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**Huangjing (Rhizoma Polygonati)**: Mildly tonifying and moistening. Sweet and neutral in nature. Tonifies the middle jiao and benefits qi, calms the five zang organs, strengthens the spleen and stomach, moistens the lungs and heart, fills the essence and marrow, assists the sinews and bones, dispels wind-dampness, and expels three types of parasites within the body. This is because it absorbs the quintessence of Kun Earth (the earth element). Long-term consumption prevents hunger (when qi is abundant, one does not feel hungry. Legend has it that in Sichuan, a master abused his maid, who fled into the mountains. She dug up wild roots to eat, finding them delicious. After eating them for a long time, she no longer felt hungry. One night, while sleeping under a tree, she saw grass moving and suspected a tiger, so she climbed a tree to hide. When dawn broke and she descended, her steps were light as if flying like a bird. Her family, who went to the mountains to gather firewood, saw this and told their master. They set nets to catch her but failed. Someone said, "Does she have immortal bones? It must be that she consumed spiritual herbs." So they set out wine and food by the road. The maid indeed came to eat, and after eating, she could not leave. Upon capture and interrogation, she pointed to the herb she had eaten, which was Huangjing). Commonly known as Mountain Ginger. It should be used after nine steaming and nine sun-drying cycles (Daoists consider it similar to Lingzhi mushrooms; consuming it promotes longevity).

**Gouji (Cibotii Rhizoma)**: Mildly tonifying to the liver and kidneys. Bitter flavor solidifies the kidney; sweet flavor benefits blood (and can consolidate sweat); warm nature nourishes qi. Treats urinary incontinence without control (due to kidney deficiency), lower limb weakness, lumbar pain, and cold-dampness. Treats Zhou Bi (Generalized Bi-syndrome) (The Classics state: When pathogenic factors are internally not in the zang-fu organs, nor externally manifested on the skin, but reside exclusively between the muscles, preventing the true qi from circulating throughout the body, it is named Zhou Bi). Dispels wind-deficiency, strengthens joints, and facilitates flexion and extension (by nourishing the kidney and liver, the bones become strong and the sinews resilient). Its rhizome has yellow hairs resembling a dog's spine, hence the name Jinmao Gouji (Golden-haired Dog Spine). Remove the hairs, slice, and steam with wine. Bibi (Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma) serves as a guiding herb. Making it into an extract/paste is beneficial.

**Shihu (Dendrobii Caulis)**: Mildly tonifying to the liver and kidneys. Sweet and bland flavors enter the spleen meridian to clear deficiency heat; salty and neutral flavors enter the kidney meridian to astringe primordial qi. Benefits essence, strengthens yin, warms the water organ (lower jiao/kidney), regulates stomach qi, tonifies deficiency and fatigue, and strengthens sinews and bones. Treats wind-bi syndrome and lower limb weakness, fever with spontaneous sweating, nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea, urethral涩感 (astringency/tingling) and residual dribbling (Lei Xiao stated: Shihu stabilizes the marrow. Wang Ang notes: Shihu is a herb growing on rocks, with a slender body lacking juice, and a bland taste that is difficult to extract. Placing it in decoctions yields slow results; it must be processed into a paste for optimal efficacy). Those with a luster like a gold hairpin, short stems, and solid centers, grown on rocks, are of good quality and are called Jinchai Shihu (Gold-hairpin Dendrobium). Those that are long and hollow are called Shui Hu (Water Dendrobium) and are unsuitable for use. Remove the head, root, and base, and soak in wine before use. Adverse interaction with Badou (Crotonis Fructus). Aversion to Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus). Finely chopped and soaked in water, then processed into a paste yields even better results.