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[Da Ji / Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix]
Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold to very cold in nature, slightly toxic. It primarily treats gu poison (parasitic poisoning) and twelve types of fluid retention diseases, abdominal distension with acute pain, accumulations and masses, skin pain caused by wind-stroke, vomiting and regurgitation, carbuncles and swellings in the neck and axilla, headache; it induces sweating and promotes urination and defecation through both large and small intestines. *Xing Ming Lun* states: Used as a guiding herb (Shi). Incompatibilities: Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flos) and Hai Zao (Sargassum). Its toxicity can be resolved using Chang Pu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma).

[Yang Zhi Zhu / Rhododendri Mollis Flos]
Bitter and acrid in flavor, highly toxic. It breaks down fresh and old blood stasis, purges evil blood and fixed masses, treats borborygmus (rumbling in the abdomen), regulates menstruation, effectively treats blood stasis, and can induce abortion. Ri Hua Zi states: Adzuki bean (Chi Xiao Dou) is used as a guiding herb. It is incompatible with Shen Yu (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma). It purges toxins, treats epidemic jaundice and warm malaria, and breaks down pathological accumulations. Incompatible with Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Averse to Chang Pu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma).

[Da Ji Hua / Flower of Da Ji]
Bitter and acrid in flavor, slightly cold in nature, non-toxic. It primarily treats skin heat, massive abdominal fluid retention, edema of the abdomen, limbs, face, and eyes, insufficiency of yin-qi in men, promotes urination and defecation, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body. *Xing Ming Lun* states: Used as a guiding herb. Treats heat in skin and muscles, promotes urination. Ri Hua Zi states: Cold in nature, slightly toxic. Stops malaria, resolves phlegm, and reduces fever. This is the flower of Da Ji. Another view holds it is the young shoot of Da Ji. *Tang Ben Cao Yu Lu* states: Drains water, treats gu poison. Adzuki bean is used as a guiding herb. Incompatible with Shen Yu (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma).

[Cao Chi Tou / Wolf's Bane Root?]
Bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, toxic. It primarily treats pathogenic hot qi in the abdomen, various poisons, kills three types of parasites, removes Taenia solium (inchworm tapeworm), breaks down masses and growths, eliminates head wind, and heals metal wounds. The flower: Treats malignant sores, causes diarrhea. *Xing Ming Lun* states: Used as a guiding herb. Treats abdominal heat. Chi Xiao Dou (Adzuki Bean) and Yin Chen (Artemisiae Scopariae Herba) are used as guiding herbs. It kills Taenia solium. Furthermore, *Tu Jing Ben Cao* states: The sprout resembles Gou Ji (Osmundae Rhizoma), like a pheasant's tail; the root is straight with many branches; those with black skin and red flesh that are curved are named Cao Chi Tou, treating head wind. Additionally: People in Jingnan take the root, grind it into powder, mix with water, and ingest one qian bi (a small measure); this is effective for stopping epistaxis.

[Yang Zhi Zhu / Rhododendri Mollis Flos - Continued]
Acrid in flavor, warm in nature, highly toxic. It primarily treats twister wind causing wandering pain in the skin, warm malaria, malignant toxins, various bi-syndromes (painful obstruction syndromes), pathogenic qi and gui zhu (ghostly fixation/spiritual disorders), and gu poison. *Xing Ming Lun* states: Averse to various minerals and flour. It is also stated: Currently, many prescriptions in medical formulas, such as Luo Jiao Tang, use this herb frequently. In the south, for treating gu poison with bloody stool, Rhododendron is considered superior. It grows in the Taihang Mountains.