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Cistanche (Rou Cong Rong): Sweet, salty, slightly warm, non-toxic. Wash with wine to remove the scale-like parts and rotten areas, slice, and bake for use.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it treats five types of exhaustion and seven kinds of injuries, tonifies the middle jiao, eliminates cold-heat pain in the urethra, nourishes the five zang organs, strengthens yin and benefits essence and qi, promotes fertility, and treats abdominal masses (zheng jia) in women.

[Invention] Cistanche and Cynomorium are of the same category; their taste is rich and their nature is descending, making them suitable for cases of deficiency of Mingmen ministerial fire. They vigorously tonify essence and blood, but sudden heavy use may instead cause loose stools. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* regarding "treating exhaustion and tonifying the middle" refers to the failure of Mingmen fire to generate spleen earth, rather than a fundamental deficiency of middle qi. Its treatment of abdominal masses is due to the salty flavor's ability to soften hardness and enter the blood level. Furthermore, Cistanche stops spermatorrhea and post-micturition dribbling, and eliminates cold-heat pain in the urethra, because it can guide deficient fire downward. Cynomorium treats weakness of the waist and knees because it warms and tonifies essence and blood. All these demonstrate their efficacy in nourishing ministerial fire. For the elderly with dry constipation, it is suitable to be cooked into porridge; however, those with weak stomach qi should avoid it as it may induce vomiting and diarrhea. It is contraindicated for those whose yang energy easily rises but whose essence gate is not secure.

Gastrodia (Tian Ma): Named Limu in *Shennong Bencao Jing*, also known as Dingfeng Cao (Wind-Calming Grass), its stem is called Chijian.
Pungent, neutral to slightly warm, non-toxic. Wrap in wet paper and bake until cooked, then slice for use.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* states it kills demonic spirits, gu poison, and evil qi. Long-term consumption boosts qi and strength, increases yin, and makes the body robust and strong.

[Invention] Gastrodia has a pungent and rich taste, and an ascending nature; it belongs to yang and is a herb entering the qi level of the liver. Therefore, for liver deficiency and internal generation of wind, Gastrodia combined with Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong) is used to tonify. For various wind disorders causing tremors and vertigo, blackouts, and dizziness arising from internal wind, Gastrodia is indispensable. For pediatric convulsions, phlegm, and wind-heat, Gastrodia causes symptoms to dissipate. Gastrodia is called Wind-Calming Grass; long-term use results in red spots appearing all over the body, which is evidence of its wind-dispelling action. Note: Although Gastrodia is not drying, it is ultimately a wind-moving agent. It should not be indiscriminately prescribed for patients with blood deficiency without wind, fire-flaring headache, dry mouth, or constipation. The statement in *Shennong Bencao Jing* about killing demonic spirits and poisons is because it calms wind and suppresses evil qi from all directions. Long-term consumption boosts qi and strength and increases yin because its nature is yang; when yang grows, yin grows.