气味辛、温。主女人漏下赤白，血闭阴肿，寒热，风侵头目泪出，长肌肤，润泽，可
作面脂。
气味苦、寒。主心腹结气，症瘕积聚，黄胆，溺有余沥。逐水，除痈肿，补中，明目
止泪。
徐灵胎曰∶此以味为治也。苦入心，寒除火，故苦参专治心经之火，与黄连功用相近。
但黄
连似去心脏之火为多，苦参似去心府小肠之火为多；则以黄连之气味清，而苦参之气味浊也
。（按∶“补中”二字，亦取其苦以燥脾之义也）。
气味辛、寒。主暴热，（得水之气，故能除热）。身痒，（湿热在皮肤）。下水气（萍入
水不濡，故能涤水）。胜酒，（水气胜则酒气散矣）。长须发，（益皮毛之血气）。主消渴。（得
水气之助）。久服轻身。（亦如萍之轻也）
徐灵胎曰∶水萍生于水中，而能出水上，且其叶入水不濡，是其性能敌水者也。故凡水
湿之
病皆能治之。其根不着土而上浮水面，故又能主皮毛之疾。
气味辛、温，无毒。主咳逆上气善喘，喉痹，诸惊痫，寒热邪气。
张隐庵曰∶款冬生于水中，花开红白，气味辛温，从阴出阳，盖禀水中之生阳，而上通
肺金
之药也。太阳寒水之气，不从皮毛外交于肺，则咳逆上气而善喘；款冬禀水气而通肺，故可
治也。厥阴、少阳木火之气结于喉中，则如喉痹；款冬得金水之气，金能平木，水能制火，
故可治也。惊痫寒热邪气，为病不止一端，故曰诸惊痫寒热邪气；款冬禀太阳寒水之气，而
上行外达，则阴阳水火之气自相交会，故可治也。
[Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (Baizhi)]
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Indications: Leukorrhea with blood or white discharge in women, amenorrhea, swelling and pain of the yin region, alternating chills and fever, tearing due to wind invading the head and eyes, promoting skin growth, moistening the skin, can be used as facial cosmetic paste.
[Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen)]
Taste: Bitter, Cold. Indications: Qi stagnation in the heart and abdomen, zheng jia ji ju (abdominal masses), jaundice, dribbling after urination. Promotes water metabolism, eliminates carbuncles and swellings, tonifies the middle, brightens the eyes, stops tearing.
Xu Lingtai said: This utilizes taste for treatment. Bitter enters the Heart, Cold extinguishes Fire, therefore Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen) specifically treats Fire in the Heart Meridian, with functions similar to Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian). However, Huanglian seems to remove Fire from the Heart organ more, while Kushen seems to remove Fire from the Heart's paired organ, the Small Intestine, more; this is because Huanglian's taste and nature are clear and light, whereas Kushen's are heavy and turbid. (Note: The phrase "tonifies the middle" also derives from the meaning that bitterness can dry Spleen dampness).
[Salviniae Herba (Fuping)]
Taste: Acrid, Cold. Indications: Sudden high fever, (because it obtains the nature of water, it can eliminate heat). Pruritus of the body, (damp-heat in the skin). Descends to promote water metabolism, (since Salviniae Herba (Fuping) does not get wet when entering water, it can cleanse water-dampness). Overcomes alcohol toxicity, (when water energy overcomes, alcohol energy disperses). Promotes growth of beard and hair, (nourishes blood and qi of the skin and hair). Treats xiao ke (wasting-thirst). Long-term use makes the body feel light, (similar to the lightness of Fuping).
Xu Lingtai said: Salviniae Herba (Fuping) grows in water but floats above it, and its leaves do not get wet when submerged, indicating its nature can counteract water. Therefore, it can treat all diseases caused by water-dampness. Its roots do not attach to the soil but float on the surface, so it can also treat diseases of the skin and hair.
[Tussilaginis Flos (Kuandonghua)]
Taste: Acrid, Warm, Non-toxic. Indications: Cough with rebellious Qi, prone to wheezing, throat obstruction (hou bi), various types of fright epilepsy, pathogenic factors of cold and heat.
Zhang Yinan said: Tussilaginis Flos (Kuandonghua) grows in water, blooms red and white, has an acrid and warm taste, emerging from Yin into Yang, likely inheriting the generating Yang Qi from water, making it a herb that connects upward to the Lung Metal. When the Cold Water Qi of the Taiyang does not communicate externally from the skin and hair to the Lungs, it results in cough with rebellious Qi and wheezing; Kuandonghua inherits Water Qi and unblocks Lung Qi, thus it can treat this. When the Wood-Fire Qi of Jueyin and Shaoyang knots in the throat, it leads to throat obstruction; Kuandonghua obtains Metal and Water Qi, Metal can pacify Wood, and Water can control Fire, thus it can treat this. Fright epilepsy and pathogenic factors of cold and heat have multiple causes, hence it says "various fright epilepsy and cold/heat pathogenic factors"; Kuandonghua inherits the Cold Water Qi of Taiyang and moves upward and outward, allowing Yin-Yang and Water-Fire Qi to naturally intersect, thus it can treat these conditions.