甘，平。入手足太阴经气分。补养中气，调和脾胃。得黄 ，实卫。配石莲，止痢。君
当归，活血。佐枣仁，补心。
补肺，蜜拌蒸熟。补脾，恐其气滞，加桑皮数分，或加广皮亦可。气滞怒火盛者禁用。
上党参膏
清肺金，补元气，开声音，助筋力。
制膏法∶用党参软甜者一斤切片，沙参半斤切片，桂圆肉四两，水煎浓汁，滴水成珠，
用瓷器盛贮。每用一酒杯，
空心滚水冲服，冲入煎药亦可。
一名白参，一名铃儿参。
恶防己。反藜芦。
甘，平，微苦，微寒。入手太阴经。补阴以制阳，清金以滋水。治久咳肺痿，皮热瘙痒，
惊烦，嘈杂，多眠，疝痛，
长肌肉，消痈肿。得糯米，助脾阴。配生地，凉血热。佐柴葛，去邪火。合玄参，止干嗽。
气味清薄，宜加倍用。肺气寒，虚气上浮者，禁用。
一名甜桔梗，一名杏参。
甘，寒。入手太阴经。解上焦热邪，利肺气，解百药毒。治咳嗽、消渴、强中，疮毒疔
肿。
节皮为之使。畏白芨、龙胆草。忌猪肉。伏砒。
辛、苦、平。入手太阴经气分。行表达窍，开提气血，能载诸药上浮，以消郁结。治痰
壅喘促，鼻塞，肺痈，干咳，
目赤，喉痹咽痛，齿痛口疮，胸膈刺痛，腹痛肠鸣。配栀子、大黄，治目赤肿痛。配大力子、
大黄，治疫毒。配阿胶，
治肺痿。配诃子，治失音。配茴香，烧研敷牙疳臭烂。配枳壳，利胸膈。君甘草，治少阴咽
痛，及肺痈咳嗽吐脓如粳米
粥者。入凉膈散，则不峻下。入补血药，清理咽喉。入治痢药，开肺气之郁于大肠。入治嗽
药，散火邪之郁于肺中。
刮去浮皮，米泔浸，微炒。若欲专用降剂，此物不宜同用。诸气上浮，血病火炎，二者
禁用。
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Tonifies Middle Qi (Middle Jiao Qi), harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach. Combined with Huangqi (Astragali Radix), it secures the Wei (Defensive) Qi. Paired with Shilianzi (Nelumbinis Plumula), it stops dysentery. As the Sovereign herb combined with Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), it invigorates Blood. Assisted by Suanzaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), it tonifies the Heart.
To tonify the Lung, steam it with honey until cooked. To tonify the Spleen, fearing it may cause Qi stagnation, add a few fen of Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) or Guangchenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium). It is contraindicated for those with Qi stagnation and excessive Fire from anger.
Shangdangshen Gao (Paste of Codonopsis): Clears Metal (Lung), tonifies Yuan Qi (Original Qi), opens the voice, assists muscle strength.
Preparation method: Take one jin (approx. 500g) of soft and sweet Codonopsis slices, half a jin of Shashen (Adenophorae Radix) slices, and four liang (approx. 125g) of Longyanrou (Longan Aril). Decoct in water to obtain a thick juice, boil until it forms beads when dropped into water. Store in porcelain vessels. Take one wine cup per dose, taken on an empty stomach with boiling water, or can be mixed into other decoctions.
Also known as Baishen (White Ginseng) and Ling'er Shen (Bell-shaped Ginseng).
It is antagonistic to Fangji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix). It is incompatible with Lilu (Veratri Radix).
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Neutral. Sub-taste: Slightly bitter. Sub-nature: Slightly Cold. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Nourishes Yin to control Yang hyperactivity; clears Lung Metal to nourish Kidney Water. Treats chronic cough, Lung萎 (Lung Atrophy/Emphysema), skin heat and itching, palpitations with irritability, gastric嘈杂 (discomfort/hunger without desire to eat), somnolence, hernia pain. Promotes flesh growth, resolves carbuncles and swellings. Combined with Nuomi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa), it assists Spleen Yin. Paired with Shengdihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), it cools Blood Heat. Assisted by Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) and Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix), it eliminates pathogenic Fire. Combined with Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), it stops dry cough.
Due to its light and thin aroma, the dosage should be doubled. Contraindicated for those with Lung Cold and floating Deficient Qi.
Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) is also known as Tian Jiegeng (Sweet Platycodon) and Xing Shen (Apricot Root).
Taste: Sweet. Nature: Cold. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Resolves pathogenic Heat in the Upper Jiao, benefits Lung Qi, resolves toxicity of all herbs. Treats cough, Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst/Diabetes), Qiang Zhong (priapism), sores, toxins, and Ding Zhong (carbuncles/furuncles).
The root bark serves as the guiding agent. It fears Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma) and Longdancao (Gentianae Radix). Pork is taboo. It can suppress the toxicity of arsenic (Pi).
Taste: Pungent, Bitter. Nature: Neutral. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. Moves exterior pathogens, opens orifices, lifts and raises Qi and Blood, carries other herbs upward to dissipate stagnation. Treats phlegm obstruction with wheezing and shortness of breath, nasal congestion, Lung Abscess, dry cough, red eyes, throat obstruction with pain, toothache, mouth ulcers, stabbing pain in the chest and diaphragm, abdominal pain with borborygmus. Paired with Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus) and Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), treats red and swollen eyes. Paired with Niubangzi (Arctii Fructus) and Dahuang, treats epidemic toxins. Paired with Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla), treats Lung Atrophy. Paired with Hezi (Chebulae Fructus), treats aphonia. Paired with Huixiang (Foeniculi Fructus), roasted and ground, applied to treat foul-smelling gum rot. Paired with Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), benefits the chest and diaphragm. As the Sovereign herb paired with Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), treats Shaoyin throat pain, and Lung Abscess cough with pus expectoration resembling rice porridge. Added to Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder), the purgative action becomes less harsh. Added to blood-tonifying formulas, it clears the throat. Added to dysentery treatments, it opens the Lung Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine. Added to cough treatments, it disperses Fire pathogen stagnation in the Lung.
Scrape off the floating bark, soak in rice washing water, stir-fry slightly. If the intention is to use purely descending agents, this herb is not suitable for combination. Contraindicated for conditions of floating Qi and Blood disorders with flaming Fire.