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Daqing (Isatidis Folium) inherits the qi of extreme yin, thus its taste is bitter, its nature is greatly cold, and it is non-toxic. It specializes in treating severe heat-toxin causing headache and mouth ulcers.
In Zhang Zhongjing's writings, Daqing is often renowned for treating macules caused by shanghan (cold damage) heat-toxin; drinking Daqing Siwu Tang (Cinnamon Twig, Peony, Angelica, and Rehmannia Decoction with Isatidis) is effective. For shanghan causing stiffness of the body and spinal pain, taking Daqing Gegen Tang (Isatidis and Pueraria Decoction) is spiritually efficacious. Furthermore, decocting single-herb Daqing Tang treats shanghan yellow sweat and jaundice, as well as epidemic febrile diseases, making it widely used. It also resolves swelling and carbuncles and relieves vexation and thirst. Those with weak spleen and deficiency-cold constitution should not take it. Xiaoqing is a different variety; locals use it to treat carbuncles and sores by crushing fresh leaves and applying them topically.

Wagua (Trichosanthes Cucumerina Root) inherits the clear,肃 (solemn/clearing), yin-cold qi from the earth, thus its taste is bitter, its nature is cold, and it is non-toxic, capable of removing damp-heat and heat-toxin.
Wagua, also known as Tugua, uses both root and seeds. It treats urinary incontinence, moistens the lungs and heart, and resolves insect toxins. It resolves jaundice and yellow disease; for this purpose, raw seeds are suitable. It treats dysentery with mixed red and white discharge, expels intestinal wind, eliminates lung abscess/atrophy, and stops hemorrhage; for these indications, fried seeds are required. Crushing the root to extract juice removes pediatric malnutrition and abdominal masses, as well as mania caused by epidemic febrile diseases and sudden phlegm-malaria; administration is effective, but small doses are miraculous while excessive doses cause vomiting and diarrhea. Decocting the root and drinking the soup breaks up firm blood stasis masses in women, as well as pain from traumatic blood stasis and lack of lactation; all should be drunk, but excessive amounts are inadvisable. It also expels latent water-dampness in joints, reduces sores on the head and neck, removes painful numbness from damp-bi syndrome, dissipates carbuncle and furuncle swelling, promotes menstruation and induces abortion, tonifies qi, and cures deafness.

Bimazi (Ricini Semen) derives the complete qi of the earth, thus its taste is sweet and acrid, its nature is neutral, and it has slight toxicity. Its power lies in absorption, drawing pathogenic qi outward and extracting toxins and tangible stagnant matter from pus. It also unblocks orifices; therefore, applying its oil externally is effective for facial paralysis, rectal prolapse, shizhu (a chronic wasting disease), pruritus, and foul odors. However, since it can both absorb and open orifices, and its texture is oily and toxic, those with weak spleen and stomach or insecure large intestine should never lightly ingest it. Anyone consuming Bimazi must avoid eating beans for life; violating this will inevitably lead to fatal abdominal distension. Bimazi oil can subdue the properties of Cinnabar (Dan Sha) and Calomel (Qing Fen). The method to extract Bimazi oil is: take five sheng of Ricini Semen, crush it thoroughly, boil it in ten dou of water. The foam floating on the surface of the soup is the oil; stop when the foam is exhausted. Remove water and foam, then simmer until a drop does not scatter when tested with water.
Topical application of Bimazi absorbs tangible stagnation from unnamed carbuncles, even causing necrotic bone to stand upright and drawing out all pus and blood; applied to facial paralysis, it restores alignment, but must be removed immediately upon effect, as prolonged use causes damage. Applied to the sole of the foot, it induces labor and expulsion of the placenta; applied to the vertex, it retracts prolapsed intestines or anus during childbirth, unblocking orifices. Do not ingest lightly.
Shelled Ricini Semen, in equal parts with Zi Bei Tian Kui (Omphalodes Nitida), boiled in a clay pot with clear water for half a day, chewed and swallowed by the patient on an empty stomach, starting from fifteen seeds and increasing to twenty, will gradually resolve scrofula. One patient with hemiplegia (pian feng), unable to move hands and feet, was treated with this oil mixed with sheep fat, musk, and Manis Pentadactyla scales, decocted into a massage paste. Massaged several times daily, recovery began after over a month; combined with internal herbs that dispel wind, nourish blood, and resolve phlegm, full recovery occurred in three months. Another patient with localized swelling and pain in the arm was cured overnight using crushed Bimazi paste applied topically. A postpartum woman with uterine prolapse had her uterus restored overnight by applying crushed Ricini Semen to the Dantian point. This herb achieves miraculous results externally, but internal use must not be rash. Another formula for facial paralysis involves crushing Ricini Semen into a paste; apply to the right side if the face deviates left, and to the left if it deviates right. Remove once corrected, otherwise it causes harm. *Furen Liangfang* also treats this condition using seventy-seven grains of Ricini Semen ground into a cake; place on the left palm if deviation is to the right, and on the right palm if deviation is to the left. Sit over a copper basin of hot water with the medicine on it, replacing when cool; after five or six times, the face corrects itself. For unbearable headache due to wind-qì, mix Frankincense (Ruxiang), Ricini Semen, and salt in equal parts, form into a cake, and apply to the Taiyang acupoint on the affected side; relief comes with sweating and release of qi. Another formula uses half liang of Ricini Semen and fifteen dates, mashed onto paper, rolled into a tube, and inserted into the nose; clearing watery nasal discharge stops the headache. Another formula for nasal congestion uses thirty Ricini Semen kernels and one peeled date, mashed, wrapped in cotton, and stuffed into the nostril, changed daily; after thirty days, smell is restored. Another formula for bleeding from the tongue involves burning Ricini Semen oil-soaked paper and inhaling the smoke; bleeding stops spontaneously. Another formula for tongue swelling obstructing the mouth uses forty shelled Ricini Semen kernels, ground into oil, spread on paper, burned, and the smoke inhaled; repeat until healed. A villager cured someone whose tongue swelled out of their mouth using this method. For acute throat obstruction with locked jaw, grind Ricini Semen, roll in paper, burn, and inhale the smoke to open the airway. Using only the oil for burning is even better, named "Holy Smoke Tube." Another formula to induce labor and expel the placenta uses seven shelled Ricini Semen kernels ground into paste applied to the soles; if the fetus and placenta have descended, wash off immediately, otherwise uterine prolapse may occur. In such a case, apply this paste to the vertex, and the uterus will retract. Another formula for difficult labor involves holding seven kernels in each hand for a moment, leading to immediate delivery. Another formula for uterine prolapse mixes Ricini Semen and Alum in equal parts, grinds to powder, spreads on paper, inserts to support, and applies paste of fourteen Ricini Semen kernels to the vertex to retract it. The same vertex application treats prolapsed intestines during birth. Another formula for all types of painful carbuncles involves applying crushed Ricini Semen to stop pain.