\r泽泻\pq60a1.bmp\r
咸寒入肾。治相火之阳邪。甘淡通淋。渗膀胱之湿热。（泽泻甘淡咸寒。入肾与膀胱
导下焦水湿垢浊。自然湿热除。相火降。邪去则正受益。故补肾药中。每每相兼用之。非泽
泻真有补性也。不过一于利水而已。）
\r蒲黄\pq60a.bmp\r
破血凉瘀。生用可行熟可止。味甘性冷。损伤能散肿能消。入心肝以达脾。通经脉而
治痛。（蒲黄即香蒲花之心也。色黄气香。入心肝脾三经血分。其性甘凉。故能凉血散血。
取凡花皆散之意。凡一切血分瘀滞之病。皆可用之。但轻香走散之品。似乎上焦病为尤宜。
炒黑则能止血。以红见黑则止。水胜火也。）
\r海藻\pq60.bmp\r
咸以软坚。消瘿利水。寒能入肾。退热除痰。（海藻生海中。其叶如发。即水藻之属
也。咸寒润下之品。软坚行水。是其本功。故一切瘰 瘿瘤顽痰胶结之证。皆可用之。然咸
走血。多食咸则血脉凝涩。生气日削。致成废疾不起者多矣。）
\r昆布\pq61a.bmp\r
功用相同海藻。治疗亦本咸寒。（昆布生海中。其叶如布。性味主治与海藻相同。故
每相兼而用。然有病则病当。若药过病所。则非徒无益。而又害之。）
\r浮萍\pq61.bmp\r
发汗以开鬼门。味辛有效。行水而洁净府。性冷多功。轻浮入肺可祛风。行方无定。
解散行经能胜湿。到处为家。（浮萍生水中。浮水面。其叶小而背紫。叶下有根如须。飘流
水中。不着泥土。轻浮辛寒。入肺经。发汗之功。并于麻黄。但麻黄性温。浮萍性寒为异。
且浮萍利水之功。麻黄所不能耳。）
Ze Xie (Alisma Rhizoma)
Salty and cold, enters the Kidney meridian. Treats the yang pathogenic factor of Ministerial Fire. Sweet and bland nature promotes urination, draining damp-heat from the Bladder. (Ze Xie is sweet, bland, salty, and cold, entering the Kidney and Bladder meridians. It guides water-dampness and turbid filth in the lower jiao downward, naturally clearing damp-heat and descending Ministerial Fire. When pathogens are eliminated, healthy qi benefits; thus, it is often used in conjunction with kidney-tonifying herbs. This is not because Ze Xie truly has tonifying properties, but simply because it is a diuretic.)
Pu Huang (Typhae Pollen)
Breaks blood stasis and cools blood. Raw form can promote blood circulation, while processed (roasted) form can stop bleeding. Sweet taste and cold nature disperse swelling caused by injury. Enters the Heart and Liver meridians to reach the Spleen, unblocking meridians to treat pain. (Pu Huang is the pollen of Typha angustifolia, yellow in color and fragrant. It enters the blood aspect of the Heart, Liver, and Spleen meridians. Its sweet and cool nature allows it to cool blood and dissipate stasis, following the principle that "all flowers disperse." It can be used for all diseases involving blood stasis. However, due to its light, fragrant, and dispersing nature, it is particularly suitable for upper jiao disorders. When charred black, it stops bleeding, based on the principle that red turns to black and stops, representing Water overcoming Fire.)
Hai Zao (Sargassum Thallus)
Salty nature softens hardness, eliminates goiter, and promotes urination. Cold nature enters the Kidney, clears heat, and resolves phlegm. (Hai Zao grows in the sea, with leaves like hair, belonging to algae. It is a salty, cold, and moistening-draining substance; softening hardness and promoting water movement are its primary functions. Therefore, it can be used for all conditions such as scrofula, goiter, tumors, and stubborn phlegm congealing. However, salty flavors move into the blood; excessive consumption of salty foods causes blood vessels to become stagnant and vital energy to diminish daily, leading to many cases of permanent disability.)
Kun Bu (Laminaria Thallus)
Functions are identical to Hai Zao; treatments are also based on salty and cold properties. (Kun Bu grows in the sea, with leaves like cloth. Its nature, flavor, and indications are the same as Hai Zao, so they are often used together. However, medicine should match the disease; if the medicinal force exceeds the location of the disease, it will not only be ineffective but also harmful.)
Fu Ping (Spirodela Herba)
Promotes sweating to open the "ghost gates" (pores), effective due to pungent flavor; promotes water metabolism to purify the "clean mansion" (Bladder), multifunctional due to cold nature. Light and floating, enters the Lung meridian to dispel wind; shape is square yet variable. Disperses and moves through meridians to overcome dampness, home wherever it goes. (Fu Ping grows in water, floating on the surface. Leaves are small with purple undersides, with root-like structures underneath. It drifts in water without touching soil. Light, floating, pungent, and cold, it enters the Lung meridian. Its sweating efficacy is comparable to Ma Huang, but whereas Ma Huang is warm, Fu Ping is cold. Moreover, Fu Ping's diuretic function is something Ma Huang cannot achieve.)