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The shoots emerge in spring. They mostly grow in shallow water. The leaves resemble ox tongues. There is a single, long stem. In autumn, white flowers bloom in clusters. The roots are harvested at the end of autumn and used after sun-drying.

The taste is salty, sweet, and bland. The nature is cold. It sinks and descends, belonging to Yang (Note: Textual anomaly; typically sinking/descending is Yin, but translated as per source). It enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel and Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Channel lightly. It expels dampness and promotes the movement of fluids. It removes stagnant water and turbid residues from the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) and the Bladder.

It渗利 (promotes urination to leach out) damp-heat. It treats seminal emission. It also treats hernia pain, Hong Kong foot (podagra/gouty arthritis), kidney wind sores, and perspiration in the genital region. It is a supreme herb for eliminating dampness in the yin region. (Jiegu) It removes residual turbidity in the bladder. This is because its salty taste can drain latent water pathogenic factors. (Yilao) When there is damp-heat in the Spleen and Stomach, symptoms such as heavy head, blurred vision, and tinnitus occur. By promoting urination to remove dampness, heat is removed along with it. Consequently, the Qi of Earth (Spleen) is allowed to function, clear Qi ascends, and the "heavenly weather" (upper orifices) becomes bright and crisp. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses it to treat *Zhi Yin* (fluid retention causing dizziness/heaviness), allowing it to descend and achieve efficacy. (Binhu) For seminal leakage caused by damp-heat in the Lower Jiao, it is suitable to administer this herb. (Song) In the *Ba Wei Wan* (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), Ze Xie is used to subdue kidney pathogens, raise Yin Qi, and assist tonification.

Taking it in excess causes eye problems for patients. (Qianque) If the descending function is excessive, preventing clear Qi from ascending, and causing the True Yang to sink and dissipate, this occurs. (Binhu) Taking it without illness causes eye issues in people. (Jiegu) Edema that worsens during the day and improves at night is Yang Water. It is treated with Ze Xie combined with Er Ling (Fu Ling/Poria and Zhu Ling/Tremella), Bai Zhu/Atractylodes Macrocephala, Bai Shao/Paeonia Lactiflora, Ren Shen/Ginseng, Chen Pi/Tangerine Peel, Chi Dou/Adzuki Bean, and Sang Pi/Morus Alba Bark. Excessive consumption will inevitably aggravate the condition. Edema that improves during the day and worsens at night is Yin Water. It is treated with Ze Xie combined with Che Qian Zi/Plantago Seed, Chi Fu Ling/Red Poria, Sheng Di Huang/Rehmannia Glutinosa Root, Bai Shao/Paeonia Lactiflora, Yi Yi Ren/Coix Seed, Mu Gua/Chaenomeles Fruit, Shi Hu/Dendrobium, Chi Dou/Adzuki Bean, and Sang Pi/Morus Alba Bark. Excessive consumption will inevitably lead to recovery. Combined with Fu Ling/Poria, Ban Xia/Pinellia Tuber, Chen Pi/Tangerine Peel, and Zi Su/Perilla Leaf, it treats all forms of fluid retention. For severe fluid retention cases where dizziness is imminent, use five liang of Ze Xie and two liang of stir-fried Bai Zhu, decocted in three bowls of water. It will be effective. For kidney wind sores, boil Ze Xie and Zao Jia/Gleditsia Sinensis in water until soft, dry them, grind into powder, and make pills with refined honey the size of wu zi (loquat seeds). Take fifteen or ten pills on an empty stomach with warm wine.

[Discussion] Ze Xie is originally an aquatic plant. Its taste is salty and its nature is cold. It truly enters the Water Organ (Kidney) and is a swift herb for expelling dampness and promoting fluid movement. However, the salty flavor must be accompanied by sweet/bland properties, which is what Binhu referred to when saying it can raise Yang Qi. For example, if Middle Jiao Yang is deficient, or Minister Fire is constrained in the Liver, leading to Kidney Qi deficiency and *Zhi Yin* dizziness, Ze Xiao can treat these conditions. By ascending to reach Yang, the constrained Yang is resolved, and water moves. For patients without dampness or fluid retention but with Yin deficiency, or those with exhausted Kidney Qi, seminal leakage, diarrhea, and blurred vision, it is strictly contraindicated.

[Differentiation and Treatment] Those that are not oily and not worm-eaten are of good quality. Finely chop them, soak in wine overnight, strain out, sun-dry, and use. Another method: soak in rice washing water, remove hairs, steam, or crush.