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Cold in nature, treats heat-toxin dysentery (dysentery caused by heat toxins), and manages *gan* syndrome (childhood malnutrition syndrome).

Salty and cold in nature, clears fire and relieves heat, treats throat obstruction (*hou bi*), hemorrhoids with fistulae, and pediatric convulsions and epilepsy; resolves centipede toxicity. Slugs treat toxic sores; when applied topically to heat-toxin-induced hemorrhoidal fistulae, they are particularly effective in resolving centipede toxicity.

Salty, cold, and descending in action, drains heat and promotes urination, treats severe heat conditions, and manages kidney wind and Hong Kong foot (podagra/gouty arthritis). Earthworm mud is sweet and cold, drains heat and resolves toxicity, treats chronic dysentery and swelling/toxins.

Salty and cold, relieves heat and dries dampness, transforms phlegm and eliminates accumulation, brightens the eyes, stops dysentery and vomiting. Meat is salty and cold, with similar functions, additionally treating metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and hemorrhoids.

Same efficacy as clam powder. The meat also has the same efficacy as clam meat.

Salty and extremely cold, washes for knee-crab wind (rheumatoid arthritis of the knee), applies topically for wet, ulcerating sores.

Sweet and extremely cold, promotes diuresis and clears heat, guides heat downward, unblocks both bowels, treats toxic dysentery, red eyes, and hemorrhoids.

Sweet and cold, drains heat and unblocks both bowels, brightens the eyes and promotes water metabolism. The shell drains damp-heat, treats stomach pain due to phlegm-fluid retention and accumulation, and sores/hemorrhoids/scalds/burns; use shells from soil or old walls.

Salty and cold, drains heat, treats scrofula nodules, expands the chest.

Salty and cold, disperses blood stasis and removes heat, unblocks meridians and reconnects sinews and bones, treats disorders caused by injured blood stirring wind. Crab claws induce abortion.

Salty and cool, descends fire and disperses stasis, treats deficiency-heat and sores/*gan*.

Pungent, bitter, and extremely hot, searches out wind and overcomes dampness, opens stubborn phlegm, treats stubborn sores; its "using poison to attack poison" efficacy surpasses that of *Chuanwu* (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata), but since its toxicity is uncontrolled, it should not be administered lightly; stir-fry with ginger juice or boil with tofu.

Pungent and extremely hot, warms the middle and relaxes the diaphragm, directs qi downward, transforms phlegm and resolves toxicity, treats stomach-cold with vomiting of water and toothache; its action tends most easily to flare upward.

It is the larger variety of pepper, belonging to the same category but two species; main indications are roughly the same.

Pungent and warm, belongs to Metal and controls Water, pursues wind and strengthens bones, calms pain and dispels evil; use skull for head-wind and convulsions/epilepsy, use tibia for hand-foot wind. Meat is sour and neutral, tonifies qi and strength, stops salivation, dispels spirits/demons. Stomach treats retrograde vomiting. Eyes treat pediatric nocturnal crying. Gourd dispels evil ghosts.

*Ren Shen* (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), *Dan Shen* (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), *Sha Shen* (Glehniae Radix), *Ku Shen* (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), *Yuan Shen* (Scrophulariae Radix), *Zi Shen* (Bupleuri Radix), *Xi Xin* (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), and *Shao Yao* (Paeoniae Radix) are all incompatible with *Li Lu* (Veratri Radix); *Da Ji* (Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix), *Yuan Hua* (Genkwa Flos), *Gan Sui* (Kansui Radix), and *Hai Zao* (Sargassum) are all incompatible with *Gan Cao* (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma); *Ban Xia* (Pinelliae Rhizoma), *Gua Lou* (Trichosanthis Fructus), *Bei Mu* (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), *Bai Lian* (Ampelopsis Radix), and *Bai Ji* (Bletillae Rhizoma) are all incompatible with *Wu Tou* (Aconiti Radix); *Shi Jue Ming* (Haliotidis Concha) is incompatible with *Yun Mu* (Muscovite); *Liu Huang* (Sulfur) is incompatible with *Mang Xiao* (Natrii Sulfas); *Wu Tou* is incompatible with *Xi Jiao* (Rhinocerotis Cornu); *Shui Yin* (Hydrargyrum) is incompatible with *Pi Shuang* (Arsenici Trioxidum); *Ba Dou* (Crotonis Fructus) is incompatible with *Qian Niu* (Pharbitidis Semen); *Ding Xiang* (Caryophylli Flos) is incompatible with *Yu Jin* (Curcumae Longae Radix); *Mang Xiao* is incompatible with *San Leng* (Sparganii Rhizoma); *Rou Gui* (Cinnamomi Cortex) is incompatible with *Shi Zhi* (Kaolin); *Li Lu* is incompatible with *Jiu Huang Sa Yu* (wine-treated yellow catfish); *Sa Yu* is incompatible with *Jing Jie* (Schizonepetae Herba); Scallion, garlic chives, and honey are all incompatible; vinegar is incompatible with clam meat; cow's milk is incompatible with acidic substances and raw fish; *Ren Shen* fears *Wu Ling Zhi* (Trogopterori Faeces); *Ye Lang Du* (Thymeliæ Radix) fears *Mi Tuo Seng* (Lodochalcitis); [Certain] bark is antagonistic with *Jie Geng* (Platycodonis Radix) and *Mai Dong* (Ophiopogonis Radix). Generally, drugs that are incompatible become enemies of each other and should not be combined; this differs from those that are merely feared or antagonistic, which can still be controlled.

Note: *Ren Shen* fears *Wu Ling Zhi*, is antagonistic with *Zao Jia* (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen), and is incompatible with *Li Lu*; yet Dong Yuan's *Jiao Tai Wan* uses *Ren Shen* and *Zao Jia*, indicating that antagonism can be overcome. The ancient formula *Si Wu Tang* for amenorrhea adds *Ren Shen* and *Wu Ling Zhi*, indicating that fear can be overcome. Also, for phlegm in the chest and diaphragm, *Ren Shen* and *Li Lu* are used together to induce vomiting, stimulating their aggressive nature. Furthermore, *Gan Cao* is incompatible with *Da Ji*, *Yuan Hua*, *Gan Sui*, and *Hai Zao*; yet Hu Qia treats phlegm-stagnation with *Shi Zao Tang*, decocting *Yuan Hua*, *Da Ji*, and *Gan Sui* in jujube soup and adding *Gan Cao*. Dong Yuan uses *Gan Cao* with *Hai Zao* for tubercles. Dan Xi uses *Gan Cao* with *Yuan Hua* for consumption. Also, *Huang Qi* fears *Fang Feng*, yet *Yu Ping Feng San* uses them together. *Niu Huang* (Calculus Bovis) is antagonistic with *Long Gu* (Fossilia Ossis Mastodi), yet *Long Gu* becomes beneficial with *Niu Huang*. Only one who thoroughly understands profound principles and adapts flexibly can know these matters.

Generally, the roots of herbs ascend while the tips descend.

The main uses of the Five Flavors: Bitter drains, Sweet moderates, Sour astringes, Softens with Salty, Leaches with Pungent, Disperses with Pungent. Pungent and Sweet disperse and belong to Yang; Sour and Bitter induce vomiting/draining and belong to Yin.

Bitter herbs have a neutral ascending action; slightly cold herbs also have a neutral ascending action; Sweet and Pungent herbs have a neutral descending action; Sweet-Cold drains fire; Bitter-Cold drains damp-heat; Bitter-Sweet-Cold drains blood-heat.

Those with thin flavors are Yang within Yin, such as Sour, Bitter, and Neutral-Salty; those with thick flavors are Yin within Yin, such as Sour, Bitter, and Cold-Salty; those with thick qi are Yang within Yang, such as Pungent, Sweet, and Warm-Hot; those with thin qi are Yin within Yang, such as Pungent, Sweet, Light, Neutral, Cool, and Cold.

When using highly toxic drugs to treat disease, stop when 60% of the disease is gone; when using commonly toxic drugs, stop at 70%; when using slightly toxic drugs, stop at 80%; when using non-toxic drugs, stop at 90%. Do not go too far.