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Chrysanthemum Flower, with a bitter taste and neutral nature. It primarily treats wind pathogens, dizziness, swelling and pain of the head, a sensation that the eyes are about to protrude, and tearing. Its aromatic fragrance ascends to the head, and it inherits the Qi of Autumn Metal (Metal element associated with Autumn), thus it can pacify Liver Wind and benefit Lung Metal and Kidney Water. For dead skin and muscle, it clears the Lungs and disperses wind. For aversion to wind-dampness and bi-syndrome, it drives away wind and scatters dampness. Long-term consumption promotes the flow of blood and Qi, lightens the body, enhances longevity, and extends life. Chrysanthemum blooms late and fades late, being the most long-lived among flowers; hence its beneficial effects on humans are so significant.

All aromatic substances can treat diseases of the head, eyes, skin, and surface. However, aromatic substances are invariably pungent and drying, whereas Chrysanthemum inherits the clear and肃 (solemn/drying) Qi of Autumn Metal from Heaven and Earth, without being excessively drying or fierce. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for diseases of wind and fire affecting the head and eyes.

Ginseng Root, with a sweet taste and slightly cold nature. It primarily tonifies the Five Zang Organs, calms the Spirit (Shen), stabilizes the Ethereal Soul (Hun), stops palpitations and fright, and provides nourishment for both tangible and intangible deficiencies. It eliminates pathogenic factors; when Righteous Qi (Zheng Qi) is sufficient, pathogenic factors naturally dissipate. It brightens the eyes. Since the essence of all Five Zang and Six Fu Organs ascends to the eyes, the "brightening" mentioned here is the effect of tonifying essence, unlike other herbs that have specific functions solely for brightening the eyes. It opens the mind and benefits wisdom. Ginseng has abundant Qi but does not cause stagnation; it tonifies while also unblocking, thus it can enter the heart orifice and benefit the Divine Light (Ming). Long-term consumption lightens the body and extends life. This is its function of tonifying Qi.

Ginseng is born inheriting the pure and exquisite Qi of Heaven and Earth, resembling human constitution, thus it tonifies everything in the human body. Unlike other herbs that have specific strengths and treat diseases with particular capabilities. All Qi-tonifying herbs belong to Yang, yet Ginseng tonifies Qi while its substance belongs to Yin; therefore, it lacks rigid and drying properties, and can enter the Yin aspect, making it most precious. However, its power is great and峻 (steep/fierce); if used improperly, its harm may be greater than that of other herbs. Currently, doctors use Ginseng to save people rarely, but to kill many. Generally, one or two out of ten die from deficiency, while eight or nine out of ten die from disease. Ginseng excels at tonifying deficiency but is short in attacking pathogens. Doctors, regardless of whether the pathogen remains, will inevitably use Ginseng for prolonged illness, weak constitutions, or wealthy individuals. This is due to excessive caution or using it as an excuse to shirk responsibility, while patients' families believe using Ginseng fulfills filial piety. They do not realize that using Ginseng when the pathogen has not left not only fails to replenish Yuan Qi (Original Qi) but also consolidates the root of the disease, rendering all other medicines ineffective, with no hope of recovery. Hence, it is said that it kills more people.

One might ask: In Zhang Zhongjing's formulas for Cold Damage (Shanghan), there are many instances where Ginseng is used even when the pathogen has not left, such as in Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) and Xin Jia Tang (Newly Added Decoction). Why? The answer is: this employs tonification as purgation. Ancients scrutinized pathological conditions with extreme precision, knowing that pathogens have states of combination and separation. Combination means pathogen and Righteous Qi coexist, requiring focused attack and dispersion; separation means pathogen and Righteous Qi are apart, with some areas deficient and some excess. Excess areas should be purged, deficient areas should be tonified. Within one formula, combining them causes no harm and they can mutually assist. Thus, using Ginseng to establish Middle Qi and generate fluids helps push out the pathogen with greater force. If the pathogen is still abundant and not separated, one must focus on specific treatment, with no method for using Ginseng. Moreover, when Ginseng is used, it is always included in dispersing formulas, never combined with tonics like Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia Root) or Yu Rou (Cornus Fruit) in formulas for exogenous syndromes. Understanding this allows one to avoid turning a life-saving herb into a killer. Ginseng is merely a root, different in form from humans; how can it suddenly benefit human essence and blood? Actually, Ginseng is a herb that lifts and raises Yuan Qi. When Yuan Qi sinks and cannot circulate with essence and blood, Ginseng can lift it up, just as gunpowder hidden in a cannon cannot rise spontaneously until ignited by fire. If there is no gunpowder in the cannon, throwing it into fire will not cause an explosion. This is the meaning of tonification.