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[Liu Ji Nu (Artemisia japonica)]
Taste: Bitter, Pungent; Nature: Slightly Warm. The bitter taste can direct qi downward and descend turbidity, while the pungent-warm nature promotes circulation of qi and blood; therefore, it primarily treats abdominal distension caused by blood stasis. However, its property of moving freely acts mainly within the Blood level; thus, excessive consumption may lead to dysentery or diarrhea. In ancient times, it was considered an essential herb for treating metal weapon injuries (Jin Chuang). It is also used to treat residual postpartum conditions, lower bleeding, and relieve pain, precisely because of its rapid ability to move blood. Patients with both Qi and Blood deficiency, or those with weak Spleen and Stomach causing diarrhea, should avoid taking it. For burns or scalds, first sprinkle salt powder on the wound to protect the flesh from rotting, then apply fine powder of Liu Ji Nu, or sweep it on using a mixture of glutinous rice paste and chicken feathers. Subsequently applying this medicine relieves pain and leaves no scar, which is highly effective.

The herb Liu Ji Nu Grass descends Qi and stops acute pain in the heart and abdomen, treats lower bleeding and residual postpartum disorders, reduces swelling and carbuncles, and treats scalds and heat-induced sores. Grinding the seeds and swallowing them with hot water immediately stops severe diarrhea.

[Hu Lu Ba (Trigonella foenum-graecum)]
Taste: Bitter; Nature: Hot; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Enters the Kidney and Bladder meridians.
When combined with Tao Ren (Persicae Semen) and Da Hui Xiang (Foeniculi Fructus), it effectively treats Bladder hernia (Dan Qi). Combined with Liu Huang (Sulfur) and Hei Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), it is excellent for treating Cold-deficiency of the Kidney, driving away distension in the abdomen and hypochondrium, and fading cyan-yellow discoloration on the cheeks. It is contraindicated in cases of flourishing Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) and deficient Yin-Blood.

[San Qi (Notoginseng Root)]
Taste: Sweet, slightly Bitter; Toxicity: Non-toxic. Enters the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians, and the Jueyin Blood level.
San Qi possesses miraculous efficacy in stopping bleeding and dispersing blood stasis, and is a wonderful medicine for carbuncles, ulcers, swelling, and toxins. (If pain persists, grind with vinegar and apply topically to dissipate; if already ulcerated, apply powder.) For injuries from arrows, blades, or sticks, chewing and applying stops pain immediately; for metrorrhagia (Xue Beng) and bloody dysentery, taking it with rice wash (Gan) can cure; for red eyes or toxic eye conditions, grinding into juice and applying helps; for snake or tiger bites, applying powder works well.

[Xu (Polygonum aviculare)]
Primarily treats oozing sores (Jin Yin), rashes with itching, carbuncles, and hemorrhoids; swelling and eye pain caused by Duan Shi (mineral pill) toxicity; treats heat-dysentery and jaundice; regulates sores and kills parasites. It does not tonify the human body but is commonly used.

[Wei Ling Xian (Clematis Root)]
Born by absorbing the generating Qi of Shaoyang, its taste is bitter, nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It specifically enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. Raw Wei Ling Xian is cold, while processed (cooked) Wei Ling Xian is warm. It is a key herb for dispelling wind, removing dampness, and invigorating blood within the Blood level. The Classic states: "Moisture from the earth, when contracted, harms the skin, flesh, sinews, and vessels." The bitter taste removes dampness, and the cold nature eliminates heat; thus, it dispels damp-heat and clears wind pathogens, treating symptoms such as numbness of the four limbs, pain between bones, weakness of the waist and knees, and stroke. Its subtlety lies in moving without leaking Qi; its fragrance opens the Spleen, expelling evil so the body feels at ease, lightening the body and preserving youth. The stems, nodes, and leaves are opposite. Harvest on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, the 6th day of the 6th lunar month, and the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. Wash off dirt with warm water, pick the leaves and flowers/fruits from the branch tips, moisten with honeyed wine, undergo nine steaming and nine sun-drying cycles. Do not dry too thoroughly; just ensure sufficient cycles. Then boil, crush into powder, and make pills with refined honey the size of wu zi (koelreuteria seeds). For stroke with deviation of the mouth and eyes, take 20-30 pills on an empty stomach with warm wine or rice drink. If the condition seems to worsen after taking the medicine, do not worry; this is the force of the medicine attacking the pathogen. Taking up to 4,000 pills will surely result in recovery; taking up to 5,000 pills doubles energy and greatly benefits Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Cheng Ne of the Tang Dynasty and Zhang Bing of the Song Dynasty presented it to the court, extolling its effects.

Wei Ling Xian treats Wind-Damp in the Liver and Kidney, numbness of the four limbs, cold pain in sinews and bones, rheumatic sores and ulcers; sudden onset of wind-pathogens causing stroke and facial deviation; chronic damp-bi syndrome with soreness and pain in the waist and legs; promotes growth of eyebrows and hair, darkens beard and temples, chases wind and drives out dampness. It is the holy medicine for the Bi Syndrome category. However, due to its bitter taste, cold nature, and foul odor, it must be steamed and dried nine times, adding wine and honey, so that the yin-turbid quality of bitterness and cold is completely removed, revealing its fragrant and pleasant flavor. If steamed and dried less than nine times, the yin-turbid quality remains, preventing it from penetrating bones and driving out wind, thus failing to cure diseases.