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The indications for *Ligustrum lucidum* (Nü Zhen Zi, Glossy Privet Fruit) recorded in the *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) were claimed by Zhang Shiwang to actually refer to *Ilex cornuta* (Gou Gu, Chinese Holly), and various authors mistakenly listed it here. Examining Zou's commentary reveals that Zhang was indeed mistaken. *Ligustrum lucidum* grows vigorously during the convergence of spring, summer, and autumn. When infested by scale insects that erode its flesh and suck its blood, leaving no intact skin, it still does not cease flowering and bearing fruit. The wax it produces cannot be matched by other greases or fats. Therefore, its ability to tonify the body, pacify the five zang organs, nourish spirit and essence, and eliminate myriad diseases is a remarkable efficacy following the depletion and deterioration caused by pathogenic heat. This is not an ungrounded eulogy added by the *Bencao Jing*. Thus, those who use *Ligustrum lucidum* should understand that although its taste is bitter and nature neutral—not a warming tonic—its efficacy rivals that of warming tonics, for reasons inherent to its nature.

*Euonymus alatus* (Wei Mao, Winged Euonymus Branch), according to Zhen Quan, can break down stale blood and induce abortion. Corroborated by Ri Huazi’s statements on promoting menstruation and breaking mass formations, it clearly belongs to herbs that effectively dissipate evil blood. Hence, the *Heji Jufang* (Prescriptions from the Bureau of Taiyi) uses it to treat postpartum retained blood. However, since its branches are three-sided like arrow feathers, ancient times only burned it to dispel malevolent influences, and it was rarely used in herbal formulas. Therefore, employing it to expel pathogens and drive away ghosts is appropriate. Consulting formulas from the *Qianjin Yaofang* (Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold) and *Waitai Miyao* (Secret Essentials of the Outer Chamber), such as treatments for malignant wandering pain affecting the heart, sudden violent heart pain, acute poisoning by evil qi, daily recurring ghost malaria, as well as Wu Chengzi’s Yinghuo Wan (Firefly Pill), do they not skillfully utilize its strengths?

*Acanthopanax senticosus* (Wujia Pi, Five-leaf Acanthopanax Bark) has tender stems and brittle bark; its medicinal part is the root, making it suitable for chronic damp-wind conditions in the lower jiao. If wind-dampness clumps at the muscle and surface level, it falls outside its jurisdiction. Ancient formulas often soak it to treat xinshan (heart hernia) with palpable masses in the lower abdomen due to cold, and fei re sheng wei (lung heat generating flaccidity syndrome) due to heat; the *Bencao Jing* addresses both. Liu Qianjiang stated: "Kidney and liver qi deficiency leads to disease from dampness." Dampness is the excessive overflow of yin qi; when yin overflows, yang fails to transform, resulting in wind. Wind is the excessive overflow of yang qi; when yang overflows, yin fails to transform further, leading to more dampness disease. Once diseased by dampness, it inevitably involves yin binding yang and yang corroding yin, forming damp-heat. This argument is extremely profound. *Acanthopanax senticosus* is pungent, bitter, and warm, excelling only in transforming dampness. By resolving the dampness of yin overflow, one drives away the wind of yang overflow. When wind departs, heat ceases; when dampness leaves, cold is removed. Even the indications in the *Benbie Lu* (Record of Additional Properties) for treating scrotal dampness, genital itching, dribbling urine, lumbar and leg pain with bi-syndrome, wind weakness, and the "five slacknesses" can all be deduced from this principle. Zou regarded the *Bencao Jing*'s mention of benefiting qi, and the *Benbie Lu*'s mention of strengthening sinews and bones and fortifying willpower, as pertaining to the upper half of the body. In reality, these benefits stem from the treatment of the kidney and liver and need not be analyzed as two separate matters.