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[Picrorhizae Rhizoma (Huhuanglian)]
[Harm] The nature is extremely bitter and cold. If yin-blood is insufficient, true essence is exhausted, and both spleen-yin and stomach-qi are weak, it must not be administered recklessly. It must be used together with herbs that strengthen the spleen and stomach to avoid adverse effects; caution is advised. Its contraindications, aversions, and incompatibilities are the same as those of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian).
[Benefit] Bitter and cold, enters the Stomach, Liver, and Gallbladder meridians. It primarily treats bone-steaming fever in patients with deficiency, and can be used in the early stages. For chronic dysentery, it can be used if the stomach-qi is substantial. In treating pediatric malnutrition (Gan syndrome) and convulsive epilepsy, its nature, flavor, and functions are similar to those of Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian).
[Preparation] Harvested at any time. Authentic material is identified by dust rising like smoke when broken.

[Antelope Horn (Lingyangjiao)]
[Harm] Cold in nature, it can damage the vital generating qi. It is suitable for cases where there is heat in the Liver and Heart meridians. Do not use if there is no fire or heat.
[Benefit] Bitter and salty, it drains pathogenic heat from the Heart, Liver, and Lungs, directs qi downward, descends fire, resolves toxicity, disperses blood stasis, expels wind, and relaxes tendons. Thus, it can brighten the eyes and remove obstructions, treat convulsive epilepsy and spasms, as well as mania, delirium, nightmares, Shanghan (cold damage), latent heat, rebellious qi, and food stagnation with inability to swallow. Antelopes are agile and spiritual, with their essence concentrated in the horns; therefore, they can also ward off evil, disperse blood stasis to treat smallpox lesions, and resolve various toxins.
[Preparation] Sourced from western regions. It resembles a sheep but is larger. The horn has joints and is extremely hard and tough, capable of crushing metal and stone. Bright and non-blackened material is superior. Usually, horns come in pairs; single horns are considered even better. Shave into thin slices wrapped in cotton, or grind into juice. When preparing pills and powders, do not separate the original pair; bind with rope, file finely with an iron file, pound, sieve, and grind ten thousand times before incorporating into medicine to prevent scratching the intestinal tract.

[Prunellae Spica (Xiakucao)]
[Harm] Long-term consumption may also injure the stomach.
[Benefit] Pungent, bitter, and slightly cold. It moderates liver fire, resolves internal heat, dissipates nodular qi, and treats scrofula (Luoli), rat scrofula (Shuluo), goiter (Yingliu), breast abscess (Ruyong), and breast cancer (Ruyan). It treats night pain in the eyeballs because it can dissipate constrained fire of the Jueyin meridian. Using Convolvulus root (Tugua) as an assistant herb, it can stabilize mercury sulfide.
[Preparation] This herb withers after the Summer Solstice. Harvest in April, dry in the sun, and use.

[Ablumen Haliotidis (Shijueming)]
[Harm] Excessive intake causes coldness in the middle jiao. One must never consume mountain turtles, as it leads to blindness.
[Benefit] Salty and cool. It sinks wind-heat of the Lung and Liver to brighten the eyes. Internally, it treats amblyopia and cataracts; externally applied, it disperses red membranes and external opacities. Aside from treating eye diseases and liver fire, its other uses are rare. It also treats bone-steaming consumptive fever and promotes urination.
[Preparation] Harvested without specific timing. Those with seven or nine perforations are best. Grind into powder, crush fresh, or boil in salt water for use.