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[White Mustard Seed]
[Harm] (White mustard seed) is pungent and hot in nature; it dissipates healthy Qi, causes blurred vision, stirs up internal fire, and damages essence. The *Neijing* states: "Pungency travels to Qi; those with Qi disorders should not consume much pungent food, as excessive consumption leads to tendon tension and brittle nails." This refers to such cases. It is contraindicated for patients with heat in the Lung meridian, Yin deficiency with flaming fire, coughing with phlegm, or chronic cough due to Qi deficiency. Do not use erroneously. Its stems and leaves stir up wind and disturb Qi; they are forbidden for those with sores, hemorrhoids, or blood in stool. Long-term consumption of mustard leaves accumulates warmth into heat; excessive pungent dispersion consumes true Yuan Qi, causing blurred vision and triggering sores. Consumed with rabbit meat, it causes evil pathogenic diseases; consumed with crucian carp, it induces edema. Lu Jinyun said: "Looking at plums generates saliva, but eating mustard causes tears," which indicates Liver Wood pathology. Large-leaf varieties are superior; fine-leaf varieties with hairs are harmful.

[Efficacy] (White mustard seed) is pungent and warm, entering the Lung and Stomach meridians. It unblocks collaterals, induces sweating to disperse cold, regulates Qi and disperses phlegm, warms the middle to resolve cold stagnation, and wards off evil spirits. Taken with wine, it treats retrograde vomiting; applied with vinegar, it disperses carbuncles and ulcers. For phlegm located between the skin and fascia, only white mustard seed can reach the site.

[Processing] Seeds are harvested in April, dried in the sun, and used medicinally.

[Bitter Platycodon Root]
[Harm] As a drug that ascends, it is contraindicated when pathological Qi rebels upward and fails to descend. If there is Yin deficiency with floating Yang in the Lower Jiao, or pathogens in the Lower Jiao, do not include it in formulas treating the Lower Jiao. Erroneous use will definitely lead to wheezing and other adverse changes. If the disease is an excess pattern in the Upper Jiao with no pathology in the Lower Jiao, it must be used together with Licorice Root.

[Efficacy] (Bitter Platycodon Root) is bitter, pungent, and neutral in nature. Its white color corresponds to Metal. It enters the Qi aspect of the Lung meridian, clears heat, and also enters the Hand Shaoyin Heart meridian and Foot Yangming Stomach meridian. It opens and lifts Qi and Blood, clears fire, disperses cold pathogens, and clears and benefits the head, eyes, throat, and pharynx. It opens stagnation in the chest and diaphragm. When Lung fire is constrained in the Large Intestine, this herb should be used to open it. It is a "vessel agent" (Zhouji Zhi Ji), guiding other herbs to ascend to the high regions to achieve success. For wind patterns with constrained heat in the Lung meridian, this herb is indispensable. It is suitable for phlegm obstruction with wheezing, nasal coldness with red eyes, throat obstruction with pain, toothache with mouth sores, dry cough with chest pain, and borborygmus. Sweet Platycodon Root, also known as *Qili*, is another name for Kong Shashen. It is cold and benefits the Lung; sweet and detoxifies.

[Processing] Roots are collected in February and sun-dried. The sprouts of *Qili* are sweet, while the sprouts of Platycodon are bitter; the *Shennong Bencao Jing* makes no distinction. Bitter Platycodon Root should be soaked in rice washing water overnight, sliced, and lightly stir-fried before use. Ancient methods prescribe four taels of Platycodon Root with two taels and five qian of fresh Lily Bulb, pounded into a paste, added to water, soaked for one shichen (approx. 12 hours), filtered out, and slowly boiled until dry.

[ Cimicifuga Rhizome ]
[Harm] Cimicifuga Rhizome has a primary property of ascending and dispersing. For those with insufficiency of the Lower Origin (Liver and Kidney), using this herb to ascend will further deplete the Lower Origin. It is contraindicated for conditions such as Yin deficiency with stirring fire, coughing with profuse phlegm, rebellious Qi with vomiting, palpitations, epilepsy, mania, and after the eruption of infantile maculopapular rashes or smallpox. Erroneous use often leads to danger. For patients with hematemesis or epistaxis, erroneous ingestion causes blood to rise with Qi, leading to unremitting gushing.

[Efficacy] (Cimicifuga Rhizome) is sweet, pungent, and slightly bitter. It enters the Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine, and Lung meridians. It releases the exterior to scatter wind pathogens and ascends to disperse constrained fire. It can raise Yang Qi from below the Supreme Yin and guide clear Qi upward. For Qi deficiency with sinking, its ability to lift and raise Yang Qi is required. Once Yang Qi ascends, it can eliminate evil spirits, ward off miasma, and resolve the toxicity of hundreds of drugs. It treats chills and fever with dysentery, rectal prolapse, metrorrhagia, and leukorrhea, and promotes the eruption of measles and smallpox. It is contraindicated for Yin deficiency with rising fire.

[Processing] Those from Sichuan are superior. Roots are collected in the second and eighth months, dried in the sun, and scraped to remove coarse bark. They are soaked overnight in the natural juice of Polygonatum Rhizome, then sun-dried. Remove rootlets and the crown, chop, steam, and sun-dry again. If the ascending effect is considered too strong, it may be stir-fried with honey water or vinegar.