Library

Sweet and bitter in taste. Enters the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its action is specifically moving without staying. It is also a herb for the Yangming and Chong-Ren vessels. It unblocks menstruation, promotes lactation, and facilitates childbirth. When taken with *Squama Manis* (Pangolin Scales), it promotes lactation very rapidly. Use after soaking in sour rice water. When combined with *Phellodendri Cortex* (Huangbai), it has miraculous effects in treating the accidental swallowing of iron or stones.

Sweet in taste and cold in nature. Enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Its action is specifically slippery and lubricating. It can promote urination/ejaculation and expel the fetus. When combined with *Amomi Fructus* (Sharen), it treats mastitis caused by milk accumulation. When combined with *Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix* (Niuxi), it facilitates the expulsion of the placenta. When combined with *Ulmus Rubra Bark* (Yupi), it treats edema. When combined with *Talcum* (Huashi), *Akebiae Caulis* (Mutong), and *Allii Fistulosi Bulbus* (Congbai), it treats dysuria during pregnancy (Zilin). Half a *he* (approx. 50ml) of *Abelmoschi Moschatus Seed* (Huangshukui Zi) is ground into a paste, filtered through wine to remove dregs, and taken warm to facilitate childbirth. Red flowers treat red leukorrhea; white flowers treat white leukorrhea. Powdered *Abelmoschi Moschatus Seed* applied externally treats burns and scalds.

Bitter in taste. Enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Its action is specifically eliminating wind-dampness, pain, bi-syndrome, and scrofula (Shuluo - lymphatic tuberculosis). It is most effective when taken for cases that have already ulcerated. It is incompatible with *Mantis Ootheca* (Sangpiaoxiao), *Platycodonis Radix* (Jiegeng), *Poria* (Fuling), and *Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma* (Bixie).

Bitter in taste. Enters the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its action is specifically eliminating wind-dampness. When combined with *Eucommiae Cortex* (Duzhong), it treats numbness and weakness in the waist and legs. When combined with *Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma* (Shichangpu) and *Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus* (Yizhiren), it treats frequent white turbid discharge and pain in the urethra. *Coicis Semen* (Yiyiren) serves as the guiding herb. It is inhibited by *Rhei Radix et Rhizoma* (Dahuang), *Bupleuri Radix* (Chaihu), and *Peucedani Radix* (Qianhu). Tea and vinegar are contraindicated.

Sweet and bland in taste. Enters the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian and Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. Its action is specifically strengthening the spleen and stomach, eliminating wind-dampness, and promoting urination. It treats muscle spasms of the tendons and bones, and toxicity from yaws (Yangmeichuang). Tea is contraindicated. Also known as Lengfantuan.

Bitter in taste. Enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its action is specifically clearing fire that rebels upward and draining heat that stagnates downward. It treats genital swelling and leukorrhea. When combined with *Angelicae Dahuricae Radix* (Baizhi), it treats foreign bodies stuck in the throat. When combined with *Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata* (Fuzi), it treats wind-bi syndrome with tendon stiffness. Taken as a powder with *Moutan Cortex* (Danpi) or *Pinelliae Rhizoma* (Banxia) and washed down with wine, it treats retained arrowheads. Combined with *Bletillae Rhizoma* (Baiji) as a powder, it helps close wound openings. For burns and scalds, applying the powder externally is effective. It is contrary to *Aconiti Radix* (Wutou).

Sweet and sour in taste. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. Its action is specifically darkening beard and hair, and nourishing kidney yin. When combined with *Halitum* (Qingyan), it strengthens teeth. When combined with *Plantaginis Seed* (Cheqian), it treats hematuria. The nature is cold. If not processed and taken together with ginger juice and pepper red, it may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. For migraines or general headaches, dripping the juice into the nose is beneficial. Used alone, roasted and powdered, taken with rice water every morning in doses of two qian, it treats persistent bleeding from intestinal wind or internal toxins. Crushed to extract juice, mixed with extremely hot yellow wine and drunk, it treats hemorrhoids, fistulas, and sores. Externally, the residue is applied to the affected area. In severe cases, no more than three doses yield miraculous results. Also known as Licang, and also known as Jinlingcao.