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[Anemarrhenae Rhizoma] Pungent, bitter, cold in nature. Select plump, moist rhizomes with white interiors. Remove the hairs using a bamboo knife and slice; avoid contact with iron vessels. To guide the action upward, soak in wine and bake; to guide downward, moisten with salt water and bake. It is effective when combined with Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) processed with wine. Fuyan (Salted mineral) and Borax can mitigate its properties.

[Cynomorii Herba] Sweet, sour, salty, warm. The skin resembles pine tips with scales, and the texture is soft like meat. Soak in wine for one night, brush off the floating scales, split open the middle membrane, bake until dry for use, or roast with suet (animal fat) to the appropriate degree. Li Zhongling stated: Cynomorii Herba that is plump, large, and soft is superior; those that are dry, shriveled, thin, and small are inferior. Nowadays, many people substitute it with Golden Lotus Root, Grass Cynomorium, or tender pine tips.

[Cynomorii Herba - Alternative Description / Suoyang context implied by text structure but labeled as Suoyang description in source logic]: Sweet, salty, warm. Moisten with wine and bake. Tao Jiu Cheng in "Zhuo Geng Lu" states: Suoyang grows in the lands of the Tartars. When emerging, it resembles a bamboo shoot, being fuller at the top and thinner at the bottom, with scales arranged like roof tiles and tendons connecting them. It closely resembles the male organ.

[Gastrodiae Rhizoma] Pungent, sweet, neutral in nature. Wash clean, soak in wine for a day and night, wrap in wet paper, and bake in chaff fire until cooked. Take out, slice, and bake for use. Those that are bright and solid when broken open are superior.

[Saposhnikoviae Radix] Bitter, sweet, pungent, warm. Remove the root neck (lu), stir-fry before use. Use Saposhnikoviae Radix and Sanguisorbae Radix as guiding herbs. Avoid peaches, plums, Chinese cabbage (Songcai), green fish, and sparrow meat.

[Atractylodis Rhizoma] Pungent, strong, bitter, warm. Bake before use. Contraindications are the same as for Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu). For Atractylodis Rhizoma retaining the bark, soak in rice washing water for half a day and remove the coarse bark. Those sold in markets are often stripped clean; do not soak in water again as this will further dissipate its nature and flavor. Generally, Atractylodis Rhizoma can be used raw regardless of the province of origin. The stem of Atractylodis Rhizoma is two to three feet high, with leaves embracing the stem. The middle leaves resemble Cotoneaster leaves, while the basal leaves have three to five lobes, all with serrated small thorns. The roots vary in size, some as large as a fist, differing in color between white and greyish-white. Some claim Atractylodis Rhizoma is produced in all provinces.

[Cibotii Rhizoma] Bitter, sweet, slightly warm. Select those with golden hair, burn off the hairs with fire, cut finely, soak in wine, steam, and sun-dry for use. Use Dioscorea Hypoglauca Rhizoma (Bixie) as a guiding herb. It opposes Patriniae Herba (Baijiang) and Cyperi Rhizoma (Shacao). Nowadays, people mistakenly use Nymphoides peltata (Chuishui Cao) as Cibotii Rhizoma, which is incorrect.

[Cyrtomii Rhizoma] Bitter, slightly cold. Remove the skin and hairs, cut into pieces, and bake. Use Artemisiae Capillaris Herba (Yinchen) and Vigna angularis (Chixiaodou) as guiding herbs. Shi Zhongru (Stalactitum) can mitigate its properties. Nowadays, people mistakenly use Dendrobium nobile stems (Beibai Cao) as Cyrtomii Rhizoma, which is incorrect.