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Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Sweet and salty in flavor, neutral in nature, non-toxic. It benefits the kidneys and strengthens the stomach. There are no contraindications for various diseases, and it can be consumed regularly to greatly tonify Kidney Qi (Kidney Energy). Boiling cowpeas on an empty stomach with a little salt and eating them is very effective. Cowpea regulates the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), boosts Qi, benefits the kidneys, strengthens the stomach, harmonizes the Five Zang Organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney), regulates Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), generates fluids, and quenches thirst. It treats vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery, astringent and frequent urination, resolves toxicity from *Rhus verniciflua* (poison lacquer tree), and specifically treats edema. Since its shape resembles the kidney, it is considered the "grain of the kidney." Consuming it daily with salt water is beneficial.

Jack Bean (*Canavalia gladiata*): Sweet in flavor, slightly warm, non-toxic. Jack bean warms the Middle Jiao, directs rebellious Qi downward, benefits the kidneys, and supplements Yuan Qi (Original Qi). It harmonizes the spleen and stomach and stops hiccups. For post-illness hiccups so loud they can be heard by neighbors, take jack bean seeds, burn them until they retain their medicinal properties (charcoalization), mix with white boiled water, and take two qian (approx. 6-10g) to stop immediately. This utilizes its ability to direct Qi downward to the origin, thus stopping the hiccups.

Dried Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*): Endowed with the Yang Qi of Heaven and Earth, it is pungent in flavor and warm in nature. Although greatly hot, it is non-toxic. Pungency can disperse pathogens and resolve stagnation; warmth can dispel cold and unblock Qi. In dispersing formulas, use Fresh Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*). In pungent-cooling formulas, use Ginger Peel. In warming-the-Middle formulas, use Processed Ginger (Pao Jiang), which is Dried Ginger washed with water and roasted over fire until loose and yellow. In blood-tonifying and hemostatic formulas, or those guiding Fire downward, use Black Ginger (Hei Jiang), made by cutting Dried Ginger into blocks, stir-frying until red, and extinguishing in a container to form charcoal. In spleen-stomach anti-diarrheal formulas, use Baked Ginger (Wei Jiang), made by peeling old fresh ginger, wrapping it in wet paper, and baking until cooked.

Fresh Ginger (*Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens*): Its nature is penetrating and not astringent. It resolves wind-cold-damp bi-syndrome, phlegm nodules, nasal congestion, headache due to external contraction, qi stagnation in the skin, clears the mind, expels evil qi, treats cholera-like distension and fullness, all cases of sudden evil poisoning, malaria, and phlegm syndromes. It harmonizes Ying and Wei, circulates the fluids of the Spleen, enters the Lungs to open the appetite, and is highly valued for various spleen and stomach diseases. However, it must be strictly avoided in cases of Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, open sweat pores, blood disorders, scattered Heart Qi, and abdominal pain due to excessive heat. Ginger Peel reduces edema and abdominal distension. Baked Ginger treats loose stools and watery diarrhea. Dried Ginger breaks blood stasis and resolves phlegm; it can be taken for abdominal pain and gastric reversal. It warms the middle, directs Qi downward, eliminates masses and distension, opens the stomach, supports the spleen, removes food stagnation, and promotes digestion. Raw use induces sweating; cleverly processed black ginger is very effective for stopping bleeding. Processed Ginger (Pao Jiang) stops symptoms without moving, so its function specializes in warming the middle, dispelling deep-seated cold and chronic cold, Yang collapse, and faint pulse. Charred black ginger stops hematemesis and bloody dysentery.

Main Indications (Integrating Smallpox and Rash Diseases): Processed Ginger warms the spleen and regulates the middle. It is suitable for internal deficiency with vomiting and diarrhea, deep cold in the zang-fu organs, cold deficiency of the spleen and stomach, insufficient Central Qi, cool body temperature, and pale smallpox lesions. It is contraindicated in cases of internal excess and high fever. Baked Ginger treats vomiting and diarrhea associated with smallpox, and grayish-white, non-elevating smallpox lesions. It stops vomiting, harmonizes the middle, assists Yang to release the exterior, and complements the power of Ginseng. Old fresh ginger (from the previous year) is best. It removes cold pathogens causing headache and nasal congestion, treats cough, vomiting, and phlegm, resolves depression, opens the stomach, removes food stagnation, dispels cold, treats distension and cold dysentery, and abdominal pain with muscle twitching. Raw use is for dispersion; heat application is for warming the middle. Remove the peel for clearing heat; keep the peel for cooling effects. For smallpox, it is only suitable in the early stages for temporary use when heavily exposed to wind and cold.

Commentary: Fresh ginger is pungent and warm. Why is it said to clear high fever? The source of high fever is either external wind-pathogen invasion or internal dietary injury. Ginger can both disperse and digest. Li Dongyuan stated: "Ginger is the sacred medicine for vomiters." It is moistening rather than drying. Vomiting is caused by stagnant rebellious Qi; pungency disperses it. One should not eat ginger at night because night governs consolidation/astringency; eating ginger opposes this by promoting dispersion, violating the Way of Heaven. Autumn consumption of ginger is also discouraged for the same reason, unless one is ill, in which case these rules do not apply. Pungency enters the Lungs. When Lung Qi is prosperous, the Qi of the whole body serves us. When the Original Qi of the Middle Jiao is sufficient, it establishes the command of spleen and stomach intake and output. Strong Zheng Qi (Upright Qi) cannot tolerate pathogenic factors. For all sudden acute diseases such as wind-stroke, heat-stroke, Qi obstruction, poisoning, alcohol intoxication, food syncope, phlegm syncope, corpse syncope, cold syncope, cholera, and fainting, ginger produces immediate results. Chewing ginger in the morning while walking prevents exposure to fog, dew, and mountain miasma. This is because it can elevate the upright, bright spirit Qi and repel foul and abnormal pathogens. It is the divine and sacred among medicines.

Commentary: Ginger has a strong pungent flavor. Pungency tends to ascend excessively. Raw ginger drives out cold pathogens and releases the exterior; processed ginger removes stomach cold and secures the middle. Long-term and heavy consumption scatters Qi, consumes Blood, and damages Yin. Books state that pregnant women eating dried ginger causes fetal resorption, illustrating its danger. For Blood deficiency with fever, postpartum high fever, hematemesis, and bloody dysentery, it must be charred black. This eliminates its ascending and penetrating momentum, leaving only the descending effect of bitter and salty flavors. Thus, it can guide blood-invigorating herbs into the Blood level and Qi-regulating herbs into the Qi level, removing evil and generating new, embodying the principle of Yang generating Yin. Moreover, black corresponds to the Water element; if Blood does not flow recklessly, this is a method of treating contrary to the disease's manifestation. Furthermore, Dried Ginger is bitter and pungent; processing makes it bitter. It remains fixed and does not move, unlike Aconite (*Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata*), which moves without staying. If charred black, the pungent-spicy flavor becomes bitter-salty, directing downward. Black also stops bleeding. Although the pungent-hot nature is gone, the pungent-cool nature remains. Therefore, it can remove stagnant heat in the Blood without being cold, stop reckless hematemesis, and move without stagnation. Compared to other drugs that merely use charring for hemostasis, its efficacy is ten times greater. For Blood cold, it can be used in larger doses; for Blood heat, only 3-4 fen (approx. 1-1.2g) is needed as a guiding agent.