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(Qianhu / Peucedani Radix) Pungent, sweet, and bitter in flavor; cold in nature. It promotes the free flow of Lung Qi and regulates Spleen function, resolving heat pathogens in the Bladder and Liver meridians. Its nature is Yin and descending, with a specific action of directing Qi downward. When Qi descends, Fire follows suit and Phlegm dissipates. It can eliminate excess heat and is specifically indicated for wind-phlegm disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder meridians.

(See Dansan / Bile-Resolving Powder.)

(See Pangguangsan / Bladder-Resolving Powder.)

(See Pangguangsan / Bladder-Resolving Powder.)

(Xin Cang Er Zi / or similar herb described here): Pungent, bitter, and warm in flavor; aromatic in odor, with an ascending and floating therapeutic tendency. It enters the Qi level of the Liver meridian and also acts upon the Blood level. It induces sweating to disperse wind-dampness, unblocks and benefits the blood vessels, assists the Spleen in digestion, and can disperse wind within the blood. It clears heat, dissipates stasis, breaks up accumulations, and resolves toxicity. It is a crucial herb for treating wind diseases, blood diseases, and sores/carbuncles, particularly suitable when wind pathogens are located between the skin and fascia. The spikes have a strong ascending property and, when stir-fried until blackened, are used to treat blood disorders.

(See Feisan / Lung-Resolving Powder.)

(See Shenhan / Kidney-Cold pattern.)

(See Xinhan / Heart-Cold pattern.)

(See Xinhan / Heart-Cold pattern.)

(Da Ku Da Han / Likely Longdan Cao / Gentianae Radix): Extremely bitter and extremely cold in flavor; heavy, Yin, and descending in nature. It enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians to drain fire, and additionally enters the Bladder and Kidney meridians. It eliminates damp-heat in the Lower Jiao. If soaked in wine, it can also act outwardly and upwardly.

(Gan Xian Han Xing Hua / Likely Sheng Dihuang / Rehmanniae Radix): Sweet, salty, and cold in flavor; slippery in texture. It enters the Blood level of the Liver and Pericardium meridians. It cools the blood and invigorates blood circulation, promoting the free passage of both urination and defecation. Alternatively, its young shoots (Rong) may be used to harness initial Yang Qi to promote the eruption of smallpox/variolous lesions.

(Xin Ku Wei Han / Likely Zhimu / Anemarrhenae Rhizoma): Pungent, bitter, and slightly cold in flavor. It enters the Heart, Kidney, Pericardium, and Liver meridians. It excels at draining Ministerial Fire, surpassing Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex). It harmonizes, cools, and generates blood while removing stasis, clearing heat and relieving bone-steaming tidal fever without sweating.

(See Tongxinghan / General Cold-Resolving Pattern.)

(See Feihan / Lung-Cold pattern.)

(See Pangguanghan / Bladder-Cold pattern.)

(See Dachanghan / Large Intestine-Cold pattern.)

(Nvzhenzi / Ligustri Lucidi Fructus): Sweet, bitter, and cool in flavor. It tonifies the Liver and Kidneys and clears fire. It is purely Yin and extremely still; it should only be used in cases of Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire. Note: In ancient texts, Nvzhen (Privet fruit) and Dongqing (Ilex chinensis) were recorded as two different species, but they are actually the same substance.

(Da Ku Da Han / Likely Shijunzi / Quisqualis Fructus): Extremely bitter and extremely cold in flavor. It cools the Liver and calms the Heart, specializing in clearing heat and killing parasites. It treats convulsions, epilepsy, and wet tinea. It is a resinous wood from Persia.

(Gan Er Wei Han / Likely Juemingzi / Cassiae Semen): Sweet and slightly cold in flavor. It moistens the Liver and dries dampness (Note: Text says "moistens Liver, dries dryness/dampness", literally "Run Gan Zao"), specifically treating eye diseases.

(Ku Han Xing Se / Likely Diyut / Sanguisorbae Radix): Bitter, cold, and astringent in flavor. It clears Liver heat, treats various bi-syndromes caused by wind-dampness, stops dysentery, and resolves Tian She Du (venom from venomous snakes such as Agkistrodon).

(Gan Wei Han / Likely Haijinsha / Lygodii Spora): Sweet and slightly cold in flavor. It disperses wind, clears heat, harmonizes the Liver, brightens the eyes, breaks up accumulated phlegm, and eliminates epigastric fullness/stagnation.

(Ku Han / Likely Zhizi / Gardeniae Fructus): Bitter and cold in flavor. It drains Liver fire and guides damp-heat from the Small Intestine and Bladder downward, thereby leading the Ministerial Fire of the Pericardium downward. It promotes urination, treats hernia, kills parasites, and should be used without the core. Those produced in Sichuan are of superior quality. The root is extremely bitter, expels roundworms, benefits the Large Intestine, and treats toxic sores.

(See Feihan / Lung-Cold pattern.)

(Gan Wei Ku Liang / Likely Hanliancao / Ecliptae Herba): Sweet, slightly bitter, and cool in flavor. It tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, relieves thirst, and dispels wind.