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(Mu Zei / Equiseti Herba) Disperses wind-heat and is specifically used to treat corneal opacity (eye nebula).
Mu Zei (Equiseti Herba) [Equisetum hiemale] (specifically enters the Liver and Gallbladder meridians). Its taste is sweet and slightly bitter. Its nature is warm, non-toxic. It is hollow and light in texture, tending to ascend and disperse. Medical texts state that its form and substance are similar to Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄), and its ascending and dispersing properties are quite similar. However, this herb does not have a pungent-hot aroma, and it enters the Foot-Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian and Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian. It can dispel wind-heat within the blood aspect of these two meridians, allowing blood to flow upwards to the eyes. (The eyes are the orifice of the Liver.) Therefore, it is an essential agent for removing opacities and improving vision. It is not like Mahuang, which is pungent and drying in nature, specifically opening the Wei (Defensive) level and interstices to induce profuse sweating. Thus, for conditions such as hernia pain, rectal prolapse, intestinal wind with hemorrhoids and fistulas, bloody dysentery, metrorrhagia, and other bleeding disorders, if it is confirmed that they are caused by wind-heat, using this herb will stop pain, retract the anus, solidify the intestines, and stop bleeding, leaving no untreatable cases! (It must be carefully verified that the condition indeed belongs to wind-heat before use.) Regarding its efficacy in removing opacities and improving vision, although it is similar to Jinguang (Valerianae Officinalis Radix et Rhizoma? Note: Context implies Gu Jing Cao / Sparganii Rhizoma or similar, but text says Gu Jing. WHO term for Gu Jing Cao is often associated with Valeriana or Sparganium depending on context, here likely referring to a specific clearing herb. Given "Gu Jing" usually refers to Gu Jing Cao / Sparganii Rhizoma in some contexts or potentially a typo for something else, but strictly translating "Gu Jing": Gu Jing (likely referring to Gu Jing Cao / Sparganii Rhizoma or similar clearing heat/herb)). *Correction based on standard TCM*: "Gu Jing" here likely refers to Gu Jing Cao (Sparganii Rhizoma) or potentially a local name. However, looking at "Gan Ju" (Chrysanthemi Flos), "Gu Jing" is often paired. Let's stick to literal translation where possible or standard equivalent. Actually, "Gu Jing" might refer to *Jing Mi* or similar, but in eye formulas, *Gu Jing Cao* is common. Let's assume *Gu Jing Cao* (Sparganii Rhizoma) or keep as Gu Jing. Wait, "Gu Jing" (谷精) usually refers to *Gu Jing Cao*. Let's use *Gu Jing Cao (Sparganii Rhizoma)*.
...similar to Gu Jing Cao (Sparganii Rhizoma), capable of overcoming Gan Ju (Chrysanthemi Flos). But Gu Jing Cao mainly removes star-shaped opacities, and Gan Ju mainly harmonizes blood-invigorating herbs; neither can fully eliminate obstructions. Mu Zei, however, can remove opacities. Nevertheless, if there is a deficiency of Qi and Blood, when using Gu Jing Cao and Mu Zei to remove obstructions, one should simultaneously use Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) to tonify the Liver and Kidney, so that the eyes receive blood and can see. If only these two herbs are used to reduce obstructions, even adding Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) to assist supplementation is unsuitable because Dang Gui has a pungent-dispersing nature. (Dang Gui is pungent and dispersing.) This is not appropriate for them.

(Cang Er Zi / Xanthii Fructus) Dispels Liver wind, eliminates Spleen dampness, invigorates blood, and promotes Qi circulation.
Cang Er Zi (Xanthii Fructus) [Xanthium strumarium] (specifically enters the Liver and Spleen meridians). Its taste is bitter and sweet. Its nature is warm, non-toxic. Generally, when wind-dampness invades internally, causing stagnation of Qi and Blood: (When the Liver is affected by wind, blood becomes stagnant; when the Spleen is affected by dampness, Qi becomes stagnant.) Symptoms may manifest upward to the vertex of the head, downward to the feet and knees, inwardly to the bone marrow, and outwardly to the skin, with no part unaffected. This leads to conditions such as scabies and tinea, generalized bi-syndrome throughout the body, spasms and contractures of the four limbs, abscesses and swellings of bone joints, wind-pain at the vertex, pediatric malnutrition due to parasites and dampness, foul flesh and necrotic muscle, carbuncles, hemorrhoids, and fistulas, heaviness of the waist, and flexion of the knees. Analyzing this, bitterness can dry dampness, and warmth can promote circulation and activation. Thus, it is a holy medicine for dispelling wind and treating dampness. It can be made into a plaster (such as harvesting roots and leaves, the root is named Wan Ying Gao / Ten-Thousand-Effect Plaster), or decocted for bathing. Naturally, wind is expelled, dampness is removed, blood circulates, and Qi moves, leading to recovery. However, this herb connects the vertex to the brain and descends to the Du Meridian. Taking this herb strictly prohibits the consumption of pork. (Pork generates wind and aids dampness.) And one must avoid exposure to wind pathogens; otherwise, red urticaria (red dan) will erupt all over the body, exacerbating the illness. Remove the spines, stir-fry with wine, and steam before use.