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(Baiqian / *Cynanchum stauntonii*) Qi is slightly warm, taste is sweet, with a slight cold nature. Non-toxic.
*Bencao* states: It primarily treats rebellious Qi in the chest and hypochondrium, and cough with upward rushing of Qi. Its appearance resembles that of Baiwei (*Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*) and Niuxi (*Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix*).
*Yanyi* states: Baiqian stabilizes Lung Qi and is frequently used to treat cough. It is white and longer than Xixin (*Asari Radix*), but coarser and more brittle, unlike the flexibility of Xixin. If assisted by warm herbs, it is particularly effective. Zhang Zhongjing utilized this herb.

(Baiwei / *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*) Qi is greatly cold, taste is bitter and salty, nature is neutral. Non-toxic.
*Bencao* states: It primarily treats sudden wind-stroke with body heat, fullness in limbs, mental confusion or loss of consciousness, mania, delirium, pathogenic factors, alternating chills and fever, soreness and pain, and timed onset of Warm Malaria (a type of malaria). It treats internal injury leading to dripping discharge or leakage, promotes water metabolism, benefits Yin channel Qi, and nourishes Essence. It grows everywhere along the rivers; its shape resembles Niuxi and Baiqian but is shorter and smaller. It treats disorders caused by fright, evil, wind, and mania.
*Ye* states: In the *Jufang* (Prescriptions of the Bureau for the Care of the People), it is often used to treat women's diseases, based on the *Benjing*'s description of treating internal injury and lower jiao dripping discharge.
*Bencao* further states: It is incompatible with Huangqin (*Scutellariae Radix*), Dahuang (*Rhei Radix et Rhizoma*), Daji (*Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix*), Ganjiang (*Zingiberis Rhizoma*), Ganqi (*Lacini Cinnamomi*), Shanzhuyu (*Corni Fructus*), and Dazao (*Jujubae Fructus*).

(Banxia / *Pinelliae Rhizoma*) Qi is slightly cold, taste is bitter. Non-toxic.
*Bencao* states: It primarily treats phlegm-fullness, chest and hypochondriac stagnation, knotted Qi in the heart and abdomen, and wind-induced headache. It eliminates phlegm-solidity, directs Qi downward, treats chills and fever from Cold Damage (Shanghan), pushes out the old to bring forth the new, brightens the eyes, and benefits Essence. Banxia serves as the guiding herb. It is adverse to Zaojiao (*Gleditsiae Sinensis Spina*) and fears Lilu (*Veratri Radix*).

(Binglang / *Arecae Semen*) Qi is hot, taste is pungent and bitter, belonging to Pure Yang. The taste is denser than the Qi, representing Yang within Yin. Non-toxic.
*Xiang* (Li Dongyuan) states: It removes stagnant Qi in the Lungs. If treating Qi knotting and stagnation in the Middle and Lower Jiao, Binglang must be used as the guiding herb.
*Zhen* (Zhang Yuansu) states: It treats non-transportation of Qi in the abdomen and harmonizes Stomach Qi.
*Xin* (Wang Haogu) states: It disperses stagnant Qi and regulates various Qi mechanisms.
*Bencao* states: It treats pathogenic wind, wards off toxic epidemics and pestilence ghosts, strengthens willpower, primarily treats dripping discharge, remedies deficient Qi, addresses coldness in the muscles, treats Qi insufficiency, detoxifies, treats epidemic malaria and gu poison, and facilitates the action of other drugs.
*Benjing* states: Treating deficient Qi belongs to tonification; unblocking obstructed Qi and directing all Qi belongs to purgation. Calming the fetus and strengthening the Spleen and Stomach belong to tonification; removing mass formations belongs to purgation. This differs from the tonification and purgation mentioned in this section. Why? Yi Lao (Zhang Yuansu) considered it a Qi-purgative agent and did not mention tonification.