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Taste and Nature: Acrid, Cold; Non-toxic. Indications: Sudden fever with pruritus (body itching), promotes urination to resolve fluid retention, counteracts alcohol toxicity, promotes the growth of beard and hair, stops Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Long-term use results in a light body.

(Shuiping [Water Duckweed] is found everywhere in ponds, marshes, and stagnant waters. It begins to grow in late spring and flourishes in summer. One leaf over night generates several new leaves; beneath the leaves are fine rootlets, which constitute its roots. The leaves are small and round, green on the surface and purple on the back. Those that are purple-red like blood are called Zibei Fuping [Purple-backed Floating Duckweed], which are superior for medicinal use. Harvested in July, placed in bamboo sieves, dried under the sun with basins of water reflecting underneath, it dries easily.)

The Qi of Taiyang (Greater Yang) has its root in water and floats outwardly on the skin surface. Shuiping grows in water and floats on the surface, thereby inheriting the transformation of Taiyang Qi. Its purple-red back connects with the water, indicating that Taiyang Qi takes root in water. It flourishes in the hot summer, representing the opening and floating upward of Taiyang Qi which governs summer. The taste is acrid and cold. Acrid belongs to Metal; Taiyang is like Heaven and corresponds to Qian (Heaven). Cold is the original nature of Taiyang; Taiyang manifests as Yang but its root is Cold. Regarding sudden fever with pruritus: Wind-Heat pathogenic factors suddenly invade the skin, causing general itching. Shuiping inherits the Qi of Cold Water and acts externally on the skin surface, thus treating sudden fever with pruritus. Regarding promoting urination: When Taiyang Qi reaches the exterior skin and hair follicles, the fluid Qi of the Bladder naturally descends. Regarding counteracting alcohol: Alcohol is acrid, warm, and pungent, acting first on the skin. Shuiping is acrid and cold, resolving heat, and also acts first on the skin, thus countering alcohol. Regarding promoting beard and hair growth: Taiyang is the master Qi of all Yang meridians, steaming the skin and moistening the hair, leading to the growth of beard and hair. By obtaining the essence of Cold Water, it stops Xiao Ke (wasting-thirst syndrome). Long-term use causes Yin Essence to flourish and Yang Qi to become abundant, resulting in a light body.

Taiyang Qi emerges from water, combines upwardly with Minister Fire (Jun Huo), and governs the Sun. Shuiping is reflected by water below and dried by the sun above, demonstrating the mutual communication of Taiyang Qi between upper and lower, which is the wonderful application of natural physical laws.

Taste and Nature: Bitter, Neutral; Non-toxic. Indications: Pain and stiffness of the waist and spine, wind-cold-dampness generalized bi-syndrome affecting bone joints, chronic non-healing malignant sores, Heat Qi.

(Bibo [Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizome] is found everywhere; those from Chuan-Shu and Huaqing regions are superior. The vines extend and creep; stems and leaves are green with thorns; leaves are trifoliate; flowers come in red, yellow, and white varieties, and some produce white seeds without flowering. The rhizome is yellowish-white, multi-jointed and hard. Therefore, "Bie Lu" [Ben Cao Jing Jiu Yi] calls it Chi Jie Bi [Red-Jointed Bibo], implying "lower resolution." Because its efficacy concentrates in the root, its nature extends upward, signifying the meaning of resolving pathology from below upwards.)

Generally, herbal roots that are hard and bone-like govern the Kidney. Plants with thorns and vines circulate through the meridians. Bibo possesses both bone-like hardness and vine-like extension; therefore, it treats pain and stiffness of the waist and spine, wind-cold in bone joints, and governs the Kidney. Furthermore, it treats damp-bi and generalized bi-syndrome, governing the meridians. Bitter flavor clears Heat; thus, it treats the Heat Qi associated with chronic non-healing malignant sores.