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(Xi Cao) Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed) moistens dryness, unblocks orifices, and facilitates childbirth.
Dong Kui Zi (specifically enters the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians). Sweet, cold, bland, and slippery. It moistens dryness, unblocks orifices, regulates Ying (Nutrient) and Wei (Defensive) Qi, reduces swelling, and promotes urination.
For women suffering from difficult labor where the fetus does not descend, specifically take one ingredient: stir-fry Dong Kui Zi until fragrant, grind into powder, and take 3 qian with Xiong Gui Tang (Szechwan Lovage and Angelica Decoction) for easier delivery. (Xiong Gui Tang's power is specifically in moving blood.) This is to utilize its flexibility, akin to the sunflower turning towards the sun morning and evening.
For breast distension and pain in women, mix Dong Kui Zi with Sha Ren (Amomum Fruit) in equal parts, grind into powder, and take 3 qian with hot wine; the swelling will immediately subside. (Sha Ren warms the stomach and resolves distension.)
Furthermore, it can break five types of edema and promote urination. For alternating cold and heat in the Zang-Fu organs leading to emaciation, decoct Dong Kui Zi with Yu Bai Pi (Elm Bark) in equal parts; this is also effective. The "Ten Formulas" states: "Slippery agents remove adherence." Dong Kui Zi and Yu Bai Pi belong to this category. Therefore, astringency leads to adherence, so one should use slippery agents to facilitate flow. Those that seed between Winter Solstice and Spring are named Dong Kui Zi. Spring Kuaizi (Malva) is also slippery but is unsuitable for medicinal use. Red Shu Kui Zi (Hollyhock Seed) treats Blood dryness, white Shu Kui Zi treats Qi dryness, and both treat Blood Lin (dysuria with blood); all derive their efficacy from their cold, slippery, and lubricating properties.

(Xi Cao) Guides to the lower meridians and blood level.
Niu Xi (Achyranthes Root) (specifically enters the Liver and Kidney meridians). Bitter, sour, and neutral. According to various texts, although it records that wine-steamed Niu Xi can warm-tonify the Liver and Kidneys and strengthen sinews and bones, effectively treating foot weakness, tendon spasms, impotence, urinary incontinence, chronic malaria, dysentery, internal injury with shortness of breath, etc. It is also recorded that raw Niu Xi can invigorate blood, break stasis, reduce swelling, treat pain, and unblock Lin syndrome, guiding medicine downward. (Lin syndrome due to Heat presents with unbearable urethral pain, feeling like fire burning upon touch, bright red urine without darkness, discharge resembling sand or stones, oppression and irritability below the umbilicus, thirst, fever, and deep, rapid, forceful pulses throughout the six positions. Lin syndrome due to Deficiency presents with little or no urethral pain, or pain preferred by touch, or pain only after urination, which subsides after a while, or涩 painful urination when using the toilet, dragging pain in defecation, sallow complexion, poor appetite, lazy and timid speech, and empty, floating, and weak pulses. Lin syndrome due to mixed Excess and Deficiency presents with extreme urethral pain, wiry and rapid pulses that are not very forceful upon pressure, poor appetite but without mental fatigue, continuous dripping urine but without sand, stones, or blood in the discharge, soft and weak pulses but with fresh-ruddy blood, abdominal distension and hardness that does not resolve, yet with shortness of breath and Qi knotting. Although Niu Xi is an essential herb for treating Lin syndrome, one must examine Excess and Deficiency and weigh the pros and cons; it cannot be used indiscriminately for all cases.) However, its taste is light while its aroma is strong, its nature is sinking, and it becomes slippery when roasted. It is suitable for regulating Qi in the lower meridians and blood level. If used for Lung Qi deficiency leading to leakage or diarrhea, one must know the contraindications and avoid it; do not use it generally just because of Qi deficiency. (Li Shizhen said: Niu Xi governs diseases of the Foot Jueyin Liver and Foot Shaoyin Kidney meridians. Generally, with wine, it tonifies the Liver and Kidneys; raw, it removes evil blood. These are the two main functions. Does it not treat waist and knee bone pain, foot weakness, impotence, incontinence, chronic malaria, internal injury with shortness of breath, etc., by virtue of its ability to tonify the Liver and Kidneys! Does it not treat masses, heart and abdominal pains, carbuncles, malignant sores, metal wounds, fractures, throat and tooth pain, Lin pain, hematuria, menstruation, and pregnancy/birth disorders, by virtue of its ability to remove evil blood!) Niu Xi produced in Sichuan resembles Xu Duan (Teasel Root) in nature, flavor, shape, and quality; taking it avoids the drawback of seminal emission. However, the Liver governs dispersion and drainage, while the Kidney governs closure and storage. Niu Xi has unique dispersion and drainage functions but lacks consolidation and storage. Books claim it benefits the Kidney, which I find inaccurate. Du Niu Xi (Cyathula Root) has a cooler nature and flavor; it tastes sweet and not bitter when chewed. Its main actions are detoxification, breaking blood, clearing heat, and expelling phlegm. (For example, in cases of urinary retention presenting with panting, red face, and macules, decoct Du Niu Xi thickly into a paste and drink; if one bucket of blood is discharged and urination becomes smooth, the patient recovers. If the patient loses consciousness, squeeze the juice, mix with good wine, and administer orally to restore consciousness; apply vinegar-mixed dregs to the neck. For convulsive wind with phlegm and malaria, drinking the juice can induce vomiting of phlegm and saliva. For throat obstruction, crush Du Niu Xi to extract juice, mix with half a cup of rice vinegar, dip chicken wing feathers in it, and stir the throat to open the airway.) Compared to Chuan Niu Xi, there is a slight difference. Niu Xi is produced in Western Sichuan and Huaqing Prefecture; those that are large, long, and plump are superior. Use raw for descending actions; wine-steamed for tonic formulas. It is incompatible with Gui Jia (Tortoise Shell), fears Bai Qian (Cynanchum Stem), and forbids beef consumption.