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Ai Shi (Artemisia argyi Fruit): Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, enters the Spleen and Kidney meridians. It strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Yin, and stops diarrhea; treats pain in the lower back and knees; enhances willpower and calms the spirit; improves hearing and vision; tonifies the Kidney and secures essence; treats urinary incontinence, seminal emission, leukorrhea with white turbidity, and vaginal discharge; promotes longevity and delays aging. It can be prepared as a powder or pill, or boiled for consumption, both being effective. However, its action is mild, making it difficult to achieve remarkable effects.

Xing Ren (Apricot Seed): Bitter, pungent, slightly sweet; the flavor is stronger than the qi, descending with an ascending quality. Toxic. Enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Its pungency allows it to enter and moisten the Lung, disperse wind-cold, relieve headache, resolve cold-heat coughs, alleviate wheezing and急促 breathing, release the exterior and dispel pathogens, and treat warm diseases and Hong Kong leg (foot Qi). Its bitterness has a strong descending property, evident from its rapid ability to clarify water; thus, it settles rebellious Qi rushing upward, eliminates acute fullness, distension, and pain in the chest and abdomen, relieves throat obstruction (Hou Bi), resolves phlegm and directs Qi downward, alleviates fright, epilepsy, and irritability with heat, unblocks dry constipation due to Qi stagnation in the Large Intestine, and can also neutralize dog poison. Combined with Ban Xia (Pinellia Rhizome) and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), it disperses wind-pathogen coughs; combined with Ma Huang (Ephedra Herb) to induce sweating, it expels exterior pathogenic factors of Shang Han (Cold Damage); decocted with Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) and Ru Su (Milk Butter) into a paste, it excellently moistens the Lung and treats coughs; mixed evenly with Qing Fen (Calomel) and oil for topical application, it is best for treating Guang Chuang (broad sores) and toxic swellings. It particularly kills various parasites and dental worms, and treats facial spots. It should not be used by those with deficient and sinking Yuan Qi, as its heavy descending nature may cause excessive leakage.

Tao Ren (Peach Kernel): Bitter, pungent, slightly sweet; neutral in nature; contains Yang within Yin; enters the Foot and Hand Jueyin meridians. Use after removing the skin and tips. It excellently treats blood stasis and blood closure, blood accumulation and dryness, unblocks blood obstructions, breaks blood masses, kills three types of parasites, moistens the large intestine, drives out stagnation, stops pain and distension caused by Gui Zhu (ghostly infection) and rebellious blood, and treats traumatic injuries. It should not be used indiscriminately for amenorrhea due to blood depletion.

Mu Gua (Chaenomeles Fruit): Sour in flavor, warm in nature. It is used for its sour astringency; sourness moves through the sinews, and astringency secures against collapse. Enters the Spleen, Lung, Liver, and Kidney meridians, and also harmonizes the Stomach. Obtaining the correct Wood flavor, it specifically enters the Liver, benefits the sinews and moves blood, treats weakness in the lower back and knees, and is indispensable as a guiding herb for Hong Kong leg (foot Qi). It harmonizes Qi stagnation and secures Qi collapse. Because it平和 the Stomach, it relieves vomiting, Huo Luan (cholera-like syndrome), and muscle cramps; descends phlegm, removes dampness, and promotes urination. Due to its sour astringency, it can astringe the Lung, stop dysentery, relieve irritability and fullness, and quench thirst.

Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel): Bitter, pungent; warm and dispersing; essential for Qi excess and Phlegm stagnation. Retaining the white pith makes it slightly sweet and mild in action; removing the pith makes it pungent and fast-acting. It drains Phlegm-turbidity from the Spleen and Stomach, clears stagnant Qi in the Lungs, aids digestion and stimulates appetite, promotes urination and bowel movements, treats acid regurgitation and belching of rotten food, and reverses retrograde vomiting and miscellaneous discomforts. It eliminates hiccupping, distension, and fullness, and is effective for vomiting and nausea. It circulates through the upper and lower jiao, resolves alcohol toxicity and expels parasites, suitable for both interior and exterior conditions, and is also used for carbuncles and sores. It particularly treats breast abscesses in women and resolves fish and meat toxins.

Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel): Bitter, pungent, slightly sour; strong flavor; heavy/sinking; Yang within Yin. Bitterness removes stagnation; sourness enters the Liver; also enters the Shaoyang, Sanjiao, and Gallbladder organs. It reduces hard accumulations, relieves hypochondriac pain, resolves depression and anger, treats hernias, soothes the Liver, breaks Qi stagnation, expands the chest, and aids digestion. It should be avoided by the elderly, weak, and emaciated.

Bing Lang (Areca Seed): Pungent, astringent, slightly bitter, slightly sweet; slightly warm in nature. Strong flavor but thin qi; descending with an ascending quality; Yang within Yin. It digests retained food, resolves alcohol toxicity, removes Phlegm-stagnation, opens obstructions, warms the middle and promotes Qi flow. It treats abdominal distension and accumulations, heart and abdominal pain with急促 breathing, unblocks joints, benefits the nine orifices, drives out Qi stagnation in the five diaphragms, Ben Tun (rushing pig syndrome), and Bladder Qi; kills three types of parasites; treats Hong Kong leg (foot Qi); and cures various malaria, miasma, pestilence, and damp pathogens. The *Ben Cao* states it treats tenesmus like a galloping horse, which is due to its warm nature moving stagnation. It is unsuitable for those with Qi deficiency and sinking. It is said to break Qi extremely rapidly, more so than Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus) and Qing Pi. If so, how can people in Guangdong chew it daily without harm? In short, its warm and pungent nature awakens the Spleen and benefits Qi; its sweet and astringent nature consolidates the Spleen and strengthens Qi; thus, it is indeed a formula that moves while retaining. Observing *Helin Yulu*: "It makes the hungry feel full, the full feel hungry, the drunk sober, and the sober drunk." Analyzing these four sentences reveals its nature. Administration method: Small seeds have strong Qi and are used medicinally. People in Guangdong use large, flat seeds, soaked in rice wash water until ready. Each seed is cut into four slices, one slice per dose. Externally, fine calcined iron oxide (Duan Shi) is mixed with water to a thin paste, prepared in advance. To use, smear 1-2 fen of Duan Shi on a leaf of Lou Ye (Betel Leaf), place one slice of Bing Lang inside, wrap, and chew. Bing Lang becomes slippery and non-astringent with Duan Shi; Duan Shi and Lou Ye become sweet and non-pungent with Bing Lang. After ingestion, the body and face become warm, with slight sweating and drunkenness, and the chest and abdomen feel open. It effectively resolves acid regurgitation, digests retained food, repels miasma, resolves Phlegm, sobers up alcohol, directs Qi downward, strengthens the Spleen, stimulates appetite, moistens the intestines, kills parasites, reduces distension, consolidates stools, and stops dysentery. Another method: If Lou Ye is unavailable, Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark), Da Hui Xiang (Fennel Fruit), or Chen Pi can substitute, with a little Duan Shi,夹 eaten. However, the efficacy of these three lies mainly in Duan Shi and Lou Ye, as they dry the Spleen and warm the Stomach, but require Bing Lang's assistance to show effect. This mutual enhancement is subtle and hard to predict. Generally, its nature is similar to tobacco, but tobacco is harsh and勇猛, better for releasing the exterior and driving out cold; Bing Lang is milder, better for harmonizing the middle and warming the Stomach. Both are key herbs for strengthening Qi and repelling evil, hence indispensable daily in Yunnan and Guangdong. Customs vary: Guangxi uses old Areca nuts, Yunnan uses fresh tender ones, and Guangdong often uses pickled Areca nuts with shells, each appropriate in its context.

Wu Mei (Mume Fruit): Sour, astringent; warm and neutral in nature. Directs Qi downward, relieves irritability and heat, stops polydipsia, vomiting, retrograde vomiting, Huo Luan, treats consumptive fever with bone-steaming sensation, resolves alcohol toxicity, astringes Lung abscess and Lung atrophy, treats cough and急促 breathing, reduces carbuncles and sore toxins, relieves throat obstruction and tonsillitis, astringes the intestines to stop cold-heat dysentery, hematochezia, hematuria, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, seminal emission, and nocturnal emissions; kills parasites and anchors roundworms; resolves poisoning from insects, fish, horse sweat, and sulfur. Decocted with Zi Su (Perilla Leaf) to resolve Shang Han, seasonal miasma, and malaria, it greatly induces sweating. Burn the flesh to retain its nature, grind into powder, and apply to golden wounds and malignant sores to remove necrotic tissue, overgrown granulation, and dead muscle overnight; this is also a miraculous prescription.

Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit): Sweet, slightly sour; neutral in nature; excels at resolving stagnation. It is used for its light Qi, thus not consuming True Qi excessively. It digests retained food, Phlegm-fluid retention, and acid regurgitation; removes blood stasis and pain; moves stagnation; drives out distension; moistens the intestines and stomach; removes mass formations; and treats flaccid hernias. It can still strengthen the Spleen and is most suitable for children. It can also erupt rashes. For postpartum women with "child pillow" pain and incomplete lochia expulsion, decoct and take with rock sugar for immediate effect. Boiling juice to wash lacquer dermatitis is also good. Use sparingly for loose bowels.

Tian Gua Di (Melon Pedicle): Also known as Ku Ding Xiang. Bitter, cold, toxic. Contains Yang within Yin; can ascend and descend. Ascending induces vomiting, excellently draining damp-heat, stubborn Phlegm, and retained fluids; relieving wind-heat headache, epilepsy, throat obstruction, dizziness, chest and diaphragm fullness, and all toxic pathogens in the Upper Jiao. Descending induces purging, excellently driving out water-dampness, Phlegm-fluids, reducing edema and ascites, killing gu-poison and insect venom, and evacuating all accumulations in the Lower Jiao. Its nature is harsh and urgent; if not expelled upwards, it is expelled downwards. To treat nasal polyps causing loss of smell, mix with She Xiang (Musk) and Xi Xin (Asarum) into powder, wrap in cotton, insert into the nose, changing once daily, until gradually shrinking.

Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel): Slightly pungent, slightly warm. Governs cold and heat pathogenic factors; directs downward all rebellious and stagnant Qi attacking the heart, abdomen, and large intestine; resolves Phlegm-Qi, acid regurgitation, and痞满 (fullness); stops Huo Luan; drives out water-Qi and edema; treats Hong Kong leg (foot Qi), miasma, and malaria; and for pregnant women with fetal Qi disturbance, nausea, and distension, add ginger and salt when decocting. When using, must be washed with wine and stir-fried, fearing bird poison.

Wu Zhu Yu (Evodia Fruit): Pungent, bitter; strong aroma and flavor; less ascending, more descending; slightly toxic. Assists Yang and strengthens the Spleen; treats cold retention in the chest and diaphragm, distension and痞 cold; transforms stagnation and aids digestion; resolves acid regurgitation, vomiting, Huo Luan, cold accumulation in the heart and abdomen, sudden severe pain from evil invasion, cold Phlegm and rebellious Qi; kills parasites, ghosts, and evil infections; treats cold hernias in the Lower Jiao involving Liver, Kidney, and Bladder; Yin-toxin pain; stops bleeding and bloody dysentery; thickens the intestines and stomach; removes dampness, intestinal wind, hemorrhoids, and fistulas; treats Hong Kong leg (foot Qi) edema. However, its bitter nature favors descending; for those with sinking Qi and deficient Yuan Qi, it should be processed with sweet-tonifying herbs before use.