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Arisaema cum Bile (Dannanxing) possesses the nature of Fire and Metal, hence its taste is bitter and acrid. The interaction between Fire and Metal results in a potent and toxic nature. It enters the Taiyin Meridian (Hand-Taiyin Lung and Foot-Taiyin Spleen). It is primarily used for conditions where Wind-Cold stagnates in the Lungs, leading to excessive accumulation of Wind-Phlegm. Furthermore, Bitterness dries dampness effectively, Acridity disperses pathogenic factors, and Warmth opens blockages; thus, it treats numbness, directs rebellious Qi downward, breaks down hard accumulations, resolves carbuncles, benefits the diaphragm, dissipates blood stasis, and induces abortion. When processed with ox bile, its drying property is reduced; when fire-pasted, its toxicity is mitigated; alternatively, it can be soaked in alum solution or soapberry juice for three days and nights, changing the water during soaking. After sun-drying, it is ready for use.

Raw Arisaema Rhizome (Nanxing) disperses traumatic injuries, coagulates blood stasis, treats aphasia due to stroke with thick phlegm, muscle spasms, trismus, benefits the chest and diaphragm, directs Qi downward, induces abortion, breaks hard accumulations, eliminates carbuncles and reduces swelling, treats facial paralysis, resolves phlegm confusing the heart orifices, and is generally a key herb for overcoming dampness, eliminating saliva, treating wind, and driving out blood stasis. When processed with gallbladder (bile), its efficacy and harsh/drying nature are both moderated.

Indications (Reference combined with Smallpox/Rash diseases): Eliminates wind-phlegm, benefits the chest and diaphragm, breaks hard accumulations, reduces swelling. The bile-processed variety is chosen because its bitter-cold nature enters the Liver Meridian to calm fright.

Commentary: Nanxing has a warm temperature and draining action, a tight nature, and is toxic, enabling it to attack hardness and dispel dampness. Banxia is acrid yet retains its central position, whereas Nanxing is acrid but does not retain; its nature is more fierce than Banxia. Nanxing specifically targets wind-phlegm, while Banxia specifically targets damp-phlegm; although their functions are similar, their applications differ. It is contraindicated in cases of Yin deficiency with dry phlegm.

Moutan Cortex (Danpi) inherits the qi of late spring and combines the nature of Water, representing slight Yang within Yin. Its taste is bitter and slightly acrid, its temperature is cold and non-toxic, and its red color symbolizes Fire. Leaves represent Yang and growth, flowers represent Yin and fruition, and "Dan" (red/cinnabar) symbolizes Li Fire. Thus, it can drain fire from the Yin womb (uterus/yin compartments). It is a primary herb entering the Heart Meridian and also enters the Yin aspects of the Liver and Kidney. Acridity promotes blood circulation, and bitterness drains heat; therefore, it clears pathogenic heat from the Yin-blood level, resolves hard blood stasis, and cleanses Heat in the Yangming Meridian. For excess heat patterns, raw usage is appropriate; if stomach Qi is slightly deficient, wine-fried usage is recommended.

Powdered Moutan Cortex is essential for bone-steaming fever without sweat, stopping hematemesis and epistaxis, breaking hard blood stasis lodged in the intestines and stomach, dispersing cold and hot blood qi, attacking postpartum blood stasis, treating insufficiency of spirit and mind, regulating irregular menstruation, treating wind epilepsy, calming fright and stopping convulsions, treating carbuncles by discharging pus and relieving pain. It not only removes latent heat from the blood but also possesses the miraculous power of cooling ministerial fire. Using Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) to treat ministerial fire is inferior to the efficacy of Moutan Cortex. However, it should not be taken by those with deficient-cold stomach Qi or prolonged menstrual bleeding after delay.

Indications (Reference combined with Smallpox/Rash diseases): Treats smallpox/rashes by cooling blood, clearing heat, and resolving macules; intestinal and gastric accumulated blood; hematemesis and epistaxis. It drains fire in the Yin, with effects greater in clearing heat and even longer-lasting in promoting blood circulation. Therefore, it is contraindicated in women with continuous uterine bleeding and pregnant women with spontaneous bleeding.

Commentary: Clearing East Wood Thunder-Fire is Danpi's fundamental function, causing North Water Dragon-Fire to subside, which represents the treatment principle of "Yi-Gui Tong Yuan" (Liver-Kidney sharing the same source). Ancients used this herb alone to treat ministerial fire, hence its inclusion in Liuwei Dihuang Wan. Later practitioners exclusively used Huangbai, unaware that Danpi's red color symbolizes Li Fire, capable of draining fire in the Yin, allowing fire to retreat and Yin to generate, thus entering the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian to assist tonification. Huangbai, on the other hand, is merely bitter-cold and drying; it damages the Stomach and, over time, destroys Yang Qi, leaving only bitter-drying properties without any Yin-tonifying merit. This difference is as vast as heaven and earth. It should only be used temporarily when ministerial fire is excessively strong and damp-heat is severe, merely to slightly reduce its momentum.