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Niu Xi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) is born from the Yang Qi of the earth, and its Qi combines the functions of both Water and Fire. Therefore, its taste is bitter, sour, and neutral in nature, with no toxicity. Its flavor is strong while its aroma is light; it moves yet can tonify, has a natural tendency to descend, and specifically enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It should be large, plump, and moist, with the root crown removed. If used in formulas designed to guide Fire downward, it should be used raw. If used in tonifying formulas, it should be mixed with wine, steamed, and dried before use.

Niu Xi treats general deficiency and emaciation of the body, assists the twelve meridians, strengthens sinews and bones, and benefits the waist and knees. It treats leg atrophy, tendon contraction, impotence, and urinary incontinence; disperses evil blood to treat various pains in the heart and abdomen; promotes difficult labor and treats postpartum lochia-related strangury, carbuncles, malignant sores, metal wounds, fractures, cold-dampness-induced atrophy and bi-syndrome of hands and feet, and great tendon contraction. It resolves difficulty in urination due to impaired Bladder Qi transformation and short urine output; tonifies the middle, restores continuity, nourishes Yin, strengthens Yang, fills the marrow, and eliminates soreness and pain in the waist and knees. Decocted alone, it treats chronic malaria that does not resolve, uterine bleeding and abdominal masses (Xue Jia), delayed menstruation; postpartum syncope due to blood loss, blood deficiency, and severe postpartum abdominal pain (Er Zhen Tong). When mixed with Moschus (She Xiang) and inserted into the vagina, it induces immediate abortion; if mistakenly used by patients with nocturnal emission, their condition will worsen; it guides other herbs downward like a galloping horse. It is essential for diseases located in the lower body, such as the waist and legs. Moving yet tonifying, it strengthens Yin and benefits Essence. It is a key herb for the Liver and Kidney, capable of guiding Fire downward, descending turbidity, and clarifying purity. Therefore, it is suitable for headaches caused by failure of turbid Yin to descend, throat obstruction, toothache, floating deficient Fire, and restless coughing. Applied crushed externally, it can extract splinters from wood or bamboo. However, its nature descends but does not ascend. For conditions involving sinking of Yuan Qi, metrorrhagia, and seminal emission/slippery discharge, it is contraindicated according to proper methods.

Main Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Treatments): Primarily treats limb contracture and difficulty in flexion and extension; invigorates blood and generates new blood; guides medicinal properties downward. Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex) primarily acts on the Qi aspect of the lower body, whereas Niu Xi primarily acts on the Blood aspect of the lower body. Thus, they are often used together reciprocally.

Commentary: Niu Xi’s nature specifically directs downward and lubricates the orifices. Therefore, it is contraindicated for nocturnal emission, slippery essence, and spleen deficiency with Qi sinking.

Che Qian Zi (Plantaginis Semen) is born from the harmonious Qi of Earth combined with the Winter Qi of Heaven. Therefore, its taste is sweet, salty, and cold, with no toxicity. It is a key herb for the Liver, Kidney, and Bladder meridians.

Che Qian Zi clears Wind-Heat from the Lung and Liver, leaches out Damp-Heat from the Bladder, and unblocks the urinary tract to treat dribbling and painful strangury without depleting Jing (Essence), which is remarkable. It expels Wind-Heat causing red, swollen, and painful eyes, and effectively removes corneal opacities. It guides out dampness, eliminates heat and irritability, clears summerheat, stops diarrhea and dysentery, and alleviates damp-bi syndrome. It facilitates childbirth, benefits Essence, strengthens Yin, and enables procreation. The reason it can promote diuresis while benefiting Essence and brightening the eyes is that it opens the water orifices of the Bladder without affecting the essence orifices of the Mingmen (Gate of Life). Thus, turbid Yin is expelled while True Yin becomes more secure; heat is cleared and vision is restored. However, long-term use may inevitably cause leakage/diarrhea, so it is included in pills from the *Jin Gui Yao Lue*. Furthermore, *Ming Yi Za Lu* states: "After taking essence-consolidating medicines for a long time, one must take these draining/promoting substances to conceive." The implication is clear. It should not be used for those with sinking Yang Qi or depletion of Kidney Qi. The roots and leaves have a sweet and cold taste, primarily treating metal wounds by cooling blood and eliminating heat, and treating epistaxis, hematuria, and bloody dysentery due to heat. To treat strangury and brighten the eyes, crush and drink the juice; it also eliminates small parasites.

Main Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Treatments): Excellently treats heat-strangury. It is most suitable for cases of smallpox/rash accompanied by inability to urinate. Its function specializes in promoting water pathways without dissipating clear Qi, and it can also brighten the eyes, nourish the Lung, and benefit Essence.