苦，寒。入足阳明、太阴经。胃火炽盛，嘈杂善饥，营中蕴热，烦闷多汗，大有清解之
功。
一名猴姜
忌羊肉、羊血、芸苔菜。
辛、苦、温。入足少阴经。坚肾固齿。治耳鸣久泻，痿痹折伤，去骨中毒风。佐六味煎
服，
疗齿痛。入猪肾煨食，治久泻。烧炭存性，米饮或酒服，治肠风失血。瓦锅慢火炒黑为末，
擦齿痛出血神效。去毛，蜜拌蒸晒。擦齿，炒黑。敷伤处，粥调。
一名石皮
石菖蒲良。滑石、杏仁、射干为之使。制丹砂、矾石。
甘、苦、微寒。入足太阳，兼入手太阴经。通膀胱，清肺火。治淋沥遗溺，疗痈疽发背。
配
槟榔、姜汤，治气热咳嗽。配滑石末，治淋痛。
去黄毛、梗，微炙。治发背，酒调服。除烦热，羊脂炒。黄毛射人肺，令人咳，不可疗。
真
阴虚者禁用。
一名七星草
制三黄、砂汞、矾石。
苦，寒。凉血解热，通淋。制药毒。配干姜，治热毒下血。其星可敷脚膝烂疮。
年老者禁用。
一名慎火草
可 朱砂。
苦、酸、寒。有小毒。入手少阴经。解热毒，祛游风，治赤眼，疗带下。配盐捣汁，涂
风疹
。入醋捣，涂丹毒。
俗呼佛指甲
甘，寒。微毒。贴汤火伤。配酒浆调，敷疮毒。（已溃者勿用。）
一名鹅不食草
制砒石、雄黄。
辛，温。入手太阴经气分。利九窍，吐风痰，除痰疟，散痧疹，利二便，拔肿毒，落息
肉，
治金疮。配川山甲、归尾，捣敷一切肿毒。佐青黛、川芎， 鼻，治目中星障。
酒拌蒸。齐痘疮，酒煎喷。除头面外，凡遍身及衣帐喷之，辟恶除秽。气虚胃弱者禁用。
[Shihuci (Hedyotis diffusa)]
Bitter, cold. Enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach meridian and Foot-Taiyin Spleen meridian. For conditions of blazing stomach fire causing epigastric discomfort resembling hunger but not relieved by eating (zaocao) and easy hunger, as well as heat accumulating in the Ying (Nutritive) level causing restlessness, stifling sensation, and profuse sweating, it has significant effects in clearing heat and resolving depression.
Alternative name: Houjiang.
Contraindications: Avoid mutton, sheep blood, and Youcai (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis).
[Shegan (Belamcanda chinensis)]
Acrid, bitter, warm. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney meridian. Strengthens the kidney and consolidates teeth. Treats tinnitus, chronic diarrhea, flaccidity and bi-syndrome (numbness and pain), and traumatic injuries; expels bone-deep toxic wind and pathogenic factors. When decocted with Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill), it treats toothache. Simmered and eaten with pig kidneys, it treats chronic diarrhea. Charred to retain its properties and taken with rice water or wine, it treats intestinal wind hematochezia. Stir-fried black in a clay pot over low heat, powdered, and applied externally to teeth, it is miraculously effective for toothache with bleeding. Preparation: Remove hairs, steam-dry with honey. For rubbing teeth, stir-fry until black; for applying to wounds, mix with congee.
[Shichangpu (Acorus tatarinowii)]
Alternative name: Shipi.
Synergistic/Instructive herbs: Shichangpu pairs well with others. Huashi (Talcum), Xingren (Apricot Seed), and Shegan serve as guiding herbs. It can moderate Zhusha (Cinnabar) and Fanshi (Alum).
Sweet, bitter, slightly cold. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder meridian and concurrently the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian. Promotes bladder function and clears lung fire. Treats dribbling urination and enuresis; heals carbuncles and back abscesses. Combined with Binglang (Areca Seed) and ginger soup, it treats qi-heat cough. Combined with Huashi powder, it treats painful strangury.
Preparation and precautions: Remove yellow hairs and stems, lightly roast. For treating back abscesses, take with wine. To remove irritability and heat, stir-fry with sheep fat. Yellow hairs entering the lungs cause coughing and are difficult to cure. Contraindicated in cases of true yin deficiency.
[Xinqingcao (Oldenlandia diffusa)]
Alternative name: Qixingcao.
Antagonistic/Mutual restraint: Can restrain Sanhuang (Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Gentianae), Zhusha (Cinnabar), mercury, and Fanshi (Alum).
Bitter, cold. Cools blood and resolves heat, promotes urination to unblock strangury. Resolves drug toxicity. Combined with Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), it treats lower body bleeding due to heat-toxin. Its star-shaped parts can be applied externally to treat ulcerated sores on feet and knees.
Contraindication: Contraindicated in the elderly.
[Shenhuaocao (Houttuynia cordata)]
Alternative name: Shenhuaocao.
Antagonistic/Mutual restraint: Feared by Zhusha (Cinnabar).
Bitter, sour, cold. Slightly toxic. Enters the Hand-Shaoyin Heart meridian. Resolves heat-toxin, dispels wandering wind, treats red eyes, and manages leukorrhea. Mixed with salt and crushed for juice, applied topically for wind-rash. Crushed with vinegar and applied topically for erysipelas.
[Fozhizha (Sarcandra glabra)]
Common name: Fozhizha.
Sweet, cold. Slightly toxic. Applied externally for scalds and burns. Mixed with wine and liquid, applied topically for carbuncle toxins. (Do not use on open ulcers.)
[Ebusicao (Centipeda minima)]
Alternative name: Ebusicao.
Antagonistic/Mutual restraint: Feared by Pishi (Arsenic Trioxide) and Xionghuang (Realgar).
Acrid, warm. Enters the Qi level of the Hand-Taiyin Lung meridian. Benefits the nine orifices, induces vomiting to expel wind-phlegm, eliminates phlegmatic malaria, disperses sand-rash, promotes bowel and bladder movements, extracts swelling/toxins, causes polyps to fall off, and treats metal-wounds. Combined with Chuanshanjia (Pangolin Scale) and Guiwei (Tail of Angelica Sinensis), crushed and applied for all types of swelling/toxins. Assisted by Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) and Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong), inserted into the nose, it treats ocular nebula (corneal opacity).
Usage: Steamed with wine. For managing smallpox lesions, decocted in wine and sprayed. Except for the head and face, spraying the whole body, clothes, and curtains repels evil and removes filth. Contraindicated in those with qi deficiency and weak stomach.