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Mugwort (Ai Ye) is born from the Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth; therefore, its taste is pungent and slightly warm, its aroma is fragrant and intense, making it a purely Yang herb. It is non-toxic. It enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Raw mugwort is cold in nature with pungent dispersing properties, while cooked mugwort is greatly hot. When roasted by fire, its Qi moves inward, penetrating tendons and bones; when boiled for consumption, its Qi ascends. Thus, it stops metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (abnormal uterine bleeding) and calms the fetus. It is also an essential herb in gynecology for regulating menstruation, treating leukorrhea, warming the middle jiao, removing dampness, and warding off evil pathogens.

Mugwort dispels cold-dampness, warms the middle jiao, alleviates abdominal pain, protects pregnancy, kills parasites, and can be formed into moxa cones to treat various diseases via moxibustion. Applying heat to the navel and abdomen treats cold pain. It wards off epidemic qi. Combined with Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu) and vinegar paste to form pills, named Aifu Wan (Mugwort and Cyperi Pill), it resolves stagnation, regulates menstruation, warms the uterus, and facilitates early conception. Combined with dried Ginger (Ganjiang) powder and honey to form pills, named Jiang'ai Wan (Ginger and Mugwort Pill), it drives out cold and evil qi, expels ghostly pathogenic qi, and directs Qi downward when burned. When decocted for internal use, its Qi ascends; thus, it is highly unsuitable for patients with Yin deficiency and dry blood.

Verbenae Herba (Mabiancao) tastes bitter, is cold in nature, and is non-toxic. It is an herb that cools blood, dispels damp-heat, and kills parasites. For damp-heat-induced swelling of the external genitalia and foul sores in the lower body, decoction should be used for fumigation followed by washing; relief is felt immediately upon contact, and abscesses subside rapidly, demonstrating miraculous efficacy. However, it should not be taken by those with weak Spleen and Stomach.
Verbenae Herba has seedlings and leaves resembling Chrysanthemum. Its spikes resemble whips, and its flowers are purple. For condyloma acuminatum or similar ulcers in the lower body, fumigation and washing with decoction are effective. For traumatic injuries with accumulated blood causing pain, applying powdered herb externally is excellent. It promotes menstruation in women and resolves blood-stasis masses (Jia-Jia). Freshly crushed and decocted with strong wine yields good results. It treats sudden, unbearable pain in the Small Intestine, prevents persistent fever in chronic malaria, and provides immediate relief for intestinal colic/spasm. It is highly effective for peripatetic pharyngitis (severe throat swelling and obstruction), kills various parasitic pathogens, and dissipates swellings and痞块 (masses).

Inula Flos (Xuanfuhua), also known as Jinfei Cao, is harvested in May and sun-dried. It is born from the Qi of Winter; therefore, its taste is salty and sweet, and its nature is warm. Another view holds that it is bitter and pungent, cold and draining, with slight toxicity. Salty flavor moistens and softens hardness; pungent and warm properties promote circulation and break stagnation.
Inula Flos dispels dampness, treats cephalalgia due to wind (Head Wind), and brightens the eyes. It addresses latent fluid retention in the Heart and Spleen, fullness under the ribs, phlegm accumulation in the chest, expectoration resembling glue or lacquer, wind-damp bi-syndrome, dead skin tissue, eliminates phlegm-fluids, removes retained water, and promotes urination through the Large Intestine and Bladder. However, its Qi is dispersing, and its nature is cold and draining; it is contraindicated for debilitated patients and those with Empty-Cold of the Large Intestine.