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Plantago Leaf (Cheqiancao): Properties are penetrating and promoting, capable of moving water, draining heat, and cooling blood. Sweet and cold in nature. It cools blood, removes heat, stops hematemesis and epistaxis, eliminates masses and stasis, brightens the eyes, and promotes urination (Most diuretic agents damage the eyes. Only this herb can resolve heat in the Liver and Small Intestine; as damp-heat recedes, vision clears. Lei Xiao stated: Use only the leaves, do not use the stems or pistils).

Plantago Seed (Cheqianzi): Sweet and cold in nature. It clears wind-heat from the Lungs and Liver, leaches out damp-heat from the Bladder, promotes urination without depleting Qi, and has effects similar to Poria (Fuling), strengthening Yin, benefiting essence, and facilitating conception (The Kidneys have two orifices; Plantago Seed benefits the water orifice while securing the essence orifice. Abundant essence leads to fertility; it is used in Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan [Five Seeds for Procreation Pill], formulated with Goji Berry (Gouqi) and Dodder Seed (Tusizi) each at 8 liang, Schisandra (Wuweizi) and Raspberry (Fupenzi) each at 4 liang, and Plantago Seed at 2 liang, made into honey pills. For those prone to seminal emission, replace Plantago Seed with Lotus Seed (Lianzi). Li Shizhen stated: When humans consume this herb, it must be combined with other medicines, such as using Alisma (Zexie) in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan [Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia]; if used alone, it causes excessive purging). It treats damp-bi syndrome, five types of strangury, and dysentery caused by summer-heat dampness (Ouyang Xiu suffered from acute diarrhea that imperial physicians could not cure. His wife said: There is a medicine in the market costing three wen per patch, very effective. Ouyang refused to take it, so his wife mixed it with other herbs and administered it; one dose cured him. Inquiring about the prescription, it was found to be Plantago Seed powder taken with rice decoction, two qian per dose. Another view holds that this herb promotes urination without disturbing Qi; when the water passages are clear, turbidity and clarity separate, and the grain organ naturally stops diarrhea). It treats red eyes and cataracts (can remove Liver heat) and induces labor to expel the fetus.

Processing method: Steamed with wine, pounded into cakes, dried and ground (Steamed with wine and pounded into cakes for tonifying formulas; stir-fried and ground for diuretic and anti-diarrheal formulas).

Juncus Effusus (Dengcao): Light in texture, penetrating and promoting, capable of promoting urination and clearing heat. Sweet, bland, and cold in nature. It descends Heart Fire (Heart channel fire), clears Lung heat, benefits the Small Intestine (The Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interior related; clearing Heart fire clears Lung heat and Small Intestine heat, allowing heat to exit via urination), promotes Qi movement, and stops bleeding.

It treats five types of strangury and edema; ash from burning is blown into the throat to treat throat obstruction (hou bi); applied to breasts to stop night crying; rubbing it on tinea is most effective (Tied into bundles, rubbed vigorously when itching is extreme; worms can be seen crawling out from the grass floating on water; after more than ten times, the root cause is eliminated).