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Born from the Yin-cold Qi, its taste is bitter and acrid, nature is cold, and it is non-toxic.

Qumai (Dianthus superbus), as a sovereign herb, promotes urination; as an assistant or guide herb, it treats edema and carbuncles, removes white nebula of the eye, expels the fetus, and discharges obstructed blood by piercing stasis. For patients with Kidney Qi deficiency without significant heat, presenting with edema or Gu-zhang (ascites resembling drum), or Spleen deficiency patients during pregnancy or postpartum, and all deficient individuals even if presenting with dysuria, according to the principles, they are strictly contraindicated.

Main indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Treats dysuria during smallpox/rash. Its efficacy is similar to Mutong, but since it inherits Yin-cold Qi, it unblocks the Heart Meridian to benefit the Small Intestine. If the Heart Meridian is clear but the Small Intestine is deficient, taking it may cause the heat not to subside while other diseases arise in the Small Intestine.

Born from the harmonious Qi of Earth, combined with the generative Qi of Spring Yang, its taste is sweet, nature is cold, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Hand Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian, Foot Taiyin (Spleen) Meridian, and Foot Yangming (Stomach) Meridian. Since it can tonify the Spleen, although cold, it does not harm the Stomach, and it can treat various deficiencies and heat caused by overwork and injury.

Maogen (Rhizoma Imperatae), treats strangury, promotes urination, unblocks obstruction, dispels stasis, clears guest-heat in the stomach and intestines, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, tonifies the middle and boosts Qi due to overwork injury, stops xiaoke (wasting-thirst syndrome), clears Lung heat and calms wheezing, eliminates jaundice and alcohol toxicity. Maozhen (the tender shoot of Maogen) suppurates carbuncles; eating one shoot causes one pore to open, two shoots cause two pores to open, which is quite remarkable. Maohua (flowers of Maogen) stops bleeding.

Main indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Maogen should be newly dug, plump, white, and clean, crushed for juice and added to decoctions; its efficacy is as described above.

Born from the Qi of Summer and Autumn, its taste is acrid, nature is slightly warm, and it is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Yangming (Stomach) Meridian, Foot Taiyin (Spleen) Meridian, and Hand Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian. Acrid disperses, warm unblocks, so it can resolve summerheat constrained by cold, similar to internal injury from raw/cold food and external contraction of summerheat pathogen. When external pathogens and internal injuries combine causing Huoluan (cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea), using this herb to disperse with acrid-warm properties, unblock Qi, harmonize the middle, and release the exterior leads to recovery. Cases of exhaustion damaging Yuan Qi, and those suffering from summerheat with severe cold, extreme thirst, shortness of breath, and scanty Qi are all contraindicated. This is because the herb is acrid-warm and dispersing, adhering to the warning against "making deficiency more deficient."

Xiangru (Herba Elsholtziae), mainly treats Zhongwan colic pain caused by Huoluan, difficult and scanty urination due to summerheat injury, dissipates edema, possessing the function of penetrating both upper and lower. For the Lung, it promotes clearing and transforming, allowing heat to descend naturally. It removes bad breath, with the subtle effect of dispelling turbidity and restoring clarity. For the Spleen, it descends stagnant fire and prevents Qi from rising upward. It resolves heat, relieves irritability, harmonizes the middle, and warms the Stomach. However, due to its acrid-warm dispersing nature, it should not be overdosed for patients with deficient Yuan Qi. Patients with interior heat are especially contraindicated. Furthermore, due to its acrid taste and warm nature, it should be taken cool, not hot.

Main indications (referencing *Douzhen He Can*): Used temporarily in summer for rashes to clear summerheat; aged herbs are preferred.

Note: Xiangru, with acrid taste and warm nature, is a formula for dispersing Yin-cold in summer. If excessive cooling and drinking of cold substances suppresses Yang Qi with Yin pathogens, leading to headache, fever, restlessness, dry mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, and Huoluan, it is appropriate to use it to vent Yang Qi, scatter water, and harmonize the Spleen for recovery. If used after overwork and heat exposure, it further depletes the exterior, aggravates heat, and consumes True Yin, causing significant harm.