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Commonly known as Lengfan Tuan. There are two types, red and white; the white variety is of better quality and can be boiled for consumption or eaten raw.

It has a sweet and bland flavor and is neutral in nature. It is the principal herb for the Yangming channel, capable of separating the clear from the turbid, dispelling wind and dampness, treating stiffness and spasms of the sinews and bones, yaws (yangmei chuang) toxicity, scrofula (luoli), and sores and swelling. It is an essential herb for removing dampness and resolving toxicity. It is contraindicated in cases of stomach deficiency and kidney cold.

Although Tuberculosis Rhizoma (Tufuling) and Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma (Bixie) differ in shape, their therapeutic indications are not very different. Li suspected them to be varieties of the same species, which may well be true. In summary, both can remove dampness and eliminate water retention, separate the clear from the turbid, and consolidate the primordial Qi of the lower Jiao. Therefore, they can benefit the Yang pathway and treat various Bi syndromes (painful obstruction) as well as malignant sores that do not heal.

Endowed with the harmonious Qi of Earth and the Yin Qi of Water, it has a sweet flavor and cold nature, and is non-toxic. Sweetness tonifies the Stomach and harmonizes the middle, while coldness clears heat and descends fire; thus, it specifically clears Stomach heat. It is indispensable for conditions such as dysphagia (ye), hiccups (yue), vomiting, vexation and thirst, and cholera-like disorders belonging to excess-heat patterns. For preceding symptoms belonging to deficiency-cold patterns, it must absolutely not be used mistakenly.

Reed Rhizome (Lugen), obtained from digging up sweet-flavored soil, is effective; those exposed above the surface are harmful. It resolves alcohol toxicity, reduces fever and relieves vexation, stops vomiting and hiccups, opens the appetite and promotes food intake, clears Stomach heat, and stops thirst. It immediately resolves poisoning from eating fish and shrimp, and can cure fever during pregnancy. The white flower, named Pengrong, treats sudden and critical cases of cholera; decocting and drinking it brings relief.

Indications (Integration of Smallpox and Rashes): Most suitable for the initial stage of rashes, where there is Stomach heat, bad breath, and dense rashes around the mouth. Contraindicated in cases of Spleen and Stomach deficiency.

The odor and flavor are sweet and cold, non-toxic. Due to its sweet and bland flavor, cold nature, and light and penetrating texture, it can unblock and promote urination through the Small Intestine, allowing latent heat in the Heart channel to exit via urine. It is the supreme herb for treating latent heat in the lower Jiao and water metabolism disorders. However, due to its draining and promoting action, it is contraindicated in collapse syndromes and cases of urinary incontinence.

Cyperus Papyrus Stem (Dengxin), fresh peeled ones are best. It descends Heart fire, clears Lung heat, unblocks the Yin orifices, promotes urination, eliminates strangury and dribbling, reduces edema caused by water-dampness, and uses its light and clear properties to remove dampness and heat. Thus, it treats rash syndromes and floating heat in the upper Jiao. Decocting and taking the root yields superior efficacy; boiling with old mats yields even better results.

Papyrus Flower (Denghua): Stops night crying in infants, treats adult throat bi (sore throat/throat obstruction), applied to metal wounds to stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration.

Indications (Integration of Smallpox and Rashes): The root and stem primarily treat five types of strangury (wulin), clear the Heart and resolve heat. When charred but retaining its original nature (shao cun xing), it stops night crying in infants.