辛、苦、寒。入手少阴经。解时行热毒，敷热壅成疮。止吐衄，治噎膈。（膈有虫头向
上，
用靛能制之。）
咸，寒。入足厥阴、太阴经血分。除郁火，解热毒。杀小儿疳虫，散时疫赤斑，消膈痰，
止
血痢。配川连，洗风热眼。佐蒲黄，治重舌胀。冷水调服，治内热吐血。入四物汤，治产后
发狂。入马齿苋，捣敷瘰 未穿。合黄柏末，掺耳疳出汁。
水飞净用。阴虚火炎者禁用。
辛，温。明目温中，消肿下水，能消酒积。配香薷，治霍乱烦渴。调白蜜、鸡子白，涂
头疮
。炒用，消散之气稍缓。多食损阳。
苗、叶。辛，温。入手太阳、阳明经气分。除邪气，理中焦。配香豉，治霍乱转筋。
久服令人寒热，损髓减气。
一名扁竹
苦，平。入足太阳经。去湿热，治霍乱，杀三虫，理疮疥，疗黄胆，止赤淋。（蓄能破
血。）
醋炒，治蛔攻心痛。煮面，治痔疮肿痛。多服泄精气。
乌头为之使。
甘，温。入足少阴经气分。固肾水之泄，暖少阴之精。其能去燥热、治烦渴，疗尿血、
止余
沥，皆得精之固而并效也。得甘菊，除风热。入鱼胶，摄精髓。入补剂，炒熟。入凉药，生
用。嚼之有豆气，大如芝麻，
状如羊肾，带绿色者真。
苦、辛、温。入足厥阴，兼入手太阴经气分。去风湿，泻肺气。乳闭可通，症瘕可疗，
阴溃
可消，带下可止，并治一切咳逆、肺痿喉痹、明目肿毒等症，皆借此辛散之力也。
如菱角，白色。治风，黄酒拌蒸。清肺，鸡子清炒。治目中赤脉，人乳拌蒸。通月水，
当归
汁煮。肝虚，受孕，二者禁用。（以破血故也。）
[Lan Dian / Indigo]
Pungent, bitter, cold. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) meridian. Resolves epidemic heat-toxins; applied externally to treat sores caused by heat obstruction. Stops vomiting and epistaxis; treats dysphagia and regurgitation. (If there are parasites in the diaphragm with heads pointing upward, indigo can control them.)
Salty, cold. Enters the blood aspect of the Foot-Jueyin (Liver) and Foot-Taiyin (Spleen) meridians. Clears stagnant fire, resolves heat-toxins. Kills pediatric malnutrition worms, disperses erythematous macules from epidemic diseases, eliminates phlegm in the diaphragm, stops bloody dysentery. Combined with Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome), decocted for washing to treat wind-heat eye disorders. Assisted by Puhuang (Lychnidis Pollen), treats swollen double tongue. Mixed with cold water and taken orally, treats hematemesis due to internal heat. Added to Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), treats postpartum mania. Combined with Machixian (Portulaca Oleracea), pounded and applied externally to treat unruptured scrofula. Combined with Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark) powder, sprinkled into the ear to treat otorrhea due to ear eczema. Must be purified using the water-flying method. Contraindicated in cases of yin deficiency with flaming fire.
[Bai Jili / Tribulus Fruit]
Pungent, warm. Brightens the eyes, warms the middle jiao, reduces swelling, promotes urination, and can resolve alcohol accumulation. Combined with Xiangru (Elsholtzia Herb), treats cholera-like disease with irritability and thirst. Mixed with white honey and egg white, applied to treat head sores. Stir-fried use slightly moderates its qi-dispersing property. Excessive consumption damages yang qi.
[Bai Jili Seedling and Leaves]
Pungent, warm. Enters the qi aspect of the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) and Hand-Yangming (Large Intestine) meridians. Expels pathogenic factors, regulates the middle jiao. Combined with Xiangchi (Fermented Soybean), treats muscle cramps associated with cholera-like disease. Long-term consumption leads to alternating chills and fever, damages marrow, and depletes qi.
[Difuzi / Kochia Fruit]
Also known as Bianzhu. Bitter, neutral. Enters the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) meridian. Removes damp-heat, treats cholera-like disease, kills three types of parasites, manages sores and scabies, treats jaundice, stops red leukorrhea/hematuria. (Difuzi can break blood stasis.) Vinegar-fried, treats heart pain caused by roundworms. Boiled with noodles, treats painful and swollen hemorrhoids. Excessive intake leaks essence and qi.
[Tusizi / Cuscuta Seed]
Aconitum is its guiding herb. Sweet, warm. Enters the qi aspect of the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney) meridian. Secures kidney water leakage, warms the essence of Shaoyin. Its ability to remove dryness-heat, treat irritability and thirst, cure hematuria, and stop residual dribbling are all effective due to its essence-securing properties. Combined with Ganju (Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower), dispels wind-heat. Used with Yujiao (Gelatin), secures essence and marrow. In tonifying formulas, stir-fry until cooked; in cooling formulas, use raw. Chewing reveals a bean-like odor; true product is as large as sesame seeds, shaped like sheep kidneys, and greenish.
[Tinglizi / Lepidium Seed]
Bitter, pungent, warm. Enters the qi aspect of the Foot-Jueyin (Liver) meridian, and concurrently the Hand-Taiyin (Lung) meridian. Removes wind-dampness, drains lung qi. Can unblock breast milk obstruction, treat mass formations, resolve genital ulcers, stop leukorrhea, and manage all conditions involving coughing against the flow, lung wasting with throat obstruction, and eye swelling/toxicity, all relying on its pungent dispersing power.
For treating wind: steam with yellow wine. For clearing lungs: stir-fry with egg white. For treating red vessels in the eyes: steam with human milk. For promoting menstruation: boil with Danggui juice. Contraindicated in liver deficiency and pregnancy. (Due to its blood-breaking nature.)