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Sweet, salty, and cold; non-toxic. Use after soaking in wine and baking.
*Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) states it treats Qi stagnation causing urinary obstruction and pain, promotes urination, dispels dampness and bi-syndrome (painful obstruction), and long-term use makes the body light and delays aging.
Invention: Cheqianzi (Plantago Seed) enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. It promotes urination without depleting Qi, having the same efficacy as Fuling (Poria). *Shennong Bencao Jing* treats Qi stagnation and urinary obstruction with pain because it unblocks Kidney Qi. When urination is smooth, dampness is removed; when dampness is removed, bi-syndrome is eliminated. *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) treats female strangury and other diseases, specifically utilizing its heat-clearing and orifice-unblocking properties. Males and females have two orifices in the external genitalia: one for semen and one for urine; these two do not open simultaneously. Urine exits through the action of Qi transformation; semen is released through the movement of Fire (Ministerial Fire). Cheqianzi specifically facilitates Qi transformation, moves the water passages, and unblocks the Bladder, preventing damp-heat from disturbing the True Fire (Kidney Essence/Qi), thereby keeping the essence calm and quiet. Therefore, for conditions of acute diarrhea/dysentery and painful urinary difficulty, Cheqianzi powder taken with rice drink (2 qian) promotes urination, separates clear from turbid, and stops the grain storage (bowel) discharge. It also treats eye diseases where the Water Wheel (pupil, associated with Kidney) is unclear, taking advantage of its ability to descend fire without damaging the Kidney. Li Shizhen used it to guide heat from the Small Intestine and stop summer-damp diarrhea, utilizing its sweet, neutral, moistening, and descending properties. Those with sinking Yang Qi or Kidney Qi deficiency/collapse should not take it. The leaves, crushed for juice and taken warm, are very effective for treating seminal emission caused by excessive fire. It is contraindicated for those with deficiency-induced sliding and insecure essence.

Also known as Longya Cao.
Bitter, slightly cold; non-toxic.
Invention: Mabiancao has a red color and enters the Liver Meridian blood level, thus treating women's abdominal distension due to Blood and Qi disorders and irregular menstruation. It unblocks collaterals, dissipates masses, treats traumatic injuries, and promotes blood circulation. Drinking freshly crushed juice treats throat obstruction (Houbi) and carbuncles/swellings. Applying crushed herb externally treats lower body sores, Ququniao (a skin condition resembling bedbug bites or specific ulcers), and male penile swelling. Only those with Yin-Blood deficiency and weak Stomach Qi should avoid taking it.

It is Gouwei Cao.
Invention: For red eyes with inverted eyelashes, flip the eyelid and rub away bad blood with one or two stems dipped in water; this is very effective.

Also known as Jinling Cao, i.e., Hanlian Cao.
Sweet, sour, and neutral; non-toxic.
Invention: Lichangcao is a drug entering the Kidney Meridian blood level. Applied to moxibustion sores that bleed excessively and cannot be stopped, it halts bleeding immediately. Smearing the juice on eyebrows and hair causes them to grow quickly and luxuriantly, verifying its benefits for nourishing Kidney and Blood, hence its use in formulas for blackening beard and hair. *Qianjin Fang* contains Jinling Jian, which can increase beard/hair growth and turn white hair black; taken alone as a paste, it treats hematochezia (blood in stool). The Kidney governs the two excretions, but those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency prone to loose stools should not take it.