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Sudan Wood (Suxmu)
The flavor is sweet and salty, and the nature is neutral. It enters the Heart and Liver meridians to reach the Spleen. It invigorates blood and moves stasis, dissipates wind and reduces swelling. (Sudan wood specifically acts in the Blood aspect, invigorating blood and moving stasis without other special uses. Although it is a substance with sweet, salty, neutral, non-toxic properties, it is still unsuitable for those whose blood has no stagnation. Its ability to treat Wind conditions is also based on the principle that when blood flows smoothly, wind naturally extinguishes.)

Dried Lacquer (Ganqi)
It breaks blood and eliminates stasis, can reconnect severed tendons and bones and harmonize injuries. It unblocks the collaterals of the Liver meridian. The flavor is pungent and warm, and it is toxic. It removes Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness and is good at treating parasitic skin sores. (Dried lacquer: Lacquer is the sap of trees; dried lacquer refers to the lacquer condensed inside the barrels in lacquer shops. It has pungent, bitter, salty flavors and is warm in nature, possessing great toxicity. Observing its ability to corrode human skin or cause lacquer dermatitis makes this clear. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states that it can reconnect severed injuries, calm the Five Zang organs, and with long-term use, lighten the body and prolong life. This is likely because by scouring away evil stagnation, the Zang organs become tranquil, just as eliminating violence is the way to pacify the good. In short, dried lacquer is a substance that breaks blood and resolves accumulations; killing parasites is merely a secondary function.)

Acanthopanacis Cortex (Wujiapi)
It treats lower Jiao Bi syndrome caused by Wind-Cold-Dampness. It possesses both bitter and pungent flavors. It strengthens the waist and knees, addressing deficiency, emaciation, and flaccidity. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians and is warm in nature. (Acanthopanacis cortex gets its name from the tree's branch having five leaves, presenting an image of interlacing. It has pungent, bitter flavors and is warm in nature, non-toxic. It enters the Liver and Kidney meridians, dispelling Wind-Cold-Dampness Bi syndrome in the lower Jiao, as well as symptoms like pain in the waist and knees, podagra-like swelling, and weakness. When the pathogenic factors are removed, the Liver and Kidneys strengthen, and the sinews and bones become flexible, thus benefiting essence and tonifying deficiency. Although this substance lacks pure tonifying power, it does not harm healthy Qi, hence the saying that long-term use lightens the body. If there is Liver and Kidney deficiency but no Wind-Cold-Dampness pathogens in the lower part, yet there is Fire, it should not be used.)

Vitex Fruit (Manjingzi)
It disseminates Wind-Heat of the Lung meridian in the Upper Jiao, bringing clearing benefits to both the head and eyes. It disperses Dampness overflowing from the Liver into the muscle surface; its functions all rely on its bitter and pungent flavors and neutral nature. (Vitex fruit has pungent and bitter flavors and is neutral in nature. Although it is a seed, its physical quality is light and floating. Entering the Lung meridian, it ascends and disseminates, thus being able to clear and benefit the head and eyes, release the exterior, and disperse Wind. The reason it can search out Liver Wind is not only because Wind pathways connect to the Liver, but also because Wind-dispersing herbs can enter the Liver. Its ability to treat Dampness is due to the principle that Wind can overcome Dampness.)