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[Polyporus]
It inherits the Yang Qi of Wu-Wu Earth, obtains the Yin Qi of Wind-Wood, and is formed by the residual Qi of maple roots. Therefore, its taste is sweet, bland, and slightly bitter; its nature is neutral, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. With its bland and permeating nature, it serves the need for promoting urination and eliminating dampness. Overconsumption damages the Kidneys and depletes body fluids; those without dampness should avoid using it.

Polyporus (Zhu Ling) enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians, unblocks strangury, promotes urination, eliminates dampness to reduce swelling and fullness, and has a significant water-moving effect. Its indication for malaria is also due to its ability to drain summerheat-dampness. Among various diuretic formulas, none acts as swiftly as this one, but it can also dry out and deplete body fluids. Those without damp syndromes should avoid it; long-term use damages the Kidneys and causes blurred vision.

Main Indications (from *Dou Zhen He Can*): Bland permeation to eliminate dampness; suitable for cases where chickenpox/smallpox lesions are ulcerated and urination is obstructed. However, while draining water can dry the Spleen, if all water is drained, it may also leak True Qi. It is usually used in combination with Alisma (Ze Xie). Since Polyporus is drying and Alisma is moistening: Polyporus treating fire may easily damage Original Qi, whereas Alisma treating water can generate Kidney Qi. One is drying, one is moistening, harmonizing with the Mean, thus causing no harm. Nevertheless, overconsumption ultimately consumes Yin and damages the Kidneys; those without damp syndromes must not use it.

[Lindera]
It is born inheriting the Qi of Earth-2, therefore its taste is slightly pungent and slightly bitter, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and the Shaoyin Meridian. Thus, it treats above conditions caused by Yangming pathogenic factors, and below conditions arising from the Bladder and Kidney.

Lindera (Wu Yao) disperses cold in the Kidney and Stomach, addresses pain caused by various Qi stagnations, regurgitation, food accumulation leading to distension, cold Qi between the Bladder and Kidney, various intestinal parasites in children, blood and Qi stagnation in women, sudden onset of nausea, abdominal colic, gu poison, zhu-wu ghost qi (infectious or psychosomatic disorders), undigested old food, emotional depression, and when cats or dogs are ill, grinding it into water for administration is effective. Those with Qi and Blood deficiency accompanied by internal heat should not take it.

Main Indications (from *Dou Zhen He Can*): Can be used in exterior-releasing methods; can also be added to regulate internal Qi. It only treats excess syndromes and cannot treat deficiency syndromes.

[Areca Seed]
It inherits the Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth, and the Metal flavor of Earth. Therefore, its taste is pungent and bitter, its nature is warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Thus, it can digest retained pathogens and descend有形 (solid) accumulations in the intestines and stomach. The Foot-Yangming Stomach is the Sea of Water and Grain; the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine is the Official of Transmission. These two meridians interconnect and transport to transform fine nutrients. When these two meridians are diseased, phlegm-stasis and parasite accumulations arise. Pungency breaks stagnation, bitterness kills parasites; hence, its therapeutic effect is miraculous. It is strictly contraindicated for various symptoms of Qi deficiency.

Areca Seed (Bing Lang) expels water and grain retention, eliminates phlegm-stasis, stops heart pain, kills three types of parasites, breaks up accumulations, wards off miasma-malaria, descends various Qi mechanisms, treats tenesmus, specifically breaks stagnant Qi to move downward, and vents the highest Qi in the chest. Bitter, pungent, and warm in nature, its property is heaviest in descending. It excels at breaking solid stagnations but easily damages Original Qi and attacks True Yin. Therefore, even for malaria or intestinal dysentery, it should not be lightly used unless it is an initial excess syndrome.

Main Indications (from *Dou Zhen He Can*): Used temporarily among medicines for treating smallpox/chickenpox because it can drive other medicines to the lowest extremities; hence, it is used in the section on Hong Kong Foot (Beriberi/Edema). However, for conditions resembling dysentery but not true dysentery with pus/blood, and for post-smallpox deficiency syndromes, it is contraindicated.

Commentary: Areca Seed directs Qi downward; its nature is hard like iron and stone, so it breaks stagnation and treats tenesmus miraculously. People in Lingnan eat much Areca Seed, likely because miasma often arises from food retention, and Areca Seed can digest food and direct Qi downward. Southern regions are warm, and the pores/skin are not tight. Consuming Areca Seed causes excessive venting of the Zang-Fu organs. If one contracts miasma disease suddenly, it becomes incurable. Is this not the disaster of damaging Qi? For cases of Qi deficiency with sinking, resembling dysentery but not true dysentery, it is especially prohibited.