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Taste and Nature: Pungent, Neutral, Non-toxic. Primarily treats the repair of severed injuries, enhances Qi and strength, supplements deficiencies, makes the body plump and robust, and its juice removes facial dark spots. Long-term consumption clarifies the eyes, lightens the body, and prolongs life.

Chen Xiuyuan states: Tu Si Zi (Cuscutae Semen) has a neutral nature inheriting Metal Qi and a pungent taste deriving from Metal's flavor; it is a herb entering the Lung meridian. However, its function lies in the Kidney rather than the Lung. Its seeds contain abundant oleaginous essence, resembling human essence, illustrating the principle that Metal generates Water. "Treating severed injuries" refers to the seed's essence being continuous like silk threads, excelling in repairing and connecting. "Supplementing deficiencies" involves using this abundant essence to fill the deficient Jing and Blood. When Jing and Blood are sufficient, Qi and strength naturally increase, and the body becomes plump and robust. "Juice removing facial dark spots" means that not only does internal administration achieve filling benefits, but external application also provides slippery and moisturizing effects. Long-term consumption ensures sufficient Kidney Water, leading to clear vision, and strong Kidney Qi, leading to a light body. Hua Yuanhua (Hua Tuo) said, "The Kidney is the root of life." Nourishing the Kidney prolongs life.

Taste and Nature: Sweet, Neutral, Non-toxic. Primarily treats wind-stroke with stormy heat causing immobility, contracted tendons with knotted flesh, and various deficiency syndromes. Long-term consumption removes facial blackness, improves complexion, moistens the skin, lightens the body, and prevents aging.

Zhang Yin'an states: Wei Rui (Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma) has a sweet and neutral taste and a texture rich in fluids, inheriting the essence of Taiyin Damp Earth to nourish the fluids of the Middle Jiao. "Treating wind-stroke with stormy heat causing immobility" occurs because fluids are scorched by pathogenic heat. "Contracted tendons" refers to tendons lacking flexibility. "Knotted flesh" refers to flesh lacking nourishment and moisture. "Various deficiencies" clarifies that all aforementioned symptoms belong to fluid deficiency. Long-term consumption fills the fluids, thus removing facial blackness, improving complexion and skin moisture, and keeping the body light and youthful.

He further states: How can Yin-nourishing and softening herbs be used heavily? Ancients dared not use them except for treating wind-heat. Since Li Shizhen proposed that it is neither cold nor dry and can replace Ren Shen (Ginseng Root), contemporary physicians believed it to be a tonic. Patients with deficiency syndromes taking this herb rarely survive; who bears the responsibility?

Taste and Nature: Bitter, Slightly Cold, Non-toxic. Primarily treats blood stagnation, frightful Qi, eliminates chills and fever, tonifies the Middle, and benefits Lung Qi.

(Referencing Ye Tianshi) Sha Shen (Glehniae Radix) has a slightly cold nature inheriting Water Qi to enter the Kidney; it has a bitter and non-toxic taste deriving from Fire's flavor to enter the Heart. It is said that inheriting Water Qi allows it to drain excess Heart Fire. When Heart Fire is hyperactive, the blood it governs fails to circulate, forming stagnation; its bitter taste can attack this stagnation. When Heart Fire is hyperactive, the Shen it houses becomes unsettled, causing fright; its cold nature can pacify this. Heart Fire inherits the nature of flaming upward; when Fire is constrained, there is cold; when Fire erupts, there is heat. Bitter-Cold clears Heart Fire, thus eliminating chills and fever. Yin serves to guard the Middle; Bitter-Cold nourishes Yin, thus tonifying the Middle; tonifying the Middle allows Metal (Lung) to be generated by Earth (Spleen), and without Fire overcoming Metal, it thereby benefits Lung Qi.