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[Flavor and Nature]
Bitter, warm, non-toxic. Its action can ascend or descend; it is yang within yin.

[Indications]
It promotes the free flow of the five zang organs, eliminates cold stagnation in the abdomen, and phlegm-fluid retention in the heart and diaphragm. It pushes out old and new accumulations, disperses wind-pathogens in the skin and large intestine, and resolves long-standing jia masses (abdominal lumps) and pi masses. It clears retained pus and foul fluids in the bladder. Weilingxian (Clematis Root) belongs to the Wood element and is a key herb for treating gout. Its nature is agile and penetrating, capable of moving horizontally through the waist, kidneys, legs, and knees. For various cold diseases accumulated in the intestines, its administration yields immediate effects. However, prolonged use may damage true qi; one must recognize that its nature is too dispersing and draining.

[Flavor and Nature]
Pungent, warm, non-toxic. Light, clear, and floating upward, ascending; it is yin within yang. It enters the blood aspect of the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, serving as a guiding herb for the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. (When decocted, the dosage should not exceed one qian; excessive amounts cause chest stuffiness.)

[Indications]
It disperses cough with rebellious qi, headache, and bi-syndrome caused by wind-dampness. It warms the middle jiao, directs qi downward, benefits the liver and gallbladder, brightens the eyes, and unblocks the nine orifices. It treats head wind and facial wind, stops tearing induced by wind exposure, and relieves toothache. Therefore, when fluid retention occurs below the heart and fails to circulate, leading to dryness of kidney qi, the pungency of Xixin (Asarum) is suitable to move fluid qi and moisten dryness. When pathogens move from the interior to the exterior, resulting in insufficient gallbladder qi, Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction) is used to clear Shaoyin syndrome.

Adverse interactions: Feared by Cornus Officinalis Fruit (Shanzhuyu) and Scutellaria Baicalensis Root (Huangqin); contraindicated with raw Ziziphus Jujube Seed (Ruzhu); feared by Talcum (Huashi); opposed to Veratrum Nigrum Rhizome (Lilu).

[Flavor and Nature]
Slightly warm, non-toxic. Its action can ascend or descend; it is yang. It enters the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

[Indications]
Moxibustion with Aiye (Artemisia Leaf) treats myriad diseases, benefits yin qi, promotes muscle growth, repels wind-cold, stops abdominal pain, calms the fetus, and treats leukorrhea in women. It expels cold and removes dampness. When used for moxibustion, its qi descends; when taken orally as medicine, its qi ascends. Aifu Wan (Ai and Cinnamon Pill) treats various pains in the epigastrium and lower abdomen and regulates various female disorders. Jiao'ai Tang (Donkey-hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction) treats deficiency-type dysentery and postpartum bleeding during pregnancy. For elderly individuals with weak qi in the dantian and cold intolerance in the umbilical and abdominal regions, cooked Aiye placed in a cloth bag to cover the umbilicus and abdomen is effective. For cold-dampness-induced podagra (foot qi), placing it inside socks yields remarkable results. Some claim that due to its pungent and hot nature, prolonged use generates fire. They fail to realize that those recklessly seeking conception often overdose on pungent and hot substances, including mugwort, and mistakenly blame the mugwort rather than recognizing that other herbs were excessively pungent. Is this the fault of mugwort?