味辛、苦，寒、大寒，无毒。主症瘕积聚结气，饮食寒热，破坚逐邪，通利水道，下膀
胱水，腹留热气，皮间邪水
上出，面目浮肿，身暴中风热痱痒，利小腹。久服令人虚。一名大室，一名大适，一名丁历，
一名 蒿。生 城平泽及
田野。立夏后采实，阴干。
得酒良，榆皮为之使，恶僵蚕、石龙芮。出彭城者最胜，今近道亦有。母即公荠，子细
黄至苦，用之当熬也。
味辛、苦，温、微温，有小毒。主咳逆上气，喉鸣喘，咽肿，短气，蛊毒，鬼疟，疝瘕，
痈
水，喜唾，水肿，五水在五脏皮肤，及腰痛，下寒毒、肉毒。久服
令人虚。一名去水，一名毒鱼，一名牡芫。其根名蜀桑根，疗疥疮，可用毒鱼。生淮源川谷
。三月三日采花，阴干。
决明子为之使，反甘草。近道处处有，用之微熬，不可近眼。
味苦、辛，微寒，无毒。主皮肤热，大腹水气，四肢面目浮肿，丈夫阴气不足。利大小
肠，明目，轻身。一名漆茎，
大戟苗也。生太山川泽。三月三日、七月七日采茎叶，阴干。
小豆为之使，恶薯蓣。是大戟苗，生时摘叶有白汁，故名泽漆，亦能啮人肉。
味苦、甘，寒、大寒，有小毒。主蛊毒，十二水，腹满急痛，积聚，中风，皮肤疼痛，
吐
汗，利大小肠。一名邛钜。生常山。十二月采根，阴干。
反甘草，畏菖蒲、芦草、鼠屎。近道处处有，至猥贱也。
[Tingli (Descurainiae Semen)]
Pungent, bitter, cold, very cold, non-toxic. Primarily treats zhizheng jiju jieqi (abdominal masses and qi stagnation), dietary cold-heat imbalance, breaks down firm accumulations, expels pathogens, promotes the free flow of water passages, drains bladder water, eliminates retained heat in the abdomen, causes邪水 (pathogenic water) between the skin to exit from above, treats edema of the face and eyes, sudden wind-stroke with heat-prickly heat itching on the body, and promotes urination in the lower abdomen. Long-term use causes deficiency. Also known as Dashì, Dasì, Dinglì, or Hao. Grows in plains, marshes, and fields in Pengcheng. Harvest the fruits after the Start of Summer, and dry in the shade.
Beneficial when used with wine; Yu Pi (Cortex Ulmi) is its shi herb (directing agent); incompatible with Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus) and Shilongru (Ranunculi Ternati Herba). The best quality comes from Pengcheng, but it is also available in nearby regions. The mother plant is Gongqi; the seeds are small, yellow to bitter, and should be stir-fried before use.
[Daji (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix)]
Pungent, bitter, warm, slightly warm, slightly toxic. Primarily treats ke ni shangqi (cough with rebellious qi), hoarse breathing and asthma, throat swelling, shortness of breath, gu du (poisoning by parasites/toxins), gui nue (ghost malaria), shanjia (hernia and abdominal masses), yong shui (abscesses and edema), excessive salivation, systemic edema, five types of water retention in the five zang organs and skin, lumbar pain, and expels lower jiao cold du and meat du. Long-term use causes deficiency. Also known as Qushui, Duyu, or Mu Yuan. Its root is named Shusang Gen, which treats scabies and can be used to poison fish. Grows in river valleys of Huaiyuan. Harvest the flowers on the third day of the third lunar month, and dry in the shade.
Jue Ming Zi (Cassiae Semen) is its shi herb (directing agent); counteracts Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Available everywhere in nearby regions; use lightly stir-fried, and avoid contact with the eyes.
[Zeqi (Euphorbiae Helioscopii Herba])
Bitter, pungent, slightly cold, non-toxic. Primarily treats skin heat, large abdominal water qi, edema of the four limbs and face, insufficient yin qi in men. Promotes the free flow of the large and small intestines, brightens the eyes, and lightens the body. Also known as Qijing, it is the seedling of Daji. Grows in mountains and marshes of Tai Mountain. Harvest the stems and leaves on the third day of the third lunar month and the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, and dry in the shade.
Xiao Dou (Phaseoli Semen) is its shi herb (directing agent); incompatible with Shuyu (Dioscoreae Rhizoma). This is the seedling of Daji; when leaves are plucked while growing, white juice flows out, hence the name Zeqi. It can also bite/nourish human flesh (cause skin irritation).
[Changshan (Dichroae Radix)]
Bitter, sweet, cold, very cold, slightly toxic. Primarily treats gu du (parasitic poisoning), twelve types of water diseases, abdominal fullness and acute pain, accumulations, wind-stroke, skin pain, vomiting and sweating, and promotes the free flow of the large and small intestines. Also known as Qiongju. Grows in Changshan. Harvest the roots in the twelfth lunar month, and dry in the shade.
Counteracts Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma); fears Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), Lucao (Phragmitis Rhizoma), and Shushi (Murielae Fructus). Available everywhere in nearby regions, very common and cheap.