice for carbuncles and boils.

215. Toad is cool in nature; it eliminates intestinal parasites and eliminates chronic wasting diseases, can treat plagues, and dispels sores and toxins.

216. Hedgehog skin is bitter in taste; it primarily treats five types of hemorrhoids, scrotal swelling, and hernial pain, and can also stimulate the appetite.

217. Gecko has a salty taste; it treats pulmonary atrophy with hemoptysis, consumption-related wasting diseases, and deficiency of lung qi with shortness of breath.

218. The mole cricket has a salty taste and is used to treat ten types of edema, affecting the upper, lower, left, and right parts of the body, with remarkably swift and consistent efficacy.

219. The snail has a salty taste; its mouth and eyes are abnormally positioned; the foot is stiff and spasmodic; and rectal prolapse is treated with salt.

220. Sanguo Xiao is salty in nature; it treats turbid urination and seminal emission, eliminates hernia and lower-back pain, and is indispensable for deficiency syndromes.

221. The pond snail is cool in nature; it promotes urination and defecation, reduces swelling and clears heat, and instantly relieves intoxication.

222. Ivory clears the qi and calms the spirit; impurities irritate the throat but can promote urination, thereby healing all sores.

223. Leeches have a salty taste; they eliminate blood stasis and hard masses, unblock the meridians to break up blood clots, and can heal injuries and fractures.

224. The flavor of the Beizi is salty; it disperses stiffness and resolves nodules, eliminates swelling caused by fluid retention, and clears opacities while cleansing.

225. Clam meat is cooling in nature; it can relieve thirst and quench excessive drinking, dispel alcohol toxicity, and stimulate the appetite, leaving one feeling instantly refreshed.

226. Sea powder has a salty taste and is highly effective in resolving stubborn phlegm; for women’s leukorrhea, its saltiness can soften hard masses.

227. Stone crab has a salty taste; it can cause swelling and opacity of the eyes, dispel the toxicity of poisonous insects and distending toxins, and induce labor to bring forth the fetus.

228. Cuttlebone is salty in nature; it can be used to treat leukorrhea with blood or white discharge, masses and hernias, as well as swelling of the yin organs.

229. Wu Ming Yi Gan: for injuries from falls or blows, it removes blood stasis and relieves pain, while promoting the regeneration of healthy tissue.

230. Qingmengshi is cold in nature; when calcined with saltpeter, it turns golden; it disperses phlegm and aids digestion—its remarkable properties are beyond comprehension.

231. Magnetite has a salty taste; its ferrous toxicity can kill, calm the spirit and tranquilize the mind, and cause yang to subside while qi to be drawn in.

　I. Exterior-Resolving Herbs

　　It disperses exterior pathogenic factors by pungent and warm properties, dispelling cold and dissipating heat.

　　Disperse wind-cold with cinnamon and ephedra; fragrant ru, white angelica, perilla, schizonepeta, and ledebouriella.

　　Xanthium, Asarum, Ligusticum, and Qiang; Xixin, Coriander, Tamarisk, Onion, and Ginger.

　　Disperse wind-heat with cicada slough, burdock, mulberry, chrysanthemum, vine pepper, and kudzu.

　　Bupleurum, Cimicifuga, and fermented soybeans; duckweed and horsetail for wind-heat relief.

　　Ephedra induces sweating to treat typhoid fever, wind-dampness obstruction, pain, and cough with wheezing.

　　Gui Zhi warms the defensive qi and disperses the exterior, warms the meridians to unblock the channels and transforms dampness.

　　Perilla disperses cold and regulates qi, making it suitable for both wind-cold and qi stagnation.

　　Schizonepetae Herba disperses exterior pathogenic factors, indicated for common cold, pruritic rashes, and bleeding.

　　Dispels wind and disperses exterior and interior wind, expels dampness, treats bi syndrome, and relieves wind-induced spasms.

　　Qianghuo dispels wind, cold, and dampness; it is particularly effective for exterior wind-cold-induced headache and upper-limb numbness.

　　White Angelica root clears the orifices and relieves frontal headache; it dries dampness, stops leukorrhea, and resolves abscesses and pus.

　　Xixin dispels cold and clears the nasal passages; it also resolves various cold-related pains and eliminates phlegm from the lungs.

　　Mint clears the head, eyes, and throat, dissipates heat to promote rash eruption, and soothes the liver.

　　Burdock clears the rash and dispels wind-heat, detoxifies and soothes the throat, and treats mumps.

　　Mulberry leaves clear the lungs and calm the liver, alleviating wind-heat-induced dry cough, blurred vision, and dizziness.

　　Chrysanthemum disperses exterior wind-heat, clarifies the eyes, and pacifies liver fire while resolving heat-toxins.

　　Bupleurum clears heat and soothes the liver, while also uplifting yang qi to treat downward collapse.

　　Kudzu root releases the exterior and relieves neck stiffness; it also promotes the eruption of rashes, generates body fluids, and elevates clear yang.

II. Heat-Clearing Herbs

　　Its nature is cold, clearing both deficiency and excess heat, as well as damp-heat, sores, toxins, and imbalances of qi and blood.

　　Clear heat and drain fire to treat qi heat; use Gaozhi, Han Shi, Ku Cao, and Jue.

　　Commelina root, Lycium fruit, and Cassia seeds; gardenia pollen and two bamboo leaves.

　　Clear heat and dry dampness with Lianboqin, Gentian, Sophora, Qinpi, and Chinese Toon.

　　Clear heat and detoxify with honeysuckle and forsythia; wild chrysanthemum, dandelion, and houttuynia.

　　Green-leafed indigofera, buckwheat, red vine, and houttuynia.

　　Shegan, dougen, chuanxinlian, bai tou, chi xian, di jin cao,

　　Flea-bite arrowhead, Chinese yam, and poria, bear bile, corydalis, and white akebia.

　　Mung bean, crow’s egg, and evergreen; half a patch of ground-ivy and snake-tongue herb.

　　Clear heat and cool the blood: Rehmannia, Red Peony Root, Buffalo Horn, and Purple Peony.

　　Herbs for clearing虚heat include Diguipi, Yin Chaihu, Lianqinghao, and Wei.

　　Gypsum releases the exterior and clears the lungs and stomach, alleviates irritability and quenches thirst, and reduces high fever.

　　Anemarrhena clears the stomach and moistens the lungs, nourishes yin and reduces fire, thereby alleviating deficient heat.

　　Gardenia clears heat and dispels irritability, cools the blood, promotes urination, and resolves hematemesis and jaundice.

　　Prunella vulgaris clears the liver and disperses nodules, resolves goiter and scrofula, and alleviates pain in the black pupil.

　　Scutellaria clears the lungs and eliminates damp-heat, detoxifies and cools the blood, and also stabilizes the fetus.

　　Coptis dries dampness and clears heart fire; it also alleviates stomach fire, dysentery, and sores caused by toxic pathogens.

　　Phellodendron bark enters the Kidney to govern the Lower Jiao, drying dampness, draining fire, and treating deficiency heat.

　　Bitter herb dries dampness and drains the liver and gallbladder; in the lower burner, damp-heat and liver fire prevail.

　　Yinhua disperses wind-heat and resolves toxicity; for carbuncles, swelling, toxic dysentery, and pathogenic factors in the defensive and nutritive levels.

　　Forsythia disperses toxins and resolves swelling and nodules, clears the heart and penetrates to dispel pathogenic factors from the Ying and Wei.

　　Gongying detoxifies and resolves carbuncles and swellings; it is particularly effective for breast abscesses accompanied by swelling and pain.

　　Isatis root cools the blood and detoxifies, particularly effective in treating toxic obstruction of the throat.

　　Houttuynia cordata detoxifies and drains pus, particularly effective in treating phlegm-heat lung abscess.

　　Shegan clears toxins and effectively eliminates phlegm; for sore and swollen throat with phlegm obstruction and wheezing,

　　White-headed herb detoxifies and cools the blood; it is particularly effective for heat-toxin-induced bacillary dysentery.

　　Raw Rehmannia cools the blood and nourishes yin fluids; in cases of hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, and menorrhagia due to heat injuring yin,

　　Xuan Shen cools the blood and nourishes yin, with remarkable effects in detoxification and dispersing masses.

　　Moutan bark cools the blood and disperses stasis; it treats both internal and external carbuncles and bone-steaming fever.

　　Red peony root cools the blood while clearing the liver; it resolves stasis, reduces swelling and pain, and cures amenorrhea.

　　Artemisia annua disperses yin-deficient heat, clears damp-heat, and halts malaria.

　　Diguopi cools the blood and dissipates internal heat, clears lung heat, and stops excessive bleeding.

III. Cathartics

　　Purgates, clears heat, and unblocks the large intestine; it also expels accumulated water and phlegm.

　　Attack and subdue nitre, yellow powder, and aloe; moisten the intestines with hemp seeds and Japanese plums.

　　Follow the water to gather yuanyuan and qian shanglu; use bado, qianjinzi, and daji.

　　Rhubarb clears accumulated stagnation and blood stasis, expelling fire-toxins, damp-heat, and pathogenic factors all at once.

　　Glauber’s salt softens hard, dry stools and resolves pharyngeal pain, oral ulcers, and carbuncles.

　　Gansui has a potent purgative and diuretic effect, and is also effective for wind-phlegm, carbuncles, and swellings.

　　Croton seeds strongly purge cold accumulation in the body, eliminate phlegm, promote throat clearance, and remove masses and accumulations.

IV. Wind-Dampness-Removing Medicines

　　Wind-damp-dispelling herbs are particularly effective in treating bi syndrome, characterized by joint pain and stiffness.

　　Dispelling dampness and dispersing cold: Dulingxian, Aconite, Qishe, and Wushaocan.

　　Papaya for stretching tendons, bone-seeking wind; roadside sea breeze, pine knots, stork.

　　Qushi Qingre Leigongteng, Qinjiao Fangji Chouwutong,

　　Mulberry branches, herba siegesii, loofah fiber, and ligustrum and stonebreaker vine.

　　Five-leafed Acanthopanax bark fortifies the sinews and bones; Cuscuta and Drynaria rhizomes enhance vitality and strengthen the lower back.

　　Duhuo dispels wind, cold, and dampness; it also alleviates latent wind-induced headache and lower-limb paralysis.

　　Lingxian, with its salty and warm nature, unblocks the meridians and effectively alleviates various types of bi syndrome pain and bone obstruction.

　　The Qishe snake dispels wind and effectively relieves spasms, making it particularly effective for stubborn bi syndrome, leprosy, and tetanus.

　　Papaya dispels dampness, relaxes the sinews and meridians, and alleviates damp-obstruction–induced vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle spasms.

　　Qin Jiao is effective in eliminating wind-damp-heat and can also alleviate jaundice and bone-steaming.

　　Fangji treats bi syndrome while also promoting diuresis; it is indicated for heat-related bi, edema, and phlegm-damp accumulation.

　　Parasitic therapy nourishes the kidneys and liver to alleviate bi syndrome; when bi pain is accompanied by deficiency and fetal instability, this approach is indicated.

　　Five-ingredient formula dispels dampness and strengthens the lower back and knees; it is indicated for sluggish movement, edema, bi syndrome, and wasting paralysis.

V. Aromatic Damp-Drying Herbs

　　Aromatic herbs that transform dampness can tonify the spleen; this is most suitable for cases of damp obstruction in the middle jiao.

　　Huo, Pei, Cangzhu, Houpu, and Sha; Bai Cao, Er Kou, and Caoguo all gather together.

　　Agastache dispels dampness and releases the exterior; it alleviates cholera, vomiting, and diarrhea caused by summer-dampness.

　　Atractylodes dries dampness while strengthening the spleen; it is indicated for damp-bi syndrome, diarrhea, and wind-cold.

　　Houpu descends qi, eliminates damp phlegm, and resolves qi stagnation, distension, fullness, wheezing, and cough.

　　Amomum villosum transforms dampness and disperses stagnant qi; it is indicated for cold in the middle jiao, vomiting and diarrhea, and fetal movement.

VI. Diuretic and Damp-Draining Herbs

　　Promotes diuresis, drains dampness, unblocks the water channels, and resolves edema, dysuria, and jaundice.

　　Poria and coix seed for diuresis and edema reduction; alisma, calabash, and winter melon rind.

　　Shepherd’s purse, poria, corn silk, and the bark of fragrant angelica.

　　Plantago seeds for diuresis and promoting urination; Aristolochia, Tetrapanax, and Trichosanthes for clearing heat and promoting urination;滑石 for promoting urination and clearing heat.

　　Lampwick, amaranth, sea buckthorn, goldthread, flat sedge, smilax, and winter melon.

　　Retreat golden money grass, artemisia capillaris, polygonum cuspidatum, and sedum.

　　Poria strengthens the spleen and promotes urination; it is indicated for phlegm, edema, and restlessness.

　　Alisma drains and promotes urination, clearing the lower burner; it alleviates edema, phlegm-dampness, and dizziness.

　　Coix seed drains dampness while strengthening the spleen, clears heat, expels pus, and relieves spasms.

　　It clears the urinary tract, stops dampness and diarrhea, resolves phlegm, improves vision, and clears heat.

　　Artemisia capillaris clears heat, promotes diuresis, and effectively resolves jaundice, damp-heat conditions, eczema, and moist sores.

　　Moneywort effectively dispels damp-heat and clears yellowish turbidity; it is also highly effective for treating calculi and sores.

　　Polygonum cuspidatum clears heat and promotes bile flow, detoxifies, activates blood circulation, and eliminates phlegm.

VII. Warming Herbs

　　Warm the interior and dispel cold with ginger and cinnamon; use galangal, fennel, and evodia.

　　Sichuan pepper, long pepper, and cubeb pepper—along with cloves and black pepper—dispel cold from the interior.

　　Aconite effectively restores yang and rescues from reversal, making it indicated for various conditions of yang deficiency and cold-induced bi syndrome.

　　Dried ginger restores yang and warms the spleen and lungs; it is indicated for conditions of central cold and pulmonary fluid retention with loss of yang.

　　Cinnamon warms the kidneys to treat profound cold, unblocks the channels and relieves pain, guiding fire back to its origin.

　　Wu Yu warms the liver and descends stomach qi; it is indicated for headache, cold hernia, vomiting, and diarrhea.

VIII. Qi-Regulating Herbs

　　Unblocking the flow of qi with tangerine peel and aged tangerine peel, fragrant cyperus and chuanliu, and green-budded plum blossoms.

　　Wuyao, Xiebai, Zhishi, and Zhi Shi—four fragrant herbs in one, with sandalwood, agarwood, and greenwood.

　　Buddha’s citron, lychee, persimmon, and jackbean; sweet pine, fragrant insect, abdominal skin, and rose.

　　Orange peel dries dampness and regulates qi; it is particularly indicated for qi stagnation and phlegm-related cough due to damp obstruction.

　　Citrus aurantium fruit disperses qi and transforms phlegm accumulation, treating chest and epigastric fullness as well as prolapse.

　　Mu Xiang harmonizes the spleen and stomach qi, alleviating epigastric distension, flank pain, and tenesmus associated with dysentery.

　　Xiangfu soothes the liver and regulates the meridians; it is the premier herb for gynecological disorders caused by liver-qi stagnation.

　　Agarwood disperses stagnant yin-cold, descends rebellious qi to stop vomiting, and alleviates kidney-deficiency-induced asthma.

IX. Digestive Medicines

　　Digest food stagnation with hawthorn, malt, and barley; use gardenia fruit, aristolochia vine, and young shoots of lespedeza.

　　Hawthorn aids digestion of meaty accumulations and relieves chest and abdominal pain by resolving blood stasis.

　　Malt digests rice, promotes lactation suppression, relieves bloating, and resolves liver qi stagnation.

　　Radish promotes digestion and regulates qi; it is indicated for food stagnation, distension, and phlegm-induced wheezing.

　　It eliminates internal dampness, resolves food stagnation, and dissolves stones, as well as treating various types of food accumulation and nocturnal emission.

X. Anthelmintic Drugs

　　The magistrate’s areca nut, neem bark, leech pill, crane louse, and wild mustard seed,

　　Torreya seeds, crane-bud seeds, and pumpkin seeds are remarkably effective at expelling intestinal parasites.

　　Shi Jun Zi expels parasites and eliminates food stagnation, making it effective for treating ascariasis and malnutrition due to parasitic infestation.

　　Neem bark has anthelmintic and antifungal properties, proving effective against roundworms, pinworms, and hookworms.

　　Areca nut effectively expels parasites and treats tapeworms; it also resolves food stagnation, promotes qi circulation, and facilitates diuresis.

XI. Hemostatic Agents

　　Hemostatic agents are effective in treating bleeding, regardless of whether the underlying pattern is deficiency or excess, cold or heat.

　　Due to heat, use Rehmannia, large and small thistles, sophora, cypress, ramie, cogongrass, and sheep’s foot.

　　Xuanqiu to resolve stasis and stop bleeding: Qian, Sanqi, Puhuang, Jiangxiang, and Shihuahui.

　　Converging and hemostatic: Hebai Jie, Zizhu Zong’ou, Weixue Yuyu.

　　Charred dried ginger warms the meridians and stops bleeding; stove-soil and aged mugwort treat deficiency-cold.

　　Great thistle is effective in treating heat-induced bleeding, dispersing blood stasis, detoxifying, and resolving abscesses and nodules.

　　Xiao Ji cools the blood and disperses abscesses; it is especially indicated for hematuria and dysuria.

　　Di Yu has astringent, cooling properties and is used for lower-jiao bleeding and burns.

　　Sanqi resolves blood stasis and effectively stops bleeding, whether internal or external, from pain, injury, or falls.

　　Madder root cools the blood, resolves blood stasis, unblocks the meridians, treats injuries, and stops bleeding.

　　Pu Huang is excellent for resolving blood stasis and stopping bleeding, and is particularly effective for hematuria accompanied by pain in the heart and abdomen.

　　Baiji achieves hemostasis through astringency, and is indicated for coughing up blood, vomiting blood, and chapped skin.

　　Paojiang has an astringent taste and is particularly effective in treating conditions of yang deficiency accompanied by bleeding, cold-induced diarrhea, and pain.

　　Mugwort leaves warm the kidneys and the uterus, alleviating deficiency-cold-induced metrorrhagia and fetal movement.

XII. Blood-Activating and Stasis-Resolving Medicines

　　Promotes blood circulation, resolves blood stasis, relieves pain, reduces swelling, and regulates the meridians.

　　Activate blood circulation to relieve pain: Corydalis, Curcuma, Myrrh, and Turmeric.

　　Promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation with Salvia miltiorrhiza, peach kernel, motherwort, and Lysimachia.

　　Bloodvine, monthly rose, and king-not-to-be-kept—excellent for blood stasis in women’s menstruation and postpartum conditions.

　　Blood-activating and injury-healing copper insect, sappan wood, blood-resin, and Liu Jinu.

　　Ma Qian’er Cha Gu Sui Bu, which promotes tendon regeneration, joins bones, and reduces swelling and pain.

　　Sanleng and E’er to break blood stasis and dissipate masses; Shanjia, Shuizhi, Mengfeng, and Banmao.

　　Chuanxiong promotes the flow of qi and blood while dispelling wind, thereby alleviating head pain caused by blood stasis in the meridians and after childbirth.

　　Yanhu promotes the flow of qi and blood to relieve pain, treating various pains caused by stasis in the heart and abdomen.

　　Turmeric invigorates blood and regulates qi, cools the blood, promotes bile flow, and clears the heart.

　　Danshen promotes blood circulation and regulates menstruation, cools the blood to resolve abscesses, and calms the mind.

　　Safflower invigorates blood and regulates the meridians; it alleviates pain caused by blood stasis and darkens pigmented spots.

　　Peach kernels promote menstrual flow and resolve blood stasis, lubricate the intestines, reduce abscesses, and also relieve cough.

　　Yimu Jing is a key herb for regulating menstruation and postpartum recovery, with excellent efficacy in resolving blood stasis and edema.

　　Niu Xi unblocks the meridians and tonifies the liver and kidneys, causing both blood stasis and excess heat to descend.

　　Insects break blood stasis and resolve traumatic blood accumulation; used in orthopedics for tendon repair and bone setting.

　　Natural copper disperses blood stasis and relieves pain, making it highly effective for fractures and tendon or muscle injuries.

　　It unblocks the meridians and relieves pain, effectively treating stubborn bi syndrome, limb paralysis, and traumatic injuries.

　　Curcuma wenyujin both breaks blood stasis and regulates qi, making it effective for treating masses, accumulations, and food stagnation.

　　Pangolin scales promote the smooth flow of meridians and effectively resolve accumulations; they also facilitate lactation, reduce swelling, and drain pus.

XIII. Phlegm-Resolving, Cough-Suppressing, and Asthma-Alleviating Medicines

　　For resolving phlegm: Pinellia, Xingbai, and Bai Fu; for mustard seed, soapberry flower, and Houttuynia.

　　White Peony, Frontus, Citrus, Two Shellfish, Trichosanthes, Three Bamboo, Yellow, and Resin.

　　The sea yields yellow medicinal materials, corrugated stone, mica, and kelp.

　　Cough-relieving and asthma-soothing apricot winter flower, perilla seed, stemona, and dwarf tea.

　　Aster, Helleborine, Mulberry, White Loquat, Lysimachia, Ginkgo, and Goldenflower.

　　Banxia, pungent and warm, dries damp phlegm, disperses nodules, relieves fullness, and treats vomiting and dizziness.

　　Platycodon disperses phlegm by uplifting and ventilating, eliminates phlegm, drains pus, and benefits the throat and pharynx.

　　Chuanbei clears phlegm and moistens the lungs, effective for dry phlegm, heat-phlegm, and scrofula.

　　Zhebei disperses phlegm and resolves emotional stagnation, alleviating heat-phlegm, goiter, and scrofula.

　　Gualou clears the lungs and transforms heat-induced phlegm, broadens the chest to disperse nodules, and promotes bowel movements.

　　Bitter almond descends to relieve cough and wheezing, while moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements.

　　Su Zi descends qi and transforms phlegm; excessive phlegm causes cough, wheezing, and constipation.

　　A hundred formulas moisten the lungs and treat all types of cough; they also eliminate lice, kill parasites, and eradicate pinworms, scabies, and other infestations.

　　Sangbai clears the lungs to treat heat-induced wheezing, and promotes diuresis to eliminate edema and distension.

　　Herba Lepidii clears the lungs and promotes diuresis, alleviating phlegm obstruction, cough, wheezing, and fluid retention.

XIV. Sedatives

　　The renowned tranquilizing treasures: cinnabar, amber, dragon bone, and dragon teeth.

　　Nourish the heart and calm the spirit with Platycladus seed, Polygala, Albizzia, and Polygonum multiflorum.

　　Cinnabar detoxifies and calms the heart, alleviating palpitations, insomnia, and mental restlessness.

　　Magnet calms the spirit and tranquilizes the heart and liver, enhances hearing and vision, and stabilizes labored breathing due to deficiency.

　　Dragon bone calms the heart and tranquilizes the spirit, while astringency and liver-tonifying actions alleviate dizziness.

　　Sour Jujube Seed nourishes the heart and benefits the liver, treating blood deficiency, insomnia, and excessive sweating.

　　Yuanzhi clears the orifices, eliminates phlegm, and treats forgetfulness, epilepsy, and cough with phlegm.

XV. Liver-Calming and Wind-Relieving Herbs

　　To subdue liver yang: cinnabar, oyster shell, mother-of-pearl, and purple conch shell.

　　Oyster, Tribulus, and Apocynum are effective in treating dizziness and headache.

　　Sedate the wind and stop convulsions to treat spasms; use antelope horn, bezoar, and hook vine.

　　Gastrodia and whole scorpions, centipedes, Bombyx batryticus pupae, and earthworms.

　　Fossilized abalone clears liver fire and calms the liver, treating eye disorders caused by excessive yang and dizziness.

　　Oysters calm the liver and alleviate dizziness; they also astringe, consolidate, and soften hard masses.

　　Ochre precipitates to clear the liver; liver fire causes dizziness, epistaxis, vomiting, and asthma.

　　Antelope horn is especially indicated for severe heat-induced convulsions; it calms the liver and clears visual haze, dispelling heat-toxins.

　　Niuhuang clears heat and detoxifies, resolves phlegm, opens the orifices, and calms wind—truly efficacious.

　　Uncaria clears heat and calms liver wind, and is also effective in soothing the liver and alleviating dizziness.

　　Tianma relieves wind and all types of spasms, and is particularly effective in treating dizziness, headache, and bi syndrome.

　　Earthworm vapor and wind dispel heat-induced spasms, relieve asthma, promote diuresis, and unblock the meridians.

　　Whole scorpion and centipede treat convulsions, disperse masses, unblock the meridians, and relieve pain.

XVI. Opening-Center Medicines

　　Opening the orifices and awakening the spirit: suhe incense, musk, borneol, sweet flag, toad venom, and camphor.

　　Musk clears the orifices and awakens the spirit, while also promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, and relieving pain.

　　Acorus calamus opens the orifices and transforms damp-turbidity; phlegm-dampness obstructing the orifices impedes the middle jiao.

XVII. Tonifying Herbs

　　Tonifying herbs treat deficiency of qi and blood, and are effective for both yin and yang insufficiency.

　　Qi-tonifying foreign “princeling” formula: astragalus, atractylodes, Chinese yam, honey, and malt syrup.

　　Jujube, licorice, and white hyacinth bean—take them to strengthen spleen and lung qi.

　　Bu Yang primarily treats kidney yang deficiency; deer antler, epimedium, and morinda.

　　Curculigo, Epimedium, Allium tuberosum, and bone fat; sea dog, seahorse, and stone for yang enhancement.

　　Cistanche, Epimedium, and Tribulus; Sha Yuan fenugreek, walnuts, and Dipsacus.

　　Cordyceps, gecko, and placenta—these remedies dispel cold, warm the uterus, and cure impotence and diarrhea.

　　Replenish the blood with Shu Di, Gui Pi, and Bai Shao; add He Shou Wu, Longan, and Donkey-hide Gelatin.

　　Nourish yin with lily bulbs, northern and southern sand jujubes, oak galls, polygonatum, and black sesame.

　　Polygonatum, goji berries, ophiopogon, and asparagus. Eclipta, ligustrum, soft-shelled turtle shell, and tortoise shell.

　　For qi deficiency with impending collapse, ginseng is essential—it generates body fluids, tonifies qi, and calms the mind.

　　American ginseng clears heat and tonifies qi and yin; deficiency heat, phlegm, and blood damage qi and body fluids.

　　Dangshen tonifies qi and generates body fluids and blood; it is indicated for deficiency of qi and body fluids in the spleen and lungs.

　　Astragalus tonifies qi and elevates yang, while also consolidating the exterior, promoting diuresis, and supporting the resolution of sores.

　　Atractylodes macrocephala tonifies qi, strengthens the spleen, stops perspiration, secures the fetus, and eliminates dampness.

　　Chinese yam tonifies qi and yin while astringing and consolidating; it is indicated for cough, asthma, seminal emission, and deficiency-type diarrhea.

　　Licorice tonifies qi, clears heat and toxins, relieves cough, alleviates urgency, and harmonizes the properties of other herbs.

　　Deer antler strengthens yang, nourishes blood and essence, regulates the Chong meridian, promotes wound healing, and fortifies bones and tendons.

　　Epimedium for strengthening yang and erectile dysfunction; treats kidney deficiency, wind-dampness, and bi pain.

　　Cuscuta seeds tonify the kidney and consolidate essence, arrest deficiency diarrhea, secure the fetus, and improve vision.

　　Eucommia strengthens the lower back and secures the fetus, both of which depend on its sweet, warm nature that tonifies the kidney and liver.

　　Dipsacus strengthens bones and tonifies the kidneys and liver; it also aids in the healing of fractures, stops bleeding, and secures the fetus.

　　Whole Angelica sinensis nourishes the blood and promotes circulation; it regulates menstruation, relieves pain, and moistens the intestines.

　　Rehmannia root nourishes the blood and replenishes yin essence, indicated for blood deficiency with tidal fever and deficiency of essence.

　　White peony root nourishes the blood, softens the liver, regulates menstruation, relieves pain, and astringes spontaneous sweating.

　　Polygonum multiflorum tonifies essence and blood, consolidates kidney essence, and treats premature graying of hair.

　　Ejiao is excellent for tonifying the blood and stopping bleeding, as well as for nourishing yin and moistening dryness in cases of yin deficiency.

　　Radix Adenophorae moistens the lungs and benefits the stomach, treating dry cough due to deficiency of stomach yin.

　　Ophiopogon nourishes yin and moistens the lungs and stomach, clears the heart and alleviates vexation—suitable for both deficiency and excess patterns.

　　Tortoise plastron nourishes yin to restrain yang excess, strengthens bones, stops bleeding, and benefits the heart.

　　Tortoise plastron nourishes yin and restrains yang excess, softens hard masses and disperses accumulations, promoting recovery from syndromes.

XVIII. Astringent Medicines

　　Astringents are primarily used to treat incontinence and excessive sweating; for sweating, use floating wheat, sesame root, and rice.

　　Astringe the lungs and constrict the intestines with five-flavor plum, galla chinensis, poppy seed pods, and pomegranate peel.

　　Nutmeg, mastic, and yu yu liang are indicated for chronic cough, deficiency-related wheezing, and prolonged diarrhea.

　　Medicines for consolidating essence, restraining urination, and stopping leukorrhea: Cornus fruit, Rubus fruit, mulberry, and cuttlefish bone.

　　Lotus seeds, Euryale seeds, and Rosa laevigata fruits effectively treat spermatorrhea, urinary incontinence, and leukorrhea.

　　Five flavors astringe the lungs, tonify the kidneys and heart; used for deficiency-related asthma, chronic diarrhea, and seminal emission with incontinence.

　　Wumei astringes the intestines and consolidates the lungs, generates body fluids to relieve pain, and calms intestinal parasites.

　　Cornus fruit tonifies the kidney and liver, stops excessive uterine bleeding and leukorrhea, consolidates essence, and astringes sweat.

　　Sangpiaoxiao consolidates essence and restrains urination, effectively tonifying kidney yang and restoring erectile function.

　　Lotus seeds tonify the kidneys and consolidate essence, nourish the heart and strengthen the spleen, and can also stop diarrhea.

XIX. Emetics

　　Emetics expel food toxins and phlegm; Changshan, Gua Di, and胆矾 are used for this purpose.

XX. Detoxifying, Insecticidal, Damp-Drying, and Itch-Relieving Medicines

　　Alum, Cnidium, realgar, sulfur, wind-dampness, Jing (a type of plant), garlic, and beehive.

　　Realgar detoxifies and kills intestinal parasites; it is used for eczema, snake bites, carbuncles, and abscesses.

　　Sulfur relieves itching and treats scabies and ringworm; when taken internally, it strengthens yang and promotes bowel movements.

21. Medicines for Removing Toxins, Resolving Decay, and Promoting Muscle Regeneration

　　Arsenic trioxide, white lead, realgar, borax, and cinnabar.

　　Shengyao is pungent and hot, highly toxic, and is applied externally to draw out toxins and remove pus and necrotic tissue.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Song

　　What are the main properties of traditional Chinese medicine? The Four Qi, Five Flavors, and Channel Tropism.

　　There is also the concept of rising and falling, as well as toxicity and non-toxicity, all grouped together under a single category.

The Four-Qi Song

　　The four natures—cold, heat, warm, and cool—are categorized as yin for cold and cool, and yang for warm and heat.

　　Warming and tonifying the fire to support yang qi, with pronounced effects in warming the interior and dispersing cold.

　　It clears heat and cools the body while draining excess fire, detoxifies and nourishes yin while restraining yang.

　　“Cold is treated with heat, and heat is treated with cold”—this is the fundamental principle of therapeutic methodology.

The Song of the Five Flavors

　　The five tastes—pungent, sweet, bitter, salty, and sour—each have distinct therapeutic effects.

　　Xin acts to move qi and blood, promoting dispersion; gan harmonizes and tonifies the middle jiao, quickly relieving urgency.

　　Bitter, drying, and descending actions can consolidate yin; salty flavors can moisten the lower burner and soften hard masses.

　　Acids can astringe and constrict, while bland herbs promote diuresis—remember all this.

Six Chen Song

　　Citrus aurantium, Citrus reticulata, and Pinellia are combined; Ephedra, Aconitum, and Evodia are also included.

　　Six categories of medicinal herbs are best when aged; only when incorporated into a prescription do their remarkable therapeutic effects become apparent.

The Seven Emotions Song of Traditional Chinese Medicine

　　When one herb assists another, and they are used in mutual reinforcement, their therapeutic effects are enhanced.

　　Mutual antagonism can neutralize its medicinal toxicity, while mutual inhibition limits the toxicity.

　　Conversely, remember that toxicity may be increased, and incompatible combinations can reduce therapeutic efficacy.

　　A single herb requires no other medicinal partners; the profound art of the Seven Emotions in herbal compatibility is thus revealed.

The Eighteen Contraindications Song

　　The Compendium of Materia Medica explicitly states the “Eighteen Contraindications”: Banxia, Beizi, Beilan, and Gongwu are among them.

　　Algae, halberds, and gardenia all battle the grass; various ginsengs, aconites, peonies, and white peonies rebel against veratrum.

The Song of the Nineteen Fears

　　Sulfur is originally the essence of fire; as soon as mirabilite appears, they immediately contend.

　　Mercury should never be mixed with arsenic; wolfsbane is most afraid of mirabilite.

　　Croton seeds are the most pungent and potent; they clash with Poria cocos in compatibility.

　　Do not combine cloves with turmeric; mirabilite is incompatible with Acorus tatarinowii.

　　Aconite and processed aconite clash with rhinoceros horn; ginseng is most incompatible with five-spirit fat.

　　The official cinnamon is adept at regulating the cold air; yet when it encounters stone fat, it cannot help but deceive.

　　In general, when preparing medicinal formulas, one should consider the order of ingredients—do not rely on fixed prescriptions.

Song of Contraindications for Medication During Pregnancy

　　Blister beetles, leeches, and horseflies; Aconite and Fuzi paired with Tianxiong.

　　Wild kudzu, mercury, and croton seeds; achyranthes, coix seed, and centipede.

　　Triangular Daphne, Cinnabar, Musk; Euphorbia, Cicada Slough, Yellow Female and Male.

　　Gypsum, mirabilite, peony, cinnamon, locust flowers, morning glory, and soapberry—all together.

　　Pinellia, Arisaema, and Tetrapanax, along with Dianthus, dried ginger, and peach kernels—all combined.

　　Nao sha, dried lacquer, crab-claw, and nail—none of these are suitable.

　　I. Principal Herb for Pain

　　When rheumatism causes pain throughout the limbs and joints, Qianghuo is always the most effective.

　　For chest pain at the apex of the sternum, use Chuanqiong; for abdominal pain, use Shaoyao and Pueraria together to relieve it.

　　Under the navel, green skin and Phellodendron bark are auspicious; around the waist, Eucommia bark is presented in the ancient style.

　　Wu Yu relieves heartache and stomach discomfort; Cao Kou is superb for relieving flank pain.

　　The blood-stimulating angelica root has a pungent, prickly qi; licorice slightly alleviates pain in the stem.

II. The Principal Herbs for Qi and Blood

　　To dispel fullness, use Zhishi and Zhizhu; for chest qi stagnation, use Chenpi.

　　For constriction and distension in the abdomen, both Atractylodes and Poria are employed.

　　Dang Gui nourishes the blood and tonifies qi, while Chuan Xiong is most remarkable for its ability to promote blood circulation.

　　Peach kernels are effective in breaking up stagnant blood, while Corydalis regulates and transforms blood even more so.

　　Agarwood is adept at harmonizing all types of qi; to dispel stagnated qi, one must use the green peel of the bark.

　　For the six types of stagnation, Atractylodes and Asarum are the principal herbs; for qi deficiency with spontaneous sweating, Astragalus is used.

III. Blood-Activating Herbs in the Upper, Middle, and Lower Jiao

　　How to treat blood-related conditions in the Three Classics? Use Fangfeng on the upper level and Lian in the middle.

　　The lower part of the Sanguisorba is particularly important and is commonly known as “Broken-Red Pill.”

IV. Principal Herbs for Damp-Heat in the Triple Burner

　　Use Scutellaria for damp-heat in the upper burner, and Coptis for damp-heat in the middle burner.

　　For lower-jiao damp-heat with yellowish complexion, use Yinchen.

V. Medicinal Methods for Clearing Heat from the Twelve Meridians

　　All twelve meridians contain fire; one must know which herb to use to drain each respective meridian.

　　Coptis clears fire, Rehmannia and Anemarrhena nourish the kidneys; Gardenia and Scutellaria treat the lungs and large intestine.

　　Gypsum drains the stomach, white peony nourishes the spleen, and coptis and bupleurum are sought for the liver and gallbladder.

　　Woodtongue for the small intestine, cypress for the bladder; for the triple burner, also use gardenia, bupleurum, and scutellaria.

　　Gardenia can drain rebellious fire; to drain rootless fire, Xuan Shen is required.

VI. The Principal Herb in the Twelve-Row Formula

　　The Sun meridian governs the Small Intestine and the Bladder; use Phellodendron in the lower part and Notopterygium in the upper part.

　　The Triple Burner, Liver, Gallbladder, and Pericardium—along with the Shaoyang and Jueyin—are harmonized by Qingchai Liang.

　　Hand-Yang of the Large Intestine, Foot-Yang of the Stomach; Shengma, Baizhi, and Gypsum are indicated.

　　White peony root for the Spleen, Platycodon for the Lung; Coptis and Rehmannia in the Heart and Kidney—such profound wisdom endures.

　　Heart Sutra

　　Ask you what herbs nourish the Heart Meridian: Polygala, Chinese yam, and Ophiopogon.

　　Jujube seed, angelica, and bamboo pith—what great efficacy these six ingredients possess!

　　Scrophularia is bitter, Coptis is cold, and Aucklandia with Fritillaria drain the heart’s excess.

　　Cooling heart bamboo leaves, rhinoceros horn, cinnabar, forsythia, and bezoar.

　　Warm the Heart with Agastache and Acorus; prescribe the Xixin-Duhuo Decoction.

Liver Meridian

　　Nourish the Liver Meridian with jujube seeds, coix seed, papaya, and donkey-hide gelatin;

　　Drain the Liver with Bupleurum and White Peony; Citrus Peel and Indigo Naturalis are indispensable.

　　Forsythia, gentian, and plantain-chamomile cool the liver and clear the exterior.

　　Warm the liver with magnolia, aucklandia, evodia, and cinnamon; use citrus peel and chuanxiong for reference.

Spleen Meridian

　　Tonify the spleen with ginseng, membranous astragalus, and yellow astragalus; combine adzuki beans, atractylodes, and tangerine peel.

　　Lotus seeds, Chinese yam, white poria, Euryale seeds, Atractylodes, and licorice are all suitable.

　　For purging the spleen, use Citrus aurantium immaturus, gypsum, rhubarb, and green tangerine peel.

　　Warm the spleen with cinnamon, cloves, and agastache; use aconite, galangal, and peppercorns.

　　Talc cools the spleen and clears heat; white peony and cimicifuga are used to tonify the spleen.

Lung Meridian

　　Replenish the lungs with Chinese yam and ophiopogon, along with purple aster, black plum, ginseng, and poria.

　　Ejiao, Bai Bu, and Schisandra; plus Astragalus from Mianzhou—truly a divine combination.

　　Perilla seeds, along with ledebouriella and alisma, drain the lung meridian.

　　Moreover, there are Citrus aurantium and Morus alba bark, which, like the Six-Ingredient Decoction for Draining the Lung, are similarly employed.

　　Warm the lungs with magnolia, asarum, and winterflower; ginger, dried ginger, and white cardamom seeds.

　　Cool the lungs with scutellaria and fritillaria; treat urinary retention with gardenia, sandalwood, and black ginseng.

　　Aristolochia, Trichosanthes seed, Platycodon, and Asparagus should all have their hearts removed.

　　Include white angelica and cimicifuga; how many white scallion stalks with roots should be used?

Kidney Meridian

　　Tonify the kidneys with Chinese yam, goji berries, cuttlefish bone, turtle plastron, and oyster.

　　Eucommia, Cynomorium, and Fructus Psoraleae; Cornus, Cistanche, and Morinda.

　　Dragon and tiger bone, Chinese achyranthes root, five-flavor dodder seed, and Euryale seed,

　　Add another ingredient, Huai Shu Di, to form a total of eighteen herbs that tonify the Kidney Meridian.

　　To drain the kidneys, there is no need to seek many formulas; Zhi Mu and Ze Xie are equally suitable.

　　Warm the kidneys with cinnamon and aconite, deer antler, psoralea, sea sandalwood, and agarwood.

　　It also warms the kidneys—semen vaccae; it cools the kidneys—zhibo, zhibai, and digu pi.

　　Add another ingredient: powdered cortex moutan; cite du huo and cinnamon as the key herbs.

Stomach Meridian

　　To tonify the stomach, use Pseudoginseng, Pinellia, Hyacinth Bean, and Astragalus.

　　Use Euryale seeds, lotus seeds, and lily bulbs together, and add Chinese yam and dried tangerine peel.

　　To clear stomach fire, just as with the spleen, add one more ingredient: Nan Zhi Shi.

　　Add more mirabilite and rhubarb, and increase the gypsum for even more urgent relief.

　　Warm-stomach wood-fruit and agastache, brain-boosting evodia and galangal,

　　Xiangfu, white meat grass, cardamom, thick bark, pepper, and dried ginger.

　　Cooling the stomach: kudzu root strips and scutellaria; slippery elm, coptis, and polygonatum powder.

　　Anemarrhena, Forsythia, Gypsum, Dendrobium, Gardenia, Cimicifuga, and Bambusa leaf—seek them out.

　　Thirteen herbs cool stomach fire; Angelica dahurica and Cimicifuga rhizome direct the stomach herbs.

Gallbladder Meridian

　　Use Baidu Longdan and Mutong; Chaihu and Qingpi to drain the Gallbladder Meridian.

　　Pinellia is processed with dried tangerine peel, and further combined with fresh ginger and Ligusticum.

　　Cooling herbs such as bamboo茹 and Coptis are employed; all these herbs primarily affect the Liver Meridian.

Large Intestine Meridian

　　Ask you, what herbs nourish the large intestine? L-arginine, oyster shell, and white dragon bone.

　　Platycodon root, rice husk, terminalia chebula peel, Chinese yam, nutmeg, and lotus seed.

　　Rhubarb from Sichuan, betel nut from the South, and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus with Dendrobium—these purge the large intestine.

　　Add mirabilite and peach kernels, along with three inches of white onion stalks, and the purgative effect will be even stronger.

　　Dried ginger, cinnamon, and evodia fruit—when used together, they all warm the intestines.

　　All herbs that direct their effects to the Stomach Meridian are included; Sophora flower and Scutellaria root cool the Large Intestine.

Small Intestine Meridian

　　For tonifying the small intestine, use Dendrobium and oyster; for purging, combine Moutan with Perilla.

　　Do you know that the white part of the scallion and the lychee seed are both potent purgatives?

　　The small intestine requires warmth; use fennel, star anise, and radix aconiti.

　　Use Scutellaria and Trichosanthes for cooling; cite Notopterygium and Ligusticum.

Bladder Meridian

　　Orange seeds and sweet flag tonify the bladder; epimedium, dactylorhiza, and dragon bone are beneficial.

　　Use mirabilite and plantain seeds for purgation, and coptis, talc, and hedyotis to support diuresis.

　　Use Wu Yao and Fennel for warming; use Huang Bai and Sheng Di Huang for cooling.

　　The tips of licorice are also cooling; when used, they all correspond to the Small Intestine.

Triple Burner Meridian

　　To tonify the Triple Burner, use Alpinia oxyphylla, along with licorice and astragalus.

　　For purgation, use gardenia and alisma; for warming, ginger and aconite are quite beneficial.

　　Raw gypsum, cortex of dictamni, and cooling the three burners—these act with swift efficacy.

　　Introducing the Three Jiao is no different; the herbs used have no distinction from those for the liver and gallbladder.

Pericardium Meridian

　　Rehmannia alone tonifies the enveloping network; for purgation, use Wu Yao together with Zhike.

　　Warm cinnamon; cool gardenia; and the green peel of chuanxiong serve as guiding herbs.

The synergistic combination of Chinese medicinal herbs refers to the practice of pairing one herb with another to achieve remarkable therapeutic effects, gradually giving rise to fixed herbal formulas. Of course, herbal combinations may involve two, three, or even more ingredients; here we focus on the notable therapeutic benefits achieved by using pairs of herbs in combination.

★ Ephedra disperses exterior pathogenic factors, relieves asthma, and promotes diuresis; Cinnamon twig releases the exterior, unblocks yang, and warms the meridians.

★ Schizonepeta clears the head and promotes the eruption of rashes, while also arresting metrorrhagia and epistaxis; Ledebouriella dispels wind and eliminates dampness, relieving pruritus and quelling spasms.

★Xixin disperses cold and relieves pain, warms the lungs and transforms phlegm; Baizhi dries dampness, opens the orifices, and stops leukorrhea while draining pus.

★Mulberry leaves dispel wind-heat and clear the liver while cooling the lungs; chrysanthemum restrains wood-fire and detoxifies to resolve abscesses.

★To disperse pathogenic factors and harmonize the interior, dispel wind and promote the eruption of rashes—use peppermint; to release the exterior, expel wind, calm惊and improve vision—use cicada slough.

★ Kudzu root elevates the spleen and stomach’s clear yang, relaxes the muscles, and treats diabetes insipidus; flower pollen treats heat-related illnesses that deplete body fluids, moistens the lungs, and also addresses carbuncles and swellings.

★ Bupleurum disperses liver qi stagnation, lifts yang, and harmonizes the exterior and interior; Cimicifuga raises sinking yang and clears heat, thereby promoting the eruption of rashes.

★ Gypsum clears the excess heat of the Yangming channel and relieves thirst and vexation; Anemarrhena rhizome dispels warm pathogenic factors from the qi level, moistens dryness, and clears the lungs.

★ Rhinoceros horn cools the blood and stops bleeding, calms the spirit and clears heat; antelope horn平liver and improves vision, extinguishes wind and quells convulsions.

★Clearing heat and dampness, draining fire and resolving toxicity—though the three Huang herbs differ in their meridian tropism; dispersing cold and warming the stomach, warming the lungs and relieving cough—though the three Jiang herbs may share similar functions.

★ Honeysuckle and Forsythia: clear heat and resolve toxins—the quintessential remedy for sores; Dandelion and Common Chicory: reduce swelling and disperse masses—the bane of carbuncles and abscesses.

★ Gardenia clears liver-qi stagnation; Artemisia alleviates damp-heat jaundice.

★ Prunella vulgaris clears the liver and improves vision, softens hard masses, and treats scrofula; Haliotis shell harmonizes the liver and subdues yang, calms the mind, and alleviates dizziness.

★Moutan bark disperses blood stasis, cools the blood, and detoxifies; Gentian removes dampness, promotes bile flow, and drains liver fire.

★ For cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, as well as for resolving stasis and reducing swelling, use large thistle and water thistle; for warding off epidemics and detoxifying, and for clearing heat and resolving jaundice, seek out indigo leaf.

★Bean root clears lung and stomach fire while also soothing the throat; belamcanda root detoxifies and benefits the pharynx, further eliminating phlegm and salivary mucus.

★ Glehnia and Asparagus alleviate the peril of lung dryness; Ophiopogon and Dendrobium nourish the stomach yin in times of deficiency.

★ Scrophularia clears heat and nourishes yin, detoxifies and reduces fire; Burdock dispels wind and dissipates heat, clears epidemic toxins and benefits the throat.

★ Ze Lan harmonizes the Chong and Ren channels and promotes diuresis to reduce swelling; Dan Shen activates blood circulation, resolves blood stasis, calms the heart, and alleviates restlessness.

★Artemisia annua clears yin deficiency and bone-steaming fever while halting malaria; turtle plastron excels in nourishing yin and restraining yang, thereby softening hard masses.

★ Silver Bupleurum and Chinese Peony Root are indicated for reducing deficient heat and eliminating malnutrition; Rhubarb and Glauber’s Salt are used to expel accumulated stagnation and purge excess in the腑.

★For constipation due to fluid depletion, use Semen Perillae and Semen Prunus; for dysentery caused by heat-toxin, employ Cortex Fraxini and Radix Pulsatillae.

★ Peilan invigorates the spleen and stimulates appetite, dispelling summer-dampness; Huoxiang transforms dampness and harmonizes the middle burner, effectively quelling turbid qi.

★Talc clears heat, drains dampness, and promotes urination; Malva leaves increase lactation, lubricate the intestines, and reduce swelling.

★ Bamboo leaves clear the small intestine, dispel vexation and quench thirst; lamp wicks reduce heart fire, promote the opening of orifices and facilitate urination.

★ Tangerine peel regulates qi, strengthens the spleen, and eliminates dampness; Pinellia reduces reverse flow, dissipates phlegm, and relieves chest tightness.

★ Almonds relieve cough and asthma while moistening the intestines and promoting bowel movements; Fritillaria moistens the lungs and clears heat, alleviating cough with blood-tinged sputum.

★ Peucedanum praeruptorum clears lung obstruction; Aster tataricus and Inula helenium relieve chronic cough with wheezing.

★ Mulberry bark clears the lungs and promotes diuresis; Stemona root moistens the lungs and kills parasites.

★ Licorice detoxifies all poisons and eliminates phlegm while relieving cough; Platycodon clears the throat and disperses lung qi to drain pus.

★ Nansheng treats stroke due to phlegm obstruction and chest and diaphragm fullness; Bai Fu dispels wind-phlegm stagnation and alleviates unilateral or bilateral headache.

★ Su Zi Wen Han Hua Yin warms and transforms cold, benefiting the diaphragm and widening the intestines; Bai Jie Wen Han Hua Yin warms and transforms cold, disperses phlegm and relieves pain.

★ Hawthorn dissipates blood stasis and melts fat; Shenqu aids digestion and eliminates bloating.

★ Barley malt noodles promote lactation and relieve irritability; internal gold treats food stagnation, stops enuresis, and astringes essence.

★ Amomum villosum warms the stomach, invigorates the spleen to stop diarrhea and secure the fetus; white cardamom stops vomiting, moves qi to transform dampness and harmonize the middle jiao.

★ Atractylodes macrocephala tonifies the spleen and stomach deficiency and promotes diuresis while consolidating the exterior; Atractylodes lancea treats dampness stagnation in the middle burner, improves vision, and dispels wind.

★Chinese yam strengthens the spleen and stomach, while also benefiting the lungs and consolidating the kidneys; hyacinth bean dispels summer-dampness, harmonizes the middle jiao, and transforms turbid substances.

★ Cloves warm the middle jiao and tonify deficiency of kidney yang; persimmon calyx astringes vomiting and remedies disharmony of stomach qi.

★ Flos Inulae descends rebellious qi, resolves phlegm, and promotes the movement of water; Hematite calms the liver and cools the blood to stop bleeding.

★ Aconite dispels cold and dampness, serving as a crucial herb for rescuing yang and reversing reverse conditions; Cinnamon tonifies the Mingmen, treating chronic, profound cold and stubborn cold-related ailments.

★ Wu yu dispels cold in the stomach and treats headache of the Jueyin channel; Wu yao moves stagnant qi and warms the deficient cold of the lower jiao.

★ Yanhu promotes blood circulation and regulates qi, alleviating both internal and external pain; Chuanlianhua quells pain and eliminates parasites, thereby relieving the stagnation of liver wood.

★ Galangal and long pepper warm the stomach and dispel cold; tangerine seeds and fennel regulate qi and treat hernia.

★Muxiang relieves qi stagnation and also stops diarrhea; Xiangfu regulates menstrual flow by soothing the liver.

★ Citrus aurantium immatures qi and resolves accumulation, eliminates phlegm and disperses fullness; Magnolia officinalis regulates qi, dries dampness, descends rebellious qi, and relieves asthma.

★ Areca nut dispels parasitic accumulation and promotes the movement of stagnation while facilitating diuresis—its functions differ; Cornus fruit and raspberry both tonify the liver and kidneys, astringe and consolidate, serving as substitutes when necessity dictates.

★Fructus Rosae Laevigata astringes the spleen and kidneys, consolidates the intestines to arrest diarrhea; Periostracum of Conchae Murex tonifies kidney yang, restrains urination, and secures the essence gate.

★Lotus seeds and Euryale seeds both tonify the spleen and astringe essence; dragon bone and oyster shell, in turn, take the lead in calming the spirit and consolidating the orifices.

★ Ginseng and Codonopsis both tonify qi and harmonize the middle jiao, though their effects vary in strength; Ligustrum and Eclipta, on the other hand, nourish the liver and benefit the kidneys, each with its own specific therapeutic focus.

★ Astragalus tonifies the Middle Jiao and Earth, strengthens Wei Yang to consolidate the exterior and support sores; deer antler replenishes essence and blood, boosts qi to reinforce the weak and fortify the Lower Jiao.

★ Polygonatum nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, while tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi. Polygonum multiflorum nourishes the blood, generates essence, detoxifies, and promotes bowel movements.

★ Donkey-hide gelatin nourishes the blood and stops bleeding, treating consumptive cough with hemoptysis; turtle plastron tonifies yang and anchors it, alleviating kidney deficiency and bone weakness.

★Raw Rehmannia clears blood heat and quenches thirst; cooked Rehmannia nourishes the blood and enriches yin, replenishing essence.

★ White peony root astringes yin and nourishes the blood, restrains liver yang and relieves urgency; red peony root clears heat and cools the blood, disperses blood stasis, and drains excess liver fire.

★Dang Gui nourishes the blood and promotes blood circulation, regulates menstruation, and moistens the intestines; Chuan Xiong activates blood circulation, moves qi, relieves pain, and dispels wind.

★ Lingzhi and Puhuang stop bleeding and resolve blood stasis; Taoren and Honghua promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation.

★ Motherwort promotes menstruation and diuresis; mugwort leaves stop bleeding and warm the uterus.

★ Gualou transforms phlegm-heat and broadens the chest while dispersing masses; Xiebai directs stagnant blood and unblocks the yang to relieve pain.

★Pangolin scales promote lactation and unblock the meridians, while draining pus and dispersing masses; reed root and imperata root clear heat, cool the blood, nourish the stomach, and generate body fluids.

★ Platycladus orientalis rhizome cools the blood and stops bleeding; Bletilla striata and Panax notoginseng promote tissue regeneration and arrest hemorrhage.

★Sanguisorba officinalis cools the blood and stops dysentery; it is used to treat scalds, burns, and traumatic injuries.

★ Sophora pods clear the liver and moisten the intestines, treating hemorrhoids, fistulas, and intestinal wind.

★ Frankincense and myrrh both promote blood circulation, relieve pain, reduce swelling, and foster tissue regeneration; seaweed and kelp together exert the effects of softening hard masses, dispersing nodules, eliminating phlegm, and treating goiter.

★ To drain water and eliminate thirst, use Euphorbia and Glaucium; to break up blood stasis, promote qi circulation, and resolve accumulations, employ Curcuma and Sparganium.

★ Poria strengthens the spleen and calms the heart, and when combined with Polyporus, it further promotes diuresis; Alisma is particularly effective in treating the lower burner, and when paired with Akebia, it is especially good at relieving dysuria.

★Plantago seeds eliminate phlegm, improve vision, and promote diuresis; Coix seeds strengthen the spleen, drain dampness, and facilitate pus drainage.

★Polygonum aviculare and Dianthus superbus drain damp-heat from the lower burner; Herba Lysimachiae and Glauber’s salt relieve pain associated with lithiasis.

★Wumei astringes the lungs and tightens the intestines, generates body fluids and calms intestinal parasites; Wuwei tonifies qi, pacifies the heart, stops cough, and consolidates essence.

★ Ephedra root and floating wheat treat spontaneous and night sweats; toon bark and gallnuts are primarily used to address diarrhea, incontinence, and uterine prolapse.

★ For calming the liver and extinguishing wind, and for unblocking the meridians and eliminating bi syndrome, Tianma should be used; for clearing heat, subduing yang, lowering and arresting convulsions, Gou Teng is indispensable.

★Earthworms treat high fever with convulsions, relieve asthma, and promote circulation;僵蚕 dispel wind-pathogen from the head to alleviate headache, stabilize epilepsy, and arrest spasms.

★ Whole scorpion and centipede dispel wind and unblock the meridians, resolving sores, ulcers, and toxic swelling; Polygala and Ziziphus seed calm the heart and tranquilize the spirit, alleviating虚烦 (empty vexation) and excessive dreaming.

★ Cinnabar calms the heart and stabilizes the mind, while also treating throat disorders; amber promotes blood circulation and soothes the spirit, and can help unblock the urinary tract.

★ Turmeric promotes the flow of qi and relieves depression; it cools the blood and treats jaundice. Acorus calamus transforms dampness, stimulates the appetite, clears the mind, and also cures deafness.

★ Borneol treats stroke-related phlegm-induced collapse and is used externally for throat and eye disorders; musk treats heart-meridian stasis and is particularly effective in opening the orifices and awakening the spirit.

★ For dispelling wind-dampness and treating cold-induced bi syndrome, use Qianghuo and Duhuo; for tonifying the liver and kidneys and strengthening the sinews and bones, choose Xuduan and Jiseng.

★Eucommia strengthens the tendons and bones while securing the fetus; it nourishes the kidneys and cultivates the liver. Achyranthes roots fortify the lower back and legs and promote urination, guiding the blood downward.

★ Papaya relaxes muscles and unblocks meridians, harmonizes the stomach and transforms dampness; Stephania root dispels wind-dampness, promotes diuresis, and reduces swelling.

★ Goji berries and Cuscuta seeds tonify the liver and kidneys to improve vision; Weilingxian and Acanthopanax bark promote joint function and relax the tendons.

★Cuscuta strengthens the muscles and fortifies the bones; Epimedium warms the spleen and nourishes the kidneys.

★ Qin Jiao dispels wind-dampness and clears deficient heat; Luoshi unblocks the meridians and alleviates sore throat.

★ Epimedium tonifies kidney yang and alleviates deficiency-related wheezing in the lungs and abdomen; Curculigo orchioides nourishes the Mingmen and relieves cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen.

★ Use Morinda root to treat bone softness and replenish essence; use Cistanche to restore erectile function and moisten the intestines.

★The commonly used 200 medicinal ingredients possess remarkable qualities; yet the rhymed treatise on their properties fails to fully convey their intended meaning.