〔巴豆〕性〔热〕味苦，气薄味浓，体重而沉降，阴也。其用有三∶导气消积
一也。去脏腑停寒二也。消化寒凉及生冷硬物所伤三也。〔又云〕∶辛，〔阳〕，去
胃中寒〔积〕。
白〔僵〕蚕 〔性微温〕，味微辛，气味俱薄，体轻而浮升，阳也，去皮肤间诸风。
生姜 性温，味辛甘，气味俱浓，清浮而生升，阳也。其用有四∶制浓朴、半夏
毒一也。〔发〕散风邪二也。温中去湿三也。作益胃脾〔药〕之佐四也。
杜仲 性温，味辛甘，气味俱薄，沉而降，阴也。其用壮筋骨，及足弱无力行。
以上诸药，此大略言之，以为制方之阶也，其用有未尽者。
蜀葵花 冷，阴中之阳，赤治赤带，白治白带。
梧桐泪 咸，瘰 非此不能除。
郁金 辛苦，纯阳，凉心。
款冬花 辛苦，纯阳，温肺止嗽。
香附子 甘，阳中之阴，快气。
大〔戟〕苦甘，阴中微阳，泻肺，损真气。
白芨 苦甘，阳中之阴，止肺〔血〕，涩，白蔹同。
甘遂 苦纯阳，水结胸中，非此不能除。
蜀漆 辛，纯阳，破血。
射干 苦，阳中之阴，去胃中痈疮。
天南星 苦辛，去上焦痰及头眩运。
御米壳 酸涩，固收正气。
胡芦巴 阴，治元〔气〕虚〔寒〕，及肾〔经〕虚冷。
马兜铃 苦，阴中之阳，主肺〔湿〕热，〔清〕肺气，补肺。
白附子 阳，温，主血痹，〔行〕药势。
槐花 苦，阴，气薄，凉大肠热。
槐实 苦酸，〔同上〕。
茯神〔阳〕，疗风眩、风虚。
沉香 阳，补肾。
檀香 阳，主心腹〔痛〕，霍乱，中恶，引胃气上升，进食。
乳香 阳，补肾。
竹叶 苦，阴中微阳，凉心经。
山茱萸 酸，阳中之阴，温肝。
郁李仁 苦辛，〔阴〕中之阳，破血润燥。
金铃子 酸苦，阴中之阳，心暴痛，非此不能除。即川楝子。
草豆蔻 辛，阳，益脾胃，去寒。
红花 苦，阴中之〔阳〕，入心养血。
朱砂 心热非此不能除。
赤石脂 甘酸，阴中之阳，固脱。
甘菊 苦，养目血。
茜根 阴中〔微阳〕，去诸死血。
王不留行 甘苦，阳中之阴，〔下乳引导用之〕。
艾叶 苦，阴中之阳，温胃。
〔 〕砂 咸，破坚癖，独不用。
[Ba Dou] (Crotonis Fructus) is hot in nature and bitter in taste. Its qi is thin and its flavor is strong; it is heavy in substance and descends, belonging to Yin. It has three functions: first, to guide Qi and eliminate accumulation; second, to remove stagnant cold from the Zang-Fu organs; third, to digest injuries caused by cold-cooling foods and raw, hard substances. [It is also said:] Pungent in taste, belonging to Yang, it removes cold accumulation in the stomach.
Bai Jiang Can (Bombyx Batryticatus) is slightly warm in nature and slightly pungent in taste. Both its qi and flavor are thin; it is light in substance and ascends, belonging to Yang. It removes various wind pathogens from the skin.
Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) is warm in nature and pungent-sweet in taste. Both its qi and flavor are strong; it is clear, floating, and ascending, belonging to Yang. It has four functions: first, to neutralize the toxicity of Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex) and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma); second, to disperse wind pathogens; third, to warm the middle and dispel dampness; fourth, to serve as an assistant herb for tonifying the stomach and spleen.
Du Zhong (Eucommiae Cortex) is warm in nature and pungent-sweet in taste. Both its qi and flavor are thin; it sinks and descends, belonging to Yin. Its function is to strengthen sinews and bones, and to treat weakness and inability to walk in the lower limbs.
The above herbs are discussed briefly here as a foundation for formulating prescriptions; their uses are not exhaustive.
Shu Kui Hua (Malvae Flower) is cold in nature, representing Yang within Yin. Red flowers treat red leukorrhea; white flowers treat white leukorrhea.
Wu Tong Lei (Liquidambaris Resina) is salty in taste. Scrofula cannot be eliminated without this herb.
Yu Jin (Curcumae Radix) is pungent-bitter, purely Yang, and cools the Heart.
Kuan Dong Hua (Farfarae Flos) is pungent-bitter, purely Yang, warms the Lung, and stops coughing.
Xiang Fu Zi (Cyperi Rhizoma) is sweet, representing Yin within Yang, and promotes the free flow of Qi.
Da Ji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix) is bitter-sweet, representing slight Yang within Yin. It drains the Lung but damages true Qi.
Bai Ji (Bletillae Rhizoma) is bitter-sweet, representing Yin within Yang. It stops pulmonary bleeding and has an astringent property, similar to Bai Lian (Ampelopsis Radix).
Gan Sui (Kansui Radix) is bitter and purely Yang. Pleural effusion (water accumulation in the chest) cannot be eliminated without this herb.
Shu Qi (Radix Euphorbiae Humifusa) is pungent, purely Yang, and breaks blood stasis.
She Gan (Belamcandae Rhizoma) is bitter, representing Yin within Yang. It removes carbuncles and sores in the stomach.
Tian Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum) is pungent-bitter. It removes phlegm in the Upper Jiao and treats dizziness and vertigo.
Yu Mi Qiao (Papaveris Pericarpium) is sour-astringent. It consolidates and retains true Qi.
Hu Lu Ba (Trigonellae Semen) is Yin in nature. It treats deficiency-cold of Yuan Qi and coldness of the Kidney Meridian.
Ma Dou Ling (Aristolochiae Manshuriensis Fructus) is bitter, representing Yang within Yin. It primarily treats damp-heat in the Lung, clears Lung Qi, and tonifies the Lung.
Bai Fu Zi (Typhonii Rhizoma) is Yang in nature and warm. It treats blood obstruction (Bi syndrome) and facilitates the movement of medicinal properties.
Huai Hua (Sophorae Flos) is bitter and Yin in nature with thin Qi. It cools heat in the Large Intestine.
Huai Shi (Sophorae Fructus) is bitter-sour. [Functions are the same as Huai Hua].
Fu Shen (Poria Cum Pinodi) is Yang in nature. It treats wind-dizziness and wind-deficiency.
Chen Xiang (Aquilariae Lignum) is Yang in nature and tonifies the Kidney.
Tan Xiang (Santalum Album Lignum) is Yang in nature. It treats heart and abdominal pain, cholera, evil invasion, guides Stomach Qi upward, and promotes appetite.
Ru Xiang (Olibanum) is Yang in nature and tonifies the Kidney.
Zhu Ye (Phyllostachidis Folium) is bitter, representing slight Yang within Yin. It cools the Heart Meridian.
Shan Zhu Yu (Corni Fructus) is sour, representing Yin within Yang. It warms the Liver.
Yu Li Ren (Prunus Lasiocardi Semen) is pungent-bitter, representing Yang within Yin. It breaks blood stasis and moistens dryness.
Jin Ling Zi (Toosendan Fructus) is sour-bitter, representing Yang within Yin. Sudden cardiac pain cannot be eliminated without this herb. It is also known as Chuan Lian Zi (Toosendan Fructus).
Cao Dou Kou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus) is pungent and Yang in nature. It benefits the Spleen and Stomach and dispels cold.
Hong Hua (Carthami Flos) is bitter, representing Yang within Yin. It enters the Heart to nourish blood.
Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris) Heat in the Heart cannot be eliminated without this mineral.
Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysit Rubra) is sweet-sour, representing Yang within Yin. It secures and arrests collapse.
Gan Ju (Chrysanthemi Indici Flos) is bitter. It nourishes the blood of the eyes.
Qian Gen (Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma) represents slight Yang within Yin. It removes all forms of dead blood (stasis).
Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccariae Semen) is sweet-bitter, representing Yin within Yang. [Used for guiding milk down].
Ai Ye (Artemisiae Argyi Folium) is bitter, representing Yang within Yin. It warms the Stomach.
[ ] Sha (Realgar) is salty in taste. It breaks firm accumulations, but is not used here.