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[Mu Zei (Equiseti Herba)]
Sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm. Enters the blood aspect of the Foot Jueyin (Liver) Meridian. Disperses wind-dampness of Liver Wood, raises stagnant fire in the blood, resolves the muscle layer and induces sweating, removes ocular nebulae, and treats intestinal wind (hematochezia). It can substitute for Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) in cases of deficiency. Combined with Yuliangshi (Kaolinite), it treats red and white leukorrhea and metrorrhagia. Paired with Huaizi (Stemonae Rhizoma or Sophorae Fructus, contextually likely Sophorae Fructus for hemorrhoids), it treats intestinal disorders. Paired with Diyu (Sanguisorbae Radix), it treats rectal prolapse. Assisted by Niujiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu or Bubali Cornu), it treats chronic dysentery (resting dysentery). Contraindicated in cases of Liver Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency causing unclear vision, and sudden redness, swelling, and pain due to anger and heat injury.
Gujingcao (Valerianae Officinalis Flos or similar, literally 'Grain Essence Flower') removes star-like nebulae; Mu Zei removes general nebulae. Ganju (Chrysanthemi Flos) nourishes the eyes but cannot remove star-like nebulae.

[Ji Xi Cao (Likely Polygonum hydropiper or similar, literally 'Mat Grass')]
Bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Qi aspect of the Hand Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) Meridians. Removes pathogenic Qi from the heart and abdomen, treats burning pain in the urethra. Baixi (Old Mat) has the same efficacy.

[Deng Xin Cao (Junci Medulla)]
Sweet, bland, cold. Enters the Qi aspect of the Hand Shaoyin (Heart) Meridian. Descends Heart Fire, drains Lung Heat, promotes urination, and reduces edema. Paired with Maidong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), it guides Heart Fire downward.
Assisted by Honghua (Carthami Flos), it treats throat wind (acute laryngitis/epiglottitis). Assisted by Biejia (Trionycis Carapax), it treats restlessness and panting caused by sores and smallpox. Combined with Dansha (Cinnabaris), it treats epistaxis. Dengxin Tan (Charred Junci Medulla) combined with Qingfen (Calomelas), treats yin gangrene. Dengxin Tan blown into the throat treats throat wind obstruction. Dengxin Tan applied to the nipple for the infant to suckle stops night crying. Contraindicated in Heart Qi deficiency. Excessive or long-term use causes dim vision.
Method for making charcoal: Take one light bamboo tube, pack it tightly with Dengxin Cao, seal with yellow mud, roast over fire until red hot, wrap in wet grass paper to store, preventing gas escape, wait for it to cool, then split open; charcoal is formed inside.

[Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix)]
Beneficial when paired with Jiu (Wine), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Jiangzhi (Zingiberis Recens Juice), and Suosha (Amomi Fructus Rotundus). Averse to Wuyi (Pruni Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Laifuzi (Raphani Semen). Detested by Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus). Taboo with Cong (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus), Suan (Allii Sativi Bulbus), Luobo (Raphani Radix), and all blood products.
Sweet, cool, slightly bitter. Enters the blood aspect of the Hand Shaoyin (Heart), Foot Shaoyin (Kidney), Foot Jueyin (Liver), and Hand Taiyang (Small Intestine) Meridians. Its ability to generate Blood to clear Yin Fire is known to the world. Its ability to generate Qi to move Yang aspects is often unknown. (When Blood is sufficient, Qi finds its home; this is called "generating Qi through essence"). It treats all conditions such as palpitations, amenorrhea, heat in palms, emaciation and flaccidity, vomiting blood, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, constipation, etc. It eliminates food stagnation (when stool passes, middle Qi moves and food digests naturally). It strengthens the Spleen and Stomach (when damp-heat is removed, Spleen and Stomach become strong naturally), also achieving this effect.
Paired with Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), it stabilizes spirit and intent. Paired with Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam), it calms fright. Maidong as an assistant restores Yin in the vessels. Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) as an assistant harmonizes Blood in the Shaoyang. Paired with Dilong (Pheretima), it treats continuous epistaxis. Assisted by Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix), it guides Lung Qi to the place where essence is generated. Using Lingyangjiao (Capricornis Cornu), it raises Yin Qi to consolidate the root of storage. Using Tongcao (Tetrapanacis Medulla), it drains damp-heat in the Small Intestine. Mixed with Ji Zi Bai (Album Ovi Galli), it treats fetal movement. Mixed with Honey Wine, it treats heat transmitting to Heart and Lungs. With Fuling (Poria) as the sovereign drug, it removes damp-heat injuring the Spleen. Mixed with Cheqian juice, it treats bloody strangury. (Sheng Di Huang unblocks the source of blood vessels). Fresh use is cold; dry use is cool. Ascending action: stir-fry with wine. For phlegm obstruction: stir-fry with ginger juice. To enter Kidney: stir-fry with green salt water. For Yin fire cough: stir-fry mixed with child's urine. Contact with copper or iron vessels causes Kidney consumption. Contraindicated in Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency-cold, Yang Qi decline, and chest/abdominal fullness/stuffiness.
People often say Sheng Di Huang hinders the Stomach, but they do not realize it can actually open/appetize the Stomach. Only those with insufficient Yang Qi in the Stomach will find that taking it impedes Stomach Qi transport and reduces appetite. However, if Stomach Yin deficiency leads to dry Stomach Earth causing poor transport, Sheng Di Huang nourishes the Yin and clears fire, allowing Stomach Qi to operate, and diet gradually improves. Those who do not understand make rash comments, which is like playing a zither glued at the bridges (rigidly adhering to rules without flexibility). In seasonal febrile diseases, Sheng Di Huang is particularly crucial. If evil fire stagnates in the Stomach and Stomach Yin is dried up, rescue is difficult; but if Stomach Yin/Blood is not yet dry, there is no case beyond rescue. Sheng Di Huang truly nourishes Stomach Yin. When Yin fluids fill upwards, sweat surges on the body surface and exterior pathogens are resolved; when Yin blood moistens downwards, filth excretes via bowels and bladder and interior pathogens exit. This is "when Metal command acts, intense heat vanishes." Thus, when fire evil overflows in the Yangming Meridian, adding Sheng Di Huang juice to Baihu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) resolves the condition through chills and sweat. When evil heat enters the Yangming Fu organs, adding Sheng Di Huang juice to Xiantong Tang (likely referring to a formula treating chest/abdominal fullness/pain, possibly related to Xiaoxianxiong Tang or similar contextually adapted) resolves it upon bowel movement. Furthermore, when fire generates phlegm and phlegm generates fire, knotting in the middle, mixing Sheng Di Huang juice with Bamboo Sap (Zhuye/Zhuli) and Ginger Juice eliminates symptoms like delirium and fixed gaze. If Sheng Di Huang is unavailable, Gan Dihuang (Dried Rehmanniae Radix) can be used: soak thoroughly in boiling water, squeeze out juice, and take. To prevent cloying stagnation, add Zhike (Aurantii Fructus) or Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus) to disperse. Once the Qi pathway is open, evil pathogens reach the exterior, and the illness recovers suddenly. Recently, many treat Sheng Di Huang as a tonic, suspect it hinders the Stomach, fear using it, and limit dosage to 1-2 qian or 5-6 qian. Boiling it with other drugs turns it half-cooked into Di Huang Tan (Charred Rehmanniae Radix), trapping pathogens inside and clogging the diaphragm/Stomach. They view it as harmful, ban it from prescriptions, leading to dried-up Stomach Yin and untreatable cases. This is due to improper usage.